The purpose of this study was to shortly characterize the evolving psychotherapeutic methods summarized as 'third wave psychotherapies' and to review recent research on the therapeutic impact of these methods. 'Third wave psychotherapies' comprise a heterogeneous group of treatments, including acceptance and commitment treatment, behavioural activation, cognitive behavioural analysis system of psychotherapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, metacognitive therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and schema therapy. Several randomized controlled trials, longitudinal case series and pilot studies have been performed during the past 3-5 years, showing the efficacy and effectiveness of 'third wave psychotherapies'. The third wave of behavioural psychotherapies is an important arena of modern psychotherapy. It has added considerably to the spectrum of empirically supported treatments for mental disorders and influenced research on psychotherapy. The presented methods open up treatment possibilities for patient groups such as borderline personality disorder, chronic depression or generalized anxiety disorder that had received only little specific attention in the past. The available evidence now allows considering all third wave treatments as empirically supported.

Background: Depressive symptoms have been associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but less is known about anxiety disorders that can be comorbid or exist without depression.Methods: We evaluated the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in subjects consecutively examined at an outpatient clinic for diabetes prevention who were at‐risk for T2DM, defined by FINDRISK scores, and compared metabolic syndrome (MetS) frequencies between subjects with and without psychiatric morbidity, entering also relevant variables for MetS into multivariate analyses. All subjects underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Psychiatric diagnosis was confirmed using a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV.Results: Of 260 consecutively screened subjects, 150 (56.9 ± 8.1 years old, males = 56.7%, BMI = 27.2 ± 4.1 kg/m²) were at‐risk for T2DM and were included. MetS, present in 27% of males and 25% of females, was significantly associated with having a current anxiety disorder (P < 0.001) and lifetime major depression (P < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, MetS was significantly associated with lifetime major depression, presence of any anxiety disorder, body weight, and physical activity.Conclusions: Our data in a high‐risk group for T2DM support the association between depressive disorders and MetS, pointing to a similar role of anxiety disorders. Screening for anxiety and depression is recommended in this group at risk for T2DM.