Application of acceptance and commitment therapy in eating disorders

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) aims at correctly recognizing the different sides of life, accepting its inevitable pain, defining its true value and committing to action.Its ultimately aim is to improve psychological flexibility and lead a more fulfilling and meaningful life.Patients with Eating Disorders (ED) often have personality characteristics such as experiential avoidance, rigid behavior, and lack of motivation.Therefore, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is particularly suitable for patients with Eating Disorders.This article make a brief overview of the ACT firstly, then introduces the definition, epidemiology and etiology of ED.By reviewing the relevant literatures on the use of ACT in the treatment of ED in recent years, we point out the advantages of using ACT and the possible mechanism of ACT in the treatment of ED, the future research directions and issues needing attention. Key words: Acceptance and commitment therapy; Eating disorders; Psychological flexibility; Experiential avoidance