[Effects of anxiety self-help groups in the view of patients and experts].
OBJECTIVE
This study assesses the development of patients with anxiety disorders in self-help groups. An additional investigation studies the attitude of psychotherapists toward such self-help groups.


METHODS
33 participants from three self-help groups were assessed using nonstandardised and standardised questionnaires (SCL-90-R, STAI). In addition, 250 psychotherapists were surveyed.


RESULTS
Subjectively, the patients experienced their group as being helpful and described their symptoms as having slightly improved. The patients showed high scores in the anxiety questionnaire, which marginally improved over time. Avoiding behaviour did not change. The patients showed small improvements on some SCL scales (compulsiveness, aggressiveness, phobia, psychoticism). More than 80 % of the psychotherapists studied share the opinion that a self-help group can indeed support the course of a psychotherapeutic treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-help groups are effective from the view of both the patients and the psychotherapists. Yet, most patients studied continued to show high scores of anxiety and psychopathology.
Taubmann
Bärbel
B
Universitätsklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie der Universität Ulm.
von Wietersheim
Jörn
J
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D016896:Treatment Outcome