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Group-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Versus Active Control in University Students With Emotional Symptoms

NCT07506148 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 48

Last updated 2026-04-01

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This study evaluates the efficacy of a group-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) protocol compared to a non-directive group therapy used as an active control condition in university students presenting moderate to moderate/high levels of emotional symptomatology.

Emotional difficulties such as depressive and anxiety symptoms are highly prevalent among university students and may negatively affect academic performance, well-being, and long-term functioning. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based psychological intervention that aims to improve mental health by increasing psychological flexibility, the ability to act in accordance with personal values while remaining open to difficult internal experiences.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either (1) a structured ACT group intervention or (2) a non-directive supportive group intervention that controls for therapeutic attention and group support factors. The primary hypothesis is that participants receiving ACT will show greater reductions in emotional symptoms and greater improvements in psychological flexibility compared to the active control group.

Outcomes will include depressive and anxiety symptoms, psychological flexibility, repetitive negative thinking, and meaning in life. The study uses a multimethod assessment strategy combining traditional self-report questionnaires administered at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up; Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) with daily and weekly measures during the intervention period; and qualitative interviews to explore participants' experiences.

Conditions

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Manualized brief group intervention delivered in five in-person 90-minute sessions. The objective is to increase psychological flexibility through the core processes of the ACT model.

BEHAVIORAL

Non-Directive Group Therapy (NDT)

Group-based non-directive intervention delivered in five in-person 90-minute sessions. It offers validation and supportive interaction, replicating common psychotherapy factors such as empathy and active listening, without including specific clinical techniques.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Mónica Larrosa Signorelli

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

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

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-03-20
Primary Completion
2026-07-31
Completion
2026-12-31

Countries

  • Uruguay

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

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 NCT07506148 on ClinicalTrials.gov