Application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Smoking Cessation

Student: Blokhin Egor

Educational Programme: Applied Social Psychology (Master)

Final Grade: 8

Year of Graduation: 2024

Abstract Nicotine addiction is one of the most widespread health issues nowadays affecting nearly 1.3 billion people around the world (Tobacco, n.d.-a). Despite the growing share of smokers and seriousness of comorbidities associated with nicotine use, our society makes little efforts on discovering new methods of treatment. Moreover, modern methods of treatment such as Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) are losing their relevance for Russia due to cessation of medicine supplies. The study is making an attempt to solve major issue of limited treatments for nicotine addiction. The idea of the study is focused on one of the behavioral therapies– Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) that is focused on values and feelings that lead to unpleasant behavior. This method is not designed to eliminate unpleasant emotions but to accept and prevent them from interfering with one’s actions towards valued behavior (S. Hayes et al., 2011). ACT has already been applied for treating of various psychiatric and addictive disorders including nicotine addiction. Nevertheless, it is relatively new approach for Russia. Current study is aimed to evaluate the effect of group ACT intervention on smoking cessation. In addition to this, the study will compare the ACT intervention with usual treatment provided in Russia (psychological counselling and information about care services) in order to make a conclusion regarding reasonability behind current treatment strategies for nicotine dependence. As a result of our study, we expect to evaluate whether ACT is a suitable treatment option for nicotine addiction in Russia. Furthermore, we are looking forward to prove that group ACT intervention can lead to more effective partial or complete smoking cessation in comparison with usual treatment in Russia and, therefore, can replace existing treatment measures. Keywords: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, ACT, smoking cessation, nicotine addiction, nicotine dependence, smoking addiction, group intervention

Full text (added May 20, 2024)

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