Advancing the Science
of Clinical Psychology
ACT vs. CBT for Treatment-Resistant Depression: A 5-Year Randomized Controlled Trial
Dr. Lena Hartmann and her team at ACU's Center for Third-Wave Therapies published a landmark 5-year RCT comparing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with standard CBT in adults with treatment-resistant depression. ACT showed a 38% greater reduction in depressive symptoms at the 24-month follow-up.
Published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, the study is already informing treatment guidelines across three major health systems.
Recent Publications
DBT Skills Training Reduces Self-Harm Recurrence by 61% in Adolescent Inpatients
A multi-site clinical trial across four adolescent psychiatric units demonstrates that structured DBT skills groups significantly outperform standard care in reducing self-injurious behavior at 12-month follow-up.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Outcomes in Multilingual Families
Culturally adapted PCIT delivered in families' home languages showed 44% greater reduction in child conduct problems compared to English-only delivery.
Therapeutic Alliance in Telepsychology: Does Distance Diminish Connection?
Contrary to prevailing assumptions, working alliance scores in telehealth CBT are equivalent to in-person delivery — with rural clients rating therapeutic bond significantly higher via video modality.
Psychological Flexibility Predicts Chronic Pain Outcomes Better Than Pain Intensity
In a longitudinal study of 840 chronic pain patients, scores on the AAQ-II (psychological flexibility) predicted disability, quality of life, and medication use at 18 months — outperforming pain intensity ratings on all three outcomes.
Prolonged Exposure vs. CPT in Refugee Populations: Effectiveness and Dropout
This comparative effectiveness study finds both PE and CPT are efficacious for refugee trauma, but CPT shows significantly lower dropout rates — an important clinical consideration for highly mobile populations.
ACT for Psychosis Reduces Hospitalization Rates in Community Mental Health Settings
A 2-year naturalistic study at four community mental health centers shows that acceptance-based approaches for psychosis reduced inpatient admissions by 29% and improved medication adherence.
Our Research Centers
Center for Third-Wave Therapies
ACT, DBT, CFT efficacy & dissemination
Trauma & PTSD Research Lab
Evidence-based trauma intervention
Child & Family Psychology Institute
Developmental psychopathology & family systems
Health Psychology & Behavioral Medicine Unit
Chronic illness, pain, and integrated care