Psychoeducational Group Research Articles

Practical Psychosocial Management for Patients With Bipolar Disorder.

The broad acceptance of evidence-based psychosocial interventions as adjuncts to pharmacotherapy for bipolar disorder has been inhibited by the extensive training, supervision, and fidelity requirements of these approaches. Interventions that emphasize evidence-based strategies drawn from these modalities-rather than the full manualized protocols-may broaden the availability of psychotherapy for patients with bipolar disorder. In this article, psychosocial risk factors relevant to the course of bipolar disorder (stressful life events that disrupt social rhythms, lack of social support, family criticism and conflict, and lack of illness awareness or literacy) are reviewed, along with evidence-based psychosocial interventions (e.g., interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, family-focused therapy, and group psychoeducation) to address these risk factors. The results of a component network meta-analysis of randomized psychotherapy trials in bipolar disorder are discussed. Manualized psychoeducation protocols-especially those that encourage active skill practice and mood monitoring in a family or group format-were found to be more effective, compared with individual psychoeducation or routine care, in reducing 1-year recurrence rates. Cognitive restructuring, regulation of daily and nightly routines, and communication skills training were core components associated with stabilization of depressive symptoms. The authors describe a novel psychoeducational approach-practical psychosocial management (PPM)-that integrates these core strategies into the personalized care of patients with bipolar disorder to reduce recurrences and enhance mood stability. PPM is designed to be implemented, without time-intensive training and oversight, by physician or nonphysician clinicians. Evaluating the efficacy and coverage of PPM will require implementation trials in community settings.

The effect of social cognitive theory based group psychoeducation program on the self-regulated learning skills and academic achievement of high school students

In this study, it was aimed to design a group psychoeducation program based on social cognitive theory to improve the self-regulated learning skills of high school students and to examine the effect of this program on the students' self-regulated learning skills and academic achievement. This research is a quasi-experimental study in which the pre-test, post-test and follow-up test results of the experimental and control groups are compared. A total of 32 volunteer students from an Anatolian High School in Turkey were randomly assigned to the experimental (n:16) or control group (n:16). The research data were obtained with personal information form and Self-regulated Learning Skills Scale. In the study, participants in the experimental group were included in an eight session psychoeducation program, while the control group was not included in any program. A psychoeducational program was applied to the students in the experimental group, with sessions held once a week for 60 minutes. A posttest was conducted following the completion of the group sessions, and a follow-up test was administered four months later to both groups. Analysis of variance (Anova), analysis of covariance (Ancova), t-test for related and independent samples were used to analyse the study data. As a result of the study, it was found that the group psychoeducation programme applied to the experimental group was effective in developing students' self-regulatory learning skills and this effect continued in the follow-up test. It was also found to be effective in increasing academic achievement. The results reveal that a group psychoeducation program based on social cognitive theory can be used to develop high school students' self-regulation skills and increase their academic success.

BREAK FREE and Fly: A CBT School Counseling Group Curriculum for Anxiety

A junior/senior high school counselor used an innovative psychoeducational group counseling curriculum based on cognitive behavioral therapy to meet the social/emotional needs of identified students. This article provides a summary and evaluation of the small group plan conducted via practitioner research. Results indicated that, although participants’ overall feelings of anxiety did not significantly improve, the curriculum enabled study participants to meet defined learning objectives. We discuss implications for school counselors.

SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT IN VETERAN DEVELOPMENT CENTERS: PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

Institutions of higher education actively participate in the implementation of the state veteran policy. The article characterizes the practical experience of the Center for Veteran Development in providing first-level psychological assistance. Research methods applied: analysis of the activities of the Center for Veteran Development of Pavlo Tychyna Uman State Pedagogical University, generalization of the main forms of social and psychological support for veterans and their family members; study of the official website of the institution of higher education. The main form of socio-psychological support for veterans and veterans is Veteran Development Centers. The article`s purpose is to characterize the practical experience of the Center for Veteran Development in providing first-level psychological assistance. Research methods: analysis of the activities of the Center for Veteran Development of Pavlo Tychyna Uman State Pedagogical University, generalization of the main forms of social and psychological support for veterans and their family members; study of the official website of the institution of higher education. Since 2023, such a center has been created based on Pavlo Tychyna Uman State Pedagogical University. The university staff is working on creating a barrier-free space and accessible services. Among the forms of work of the center: individual psychological counseling is provided; group therapeutic classes, psychoeducation, and information sessions are practiced; rehabilitation programs are being developed; measures to support families are in demand; relaxation techniques and therapies are effective; individual work on social and psychological adaptation is carried out; training work is popular. Volunteer activities are systematically carried out by specialists and volunteers of the Center. It is possible to study for veterans at the university, as well as to study a foreign language.

Quelle réponse au trouble somatique fonctionnel : la filière ACSEPT

BackgroundFunctional somatic disorder (FSD) is a prevalent disorder that can be severely disabling for the patient and is associated with major health costs. There are few formalized care programs for these disorders in the country, and their management encounters various difficulties, both in the diagnosis and its announcement and the treatment. Cognitive-behavioural and emotional therapy (CBT) is the standard on psychiatry care, and its efficacy has been demonstrated through several randomised controlled studies on the intensity of physical and psychological symptoms. InterventionAt Lille's University Hospital Center, we have established the “ACSEPT” care pathway for TSF management which consists of a psychiatric consultation followed by an individual referral, including a treatment using repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or the integration of a CBT-based psychoeducation group. This group had the particularity of caring for all patients presenting FSD regardless of the associated physical symptoms. Educating medical professionals and conducting FSD research were other goals of ACSEPT. Discussion/conclusionACSEPT allows an improvement in the care offered to these patients with a defined orientation and interdisciplinary, early, organized cares that are repeatable. Our goal is to study the effectiveness of these different interventions in subsequent studies, to continue the development of ACSEPT and to be able to distribute this intervention at the regional level to establish a clear care program allowing early management of these patients.

“Being a Parent in Finland” - psycho-educative intervention: development and acceptability of a group programme aimed at increasing trust among migrant parents

ABSTRACT The existing literature highlights distrust among migrant parents in Nordic countries towards child welfare and other services. However, interventions to enhance parental trust are few in number, and descriptions of their development and feasibility testing in a Nordic context are lacking. This paper describes the development of ‘Being a Parent in Finland’, a psycho-educative group intervention designed for migrant parents to foster institutional trust. The intervention’s content and structure are outlined using the Six Steps for Quality Intervention Development framework (6SQuID). Additionally, the paper presents findings from a small-scale pilot study involving thematic interviews with 16 parents and a pre-post survey with 14 parents to assess programme acceptability. The pilot study indicated high acceptability and perceived benefits among parents, although no changes in institutional trust emerged in the quantitative survey. Implications for future development, practice, and research are discussed.

Feasibility, acceptability and preliminary evaluation of a user co-facilitated psychoeducational programme: a feasibility proof-of-concept randomised control trial

BackgroundMental health settings are increasingly using co-facilitation of educational group interventions in collaboration with patient partners and service users. However, despite promising results, limited information is available regarding the feasibility and satisfaction levels of these programmes among adults newly diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity/impulsivity disorder (ADHD). Hence, this study aimed to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a user co-facilitated psychoeducational group programme for adults diagnosed with ADHD.MethodsThis feasibility proof-of-concept randomised controlled trial recruited outpatients from a Norwegian community mental health centre. Outpatients randomised to the intervention group (IG) received a psychoeducational programme supplementing Treatment As Usual (TAU), while the control group received TAU. Feasibility was determined by the acceptance rate, adherence rate, and dropout rate. Acceptability was measured with the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire and a 3-item scale measuring satisfaction with the received information. To test the preliminary effects, self-efficacy, symptom severity, and quality of life were measured at baseline and pre- and post-intervention.ResultsFeasibility was demonstrated; most of the patients were willing to enrol, participants attended 82% of the psychoeducational programme, and only 13% dropped out of the study. The between-group analyses revealed that the IG reported significantly greater mean satisfaction than the CG. Moreover, the intervention group was more satisfied with the information they received during the psychoeducational programme. Concerning the preliminary effects, the linear mixed model showed improvement in quality of life (the subscale relationship); however, other patient-reported outcomes did not show improvements.ConclusionsThis proof-of-concept randomised controlled trial supports the feasibility and acceptability of the user co-facilitated psychoeducational programme for patients newly diagnosed with ADHD in an outpatient setting. While preliminary findings indicate promise in enhancing patient-reported outcomes, a larger study is warranted to assess the intervention’s effectiveness rigorously.Trial registrationNCT03425, 09/11/2017.

Developing a group-based psychoeducation intervention for adoptive parents and foster carers in a specialist child and adolescent mental health service setting

Children and young people in foster and adoptive families are considered more vulnerable to a high level of mental health need when compared to peers who are not care-experienced or adopted. Acceptance of this view amongst clinical providers and policy makers has necessitated the development of specialist provision and dedicated care pathways within child and adolescent mental health services. In this provision, practitioner-initiated quality improvement projects help in appraising the effectiveness of clinical interventions in local contexts, as well as identifying areas for service learning and practice reflection. This article reports on the evaluation of a mentalisation-based psychoeducation group intervention for adoptive parents and foster carers. The evaluation activity took place in a single child and adolescent mental health service setting, starting during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the intervention being implemented online via videoconferencing. In the article, after introducing the intervention (based on the Family Minds model), an analysis of clinical data collected pre- and post-intervention is reported. Few results of the analysis regarding the two pre- and post-measures reached statistical significance, indicating only changes in the magnitude of stress in the parent/carer-child system. A series of reflections are posed that consider what this finding means in developing fit-for-purpose support for adoptive parents and foster carers in child and adolescent mental health service contexts.

Qualitative focus group study of interprofessional healthcare providers to inform the development of a virtual psychoeducational training program for the treatment of childhood interpersonal trauma

ABSTRACT The shortage of adequately trained healthcare providers (HCPs) able to treat adults who have experienced childhood interpersonal trauma (CIT) is a pressing concern. This study explored HCPs’ training needs for a trauma-focused psychoeducational group intervention and the potential barriers and facilitators to accessing such training. Three 1-hour focus group sessions were conducted with HCPs (n = 17) from two urban and one rural community healthcare organization serving diverse populations in Ontario, Canada, including under-housed people, women struggling with mental health and addiction, and LGBTQ+ populations. On average, participants had 2.4 years in their current role and 18.1 years of mental health field experience. Thematic analysis revealed key findings: a strong clinical need for trauma services, accessible training programs, and broadly applicable interventions relevant for diverse populations. Notably, participants emphasized the clinical advantages and increased accessibility of a virtual training programs focused on psychoeducational treatment interventions, particularly within community-based healthcare settings. This study highlights the potential of a virtual psychoeducational training programs for HCPs to address this critical gap in healthcare provision for individual with CIT. It also underscores the need to move beyond training program development and focus on implementation and sustainability of interventions in clinical practice.

Feasibility, acceptability and outcomes of a contextual schema therapy-based mobile program for depressive symptoms in adults

BackgroundGiven the high prevalence of depression worldwide, there is a pressing need for increasing treatment accessibility and identifying treatment modalities that can sustainably address depression. The present study aims to test the feasibility, acceptability, outcomes and mechanisms of a brief online self-help program for depressive symptoms in adults (nCompass), based on Contextual Schema Therapy principles. Method102 participants scoring above 14 on the Beck Depression Inventory – Second Version were recruited online and randomly allocated to either the 15-day nCompass intervention or a self-administered online psychoeducation group. Participants filled in self-report measures of depression, schema coping and psychological flexibility at baseline, immediately following the intervention and at a two-week follow-up. Additionally, nCompass participants were administered an instrument measuring the acceptability of the program. ResultsThe nCompass intervention was overall feasible and acceptable, with most participants completing the intervention and assessing it as easy to use, satisfactory and useful. Furthermore, results indicate higher decreases in depression and schema coping in the nCompass group by follow-up, compared to the control group. Changes in depressive symptoms from pre-test to post-test and follow-up in the nCompass group were explained by changes in surrender coping. There were no significant differences in psychological flexibility between the groups at either post-test or follow-up. DiscussionOur results highlight the nCompass program as a promising option for treating depressive symptoms in the general population.

P2: Analysis of resilience levels in caregivers of patients with young and late onset Alzheimer’s disease

Introduction: Resilience is a dynamic process involving the interaction between risk and protective factors that act to modify the effects of adverse life events. Understanding the resilience of caregivers of patients with AD and its predictors is essential for the development of intervention strategies aimed at solutions that can contribute to the improvement of their emotional disorders, such as anxiety, stress, anddepression.Methods: 93 dyads of patients diagnosed with AD, where 60 (64.5%) dyads had Late-onset AD (LOAD) and 33 (35.5%) dyads had Young-onset AD (YOAD). Patients were assessed for: quality of life (QoL), disease awareness, and depression. Caregivers were assessed for: resilience, depression, anxiety, burden, and QoL. Additionally, caregivers provided information about mood, neuropsychiatric symptoms, dementia severity, and patients’ activities of daily living.Results: Caregivers showed moderate levels of resilience, with an average score of 140 (SD = 13.20), moderate level of burden 28.94 (SD = 14.74), low level of anxiety 7.56 (SD = 7.44), and low level of depressive symptoms 8.17 (SD = 6.34). Patients had an average cognition score of 18.81, 63.4% had mild dementia, low depression index .2 (SD = 5.78), low index of neuropsychiatric symptoms 16.11 (SD = 14.47), and partially compromised disease awareness 9.06 (SD = 5.12).Conclusions: No relationship was found between caregivers’ resilience and patients’ clinical condition, indicating that resilience seems to be associated with caregivers’ individual characteristics. Interventions such as psychoeducational groups, behavioral or religious counseling, may stimulate or develop resilience characteristics in caregivers who exhibit avoidance or denial behaviors regarding the patient’s diagnosis.

The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to Improve Anxiety Symptoms and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients.

Breast cancer patients often experience anxiety, impacting their Quality of Life (QOL) . Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a 3rd generation psychotherapy from CBT combined with MBSR where mindfulness methods are carried out in a structured and scheduled manner, able to provide a pause between the stressor and the automatic response it causes. This study aimed to assess MBCT's effectiveness in alleviating anxiety and enhancing QOL in Stage III breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, with mild-moderate anxiety disorders. The experimental research, conducted at Moewardi General Hospital Surakarta from March to June 2023, employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design. Thirty subjects were divided into intervention (MBCT) and control (psychoeducation) groups. Participants completed demographic forms, disease history, and assessments using the Hospital Anxiety & Depression Scale (HADS-A) and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). There was a significant improvement in HADS-A scores in both groups (P <0.001) where the difference in the median HADS score in intervention group was higher compared to the control group. The effect of MBCT to the score improvement of HADS-A showed statistically significant results P=0.003 with HR 1.288. In the EORTC QLQ C30 Global score, the intervention group experienced a significant increase P<0.001, and in the control group, it did not significantly increase p=0.087 although multivariate analysis showed that MBCT was not significant in improving the global EORTC score. From the continued multivariate analysis of the EORTC QLQ C30 function, score improvement was significantly influenced by MBCT with P=0.035 and HR 3.086. Meanwhile, for the EORTC symptoms, score improvement was influenced by MBCT with P=0.005 and HR3.401. There is a score improvement in HADS-A and EORTC with the provision of MBCT psychotherapy and with the provision of psychotherapy. However, the HADS and EORTC improvement scores were significantly higher with MBCT compared to psychotherapy alone.

Early specialised treatment for bipolar disorder: Long-term follow-up from the early intervention in affective disorders (EIA) randomised controlled trial.

It is unclear whether treatment early after onset in bipolar disorder may improve the long-term illness course. The early intervention in affective disorders (EIA) randomised controlled trial found that 2-years treatment in a specialised mood disorder clinic combining evidence-based pharmacological treatment with group psychoeducation improved clinical outcomes compared with standard treatment in patients with bipolar disorder discharged after their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd hospital admission. We aimed to assess the 16 years long-term outcomes after randomisation of the participants in the EIA trial. Data were obtained by linking nation-wide Danish population-based registers. All 158 participants of the EIA trial (Trial Registration Number NCT00253071) were followed from time of randomisation (2005-2009) to end of study (31 December 2021). The primary outcome was risk of psychiatric readmission. Secondary outcomes were total admissions and costs, medication use, intentional self-harm or suicide attempt or suicide, and socio-economic measures. The absolute mean risk of psychiatric readmission was 49.3% in the intervention group and 59.8% in the control group, with no statistically significant difference between the groups (b = -0.10, 95% CI: -0.26 to 0.047, p = 0.18). Compared with the control group, patients in the intervention group had numerically fewer total admission days (mean (SD) 44 (77) versus 62 (109)), lower total cost of psychiatric hospital admissions and hospital-based outpatient visits (mean (SD) 22,001 (36793) euros versus 29,822 (52671) euros) and higher use of lithium and antipsychotics, but the differences were not statistically significant. Fewer patients in the intervention group had an event of intentional self-harm or suicide attempt or suicide during follow-up (OR 0.25, 95% CI: 0.15-0.40, p < 0.001) compared with the control group and more patients in the intervention group used antiepileptics (OR 2.21, 95% CI: 1.08-4.60, p = 0.031). Analyses of very long-term outcomes of the EIA trial may potentially indicate a beneficial effect of the intervention at the long term but were likely underpowered to detect a more subtle effect and for most outcomes the differences between groups were not statistically significant.

Exploring Temporal Relationships Between Anxiety, Mood and Mental Imagery in Patients With Bipolar Disorder: A Network Analysis.

Bipolar disorder is a severe mental health problem with limited treatment success. There is a call for improving interventions, requiring an increased understanding of factors driving mood instability. One promising avenue is to study temporal associations between factors that appear relevant according to the emotional amplifier model of Holmes are changes in mood, anxiety and mental imagery. The current study used data from a recent RCT for a secondary analysis which applied a network analysis approach to explore temporal associations between weekly measurements of mania, depression, anxiety and mental imagery measured during 32 weeks in two randomised groups (N = 55) receiving either imagery-focused cognitive therapy (ImCT) or group psychoeducation (PE). Both negative intrusive mental imagery and anxiety appeared central in the network analyses, driving changes in both mania and depression, but only in the PE group. In the ImCT group, only anxiety was driving changes in mania and depression. Although exploratory, findings suggest that prior increases in anxiety and negative intrusive mental imagery might be associated with subsequent increases in depression and mania symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder. Anxiety might in turn increase negative intrusive imagery and associated negative emotions. Although more research is needed, results are in line with the emotional amplifier model and stress that future interventions with a focus on anxiety and imagery might help to improve psychosocial therapies for patients with bipolar disorder. In addition, this study suggests that a network approach is a helpful and feasible way to study mood instability, anxiety and mental imagery to increase our understanding of mechanisms underpinning mood instability.

Forgiveness Psychoeducation with Emerging Adults: REACH Forgiveness and Community Campaigns for Forgiveness

Much attention has been devoted to the effectiveness of forgiveness interventions in children and adolescents featuring two premier programs by Enright and his colleagues. Little attention has been given to psychoeducational forgiveness interventions with emerging adults. This is a narrative review of REACH Forgiveness studies with emerging adults (ages 18–25). The life tasks of emerging adults justify offering psychoeducational interventions to emerging adults. Research studies on REACH Forgiveness (k = 17), non-REACH Forgiveness studies (k = 4), and community campaigns at universities (k = 4) with emerging adults are summarized. Effect sizes per hour (d/h) for REACH Forgiveness studies (k = 13 for psychoeducational groups; k = 4 for self-administered workbooks) are reported. The proto-REACH groups (k = 5) had mean d/h = 0.104; REACH groups (k = 9) had d/h = 0.101; self-administered workbooks (k = 3) had mean d/h = 0.15; non-REACH Forgiveness studies (k = 4) had d/h = 0.09. All studies were from the USA, and most were from universities. However, a recent article reported randomized controlled trials in five non-USA samples of adults (N = 4598). A 3.34-h workbook had d/h = 0.16, suggesting that the workbook might be effective with emerging adults around the world. Finally, three USA Christian universities had public health immersion campaigns to promote forgiveness, and a community psychoeducational campaign in 2878 secular university students in Colombia (of ~9000 total) allowed choices among 16 psychoeducational activities. The number of activities used was proportional to forgiveness experienced. For forgiveness, d = 0.36 plus substantial reductions in depression and anxiety, indicating strong public health potential of forgiveness psychoeducation in emerging adults worldwide.

Community intervention delivered by frontline healthcare professionals to promote eating self-efficacy

PurposeThe goal of this study was to assess changes in eating self-efficacy after participating in a brief psychoeducational group intervention, grounded in the cognitive-behavioral model, delivered by dieticians in community-based health facilities.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted using a quasi-experimental, pre-post design. A total of 110 program participants took part in the study. They were asked to complete the Eating Self-Efficacy Scale before the start of the intervention, at the end of the intervention, and three months after the intervention ended. Data were analyzed using the Linear Mixed Model.FindingsParticipants’ personal sense of control over their eating behaviors significantly increased after they completed the program and continued to increase up to the three-month follow-up. The effect of the intervention remained significant after controlling for differences in age and whether participants had access to other forms of individual support or completed the follow-up during the COVID-19 general lockdown.Practical implicationsBy promoting participants’ sense of eating self-efficacy, this intervention could lead to positive dietary changes, which in turn could promote better health and healthy aging.Social implicationsThis community intervention is readily accessible and represents a cost-effective approach to promote healthy eating, reducing the risk of chronic disease and the need for medical care, thereby cutting costs for the healthcare system.Originality/value(1) This study addresses a gap in the scientific literature as there was limited published research to date that investigated this intervention. (2) The three-month follow-up made it possible to evaluate whether changes in eating self-efficacy were maintained over time. (3) Potential confounding variables, including age, having access to other forms of individual support and the COVID-19 general lockdown, were taken into account.

Caregiver burden during psychiatric hospitalisation: A multi-centre, longitudinal study.

Caring for a family member with a mental illness induces a burden on the caregiver, an impact on their quality of life and premature ageing of more than ten years. We conducted systematised and individualised nursing interviews with family members, on the first days of a relative's hospitalisation, during hospitalisation and three months after discharge. We observed persistent depressive symptoms during and after hospitalisation. Burden and depression were higher, and quality of life was lower, for women caregivers and when the caregivers admitted the patients involuntarily in the hospital ward. When the caregivers were experiencing a patient's first hospitalisation, we also found higher depressive symptoms and lower quality of life. This study emphasises the need for new interventions such as psychoeducation to alleviate the suffering of families. Considering the burden of families could become a prevention objective from the patient's first hospitalisation and prevent them from mental or physical health problems. Introduction The burden consequent to providing care to patients with psychiatric chronic conditions is often overlooked by health professionals. Aim We assessed the impact of patients' psychiatric hospitalisation on their caregivers, through evaluating their suffering, burden and quality of life, in three stages: upon the patients' admission, their discharge and 3 months after their discharge. Method In total, 127 caregivers of adult patients whose first hospitalisation was less than 5 years ago were assessed using the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey, the Zarit Burden Interview and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Results Females and caregivers who admitted patients against their will experienced higher burden and depression and lower mental quality of life. We also found higher depressive symptoms and lower quality of life among caregivers during a patient's first hospitalisation. The caregiver's familial relationship to the patient was not associated with these outcomes. Finally, burden decreased and quality of life increased over time. Discussion Results suggest that several variables associated with patient hospitalisations were correlated with burden, depression or quality of life. Implications for Practice Burden could be targeted with interventions such as group psychoeducation for caregivers during or after the patient's hospitalisation, in order to reduce their distress and improve their quality of life. Psychiatric and mental health nurses can provide support to caregivers with systematic assessments of their burden and quality of life, so as to better meet their needs and promote their ability to cope with mental illness.

Feasibility of online psychosocial interventions to promote mental health recovery and well-being.

Amid the increasing trend and huge impact of mental illness, psychosocial support (PSS) has been asserted to support individuals' recovery. Unfortunately, about 80% of affected people cannot access care as needed. Meanwhile, digital technology has a considerable role in closing service gaps. This convergent parallel mixed methods study examines existing mental health service utilization, users' needs for PSS, and feasibility of online PSS development. A cross-sectional interview survey was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire at a super tertiary psychiatric hospital in Thailand from March to May 2023, with three groups of service users, having self-perceived conditions/diagnosis of schizophrenia (n = 100), mood disorders (n = 84), and others including alcohol and substance use, anxiety and personality disorders (n = 52). Four focus group discussions with three user groups (n = 16) and one multidisciplinary provider group (n = 7) were parallelly executed. Quantitative and qualitative data were convergently analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and thematic and content analysis. Critical shortcomings of PSS were indicated by 75.8% of user participants. Six common types of self-determined PSS were psychoeducational program, support group, skills training, counseling, supported employment, and complimentary therapy. While psychoeducational program was feasible, support group, and counseling were possibly featured within the 'all-at-once' online intervention development. PSS development based on users' needs can promote clinical and personal recovery outcomes, and close the service gaps. Users with mood disorders have the potential for online interventions. Peer-provider formalization, co-production approach, community engagement, digital literacy, infrastructures, and equal access factors are crucial for sustainable development.

Psychoeducation group facilitation training for nurses: A quality improvement project.

According to the 2020-2021 National Survey of Children's Health, 23.3% of children and adolescents met criteria for one or more mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral problems. However, the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder have risen dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an increase in suicidal ideations, completed suicides, and pediatric psychiatric hospitalizations. There is a critical need for high quality mental healthcare treatments, including psychoeducation. Inpatient psychiatric nurses are well positioned to lead psychoeducation groups, but few receive training. Nurses at a designated inpatient pediatric psychiatric unit expressed discomfort in facilitating psychoeducation groups. This is a one-group prepost and follow-up quality improvement study designed to improve the quality of psychoeducation group facilitation skills provided by nurses at a child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit. A convenience sample of nurses (N = 16) participated. Baseline (T1), post-test (T2), and follow-up (T3) data were collected regarding nurses' self-efficacy, evidence based-practice attitudes, and knowledge of psychoeducation group facilitation. Nurses received 45 min of psychoeducation group facilitation education and 15 min of skills simulation. The nurses' knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes toward evidence-based practice when facilitating psychoeducation groups increased significantly from the baseline to the post-test, which was sustained from the post-test to the follow-up period. Study findings indicate the importance of supporting nurses in their role of psychoeducation group facilitation through education and program structure. Further research is needed to assess longer term sustainability and efficacy in leading psychoeducation groups.

Enhancing Anxiety Management in Post-Tuberculosis Patients through Psychoeducational Intervention in Baki Community Health Center

Background: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis by air-borne transmission. TB patients are at risk of psychosocial disorders during treatment and post-treatment. This study aims to analyze the effect of psychoeducation on the level of anxiety experienced relapse in patients after Tuberculosis treatment.Subjects and Method: This study used a quasi-experimental design of a posttest pretest at the Baki Health Center, Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java, Indonesia from June to July 2023. The sample was 30 people in the treatment group, namely post-tuberculosis treatment patients, and 30 people in the control group by paying attention to the inclusion criteria, the sample was selected in total sampling. The dependent variable is anxiety and the independent variable is psychoeducation. Psychoeducation was provided with intervention for 3 sessions with a time of 25-30 minutes and anxiety was measured by the HALS questionnaire. The data was analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test.Results: After the intervention, the psychoeducational group had a decrease in anxiety scores (Mean = 7; SD= 4.68) than the control group (Mean= 4.07; SD= 3.14) with p=0.006.Conclusion: Psychoeducation for post-tuberculosis treatment patients can continue to be carried out to reduce the level of anxiety about tuberculosis recurrence and awareness of the impact of the disease.