Comparing the Effectiveness of CBT and ACT on Mood Swings and Depression Symptoms in Women

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in reducing mood swings and depression symptoms in women.

Methods and Materials: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) design was employed, involving 30 women from Tehran, divided equally into two groups: CBT (n = 15) and ACT (n = 15). Both groups received their respective interventions, with the CBT group attending 12 sessions of 60 minutes each and the ACT group attending 8 sessions of 90 minutes each. A control group (n = 15) received no intervention. Mood swings and depression symptoms were assessed at three stages: pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up (five months later). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, followed by a Bonferroni post-hoc test, with SPSS-27 software.

Findings: Both CBT and ACT significantly reduced mood swings and depression symptoms compared to the control group (p = 0.001), with effect sizes of 0.31 and 0.35 for mood swings and depression symptoms, respectively. No significant difference was found between the CBT and ACT groups (p > 0.05), indicating that both therapies were equally effective. The improvements were maintained at follow-up, suggesting long-term benefits of both interventions.

Conclusion: The study concludes that both CBT and ACT are effective therapeutic approaches for reducing mood swings and depression symptoms in women, with no significant difference in their effectiveness. Both interventions led to sustained improvements at follow-up, making them viable options for long-term mood regulation in clinical practice.