DClinPsy Portfolio Volume 1 of 3 - University of Hertfordshire ...

ACT holds that if an individual exhibits an accepting posture toward these negative
thoughts and feelings about their body shape and/or weight this may be embraced as
‘normative discontent’ and consequently not lead to eating pathology (Sandoz and
Wilson, 2006). Sandoz et al, (2006) suggest that enabling an accepting posture towards
negative thoughts and feelings about one’s body may decrease the relationship between
body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating.
Evidence for the utility of the concept of flexible psychological processing
In a meta-analytic review of all the literature examining ACT components up until spring
2005, Hayes, Luoma, Bond, Masuda and Lillis (2006) identified thirty-two studies,
involving 6628 participants. They found that higher levels of psychological flexibility
were associated with a better quality of life and outcomes in relation to many validated
measures. The studies provided evidence that inflexibility was associated with a variety
of mental health problems. Hayes et al (2006) concluded that the ACT model seems to be
working across an unusually broad range of problems, and ranges of severity from
psychosis to interventions for non-clinical samples (e.g. work stress). Moreover, effect
sizes were found to be larger with more severe problems and were as large as or even
larger at follow up compared with immediately post intervention. The authors found the
outcomes and processes did not co-vary across different ethnic groups, classes and
geographic regions. They looked at diverse groups from poor native South Africans to
health professionals in North America. However, Hayes et al (2006) acknowledge that
further literature is needed to draw firmer conclusions.
The application of ACT to AN
Although ACT has been suggested as an effective treatment for panic, substance use,
pain and mood disorders, there are no large published reports on the use of ACT for
treating eating disorders such as AN in adolescence. Heffner, Sperry, Eifert and
Detweiler, (2002) provided a useful case summary of the successful adoption of ACT
techniques in the treatment of a 15-year-old female with AN.
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