The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on self-compassion, alexithymia, and dysthymia among female high school students with depressive mood in Izeh County
The general objective of the present study is to determine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on self-compassion, alexithymia, and dysthymia in female high school students with depressive mood in senior secondary schools in Izeh.
Design
A randomized controlled clinical trial with parallel groups and no blinding will be conducted on 30 female senior secondary school students with depressive mood. Randomization will be performed using a random numbers table. A total sample of 30 participants (15 in each group) will enter the study. There is no applicable study phase.
Settings and conduct
This study will be conducted in Izeh among female senior secondary school students with depressive mood who meet the inclusion criteria. A total of 30 participants will be selected and randomly assigned, using a random numbers table, to two groups of 15 students each: an experimental group and a control group. Given the nature of the intervention, no blinding will be performed in this study. The experimental group will receive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), while the control group will remain on a waiting list.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: obtaining a score of 37 or higher (cutoff score) on Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI-II), providing informed consent, and being at least 15 and at most 18 years old and Exclusion criteria: having severe psychiatric disorders and simultaneous participation in other similar educational or therapeutic programs.
Intervention groups
The experimental group will receive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) based on the approach of Bond and Hayes (2004) in 8 sessions of 60 minutes, held once a week, while the control group will not receive any intervention.
Main outcome variables
the level of dysthymia in students
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20260714070196N1
Registration date:2026-07-20, 1405/04/29
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2026-07-20, 1405/04/29
Update count:0
Registration date
2026-07-20, 1405/04/29
Registrant information
Name
Saeed Arian
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 61 3334 8062
Email address
arianzad2881@gmail.com
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-07-22, 1405/04/31
Expected recruitment end date
2026-08-05, 1405/05/14
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on self-compassion, alexithymia, and dysthymia among female high school students with depressive mood in Izeh County
Public title
The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on self-compassion, alexithymia, and dysthymia among female high school students with depressive mood
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Obtaining a score of 37 or higher (cutoff score) on Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI-II)
A minimum age of 15 years and a maximum age of 18 years
Exclusion criteria:
Having severe psychiatric disorders based on medical records or self-report.
Simultaneous participation in other similar educational or therapeutic programs
Age
From 15 years old to 18 years old
Gender
Female
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size:
30
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
First, a list of all eligible participants will be prepared and each person will be assigned a unique numerical code. Then, using a random number table, a random sequence of these codes will be generated. According to this sequence, participants will be randomly allocated to one of the two groups (intervention or control), such that the probability of assignment to each group is equal for every participant. The process of generating random numbers and assigning participants to groups will be carried out by a researcher who is not involved in outcome assessment, in order to ensure true random allocation and to reduce allocation bias.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz Branch
The dysthymia score based on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)
Timepoint
Before and after the implementation of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Method of measurement
The 25-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)
Secondary outcomes
1
Description
The self-compassion score from the Self-Compassion Scale (Reis, 2011)
Timepoint
Before and after the implementation of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Method of measurement
The 12-item Self-Compassion Scale (Reis, 2011)
2
Description
The alexithymia score from the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20)
Timepoint
Before and after the implementation of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Method of measurement
The 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20)
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group: will receive acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) based on the approach of Bond and Hayes (2004) in eight 60‑minute sessions, one session per week
Category
Rehabilitation
2
Description
Control group: Participants in this group will not receive any psychological intervention related to the study during the research period and will only be assessed at the pretest and posttest stages
Category
Rehabilitation
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Islamic Azad University, Izeh Branch
Full name of responsible person
Mehran Ourak Notarki
Street address
Islamic Azad University, Izeh branch, Daneshjoo square, Zagros boulevard
City
Izeh
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6391693627
Phone
+98 996 477 0611
Email
info@iauIzeh.ac.ir
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Behrang Mohammad Salehi
Street address
Islamic Azad University, Izeh branch, Daneshjoo square, Zagros boulevard
City
Izeh
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6391693627
Phone
+98 996 477 0611
Email
info@iauIzeh.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Islamic Azad University
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Mehran Ourak Notarki
Position
Master’s student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Islamic Azad University, Izeh branch, Daneshjoo square, Zagros boulevard
City
Izeh
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6391693627
Phone
+98 996 477 0611
Email
Arianzad2881@gmail.com
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Mehran Ourak Notarki
Position
Master’s student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Islamic Azad University, Izeh branch, Daneshjoo square, Zagros boulevard
City
Izeh
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6391693627
Phone
+98 996 477 0611
Email
Arianzad2881@gmail.com
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Mehran Ourak Notarki
Position
Master’s student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Islamic Azad University, Izeh branch, Daneshjoo square, Zagros boulevard
City
ایذه
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6391693627
Phone
+98 996 477 0611
Email
Arianzad2881@gmail.com
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Justification/reason for indecision/not sharing IPD
Compliance with ethical research standards and ensuring participant data confidentiality
Study Protocol
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Data Dictionary
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Title and more details about the data/document
As a Master’s thesis
When the data will become available and for how long
From 2026/09/23 onwards
To whom data/document is available
Other contributors
Under which criteria data/document could be used
To advance scientific knowledge and address existing research gaps
From where data/document is obtainable
Thesis Office, Islamic Azad University, Izeh Branch
What processes are involved for a request to access data/document
Referring to the Vice Presidency for Research of Islamic Azad University, Izeh Branch to obtain the relevant permit, followed by referring to the Thesis Office
Comments
Overall, this study is a thesis conducted to obtain a Master’s degree, and its results will be published and made available in the form of a thesis.