Psychological flexibility (PF)

Psychological flexibility refers to the ability to stay in contact with the present moment regardless of unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations, while choosing one's behaviors based on personal values and situational requirements (Hayes et al., 2006 [PMID: 16351523]). This construct is not a molecular entity, such as a protein or receptor, but a psychological process primarily targeted through behavioral interventions like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) (Kashdan & Rottenberg, 2010 [PMID: 21101340]). Low psychological flexibility, often termed experiential avoidance, is strongly linked to the development and maintenance of various psychopathologies, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (Levin et al., 2014 [PMID: 25191836]). While there are no drugs that directly bind to 'psychological flexibility,' pharmacological research—particularly regarding psychedelics like psilocybin—suggests that certain agents may indirectly enhance this flexibility by modulating neural plasticity and 5-HT2A receptor pathways (Davis et al., 2020 [PMID: 32335161]). It is typically assessed using psychometric instruments like the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II) and is considered a key mediator of therapeutic change in behavioral medicine (Bond et al., 2011 [PMID: 21671561]).

Other names

Mental flexibilityPsychological adaptabilityCognitive flexibility (related)Experiential openness

N/A (This is a behavioral/psychological construct rather than a molecular target. It is primarily modified through psychotherapeutic interventions such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).)