Group Therapy Research Articles

Lessons Learned from a Community-led, Pilot Teletherapy Group for Older Women Living with Depression and HIV.

Older women with HIV face challenges to their quality of life, including neurocognitive decline, early-onset menopause, and chronic health issues. Chief among these concerns is depression, the most common psychiatric comorbidity among people living with HIV, with rates twice as high among women as men. However, tailored interventions among older women living with HIV and depression are lacking. Following the ADAPT-ITT framework to adapt existing interventions for cultural relevance among groups of people living with HIV, the study team revised an evidence-based intervention, the 'Stress Management and Relaxation Training/Expressive Supportive Therapy Women's Project (SMART/EST),' for online implementation. Working with two community stakeholders, the study team conducted focus groups, theater testing, and manual adaptation. This resulted in the development of e-SMART/EST, an online teletherapy group co-facilitated by a Licensed Psychologist and a credentialed Peer Counselor. The adapted, eight-session weekly intervention was tested with an exploratory pilot sample of eight older women (55 years and older) with HIV and depression. Participants rated the acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of the intervention, as well as symptoms of depression and HIV-related quality of life before and after the group. The e-SMART/EST Women's Project demonstrated high acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness. Engagement was high, as women attended an average of 6.8 sessions. In qualitative interviews, participants reported peer co-facilitation, culturally relevant themes (e.g., HIV-related minority stress, critical consciousness, grief, and sex and pleasure), mindfulness techniques, and cohesion with other women as main favorable elements of the intervention. Barriers to online implementation included technological issues, distractions due to remote participation, and hindered emotional attunement compared with in-person group therapy. Findings support further research to test similar interventions in full-scale trials with older women living with depression and HIV.

Mental Health Of Education Professionals: Challenges, Repercussions, And Support Strategies In The PostPandemic Context

This article examines the mental health of education professionals, highlighting the challenges and impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and proposing strategies for effective support. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is a state of psychological well-being crucial for individuals' performance and social contribution. Teaching, inherently connected to intense social interactions and multiple responsibilities, is among the professions most susceptible to mental health issues, exacerbated by adverse conditions such as stress and work overload. The COVID-19 pandemic brought profound changes to the educational landscape, forcing teachers to rapidly adapt to remote teaching and face new psychological challenges, including stress, anxiety, and depression. Social distancing and the need to learn new digital tools intensified the workload and pressure on educators, resulting in a significant increase in mental health issues. The article also discusses the importance of interventions aimed at teacher well-being, including the need for specialized psychological support and the creation of support networks, such as discussion groups and group therapies. Public policies that consider the mental health of educators are essential to ensure a healthy and sustainable work environment. Promoting self-care and implementing support strategies are fundamental to addressing the consequences of the pandemic and improving the quality of life of education professionals.

Assessing COVID-19 transmission risk: Roommate and unit mate exposures at an inpatient behavioral health facility

Inpatient psychiatric facilities have an inherently increased risk of infection transmission. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of roommate and unit mate exposures on COVID-19 transmission to inform on safest isolation practices. A single-center retrospective study was conducted among patients hospitalized in six units of an inpatient behavioral health hospital from July 2020 through August 2023. We compared the risk of COVID-19 acquisition after exposure among patients with a contagious roommate versus those exposed to a contagious unit mate. During the study period, the conversion rate was 10.05% overall, 24.4% for roommates, and 9.3% for unit mates; patients exposed to a roommate were at 3.14 times higher odds (95% confidence interval, 1.42-6.92) of acquiring COVID-19 after exposure. On unit-stratified analysis, patients exposed to a roommate on the geropsychiatric unit had the highest risk of post-exposure conversion compared to unit mate exposed patients (odds ratio 6.38, 95% confidence interval 1.75-23.22). Logistic regression analysis identified a non-significant risk associated with increased time in group therapy. Exposure to a COVID-19 contagious roommate significantly increases the risk of COVID-19 acquisition among exposed patients receiving inpatient psychiatric care. Cohorting contagious and exposed individuals and avoiding multi-bedded rooms may successfully mitigate COVID-19 transmission risk during psychiatric care.

Hope for all? Investigating the moderating effect of social inhibition on the association between hope and outcome in an integrative group therapy program.

Existing research supports the therapeutic value of hope in different therapies and for diverse patient groups. Patients who are socially inhibited tend to have a particularly difficult time in group therapy, and the experience of hope in that context may be especially poignant for them. The present study investigated the impact of hope on the outcome of a group-based treatment and whether this impact differed for patients depending on their level of social inhibition. The sample consisted of 49 consecutively admitted patients who completed treatment in an intensive, integrative group therapy program. Patients completed four self-report measures to assess hope, social inhibition, quality of life, and depression. Regression with moderation analysis was employed. The analyses revealed that social inhibition significantly moderated the impact of hope on treatment outcome, indicating that hope had a more pronounced effect among those patients with relatively higher levels of social inhibition.

261. CONVERSION ESOPHAGECTOMY FOR CT4B ESOPHAGEAL CANCER - MIE VS OPEN -

Abstract Background and Aims The standard treatment for locally advanced unresectable esophageal cancer is definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT), however, after induction chemotherapy with a triplet chemotherapy regimen (docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-FU: DCF) or dCRT, conversion surgery could be performed if esophageal cancer is considered resectable. Furthermore, minimally invasive surgery such as robot-assisted or thoracoscopic procedures are expected to improve the outcome of patients with advanced esophageal cancer. We investigated the feasibility of minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) in conversion surgery. Materials and Methods Sixty-six patients who underwent conversion thoracic esophagectomy for cT4b esophageal cancer from 2007 to 2023 were included. The short-term outcomes of 25 open esophagectomy group and 41 MIE group (8 robot-assisted and 33 thoracoscopic) were compared. Results No differences in age, gender, PS, tumor location, histology, cN, or cM were observed between the two groups. cT4b organs tended to be in the airway in the MIE group (airway 70.7% vs 44%, major vessels 19.5% vs 24%, both 9.7% vs 32%, p=0.04) and DCF therapy was significantly performed in the MIE group for induction therapy (DCF 87.8% vs 56%, dCRT 12.2% vs 44%, p<0.001). On the other hand, salvage surgery was significantly associated with open esophagectomy (24.3% vs. 52%, p=0.003). There was no difference in surgical outcomes regarding thoracic operation time (157 min vs. 180 min, p=0.09), whereas the total operation time was significantly shorter in the MIE group (392 min vs. 439 min, p=0.02). Blood loss was significantly lower in the MIE group (79 ml vs. 470 ml, p<0.001), and R0 resection rate did not differ (82.9% vs. 72%, p=0.357). There were no significant differences in postoperative complications including pneumonia (26.8% vs. 44%, p=0.183) and recurrent nerve palsy (21.9% vs. 36%, p=0.260), but anastomotic leakage was significantly lower in the MIE group (4.8% vs. 24%, p=0.04). There was no difference in median postoperative hospital stay (16 [11-20] vs. 16 [14-29] days), however, median ICU stay (3 [3-4] vs. 4 [3-4] days, p=0.03) and readmission within 1 month after discharge (2.4% vs. 16%, p=0.04) were significantly lower in the MIE group. In-hospital mortality was observed in 1 case in the MIE group and 3 in the open esophagectomy group. Conclusion Despite the bias associated with the transition of treatment modalities and surgical techniques, MIE may contribute to improved short-term outcomes in conversion surgery.

Evidence-based group therapy for severe mental illness (SMI): Treatment for schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder.

Evidence-based group therapy for severe mental illness (SMI): Treatment for schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder.

A Comparison of Traditional Talk Therapy and Experiential Sandtray Approaches in Counselors in Training

This study explored the comparative effects of traditional talk therapy (control group) and sandtray therapy (experiential group) on group dynamics within a true experimental design. Utilizing the Group Climate Questionnaire-Short Form (GCQ-S), we measured engagement, conflict, and avoidance among master’s level counseling students. Findings revealed a significant interaction between therapy type and time on the engagement subscale, with participants in the experiential group experiencing greater increases in engagement over time. These results underscore the potential of expressive modalities in altering group dynamics and enhancing the effectiveness of group therapy in counselor education.

A Systematic Review of Non-Pharmacological Treatment Options for Skin Picking Disorder (SPD).

While Skin Picking Disorder (SPD) is a well-described neuropsychiatric disorder that causes severe stress and impairment, there is no clear protocol for treating patients and a relatively small body of literature evaluating treatment approaches. This review aims to summarize and compare recent publications and provide an up-to-date guide of current non-pharmacological treatments for SPD. A literature review was conducted on all non-pharmacological SPD treatment studies published between 2017-2023 using PubMed, CINAHL Plus with Full text (EBSCO), and Scopus. Search terms included skin picking, excoriation, psychiatry, treatment, and psychodermatology. Studies including SPD within other body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), studies using pharmacological agents, and studies not available in English were excluded. A minimum of 2 authors screened each abstract while blinded to minimize bias to assess for inclusion. 11 studies (2068 participants) were included, with a variety of study designs including feasibility, randomized control trial, longitudinal cohort, multiple baseline experimental, naturalistic trial, and controlled single case design with multiple baseline studies. The treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), ACT-Enhanced Group Behavioral Therapy (AE-GBT), ACT-Informed Exposure Therapy, group therapy, psychotherapy, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), online self-help modules, and Expressive Writing (EW). Studies implementing CBT, Habit Reversal Therapy (HRT), AE-GBT, online self-help modules, and EW demonstrated the best results in treating SPD. Several studies achieved significant outcomes for SPD participants, confirming the usefulness of non-pharmacological treatment in SPD. Based on our results, CBT, AE-GBT, online self-help modules, and EW appear to be the most effective in treating SPD. Additionally, most of these treatment modalities can be tailored to meet patient-specific needs. Some limitations of the studies include small sample sizes, lack of control groups/randomization, limited long-term follow-up data, and lack of gender variability.

지식 그래프를 활용한 중국 무용치료 연구동향 분석

Dance therapy, as a therapeutic method that integrates psychology and creative arts, which has attracted increasing attention from all walks of life. In order to help scholars from all over the world grasp the development context and trends of dance therapy research in China, this research analyzes the relevant literature on dance therapy in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI) database, revealing the research trends of dance therapy theme in the past 30 years, which can give data support for related research and provide theoretical basis for scholars around all over the world, and promote international academic exchanges and cooperation. Through the knowledge graph analysis method, the high-frequency words and high centrality words of 402 literature were explored and analyzed, and the knowledge network graph of dance therapy was presented from five aspects. It was found that, the research of dance therapy topics has gradually evolved in three stages in the past 30 years in China. On the whole, early research mainly focused on the role of dance in rehabilitation treatment, and mainly focused on the treatment of elderly. In recent years, with the focus on dance therapy and in-depth practice, emerging research topics involve the treatment of ‘depression’, ‘anxiety’, ‘stroke’, etc., which more pay attention to students, autistic children, and other groups. It shows that, with the increasing in research and attention on the field of dance therapy in China, the research not only focuses on dance therapy, but also involves many related fields, such as psychotherapy and self-acceptance in different groups, which shows that keeps expanding the research's progress and application of dance therapy in China. However, it also reflects the problems of incomplete operation system and insufficient academic-industrial linkage in Chinese dance therapy. This study is expected to provide implications for the direction of development of Chinese dance therapy to scholars around the world, including Korea.

The effect of rational therapy on modifying irrational thoughts among university students

The current research aims to identify the effect of the thinking distraction method in reducing existential frustration among university students at the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences/Al-Qasim Green University. The researcher has dealt with a theoretical framework that includes all the variables of the research, and to achieve the goal of the research, an existential frustration scale was built, using a statistical analysis sample. The number of items in this scale was (200) and after verifying its validity and reliability, the number of items in this scale reached (30) distributed across the scale’s areas. To test the research hypotheses, the researcher chose a sample of (14) male students only, who were intentionally selected from those who obtained the highest scores on the scale. Existential frustration scale: They were divided into two groups (experimental and control) with (7) students in each group. After parity was achieved for the two groups. As well as building the therapeutic program according to the problems posed in the scale according to the method (the thinking-distraction method), one session of the therapeutic program was taken, and after completing the application of the therapeutic program using the group therapy method on the research sample, the results showed that the program was effective in reducing existential frustration among university students.

The Effect of Adolescent Therapeutic Group Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Occurrence of Depression

Adolescents are tasked with developing identity vs. role confusion, where the search for identity will shape the individual's character. There has been an increase in the use of social media among adolescents, causing an increase in the number of depression in adolescents. The need for promotive and preventive efforts to prevent depression in adolescents. This study aims to determine the effect of therapeutic group therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy in preventing depression in adolescent social media users. This study was conducted on 70 students aged 15-18 years old using a purposive sampling technique according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study uses a quasi-experimental pre-post-test design with intervention and control groups. The intervention group was given therapeutic and cognitive behavioral therapy, and the control group was given therapeutic group therapy without cognitive behavioral therapy. The results of this study indicate a significant effect on the control group. The combination of therapeutic group therapy therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can be recommended as a therapy for reducing depression in adolescent social media users.

The effect of group therapy activities on social dysfunction among patients with serious mental illness

The effect of group therapy activities on social dysfunction among patients with serious mental illness

Protocol for a randomized clinical trial of strength at home parents: A trauma informed parenting intervention for veterans

BackgroundPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent in veterans and associated with impairments in family functioning, including parenting. There is a bidirectional relationship between PTSD and familial functioning such that impaired functioning is related to increases in trauma-related symptoms, and vice versa. Despite this known bidirectional association, there is currently no trauma-informed parenting intervention available for veterans within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Strength at Home – Parents (SAHP) is an 8-session telehealth delivered psychotherapy group that aims to improve parenting behaviors and overall parent-child and family functioning among U.S. military veterans with PTSD symptoms. This paper describes the methods of an individually randomized group therapy trial to test the efficacy of SAHP compared to a VA treatment as usual control condition.Methods are reported using SPIRIT guidelines. MethodsOne hundred and ninety veterans with elevated PTSD symptoms and parent-child functioning problems will be randomly assigned to the SAHP intervention or a treatment-as-usual control group. Outcomes are measured at 4 timepoints including baseline. The primary outcome is parenting stress. We will also examine changes in parenting behaviors, whether treatment gains are maintained over time, and will conduct an exploratory analysis to examine results separately by gender. Secondary outcomes include symptoms of PTSD and depression, family functioning, and child psychosocial functioning. ConclusionStudy findings will determine the efficacy of SAHP, an intervention developed for ease of use and implementation within the VA to improve parenting stress and parenting behaviors in veterans with elevated PTSD symptoms and parenting difficulties.

Evaluating Adolescent Patient Outcomes and Staff Member Injuries at a General Psychiatric Inpatient Unit.

Short-term pediatric psychiatric hospitalization is used to manage acute-crisis behaviors. Few studies have detailed their clinical model and key metrics such as patient behavioral health outcomes and staff experience. This study describes a model which emphasizes group therapy based on dialectical behavior therapy during brief inpatient stays (average length of stay of 8 days). The study variables assessed included patient symptoms of depression, anxiety, and anger at discharge, patient satisfaction, and staff safety. The program produced significant improvements in adolescent depression, anxiety, and anger, and patients reported high satisfaction with the services received. However, there was a high rate of staff injuries, correlated with staffing ratios and the time of day. The key findings from this study demonstrate the effectiveness of brief inpatient programs and highlight variables that may impact staff experiences on these units, which could serve as further discussion points to improve clinical care.

Efficacy of mindfulness-based Taoist embodiment group therapy on depression, anxiety and stress in an integrated community mental health service in Hong Kong: a preliminary exploration

Existing Taoist psychotherapy often feature indoctrination-heavy formats and hierarchical structures, which can undermine the experiential connection to Taoist principles central to their therapeutic value. This mixed-methods study evaluated a novel, 4-week, mindfulness-based, "Embodied Taoism" group therapy intervention, designed to address these limitations, at a government-funded Integrated Community Centers for Mental Wellness in Hong Kong. The program aimed to mitigate depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms, and cultivate cognitive flexibility, interpersonal connectedness, and Taoist principle integration. The majority of the 29 participants, aged 25-78, had diagnosed mental health disorders, while three were suspected cases. Rather than didactic presentation, the intervention employed experiential activities like mindful tea drinking, calligraphy, philodrama and philosophical discussion to facilitate embodied mindfulness practice and promote experiential understanding of the Taoist tenets such as non-interference, flowing with natural order, and “walking two roads”. Quantitative analysis of pre-post assessments (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21) and qualitative thematic analysis of participant questionnaires and focus groups were conducted.

Relapse prevention of bipolar disorders: an explorative cluster analytical approach in a randomized controlled psychotherapy study

The aim of this study was to differentiate between types of bipolar disorders and the associated features using explorative analysis. The focus was particularly on the role of bipolar1 and bipolar2 disorders as well as the influence of prophylactic interventions for relapse in arandomized, controlled treatment study. Atotal of 274 of the 305 originally included persons could be investigated in the study. Patients participated in either cognitive behavioral group therapy (SEKT) or supportive, patient-centered group therapy (FEST). Treatment took place over 4 days separated by a1-month interval (equivalent to 16double hours). Depressive and manic symptoms were assessed using the longitudinal interval follow-up evaluation (LIFE). The symptoms were retrospectively assessed for the previous 6months, with respect to each week before and after the intervention phase and for 6‑month and 12-month follow-ups. The results show that the effects of both group therapies were comparable; however, there were statistically significant differences in amultivariate proportional hazards model for the factors bipolar1 and 2 as well as the interaction of therapy with bipolar1 and 2. In particular, bipolar2 patients benefited significantly less from the SEKT intervention than from the FEST intervention. There were three clusters identified that separated bipolar1 (SEKT, no comorbidity, predominantly no recurrences, younger patients), from bipolar2 (FEST, no comorbidity, at least 1 often 2recurrences, older patients) and from aheterogeneous group (SEKT and FEST, comorbidity). The distinction between bipolar1 and bipolar2 disorder is important and has so far not received sufficient attention. Bipolar2 disorders generally have aworse course and respond particularly poorly to cognitive behavioral therapy (SEKT). An open, unstructured, supportive, patient-centered psychotherapy (FEST) is generally effective.

Patient and quality characteristics in the treatment with disulfiram (Antabus) in the German "Network for Alcohol Aversive Pharmacotherapy"

More than adecade ago disulfiram lost its approval for use in Germany. Nonetheless, aconsiderable number of psychiatric hospital outpatient departments as well as practicing physicians continue to prescribe it. These professionals have formed the "Network for Alcohol Aversive Pharmacotherapy" (NAP) to maintain a high quality of this treatment approach. To describe the current use of disulfiram with respect to patient numbers and characteristics, side effects, and use of concomitant multimodal treatment forms. Since 2019 the NAP has conducted an annual retrospective survey among its members regarding the aforementioned parameters. From 2019 to 2023 atotal of 1579 treatment cases were described by 33centers, 152 patients reported atotal of 241 drinking events, 26of them resulting in hospitalization but none causing complications or permanent harm. The most frequent side effects, in descending order, were unpleasant body odor (2.5%), fatigue, male sexual dysfunction, mildly elevated liver enzymes, allergic skin reactions and polyneuropathy (0.8%). More than one quarter of the patients suffered from comorbid depression, and approximately 5% from ADHD, borderline or other personality disorders, trauma-related disorders and anxiety disorders, respectively. Of the patients 33% were treated with antidepressants and 12% with sedating antipsychotics. Various forms of concomitant group therapy were offered to 66% of the patients. Treatment with disulfiram is legally possible, generally well-tolerated and safe. It is offered in most treatment centers as part of acomprehensive treatment plan that includes multimodal treatment of comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Support Group dalam Menurunkan Tingkat Stres pada Caregiver Skizofrenia

One of the cases experienced by schizophrenia caregivers is stress. One intervention to reduce stress levels in schizophrenia caregivers is a support group. Support groups are carried out with peer groups who have relatively similar problems by sharing information about the problems experienced by schizophrenia caregivers. This research aims to reduce the level of stress felt by caregivers of schizophrenia, using a quasi-experiment and using 6 research subjects consisting of 5 female subjects and 1 male subject who have moderate to severe stress level scores. The data collection method was carried out using the Kingston Caregiver Stress Scale (KCSS) and analysis used the Repeated Measured Anova Test. The results of the support group intervention showed that caregivers experienced significant changes (p<0.05) in terms of reducing stress levels before and after providing support group therapy. This study has important implications for the implementation of support groups in reducing stress levels among caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia. It can be concluded that support groups are effective in lowering stress levels in schizophrenia caregivers.

Self-compassion-based online group psychotherapy for bereavement-related grief: The COMPACT feasibility trial

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of online group psychotherapy focused on self-compassion for individuals experiencing bereavement-related grief. MethodThis single-arm feasibility trial involved participants aged 18 years or older who had experienced bereavement at least 6 months prior the five-week intervention. Outcomes were measured at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 4 and 12 weeks later. The primary endpoint was the percentage of participants who completed four out of five sessions; the pre-defined feasibility criterion was 70%. Secondary endpoints included measures of grief, depression, anxiety, self-compassion, and resilience. ResultsThe program was conducted in three courses with 18, 26, and 16 participants, respectively. The primary endpoint was met for 83.1% of participants (54/65). Cohen's d effect sizes ([95% CI] 12 weeks vs. baseline) for grief, depression, anxiety, self-compassion, and resilience were − 0.25 [−0.52, 0.03], −0.64 [−0.94, −0.34], −0.48 [−0.77, −0.19], 0.50 [0.21, 0.79], and − 0.07 [−0.34, 0.21], respectively. ConclusionsOnline group psychotherapy focused on self-compassion for individuals with bereavement-related grief is feasible and effective for addressing grief and psychological distress. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm the intervention's efficacy. Trial registration numberUMIN000048554, registered 2 August 2022.

Dynamics of clinical manifestations of social phobia, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa in medical university students during cognitive behavioral therapy and sertraline pharmacotherapy

In recent years, there has been a significant incidence of psychopathology, leading to a decrease in social adaptation and more serious consequences. In particular, one of these nosologies is social phobia. Social phobia in young people, in particular, in medical students, often leads to the development of eating disorders. A significant part of young people during their studies at the higher educational institution are under constant strain of adaptive resources, sometimes even in a state of decompensation. The purpose of the study was to investigate the dynamics of clinical manifestations of social phobia, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa in medical students against the background of cognitive behavioral psychotherapy and sertraline pharmacotherapy. The study was conducted in 2020–2021 among students of the Voronezh State Medical University named after N. N. Burdenko. 106 participants were divided into 4 groups. Group I was treated with individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), group II received a combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy with sertraline at a dosage of 100 mg/day, group III — psychopharmacotherapy with sertraline without cognitive psychotherapy, and group IV had cognitive behavioral group psychotherapy. During the two-month study positive dynamics in the frequency of symptoms of social anxiety, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa were noted among the patients of all groups. The best dynamics of symptoms of social phobia and eating disorders was noted among the participants of the first and second groups. The results in both groups are comparable. The next most effective method of therapy of the combined social phobia and eating disorders according to the two-month study was group cognitive psychotherapy. Sertraline pharmacotherapy without cognitive psychotherapy in the third group of the participants showed the least effectiveness. The results of the study allow recommending the use of individual and group CBT protocols and a combination of individual CBT and sertraline pharmacotherapy in the treatment of comorbid social phobia, anorexia ner vosa, and bulimia ner vosa in students of higher medical institutions.