Effectiveness of Multimodal Group Therapy for Adults Living with Chronic Illnesses: A Case Series Study
Time: -Topics: Dissemination and Implementation, Mental Health
Living with a chronic illness places individuals at higher risk for psychological distress (Verhaak et al., 2005). Evidence is increasingly showing that group psychotherapy is an efficacious and efficient way to help patients cope with chronic medical conditions (Jackson et al., 2019). Literature shows many group therapies focus on a singular illness or therapy modality. Our Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic piloted a multi-diagnosis, multimodal psychotherapy group. Therapy mechanisms included cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) concepts, mindfulness, skills to enhance communication and social support, resilience, meaning making, and peer support. Adult patients with diverse chronic illnesses were referred to the 9-week therapy group and were invited to complete pre- and post-group measures. Complete data sets were available from 14 patients who participated in 1 of 5 group cycles between 2020 and 2022. A series of paired sample t-tests were used to examine changes in depression symptoms, somatic symptoms, hope, loneliness, and coping self-efficacy. Results showed statistically significant changes in the expected directions for depression, hope, and coping self-efficacy. Specifically, depression symptoms decreased after group (M = 10.4, SD = 3.8) compared to before group (M= 8.0, SD = 3.7), t(26) = -2.19, p =.045. Hope increased from before group (M= 44.1, SD = 11.0) to after group (M= 49.5, SD = 6.7), t(26) = 2.63, p =.02. Coping self-efficacy increased from before group (M = 162.1, SD = 43.0) to after group (M = 205.8, SD = 25.6), t(24) = 3.76, p <.01. There was no significant change in somatic symptoms (t(26) = -0.29, p =.77) or loneliness (t(26) = -2.15, p =.051) from before (M = 13.7, SD = 5.1; M = 46.7, SD = 7.7, respectively) to after group (M = 13.4, SD = 4.9; M= 43.9, SD = 8.3, respectively). These case series data suggest that a group therapy utilizing multiple treatment techniques for adults with heterogenous chronic illnesses may be effective. Without the need to recruit and tailor treatment to specific disease categories, this approach appears particularly accessible and feasible for supporting a broad population of patients.
Keywords: Chronic illness, CopingAuthors and Affliiates
Presenter: Holly Gerber, PhD, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusCo-Author: Thida Thant, MD, University of Colorado Anschtuz medical Campus
Effectiveness of Multimodal Group Therapy for Adults Living with Chronic Illnesses: A Case Series Study
Category
Scientific > Poster/Paper/Live Research Spotlight