Inpatient Group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Psychosis Spectrum Disorder

Pilot Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-Based Treatment Approach With Inpatient Group Therapy Interventions for Patients With Psychosis Spectrum Disorder

The pilot study that will serve as the basis for the larger project - a multicenter randomized controlled single-blinded trial (RCT) will focus on testing the feasibility and efficacy of an inpatient group ACT treatment program and its effects on symptom severity and patient satisfaction in patients with psychosis spectrum disorder. The ACT-specific treatment program for inpatients with psychosis spectrum disorder is designed to enable patients to deal with their disease in an accepting manner over the long term, to promote self-determined and positive attitudes toward treatment and support options, and thus to reduce rehospitalization rates.

Inpatient hospitalization is an important time to provide patients with psychosis spectrum disorder with skills to better manage symptoms and improve functioning after discharge. The long-term goal is to reduce the negative consequences of these disorders and to have a lasting positive impact on the course of the disease. Against this background, the aim of a larger-scale future study project is to evaluate a specific ACT-based four-week treatment program providing inpatient group therapy interventions for patients with psychosis spectrum disorder. The ACT-specific treatment program is designed to enable patients to deal with their disease in an accepting manner over the long term, to promote self-determined and positive attitudes toward treatment and support options, and thus to reduce rehospitalization rates. The pilot study will focus on testing the feasibility and efficacy of the inpatient group ACT treatment program and its effects on symptom severity and patient satisfaction in patients with psychosis spectrum disorder. Here, treatment will include a high-frequency four-week inpatient ACT group therapy program with a focus on the core ACT process of mindfulness in addition to standard inpatient treatment. Within the scope of the survey, possible side effects of the intervention will also be recorded and mapped by conducting qualitative individual interviews and documenting serious adverse events.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with psychosis spectrum disorder with the following diagnoses according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Diploma in Social Medicine 5 ("Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders"):
• Schizophrenia
• Schizophreniform disorder
• Schizoaffective disorder
• Delusional disorder
• Brief psychotic disorder
• Psychotic disorder due to another disorder
• Substance-induced/medication-induced psychotic disorder
• Depressive episode with psychotic symptoms
• Manic or bipolar episode with psychotic symptoms

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients decline to participate in the treatment program
• Language or intellectual abilities insufficient for study participation