Introduction

This study aimed to examine the potential acceptance, feasibility, and clinical impact of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in a group format for Saudi women who struggle with depression and anxiety disorders. The findings may help clinicians in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim communities to be aware of ACT as an emerging therapeutic approach for treating depression and anxiety and related conditions.

Methods

Eight women with depression and anxiety in Riyadh city in the year 2017 were included in the study. A qualitative design was used for this study to test the possible effectiveness of and receptivity to a group treatment protocol based on ACT among Muslim Saudi females. The ACT group met for one 1.5-h session per week for 8 consecutive weeks. Thematic analysis techniques were employed. To explore and describe participants’ experiences, the data were analyzed for emerging themes that were then identified and coded.

Results

The results showed preliminary support that ACT could be an effective, well-received therapeutic approach for Muslim Saudi women as far as decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety and making an overall positive change in their attitudes and behavior, as well as increasing self-confidence.

Conclusions

ACT group therapy was well appreciated and viewed as being culturally and religiously acceptable by the Saudi Muslim female participants. The present results support the notion that ACT is well appreciated as a potential means of reducing depression and anxiety and can help enhance positive emotions and increase the psychological well-being of Saudi women.

中文翻译：

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患有精神疾病的沙特穆斯林女性的接受和承诺团体疗法

介绍

这项研究旨在以小组形式研究与抑郁症和焦虑症作斗争的沙特女性的潜在接受，可行性和临床影响。这些发现可能有助于沙特阿拉伯和其他穆斯林社区的临床医生认识到ACT是一种新兴的治疗抑郁症和焦虑症及相关疾病的方法。

方法

这项研究纳入了2017年利雅得市八名患有抑郁和焦虑的女性。本研究使用定性设计来测试穆斯林沙特女性中基于ACT的团体治疗方案的可能有效性和可接受性。ACT组连续8周每周开会一次1.5小时。采用了主题分析技术。为了探索和描述参与者的经历，对数据进行了分析以发现新兴主题，然后对其进行识别和编码。

结果

结果表明，对于减轻沙特阿拉伯人的抑郁和焦虑症状，使她们的态度和行为产生全面积极的变化，以及增强自信心，ACT对于穆斯林沙特妇女而言可能是一种有效的，广为接受的治疗方法。

结论

ACT团体疗法受到沙特穆斯林女性参与者的高度赞赏，并被认为在文化和宗教上是可接受的。目前的结果支持这样一种观点，即ACT被公认为是减轻抑郁和焦虑的一种潜在手段，并且可以帮助增强积极情绪并提高沙特妇女的心理健康。