Treating anxiety and depression of cancer survivors: Behavioral activation versus acceptance and commitment therapy.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral activation (BA) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) are considered particularly useful treatments when dealing with emotional problems of cancer survivors. The efficacy of these two treatments, applied on a group basis, were evaluated and compared.

METHOD: An analysis was carried out of pre-post treatment changes in the emotional state and patterns of activation/avoidance of 52 cancer patients, with anxiety and/or depression, randomly assigned to three groups (BA/ACT/waiting list control).

RESULTS: Both therapies were superior to no treatment in all the variables evaluated. Significant differences were found between the two treatments in favor of ACT in social impairment and avoidance/rumination.

CONCLUSIONS: BA and ACT, applied on a group basis, are efficacious in the treatment of those emotional difficulties most prevalent in cancer survivors. Results suggest that activation and avoidance are the mechanisms responsible for the changes.