A review of the experience, the effectiveness and the spread of behavioral-cognitive group intervention in psychiatric ward

Abstract

The use of Cognitive-Behavioral Group Intervention (CBGI) in Psychiatric Ward (SPDC) in Italy began in the year 2000 and it became more and more popular in different geographic areas of our country. In this paper we briefly describe the intervention, the theoretical framework, the effectiveness and efficiency in Italy as well as in the international context. Based on the theoretical model "stress-vulnerability-coping", the ICCG is a manualized treatment, innovative and effective in the acute care, using the group setting to foster a climate of collaboration between users and operators, to raise awareness, the adherence to the treatment plan and the satisfaction. This article provides an overview of studies of effectiveness, in particular those performed in Rome, Campobasso, Foggia, Arezzo which are of different lengths (1, 2, 4 and 5 years of follow-up). The results showed a reduction in voluntary as well as compulsory treatment (p<.01), an increase of ward's atmosphere and of the user satisfaction (p<.01), and also decreased aggressive acts (p.01). Finally, the results obtained through a survey of the various experiences, of the diffusion and how the intervention is applied in the various SPDC Italians are shown. The CBGI is more popular in the North of Italy, according with an increasing demand for training. The practical benefits observed by data collected are also illustrated; they mainly consist in improving the climate of the ward, in a better positive communication among users and between them and the professionals, in the fastest adherence to the treatment and of the active participation and informed care. Are also discussed factors that hinder the use in routine, including the low participation of psychiatrists and the difficulty in changing the organizational style of work in the ward.