An evaluation of large group CBT psycho-education for anxiety disorders delivered in routine practice.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical utility and acceptability of a brief CBT psycho-educational course delivered in an NHS psychotherapy service.


METHODS
All patients referred, found suitable for CBT, and who had an anxiety disorder, were invited to enrol in a psycho-education course, delivered in an outpatient mental health clinic by two mental health nurses with post-registration training in CBT. There were up to 24 patients in each course. Outcome measures used were CORE-OM and Fear Questionnaire administered pre-course and at 12-week follow-up and Client Satisfaction Questionnaire administered post-course.


RESULTS
One-hundred and ninety one patients were referred. Of these 120 remained in contact with the service to the follow-up meeting. Ninety-seven patients were discharged at the follow-up point and 92 requested further individual psychotherapy. A number of patients made a clinical and reliable change as measured by CORE-OM and Fear Questionnaire. One-hundred and two patients completed the CSQ-8 reporting high satisfaction with the intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
The intervention appears to be helpful for a number of patients and largely acceptable for most patients that attend.


CONCLUSIONS
Large group psycho-educational interventions for anxiety disorders could be increasingly used as a method of delivering low intensity treatments within a stepped care model of the treatment of anxiety disorders. The intervention is relatively simple to deliver and potentially could be delivered by primary care clinicians.
Houghton
Simon
S
Psychotherapy Department, Sheffield Care Trust, Michael Carlisle Centre, Osborne Road, Sheffield S11 9BF, UK. simon.houghton@sct.nhs.uk
Saxon
Dave
D
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003479:Curriculum; D004739:England; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013222:State Medicine; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome