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ACTsocially: The (Dis)Similarities of ACT for Changing Internalizing and Externalizing Symptomatology in Adolescence

NCT07456631 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 54

Last updated 2026-03-10

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Social functioning, fundamental to adolescent's development and mental health, may be impaired by polarizing problematic social functioning, namely externalizing symptoms manifested by Oppositional Defiant Disorder and internalizing symptoms portrayed by Social Anxiety Disorder. Despite their high prevalence and similar associated impairments, interventions targeting these disorders are differently conceived. Alternatively, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) proposes that those apparently dissimilar social difficulties are rooted in similar processes. Though research has shown ACTs' efficacy in changing adults' internalizing and externalizing symptoms, studies on the potential of ACT in changing those problematics in adolescence are still scarce. This project proposes to conduct three clinical trials to test the efficacy and (dis)similarities of an transdiagnostic ACT intervention for changing internalizing and externalizing symptomatology in adolescents. It will amplify the transdiagnostic and evidence-based application of ACT to adolescents presenting polarizing disorders in the social functioning spectrum.

Conditions

  • Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

ACTsocially

Adapted from the ACT@TeenSAD intervention program developed within the TeenSAD research project (NCT04979676), the ACTsocially intervention program is a structured, manualized face-to-face transdiagnostic intervention grounded in the PF model of ACT. The intervention consists of 11 weekly 50-minute sessions. Core content is organized across four modules (1: The role of psychological (in)flexibility; 2: The foundation of psychological flexibility; 3: Psychological flexibility in action; 4: Revision of gains and relapse prevention). Sessions follow a consistent structure beginning with a mindfulness exercise, followed by a brief review of the previous session and discussion of the adolescent's experiences with the between-session commitment. The therapist then introduces one or more activities centered on the weekly theme, which may involve psychoeducation, metaphors, or experiential exercises. Each session concludes with the introduction of a new commitment for the following week.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal

    collaborator OTHER

  • University of Coimbra

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
12 Years
Max Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-09-01
Primary Completion
2027-09-30
Completion
2027-09-30

Countries

  • Portugal

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07456631 on ClinicalTrials.gov