The Effect of Group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on the Management of Asthma: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Asthma is a common respiratory disorder that negatively affects quality of life (QOL) and mood status. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of group acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on the symptom control, QOL, and mood status of asthmatic patients. Methods: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 32 asthmatic patients randomly allocated to the case group (underwent group ACT plus medical therapy; n = 15) and the control group (who were medically treated only in 2019; n =17). The case group participated in 8 sessions of 90-minute group ACT. Spirometry was performed for both groups at baseline and at the end of the intervention. The Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) to assess symptom control status, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess mood status, and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) to assess QOL were filled out by the patients at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Results: The measurements regarding the trend of changes in the case group over the time were significant in all of the evaluated entities, including ACQ, depression and anxiety subscales of HADS, and AQLQ scores (P < 0.05), while nonsignificant alterations were observed in the controls (P > 0.05). The comparison of the 2 groups revealed significant differences in all the assessed entities (P > 0.05). The spirometry variables were statistically significant in the control group at baseline (P < 0.05), while the post-intervention assessments revealed a nonsignificant difference (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Group ACT can efficiently reduce the asthma symptoms in asthmatic patients, along with the remarkable improvement in mood and QOL. Further evaluations with a longer period of intervention are strongly recommended.