Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-5nwft Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-02T15:21:53.360Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Offering support to the general public by building CBT-based life skills: lessons learnt from an initial evaluation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2016

D. Lyons ,
K. Collins  and
C. Hayes
D. Lyons*
Affiliation:
St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
K. Collins
Affiliation:
6 Charles Baron Crescent, Lurgan, Co Armagh, Northern Ireland
C. Hayes
Affiliation:
AWARE, Dublin, Ireland
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr D. Lyons, Consultant Psychiatrist, St Patrick’s University Hospital, James’s St, Dublin 8, Ireland. (Email: declan_lyons@hotmail.com)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Aims

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is effective for symptoms of mild to moderate depression yet access to such therapy is frequently limited. An alternative to traditional ways of delivering CBT is lower intensity methods based on self-help principles, using written CBT resources, in a group or class setting. Aware, the Irish National charity providing support to people experiencing depression, has implemented a 6-week CBT-based group programme which has been independently evaluated to demonstrate its effectiveness using quantitative and qualitative measures.

Method

Two outcome measures (the Patient Health Questionnaire – PHQ-9, and Generalised Anxiety Disorder – GAD-7) were completed and analysed using a matched pairs t-test in respect of all participants at three intervals across the programme. Qualitative feedback was also sought upon completion of the course and offered insight into significant change and individual impact of the programme.

Results

A total of 2289 individuals nationwide registered for the programme through the Aware website with 1885 completing the 6 weeks. There was an average attendance of 67% for the 6-week programme. Statistically significant reductions in terms of scores of depression and anxiety were seen upon completion but earlier trends towards improvement were noted.

Conclusion

Completion of a 6-week Life Skills Programme has been associated with a reduction from moderately severe to mild scores in relation to both depressive and anxiety symptoms. Longitudinal follow-up will be required to determine if the effectiveness of the intervention is maintained but CBT-based group programmes may represent a useful alternative to traditional services to treat clinically significant depression.

Keywords

Group psycho-educationindependent evaluationlow-intensity CBTself-helpsupport sector
Type
Original Research
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 35 , Issue 2 , June 2018 , pp. 103 - 112
Copyright
© College of Psychiatrists of Ireland 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aveline, M, Strauss, B, Stiles, WB (2005). Psychotherapy Research. In Oxford Textbook of Psychotherapy (ed. G. Gabbard, J. S. Beck and J. Holmes), pp. 449–462. Oxford University Press: Oxford.Google Scholar
Aware (2012). Annual Report 2012. Aware Publications: Dublin.Google Scholar
Blazer, DG, Kessler, RC, Mc Gonagle, KA, Swartz, MS (1994). The prevalence and distribution of major depression in a national community sample: the National Comorbidity Survey. American Journal of Psychiatry 151, 979–986.Google Scholar
Free, L M (1999). Cognitive Therapy in Groups. Guidelines and Resources for Practice. John Wiley & Sons: Chichester.Google Scholar
Gruenberg, AM, Goldstein, RD, Pincus, HA (2005). Classification of depression; research and diagnostic criteria DSM-IV and ICD-10. In: Biology of Depression – From Novel Insights to Therapeutic Strategies (ed. J. Licinio and M. L. Wong), pp. 1–10. Wiley VCH Verlag GmBH: Weinheim.Google Scholar
Hegerl, U, Wittmann, M, Arensman, E, Van Audenhove, C (2008). The European Alliance Against Depression (EAAD)’: a multifaceted, community-based action programme against depression and suicidality. World Journal of Biological Psychiatry 9, 51–58.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Heintzel, R, Beyer, F, Klein, T (2000). Out-patient psychoanalytic individual and group psychotherapy in a nationwide catamnestic study in Germany. Group Analysis 33, 353–372.Google Scholar
Kaltenhaler, E, Parry, G, Beverley, C, Ferriter, M (2008). Computerised cognitive behavioural therapy for depression: systematic review. British Journal of Psychiatry 193, 181–184.Google Scholar
Kessler, RC, Berglund, P, Demler, O, Jin, R, Koretz, D, Merikangas, KR, Rush, AJ, Walters, EE, Wang, PS (2003). National Comorbidity Survey Replication. The epidemiology of major depressive disorder: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). Journal of the American Medical Association 289, 3095–3105.Google Scholar
Kroenke, L, Spitzer, RL, Williams, JB (2001). The PHQ-9; validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine 16 (9): 606–613.Google Scholar
Knauss, W (2005). Group psychotherapy. In Oxford Textbook of Psychotherapy (ed. G. Gabbard, J. S. Beck and J. Holmes), pp. 35–43. Oxford University Press: Oxford.Google Scholar
Lowe, B, Decker, O, Muller, S, Brahler, E, Schellberg, D, Herzog, W, Herzberg, PY (2008). Validation and standardization of the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7) in the general population. Medical Care 46, 266–274.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Luthra, A, Bhugra, D, Bhintade, R (2006). Cultural Issues. In Working with Serious Mental Illness: A Manual for Clinical Practice (ed. C. Gamble and G. Brennan), pp. 359–373. Elsevier: Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Mc Clay, C-A, Collins, K, Matthews, L, Haig, C, Mc Connachie, A, Morrison, J, Lynch, P, Waters, L, Day, I, Mc Anee, G, Williams, C (2015). A community based pilot randomized controlled study of life skills classes for individuals with low mood and depression. BioMed Central Psychiatry 15, 17.Google Scholar
McMillan, D, Gilbody, S, Richards, D (2010). Defining successful treatment outcome in depression using the PHQ-9: a comparison of methods. Journal of Affective Disorders 127, 122–129.Google Scholar
Murphy, E (1983). The prognosis of depression in old age. British Journal of Psychiatry 142, 111–119.Google Scholar
National Institute for Clinical Excellence (2009). Depression: Management of Depression in Primary and Secondary Care (CG90 National Institute for Clinical Excellence: London.Google Scholar
Ridgway, N, Williams, C (2011). Cognitive behavioural therapy self-help for depression: an overview. Journal of Mental Health 20, 593–603.Google Scholar
Spitzer, RL, Kroenke, K, Williams, JB (1999). Validation and utility of a self-report version of the prime-MD: the PHQ primary care study. Journal of the American Medical Association 282, 1737–1744.Google Scholar
Spitzer, RL, Kroenke, K, Williams, JB, Lowe, B (2006). A Brief Measure for Assessing Generalised Anxiety Disorder: The GAD-7. Archives of Internal Medicine 166, 1092–1097.Google Scholar
Thornicroft, G, Tansella, M (2009). Better Mental Health Care. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.Google Scholar
Ustun, T, Kessler, R (2002). Global burden of depressive disorders: the issue of duration. British Journal of Psychiatry 181, 181–183.Google Scholar
Wiles, NJ, Thomas, L, Abel, A, Ridgway, N, Turner, NL, Campbell, J, Garland, A, Hollinghurst, S, Jerrom, B, Kessler, D, Kuyken, W, Morrison, J, Turner, K, Williams, C, Peters, T, Lewis, G (2013). Cognitive behavioural therapy as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy for primary care based patients with treatment resistant depression: results of the CoBalt randomised controlled trial. The Lancet 381, 375–384.Google Scholar
Williams, C, Morrison, J (2010). A new language for cognitive behavioural therapy: new ways of working require new thinking, as well as new words. In Oxford Guide to Low Intensity CBT interventions. Series: Oxford Guide to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (ed. J. Bennet-Levy, D. Richards, P. Farran, H. Christensen, K. Griffiths, D. Kavanagh, B. Klein, M. A. Lau, J. Proudfoot, L. Ritterband, J. White and C. Williams), pp. 69–86. Oxford University Press: Oxford.Google Scholar
Williams, C, Morrison, J, McConnachie, A (2014). A randomised controlled trial of a community based group guided self-help intervention for low mood and stress. (CSO Ref no. CZH/4/738) Edinburgh, Scotland. Scottish Government Health Directorates, Chief Scientists Office.Google Scholar
World Health Organisation (2011). Global burden of mental disorders and the need for a comprehensive, co-ordinated response from health and social sectors at the country level EB 130/9 – Report by the Secretariat. World Health Organisation, Geneva.Google Scholar
Yeung, A, Feldman, G, Fava, M (2010). Self Management of Depression-A Manual for Mental Health and Primary Care Professionals. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.Google Scholar