{"title":"Reducing nonsuicidal self-injury in depressed adolescents: The role of cognitive defusion as a behavioral mechanism.","authors":"Xin Yu, Tianyi Hu, Xu Chen, Hongyu Li, Wen He","doi":"10.1080/10503307.2026.2689625","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is prevalent among adolescents with depression, yet the mechanisms through which psychotherapy reduces NSSI remain unclear. This study evaluated the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and examined whether reductions in NSSI were associated with changes in specific psychological flexibility (PF) processes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this randomized controlled trial, 120 adolescents with comorbid depression and NSSI were assigned to ACT or treatment as usual (TAU). PF, depressive symptoms, and NSSI frequency were assessed at baseline and post-treatment. Network intervention analysis (NIA) examined treatment-related changes within the PF system. A parallel change-score structural equation model estimated indirect effects of PF processes on NSSI reduction.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with TAU, ACT was associated with greater improvements in PF and larger reductions in depressive symptoms and NSSI. NIA indicated that treatment exposure was most strongly linked to changes in cognitive defusion and contact with the present moment. Structural modeling suggested a significant indirect effect of PF on NSSI reduction, with cognitive defusion emerging as the only specific process significantly associated with change in NSSI.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Findings support a process-based account of ACT and identify cognitive defusion as a central mechanism of change in adolescent NSSI.</p>","PeriodicalId":48159,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy Research","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8000,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Psychotherapy Research","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2026.2689625","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is prevalent among adolescents with depression, yet the mechanisms through which psychotherapy reduces NSSI remain unclear. This study evaluated the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and examined whether reductions in NSSI were associated with changes in specific psychological flexibility (PF) processes.
Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 120 adolescents with comorbid depression and NSSI were assigned to ACT or treatment as usual (TAU). PF, depressive symptoms, and NSSI frequency were assessed at baseline and post-treatment. Network intervention analysis (NIA) examined treatment-related changes within the PF system. A parallel change-score structural equation model estimated indirect effects of PF processes on NSSI reduction.
Results: Compared with TAU, ACT was associated with greater improvements in PF and larger reductions in depressive symptoms and NSSI. NIA indicated that treatment exposure was most strongly linked to changes in cognitive defusion and contact with the present moment. Structural modeling suggested a significant indirect effect of PF on NSSI reduction, with cognitive defusion emerging as the only specific process significantly associated with change in NSSI.
Conclusion: Findings support a process-based account of ACT and identify cognitive defusion as a central mechanism of change in adolescent NSSI.
期刊介绍:
Psychotherapy Research seeks to enhance the development, scientific quality, and social relevance of psychotherapy research and to foster the use of research findings in practice, education, and policy formulation. The Journal publishes reports of original research on all aspects of psychotherapy, including its outcomes, its processes, education of practitioners, and delivery of services. It also publishes methodological, theoretical, and review articles of direct relevance to psychotherapy research. The Journal is addressed to an international, interdisciplinary audience and welcomes submissions dealing with diverse theoretical orientations, treatment modalities.