The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy in cognitive estimation of patients with bipolar I and major depressive disorder

Bipolar and major depressive disorders are the most common mood disorders in the world. Theoretical models have emphasized on the importance of the of impaired cognitive estimation role in these disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in cognitive estimation of patients with bipolar I disorder and major depressive disorder. In the form of a quasi-experimental design, 12 patients with bipolar I disorder and 12 patients with major depressive disorder were selected via a convenience sampling method. Then, they received a treatment based on ACT for eight sessions of 90 minutes. All patients were assessed three times (pre, mid, post ACT) by the impulsivity questionnaire. Data were analyzed by the mixed analysis of variance. The results indicated that the ACT was effective in improving the cognitive estimation and the components such as size, weight, quantity, and time in both groups of patients (p<0.001). The ACT with increasing awareness, acceptance, psychological flexibility, and decreasing cognitive fusion improves the cognitive estimation of patients with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. Therefore, a planning and education based on this treatment can empower the patients and their families.