Comparison of Transactional Analysis Group and Individual Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety

Abstract

This article compares outcomes of transactional analysis individual and group psychotherapy for depression and anxiety within two public clinics in the United Kingdom. The research was a naturalistic, open-label trial with no control group and limited randomization. The analysis focused on treatment outcomes for clients who presented for therapy within the clinical range for depression (PHQ-9 = 10) and anxiety (GAD-7 = 8). The outcomes show the reduction of symptoms with a large effect size for both depression (individual ES = 1.22; group ES = 1.14) and anxiety (individual ES = 1.67; group ES = 1.05). There were no significant differences between group and individual therapy in the length of therapy, effect size, or the Reliable and Clinically Significant Change Index (Individual RCSI for depression: individual = 44.1%, group = 1.4%; for anxiety: individual = 36.8%, group = 37.1%). These outcomes are consistent with national health benchmarks within the United Kingdom (Gyani, Shafran, Layard, & Clark, 2013) and suggest that transactional analysis psychotherapy is a good treatment option for moderate anxiety and depression as either individual or group therapy. A replication or a larger, controlled trial would be needed to further investigate full efficacy of these approaches. Further qualitative research would be beneficial in understanding the depth of the therapeutic process and clients’ choices to engage in either group or individual therapy.