Behavioral Effects in pediatric hospital patients after Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Abstract

At the present time, research literature has reported a high demand for pediatric patients, for hospital attention, but who are also diagnosed with mental disorders. Due to this, several psychological treatments have been developed, such as the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This therapy, whose evidence has shown results in child population, has been used in groups with different medical and psychological diagnoses. The present phenomenological qualitative study used the observation method, observers as participants, a semi-structured interview, and behavioral recordings before and after the intervention. The aim of this ACT based group intervention was to find out about the behavioral effects in pediatric patients with medical and psychological diagnoses. Five scholar patients with medical conditions and problems in the affective, behavioral and/or social areas, participated. Results report that the participants showed behavioral improvement mainly in emotional regulation, prosocial behavior, peer social and communication skills, all of which were maintained six months after, also psychological flexibility increased as well. This study suggests a new ACT based intervention protocol, in group format, pictorial-like, and adapted to school age patients.