Recent systematic reviews on the topic of mindfulness- and acceptance-based approaches in sport psychology conclude that there is a need for further trials using a more robust research methodology with direct performance as outcome. Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) is a contextual behavioral change method that focuses on facilitating psychological processes such as values, committed action, acceptance and mindfulness. In the present study designed as a randomized controlled trial, 34 junior elite ice hockey players were allocated into either an ACT group intervention or a wait list control group. Results showed significant effects on both objective performance outcomes (goals, assists, and taken shots) and blinded coach ratings of players' performance, focus and commitment to their development in favor of the ACT group. Effects lasted at 3-month follow-up for the coach ratings, but not for the objective performance measures. All ACT trained players recommended ACT to other players and considered the training as important for their development as ice hockey players. The results add to the growing body of evidence on ACT interventions for athletes and its effect on performance. Future studies should investigate the maintenance of effects from the psychological training over time, using robust research methodology and investigate theoretical coherent potential mediating variables.

Despite the growing popularity of mindfulness and acceptance-based performance enhancement methods in applied sport psychology, evidence for their efficacy is scarce. The purpose of the current study is to test the feasibility and effect of a psychological training program based on Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) developed for ice hockey players. A controlled group feasibility designed study was conducted and included 21 elite male ice hockey players. The ACT program consisted of four, once a week, sessions with homework assignments between sessions. The results showed significant increase in psychological flexibility for the players in the training group. The outcome was positive for all feasibility measures. Participants found the psychological training program important to them as ice hockey players and helpful in their ice hockey development. Desirably, future studies should include objective performance data as outcome measure to foster more valid evidence for performance enhancement methods in applied sport psychology.

Changing the context surrounding patients treated in psychiatric wards is a great challenge, with barriers in terms of the organization, work culture and clinical skill. We propose a model to influence the ward context by adding psychological treatment in both individual form and by teaching inpatient staff how to use a simplified ACT model to inform their daily interactions with patients. We further discuss difficulties in the implementation of psychological treatment in inpatient milieus. Results from three empirical studies in a naturalistic setting in Sweden form the basis of a model describing how access to evidence-based psychological treatment might be increased using limited extra resources. Data suggest that 1) an average of two individual ACT sessions might lessen the need for future inpatient care for psychosis patients, 2) inpatients as well as staff members themselves might benefit from staff learning and using a simplified ACT model, and 3) staff find the ACT model useful both in terms of helping patients handle psychiatric symptoms and in terms of handling their own work-related stress.

There is an increased interest in mindfulness, acceptance, and values based skills training interventions in sports but there is a lack of psychometrically evaluated instruments to investigate the processes adapted to sport populations. This paper describes the development and investigation of an instrument that measure acceptance, mindfulness, and values for ice hockey players. Ice hockey players at elite and sub elite level (n = 94) in Sweden participated in the study. The results reveal that the values, acceptance, and mindfulness (VAMS) shows acceptable internal consistency (alpha = 0.76) and satisfactory validity. Furthermore, scores on the VAMS predicts ice hockey performance as measured by assists and team points. Future research is suggested to evaluate the sensitivity of the instrument for longitudinal research design studies. In conclusion, VAMS is a useful instrument for practitioners and researchers to increase the knowledge in how psychological processes such as acceptance, mindfulness, and values influence performance among ice hockey players.

Psychiatric inpatient care in Sweden is often described as lacking in content other than medication and mere containment. In an attempt to increase structured psychological content in the ward context, this study aims to investigate whether a brief form of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a feasible addition to standard care for psychotic inpatients. ACT has previously been administered to psychotic inpatients in the US, and the present study was an attempt at implementing this intervention in Sweden. In this feasibility study, 22 psychotic inpatients were randomized to one of two conditions: treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU plus an average of two ACT sessions. Measures of rehospitalization and values-based living were obtained before treatment, after treatment, and at four-month follow-up. Results indicate that participants in the TAU plus ACT group were rehospitalized at a lower rate than those who only received TAU (9% vs. 40%), though the difference was not statistically significant. Controlling for age, gender, and pretreatment values-based living scores, there was a significantly higher risk for TAU participants to be rehospitalized. There was a trend toward increased values-based living scores in the ACT group. These results suggest that it is feasible to add structured psychotherapeutic interventions to the existing care package at psychiatric inpatient wards in Sweden. However, the findings need to be explored in larger samples.

Psychiatric inpatient wards are inherently complex milieus. Staff in wards are expected to alleviate severe suffering in patients whilst handling an increasing administrative burden, resulting in less direct contact with patients. Reports from both patients and staff indicate institutional aimlessness and lack of care content beyond medication and containment. As a possible means of improving this situation, this pilot study investigated the feasibility, potential effectiveness and challenges of the implementation of a 12-hour training programme in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), a CBT-based psychotherapy model, on staff (n = 20) and patients (n = 9). The context was a psychiatric inpatient ward for psychosis patients. The staff members of a neighbouring unit acted as non-randomised controls. Feasibility of implementation, data collection and acceptance among staff of the intervention seemed acceptable, while data collection among patients was more challenging. Mean change scores suggest marginal positive changes in psychological flexibility for patients and staff post-intervention. Results are discussed in light of methodological and institutional limitations, and clinical experiences.

När vi ställs inför ångest, depression, självskadebeteende och psykos uppfattar vi det ofta som svårbegripligt och främmande. Med Må dåligt vill författarna öka förståelsen för psykisk ohälsa.  De visar både hur olika tillstånd yttrar sig i vardagslivet och hur allmänmänskliga psykologiska processer bidrar till dem. Bokens utgångspunkt är att psykisk ohälsa utvecklas i samspel mellan den omgivande miljön och vad vi lär oss av våra erfarenheter under livet. Ett huvudbudskap är att psykisk hälsa inte är detsamma som ett liv fritt från det som kan vara plågsamt, utan det avgörande är ett liv som är värt att leva.

Psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance are equivalent (with somewhat different connotations) concepts and refer to an unwillingness to remain in contact with particular private events. This concept is most often measured by the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II) and is strongly related to psychopathology and behavioral effectiveness. In this study, the preliminary psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the AAQ-II (Swedish Acceptance and Action QuestionnaireSAAQ) are presented. The study is done in two steps. In the first step, the 10-item version of the AAQ-II is investigated through principal component analysis (n=147). Secondly, due to problems with the component structure, the instrument is reduced to a six-item version and its validity and internal consistency are investigated (n=154). The six-item version shows good concurrent and convergent validity as well as satisfying internal consistency (=.85). Furthermore, the Swedish six-item version of the AAQ-II showed one strong component. Test-retest reliability was satisfactory (r=.80; n=228). In future research, predictive and external validity would be important to investigate in order to further ensure that the SAAQ is a useful measure for clinical research. In conclusion, the SAAQ has satisfactory psychometric properties, but more data need to be gathered to further explore the possibilities for the instruments in Swedish contexts.

Alleviating the suffering of patients treated in psychiatric inpatient wards is a great challenge. Preliminary or multiple diagnoses, inherent complexities of the inpatient milieu and the lack of potentially effective psychological treatment form part of this challenge. The present study explored the usefulness of a transdiagnostic psychological treatment model (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, ACT) as a means of improving inpatient care from the perspective of psychiatric nurses. Nurses (n = 10) participated in three ACT workshops, a total of 21 h, and were interviewed about the experienced usefulness and difficulties of the ACT model, as a tool for improving everyday ward work. Results, revealed by qualitative content analysis, suggest usefulness in the areas of alleviating patients symptoms, enriching typical ward duties, and handling one's own thoughts and feelings. Difficulties stemmed from lack of time, the model itself and patients' severe illness. Possible adjustments of the ward context are suggested.

Conducting research in clinical psychiatric settings presents significant challenges. Patients’ suffering is often severe, and organizational aspects might hinder the implementation of structured psychological treatment. In this symposium, empirical data are presented from three different projects concerning ACT for different diagnoses –psychosis, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and high functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The first talk concerns training inpatient ward staff in using the ACT model with psychosis patients. Data suggest slight positive changes in psychological flexibility for patients and staff. The second talk describes the evaluation of an ACT group treatment intervention for BDD outpatients, with results showing significant reductions in BDD symptomatology. The third talk covers a researchproject on ACT adapted for students and psychiatric outpatients with ASD, where data indicate reduced levels of stress and autistic core symptoms. Presenters will share their data, as well as common clinical experiences of implementing ACT in clinical psychiatric contexts.