Group Therapy Research Articles

Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavior Group Therapy in Reducing the Risk of Eating Disorder among University Students

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that typically originate during adolescence, often persist over an extended period, and significantly affect one's overall well-being. These disorders contribute significantly to the worldwide health burden. Despite a rising number of individuals seeking treatment for eating disorders, there is limited study regarding the effectiveness of therapy in preventive measures of the risk of eating disorders. Therefore, this research aims to study the effectiveness of cognitive behavior group therapy (CBGT) in reducing the risk of eating disorders among university students. Using a pretest-posttest with a control group design. The adapted Bangla version of the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) was utilized and socio-demographic data for all participants at the baseline and post-intervention. Thirty-six participants i.e., university students with a risk of eating disorders were chosen by purposive sampling. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups (intervention and non-intervention groups). However, the experimental (intervention) group (n = 18) received cognitive behavioral group therapy, and the control also known as the non-interventional group (n = 18) did not. To analyze the obtained data descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, and paired sample t-test were performed. Findings showed that receiving CBGT sessions significantly reduced eating disorder risk in the intervention group. However, there is no difference in the risk of eating disorders in the pre-test and post-test of the non-intervention group was observed. This study's findings emphasize the importance and effectiveness of cognitive behavior group therapy in addressing and mitigating the risk of eating disorders among university students. Jagannath University Journal of Science, Volume 10, Number II, Dec. 2023, pp. 124−135

Efficacy of Group Psychotherapies for the Treatment of Female Sexual Dysfunction: A Systematic Review

Efficacy of Group Psychotherapies for the Treatment of Female Sexual Dysfunction: A Systematic Review

Implementation of a Budo group therapy for psychiatric in- and outpatients: a feasibility study.

Physical exercise has been shown to have numerous health benefits on co-morbid somatic conditions in psychiatry and can also enhance mental health. Thus, it is not difficult to recommend physical training programs as part of an integrated and holistic treatment approach for mental health disorders. However, getting patients to participate and keeping them engaged is a major challenge. Programs based on martial arts training could be interventions improving physical and mental health with higher attachment rates. The structured discipline, holistic approach integrating physical and mental elements, and empowering activities, may explain higher participant attachment rates. Thus, the main objective of this feasibility study is to describe a newly established group therapy program incorporating interventions from martial arts training with its physical and philosophical parts including mindfulness and breath work. During the 14-month study period from April 2021 to May 2022, a Budo group therapy was used by 215 individual persons with a total of 725 group therapy participations. Retention in the program was good across all settings and very good for persons who participated as outpatients. The mean age of the participants was 33.5 years with a range from 14 to 69 years of age, and about 41% of the participants were female. The therapy program was able to address patients over the whole spectrum of psychiatric diagnoses. Satisfaction and motivation were uniformly self-reported as very good. Patients self-reported improved mental and physical health after participating in a Budo session compared to pre-session. Budo group therapy thus can be seen as a feasible, well-accepted and promising new transdiagnostic treatment approach, combining physical activation with resilience enhancement. With minimal contraindications, a broad spectrum of individuals seeking mental health support can engage in this group therapy.

Compassion Focused Group Psychotherapy for attachment and relational trauma: Engaging people with a diagnosis of personality disorder.

The research aimed to evaluate an exploratory Compassion Focused Group Psychotherapy Programme and the impact on participants' experiences of self-criticism, usage of services and general wellbeing. Participants included patients with a history of complex attachment and relational trauma (A&RT), who might attract a diagnosis of personality disorder. This study utilised a quasi-experimental non-randomised within subject controlled design for the evaluation of the efficacy of the programme. Participants were recruited from tertiary care services. The programme consisted of a 12-week Preparation and Engagement intervention (PEG) which was Compassionate Mind Training and Psychoeducation, followed by a 40-week Compassion Focused Trauma Group intervention. The cohort was then followed up after 12 months during which period they received treatment as usual. A comprehensive selection of self-report measures was administered at various points during the therapeutic process and following completion of the group interventions. The results of the research showed that the provision of a long-term, slow-paced, Compassion Focused Group Psychotherapy intervention, resulted in significant changes across all measures which were maintained at 12-month follow-up. These significant results were maintained following intention to treat and reliable change analyses. These data were supported by a significant reduction in service usage and a significant increase in engagement in employment and education. This study has identified that within Compassion Focused Group Psychotherapy, there is a therapeutic process of establishing group-based safeness as a necessary precursor to cultivating compassion and reworking early shame-based trauma memories.

A comparison of the effect of two types of brief psychodynamic group therapy on perfectionism-related attitudes, self-relatedness, and self-esteem

Objective: This randomized controlled trial investigated the efficacy of dynamic relational group therapy (DRT) relative to group psychodynamic supportive therapy (PST) in improving perfectionism-related attitudes and components of the perfectionistic self-relationship. Method: Based on a comprehensive conceptualization of perfectionism, 80 community-recruited, highly perfectionistic individuals were randomly allocated to 12 sessions of group DRT (n = 41; 5 groups) or group PST (n = 39; 5 groups). Patients completed measures of dysfunctional attitudes, self-criticism, self-esteem, and self-reassurance at pre-, mid-, and post-treatment, and six months post-treatment. Results: Multigroup latent growth curve modeling revealed significant (p < .05) decreases in dysfunctional attitudes, concern over mistakes, two types of self-criticism, and self-esteem problems, along with a significant increase in self-reassurance, from pre-treatment to six-month follow-up in both DRT and PST. Moderate-to-large between-group differences favoring DRT over PST were found for dysfunctional attitudes and self-reassurance. A majority of patients in both conditions maintained reliable improvement at six-month follow-up in dysfunctional attitudes, concern over mistakes, and self-criticism focused on inadequacy. Conclusion: Findings provide evidence for the use of psychodynamic group therapy approaches in treating perfectionism-related attitudes and self-relational elements of perfectionism, and support the relative efficacy of DRT for dysfunctional attitudes and self-reassurance.

Translating an integrative metacognitive model of psychotherapy for serious mental illness into a group format: A pilot investigation on feasibility.

Metacognitive reflection and insight therapy (MERIT) is an one-on-one intervention that targets insight with the aim to help people with serious mental illness develop more integrated ideas about themselves and others in order to respond to their psychological and social challenges more adaptively. There is a growing body of evidence on MERIT's effectiveness. Considering the clinical demand for more cost-effective group psychotherapies, we modified the original individual MERIT format to a group-based intervention (MERITg) for application in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings. Thirty-one participants (inpatient = 10; outpatient = 21) with serious mental illness were surveyed on their experience of MERITg, which was offered adjunctively to their routine clinical care. Program evaluation measures were used to assess the feasibility and acceptance of the group. Across locations, more than half of all participants attended more than one group. Participants reported attending the group initially because they thought writing would be helpful, and further reported that they liked the group because they enjoyed writing and the discussion, and that they found it interesting to hear the perspectives and writings of others. Findings further support the need for future research on the efficacy and effectiveness of the group and its relationship to changes in metacognitive capacity and recovery. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Effect of Existential Group Therapy on Infertility Stress in Infertile Men’s Spouses

Effect of Existential Group Therapy on Infertility Stress in Infertile Men’s Spouses

Pelatihan Praksis Konseling Adiktif untuk Meningkatkan Kompetensi Pedagogi dan Profesional Guru Bimbingan dan Konseling

Counseling is professional assistance provided by a counselor to a counselee. In a counseling relationship, personal qualities required by the counselor include empathy, congruence and respect. Counseling covers all aspects of life, one of which is addiction counseling. Counselors need to understand addiction counseling, namely so that the counselor has the goal of understanding behavior, motivations and knowing the feelings of the client, this goal is not limited to understanding the client. Counselors who already understand addiction counseling in helping the counselee's recovery, namely by knowing the counselee's self-understanding through group therapy (group counseling) and individual counseling which is a counseling activity that attempts to change the resident's behavior while undergoing the program. By providing addiction counseling practices, it can also be used to increase the personality competence of guidance and counseling teachers. In an effort to improve this competency, the guidance and counseling study program at PGRI Adi Buana University Surabaya provides community service related to the practice of addiction counseling to school counselors in the MGBK (Guidance and Counseling Teachers' Conference) at the SMP/MTs level. in Sidoarjo Regency, East Java

Group Activity Therapy (TAK) diabetes foot exercises for the elderly at Posbindu Seruni, Depok City

Old age is a life stage marked by changes that lead to a decline in bodily functions. One therapeutic approach employed for the elderly is group activity therapy, specifically focusing on foot exercises. The objective of this activity is to reduce morbidity among elderly individuals with diabetes mellitus. Engaging in foot exercises enhances blood circulation in elderly individuals suffering from diabetes mellitus, leading to increased strength in their leg muscles. The group activity therapy for elderly individuals with diabetes mellitus took place at Posbindu Seruni, attracting 19 participants. The activity involved group therapy sessions incorporating diabetic foot exercises. Based on the evaluation results, there was an increase in knowledge among TAK participants by 12.63%. Thus, health education and group activity therapy can be developed as sustainable health promotion initiatives. This approach aims to optimize the knowledge level of the elderly, facilitate a positive shift in their health behavior from maladaptive to adaptive, and help prevent the severity of diabetes mellitus through regular participation in diabetes foot exercises.

Effectiveness and acceptance of group therapy as a mental health intervention for people living with HIV in Africa – a scoping literature review

ABSTRACT Mental health problems are highly prevalent among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), yet mental health care in African countries is scarce. There is growing interest in understanding the effect of group therapy delivery models and task-shifting to support mental health care in African settings. We conducted a scoping review following the PRISMA-ScR statement on group therapy in PLWHA in Africa. We searched PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Google Scholar for articles published before October 2023 on evidence for effectiveness and acceptance of group therapies in PLWHA, and evidence of task-shifting approaches. A narrative synthesis approach for data analysis was used. We included 17 studies, which comprised 26 different outcome measures across seven countries in sub-Sahara Africa. The majority (72%) of the assessed single outcomes demonstrated a positive impact of group therapy delivery models on outcome measures, particularly depression, alcohol use, overall functioning, and social support in sub-Sahara Africa. High acceptance was demonstrated by quantitative and qualitative approaches. Task shifting approaches generally were shown to be effective, cost-effective, and accepted, and may support burdened healthcare systems in rural settings. The current evidence, albeit scarce, supports the use of group therapy and task shifting in addressing mental health among PLWHA living in sub-Sahara Africa.

Renewed Feedback-Informed Group Treatment for Patients with Anxiety and Depressive Disorders.

Feedback-Informed Group Treatment (FIGT) shows promise for improving outcomes, but results are mixed. The aim was investigating the feasibility, acceptability and effects of renewed FIGT on clinical outcomes and therapy processes. In a quasi-experimental pilot study, 65 patients with anxiety or depressive disorders and 15 therapists of interpersonal psychotherapy or cognitive behavioural therapy groups using renewed FIGT were included. Renewed FIGT contained three additions compared to the previous tool: (1) personalized goals along with the Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45), (2) therapists' training, coaching and intervision, and (3) instructions to actively use feedback in the group. Data on feasibility, acceptability, outcomes and process factors were analysed and compared with those of historical cohorts using only OQ-45 feedback or no feedback, using descriptive, multilevel and covariance statistical analyses. Feasibility was mostly improved, with patients experiencing more feedback discussions and better usability compared to only OQ-45 feedback. At least two thirds of the patients and therapists give preference to using feedback in the future. At the end of the study, therapists were less convinced that the OQ-45 and goals were able to detect change. Renewed FIGT did not improve effectiveness on clinical outcomes. Compared to no feedback, patients experienced more cohesion, engagement and less avoidance, but improved less on depressive symptoms. Even when renewed FIGT is more feasible and usable than only OQ-45 feedback and associated with more cohesiveness and engagement, it may not automatically lead to improved effectiveness on clinical outcomes in short-term group therapy. Implications and future directions are described.

Clinical efficacy of ablative laser combined with pulsed dye laser in the treatment of pathological scars: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

AbstractObjectiveA systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ablative laser combined with pulsed dye laser to treat pathological scars.MethodsA systematic literature review was conducted to identify all blind, randomized, controlled trials of ablative laser and pulsed dye laser for treating pathological scars. The databases PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were used. All research on ablative laser combined with PDL in treating pathological scars with ablative laser or no treatment as controls were included in the meta‐analysis. The retrieved studies' reference lists were thoroughly examined.ResultsPOSAS and VSS were used as evaluation criteria in seven studies involving 189 patients. Effect of combined laser group therapy (−1.259 95% confidence interval, −1.515 to −1.003; p &lt; 0.0001). The difference between the combined treatment and control groups was (−1.375; 95% CI, −1.727 to −1.023; p &lt; 0.0001) and (−1.150; 95% CI, −1.523 to −0.777; p &lt; 0.0001).ConclusionsAblative laser combined with PDL is more effective and safer than ablative laser or PDL alone in the treatment of pathological scars.

Is adequate dose adequate? An examination of the impact of psychotherapy on posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms utilizing Veterans Health Administration medical records.

Prior studies on individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) defined an adequate dose of psychotherapy as receiving at least nine sessions within a 15-week period. Yet, few studies have examined whether this definition of adequate dose is associated with meaningful change in PTSD symptoms over an extended period. To examine whether an adequate dose of individual or group psychotherapy was associated with PTSD symptom improvement, we identified mental health outpatient visits in the electronic medical record for a cohort of veterans enrolled in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) services (N = 1,649) across 5 years. Using latent growth curve modeling, we estimated the effect of receiving an adequate dose of psychotherapy on the PTSD symptom course. Among the sample, 992 participants (60.16%) received at least one individual therapy session and 506 participants (30.7%) received at least one group therapy session; of those, 226 (22.78%) received an adequate dose of individual therapy and 212 (41.9%) received an adequate dose of group therapy, respectively. An adequate individual therapy dose, but not group therapy dose, was associated with a decrease in PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) scores over time. This improvement was extremely gradual (average of 1.57 PCL-5 point decrease per year). Adequate dose of psychotherapy, defined as nine sessions of routine psychotherapy over 15 weeks, is associated with minimal symptom change. This suggests that commonly used definitions of adequate dose have minimal clinical utility. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Perceptions, facilitators and barriers to the implementation of interpersonal group therapy to treat depression among people living with HIV in Senegal: a qualitative study.

Depression is highly prevalent in people living with HIV (PLWH) but remains under treated in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this context, we conducted the first study of Group Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) to treat depression in PLWH in Senegal. We assessed the perceptions and experiences of patients and group facilitators, as well as barriers to implementation. This study was conducted at the Fann National University Hospital Center in Dakar, the urban capital of Senegal. Qualitative data were collected during the implementation phase (February to June 2020 and then from January to February 2021), with a 6-month pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty-five patients and three group facilitators were individually interviewed by a socio-anthropologist. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Group IPT was perceived as successful and beneficial by patients and facilitators. Patients reported positive experiences with group IPT and sustained outcomes. Beyond improving depressive symptoms, patients reported improvements in their social and professional lives, and the development of skills to prevent relapse. Group facilitators noted the benefits of therapy for their patients and for their professional skills, reporting greater clinical competence and improved supportive skills. Challenges to intervention implementation included confidentiality and patient privacy concerns, healthcare accessibility issues, and time demands. In this first qualitative study of group IPT for depression in PLWH in Senegal, participants described both positive experiences with the intervention and challenges to its implementation. Future studies, conducted in suburban and rural communities outside of Dakar, would further inform the implementation of IPT in Senegal.

Gratitude in a culturally adapted psychotherapy group and in Chinese culture: Interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Gratitude in a culturally adapted psychotherapy group and in Chinese culture: Interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Effectiveness of Interferential Therapy with Hip Muscle Strengthening Exercises and Ultrasound Therapy with Hip Muscle Strengthening Exercises for Piriformis Syndrome

Background: Sciatic nerve irritation caused by the piriformis muscle ,which results in Buttock pain, sciatica, or bothis known as piriformis syndrome. The prevalence of PS with sciatic nerve piercing is 17% and 81% respectively,while it was present in 17.2% suffering from low back discomfort.Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find the effectiveness of interferential therapy with hip muscle strengtheningexercises and ultrasound therapy with hip muscle strengthening exercises for piriformis syndrome.Materials and Methods: About 220 participants were selected by using FAIR test and visual analogue scale oninclusion and exclusion criteria. Written informed consent was collected before the commencement of the study. The220 participants were allocated into 2 groups. Interferential therapy group (n=110) and ultrasound therapy group(n=110). Interferential therapy group were given interferential therapy with hip muscle strengthening exercisesand the ultrasound therapy group were given ultrasound therapy with hip muscle strengthening exercises. Theintervention was given 5 times a week for a total duration of 2 weeks. Study Period: October 2022-June 2023.Results: The collected data was statistically analyzed using paired and unpaired t test, when comparing theInterferential therapy group to the ultrasound therapy, the Interferential therapy group indicates significanteffects P&lt;0.0001 in piriformis syndrome, as assessed by VAS.Conclusion: This study concluded that the Interferential therapy group was found to be more effective than theultrasound therapy group in patients with Piriformis Syndrome.

Assessment of Basic Benefits of Positive and Transcultural Psychotherapy in Working with a Group of Multicultural Students

This research was done with a group of multicultural students who were pursuing their studies in Turkey. The aim of the research is to evaluate the benefits of Positive and Transcultural Psychotherapy in working with groups of multicultural students. The research data are based on the therapeutic process, which was used in ten psychotherapeutic sessions by applying Positive and Transcultural Psychotherapy, with the methods and techniques, such as: the concept of positum, the principle of hope, the balance model, stories and the psychotherapeutic process, all made within the five phases of therapy. The participants in the group therapy were six females from different national backgrounds. All participants expressed complaints about the adaptation process in the new environment. The research results are based on oral data from participants’ feedback at the end of each session and at the end of the therapeutic process.

Clinical outcomes of conversion surgery following immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy in stage IV gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis.

281 Background: Although anti-PD-1 antibody in combination with chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy has shown promising antitumor activity in advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (GC), the evidence of conversion therapy for initially GC with peritoneal metastasis is limited. This study aimed to clarify the clinical outcomes of conversion therapy for such patients. Methods: In this retrospective single institution cohort study, we analyzed 83 GC patients with peritoneal metastasis who received first-line anti-PD-1 antibody and chemotherapy and/or target therapy (trastuzumab) between November 2019 and June 2023. In patients who respond well to treatment, when preoperative imaging studies, multidisciplinary team discussions, and staged laparoscopy indicated the absence of peritoneal metastasis and the possibility of R0 resection, patients were offered conversion surgery. In this study, palliative surgery was not included. Patients were divided into two groups: conversion therapy group and palliative therapy group. Results: All patients underwent staging laparoscopy at their initial visit and underwent at least 2 treatment cycle, with a median follow-up time of 20.3 (16-24.6) months. Of the 83 patients, 32 patients presented a clinical response and underwent re-laparoscopy. Negative peritoneal metastasis and peritoneal cytology were confirmed in 25 patients who proceeded to undergo the conversion surgery. Compared with palliative therapy group, surgery group had a significantly better median progression-free survival (PFS) (20.3 vs 5.1 months; p &lt; 0.001) and a prolonged median overall survival (OS) (33.4 vs 11.7 months; p &lt; 0.001). In the surgery group, 24 (96%) of 25 patients were performed laparoscopic gastrectomy radical laparoscopic gastrectomy with more than D2 lymph node dissection (only one patient underwent open gastrectomy), 19 (76%) patients achieved R0 resection, 2 (8%) patients achieved pathologic complete response (pCR) and 4 (16%) patients reached tumor regression grade (TRG) 0-1. It was observed that patients with PCI score ≤ 2 experienced a longer median OS in comparison to those with PCI scores &gt; 2 ( unreached vs 28.5 months, P &lt; 0.031). And multivariate analysis associated with PFS among surgery cases identified signet ring cell carcinoma as an independent adverse prognostic factor (HR 4.66; 95% CI 1.19–18.22; p = 0.027). No serious treatment-related adverse events resulted in termination of treatment or death. Conclusions: Conversion surgery following first-line anti-PD-1 antibody in combination with chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy represented a promising treatment strategy for GC patients with peritoneal metastasis. When immunochemotherapy is effective, active second-look staging laparoscopy should be performed to clarify the possibility of conversion surgery.

Positum MGS Coaching Protocol in the Framework of Positive Group Psychotherapy Training for Specialists Working with Groups of Children and Adults Affected by War, Disasters and Refugee Crises: a Case Study

War brings destruction in the broader sense, forcing millions to flee their homes, and resulting in an increased burden of depression, anxiety, PTSD and other mental and behavioral disorders. This burden grows even more in the framework of pandemics and natural disasters, as social and protection services experience crisis of resources. Providing one-to-one mental health care is no longer feasible for masses of refugee and internally displaced children and adults who need support, and, as a result, the need to have increasing numbers of mental health specialists who intervene in groups becomes more and more emergent. The paper reviews the Positum MGS approach to work with groups of children and adults in refugee settings, and not only, suggests the ‘Positum MGS coaching protocol’ within the framework of group Positive Psychotherapy (PPT after Peseschkian, since 1977)TM. Empirically supported and demonstrated by a case in the paper, the protocol being applied by a Positum MGS trainer or team of trainers, during an in-person training of 4-5 days, helps trainees greatly in learning to use psychosocial transcultural games and related techniques as resilience-building tools with groups of children, adolescents or adults. Either in the position of PPT trainers, psychotherapists, consultants or students, the participants in a Positum MGS core training and coaching or PPT training at basic or master levels with a focus of working with groups, can be supported through the suggested coaching protocol and questions in line with the 5-stage consultation of PPT.

Psychodynamic Group Therapy for Eating Disorders: A Narrative Review

AbstractSeveral psychotherapeutic interventions are recommended for Eating Disorders (EDs), chiefly individual cognitive-behavioral therapy and family-based treatments. Manualized individual psychodynamic treatments are recommended for adults with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Evaluation of psychodynamic group treatments in treating EDs requires further assessment, and recent reviews focused only marginally on this topic. To fill this gap, a narrative review through APA PsychInfo, PubMed and Scopus was carried out. Psychodynamic group treatments appear to improve some ED symptoms at the end of the treatment; however, most of the studies cited were not manualized and lacked control groups and follow-ups. The differences in therapeutic methods and the criteria used to measure remission across the studies included, as well as the incorporation of diverse interventions (including psychodynamic group therapy and elements of BT/CBT or psychoeducation), create difficulties when it comes to forming conclusive judgments about the effectiveness of psychodynamic group therapies for Eating Disorders. The need for more rigorous research and Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) is evident.