Exclusion criteria
impaired consciousness, ideation, cognitive dysfunction, psychotic symptoms, depression
DISORDERS
The exclusion criteria will be as follows: (1) severe physical or psychological symptoms (cognitive dysfunction [defined as a score of ≤ 23 on the MMSE-J performed for all prospective participants aged ≥ 65 years or those aged 20–64 years who did not seem to understand routine instructions during the preliminary interview], impaired consciousness, severe depression with psychotic symptoms, imminent suicidal ideation, and history of suicide attempt); (2) receipt of psychological intervention, such as BA, by mental health professionals before enrollment; (3) use or planned use of any psychotropic drug during the program, except for temporary emergency use after enrollment based on the discretion of the attending physician; (4) substance dependence based on the diagnostic criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition; and (5) difficulty in participating in this program due to other reasons, according to the attending physician or researchers.The waiting group will be informed that if the need for medication arises during the waiting period, they will be excluded from the study but can be offered another program equivalent to the BA program if they wish.