Menopausal women may find it challenging to manage their mood, sleep quality, and quality of life during this period. There are many different methods available to treat these issues and this clinical trial explores acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) that could help improve these debilitating issues in menopausal women.
Menopause is one of the most critical periods in a woman's life. During menopause, depression, and anxiety are among the most common mood changes. Sleep disorders also increase during menopause, which leads to poor quality of life. Menopausal women experience a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, including hot flashes, mood changes, and sleep disturbances. These symptoms can negatively impact a woman's life, making it difficult to engage in activities that she values and causing distress.
Different methods such as medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of them are used to treat these disorders. Acceptance and commitment-based therapy is one of the newest methods in psychotherapy that recently has been used a lot.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on developing psychological flexibility and acceptance of one's thoughts and feelings. ACT helps people learn to identify their values and engage in behaviors that align with these values, even in the face of difficult thoughts and feelings.
Clinical Trial
The clinical trial involved 86 menopausal women. The women were randomly assigned to either an ACT intervention group or a control group that received routine health care.The ACT intervention consisted of eight sessions of 60-90 minutes led by a therapist. The sessions focused on helping the women develop psychological flexibility, acceptance of their thoughts and feelings, and engagement in activities that aligned with their values.
Results
The results of the clinical study showed that women who received ACT had significant improvements in mood, sleep quality, and quality of life compared to the control group. Specifically, the women in the ACT group reported lower levels of anxiety, stress, and depression.ACT can help menopausal women develop psychological flexibility and acceptance of their thoughts and feelings related to menopause. By learning to accept these experiences, women can reduce their emotional distress and engage in behaviors that align with their values, even in the face of difficult symptoms.
ACT can also help women develop better sleep habits and improve their quality of life. By learning to accept their sleep disturbances and focus on activities that promote better sleep, women can improve their sleep quality and overall well-being.
Conclusion
The results of this clinical trial demonstrate that acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) could be a safe and effective intervention for menopausal women experiencing mood changes, sleep disturbances, and reduced quality of life. If you're a menopausal woman struggling with these issues, you may want to consider seeking out a therapist who specializes in ACT.__________
BMC Psychiatry, Feb-11-22