Getting Better, Together: An Integrated, Online Group Psychotherapy Programme for Mental and Physical Health

IF 1.2 Q3 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Counselling & Psychotherapy Research Pub Date : 2025-01-05 DOI:10.1002/capr.12883

Brent Lang, Kara Williams, Michael Wiblishauser, Steal Adcock

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increases in sedentary behaviours, alcohol and illicit substance use and weight gain. Early lockdowns and mandated social distancing also led to increases in symptoms of anxiety, depression and other mental health symptoms. During the pandemic, a major shift in healthcare service delivery to telehealth occurred and group psychotherapy delivered online was effective in decreasing mental health symptoms and loneliness.

Objective

The overall goal of this study was to assess the initial effectiveness of an eight-session, comprehensive group psychotherapy programme delivered online to improve mental and physical health for adults who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This pilot programme promoted physical activity, nutrition, behavioural health and overall healthy living.

Method

After creating our eight-session, multidisciplinary programme, we partnered with the local health department, community mental health centre and local media to recruit N = 53 community members from southern Texas, USA. We thoroughly screened participants using a structured clinical interview and standardised assessments. A total of n = 50 were eligible and placed into groups based on availability and n = 41 completed all sessions. Most participants were female and between the ages of 18 and 40 years, and of Caucasian or Hispanic descent. The sample included both those who met criteria for a mental health diagnosis and those who did not. Groups, on average, had 5–7 participants and began in August 2020 and ended in February 2021. Future clinicians and researchers may wish to use or adapt the treatment programme (including the treatment manual) from this study to guide future research or clinical efforts.

Results

Compared to baseline, participants reported significant reductions in anxiety and loneliness and improved satisfaction in their level of participation in social activities. Participants reported enjoying the socialisation of the group format.

Conclusions

Our pilot programme demonstrated initial evidence supporting effectiveness of a multidisciplinary, biopsychosocial group delivered online to improve mental health outcomes. Future randomised controlled trials are needed to establish efficacy and inform potential, broader implementation of the programme.

Public Significance Statement

This study found that an integrated, group psychotherapy programme based on acceptance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing and interpersonal psychotherapy was effective in reducing anxiety and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The online delivery of this programme makes it especially useful in reaching socially isolated adults, such as those in rural settings.

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背景 COVID-19 大流行期间的社交疏远与久坐不动、酗酒和使用非法药物以及体重增加有关。早期封锁和强制社会隔离也导致焦虑、抑郁和其他心理健康症状的增加。在大流行病期间，医疗保健服务向远程保健发生了重大转变，在线提供的集体心理治疗有效地减少了心理健康症状和孤独感。目标本研究的总体目标是评估一项为期八节的综合团体心理治疗计划的初步效果，该计划通过在线提供的方式改善受 COVID-19 大流行影响的成年人的身心健康。该试点项目旨在促进体育锻炼、营养、行为健康和整体健康生活。方法在制定了八节多学科课程后，我们与当地卫生部门、社区心理健康中心和当地媒体合作，在美国得克萨斯州南部招募了 N = 53 名社区成员。我们通过结构化临床访谈和标准化评估对参与者进行了全面筛选。共有 n = 50 人符合条件，并根据可用性被安排到小组中，其中 n = 41 人完成了所有课程。大多数参与者为女性，年龄在 18 至 40 岁之间，白种人或西班牙裔。样本中既有符合心理健康诊断标准的人，也有不符合标准的人。小组平均有 5-7 名参与者，于 2020 年 8 月开始，2021 年 2 月结束。未来的临床医生和研究人员不妨使用或调整本研究的治疗方案（包括治疗手册），以指导未来的研究或临床工作。结果与基线相比，参与者的焦虑和孤独感明显减轻，对参与社交活动的满意度也有所提高。参与者表示喜欢小组形式的社交活动。结论我们的试点项目提供了初步证据，证明在线开展的多学科生物心理社会小组能够有效改善心理健康结果。未来需要进行随机对照试验，以确定疗效，并为更广泛地实施该计划提供信息。公众意义声明本研究发现，一项基于接纳与承诺疗法、动机访谈法和人际心理疗法的综合小组心理治疗计划能有效减轻 COVID-19 大流行期间的焦虑和孤独感。该项目采用在线实施的方式，因此特别适用于那些与社会隔绝的成年人，例如农村地区的成年人。

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来源期刊

Counselling & Psychotherapy Research PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

12.50%

发文量

期刊介绍： Counselling and Psychotherapy Research is an innovative international peer-reviewed journal dedicated to linking research with practice. Pluralist in orientation, the journal recognises the value of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods strategies of inquiry and aims to promote high-quality, ethical research that informs and develops counselling and psychotherapy practice. CPR is a journal of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, promoting reflexive research strongly linked to practice. The journal has its own website: www.cprjournal.com. The aim of this site is to further develop links between counselling and psychotherapy research and practice by offering accessible information about both the specific contents of each issue of CPR, as well as wider developments in counselling and psychotherapy research. The aims are to ensure that research remains relevant to practice, and for practice to continue to inform research development.