title: The exploration of the effectiveness of group therapy through an Internet chat as aftercare: a controlled naturalistic study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Modern communication technologies offer novel opportunities for the provision of stepped care for patients with mental disorders. This study investigated the effectiveness of group therapy delivered through an Internet chat following inpatient treatment. The main goal of the program was to reduce the risk of losing the therapeutic benefits achieved during the preceding inpatient treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  114 patients participated in one of two parallel groups of 8-10 patients that met with a group therapist in an Internet chat room. The groups met weekly for 12-15 weeks for 90 min. Controls were 114 patients who did not participate in the chat groups and were matched by application of propensity score methods. The main criterion was derived from comprehensive assessments of changes in health status comprising the psychological and physical condition of the patients. Assessments were conducted at admission, discharge and 12 months after discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  12 months after discharge, chat participants showed a substantially lower risk (24.7%) for negative outcome than controls (38.5%). Furthermore, the low dropout rate and the high session attendance supported the expectation that this novel offer met patients' needs, and thus, opens a new avenue for the optimization of care for patients with mental disorders.
authors.affiliation: Alpenblick Psychosomatic Hospital, Isny, Germany.
authors.forename: Valiollah
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Golkaramnay
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Severin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haug
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kordy
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014956:Writing