A Randomized Trial of Group Therapy for Resource Activation for Patients With Affective Disorder

• Published in: Journal of psychotherapy integration 2023-03, Vol.33 (1), p.1-19
• Main Authors: Goldbach, Nele, Reif, Andreas, Preuss, Hanna, Erhart, Mira, Zabel, Kirsten, Windmann, Sabine, Oertel, Viola
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Affective Disorders; Bipolar Disorder; Cognitive Behavior Therapy; Common Factors; Female; Group Differences; Group Psychotherapy; Human; Inpatient; Major Depression; Male; Patients; Severity (Disorders)
• ISSN: 1053-0479; 1573-3696
• DOI: 10.1037/int0000274

Resource activation is a common factor of psychotherapy and has an effect on the treatment success regardless of the specific orientation. A balanced focus on resources and problems seems to constitute a promising therapy method. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a novel group therapy for resource activation (GTRA) for inpatients with unipolar depressive and bipolar affective disorders experiencing a depressive episode. Primary outcome criteria were the change in resources and in depression severity. Eighty-nine patients with unipolar depressive and bipolar affective disorders (57.3% female, mean age = 39.9 years) took part in a randomized, controlled trial comparing GTRA plus treatment as usual (TAU) with TAU alone. A comparison of the intervention (GTRA plus TAU) and control group (TAU) showed significantly higher improvements over time in "current relationships" and "fostering self-esteem" in the intervention group but no significant group differences in depression severity. Over the course of the GTRA, participants reported positive experiences of coping and clarification and showed significant increases in problem activation and improvements in subjective session outcomes. This study can be understood as a preliminary effort to pave the way for further refinement and testing of GTRA for patients with affective disorders in addition to TAU in an inpatient care setting. Future research should focus on improving the efficacy of the GTRA by varying different therapy components (e.g., the duration of the GTRA). Un ensayo aleatorizado de terapia de grupo para la activación de recursos para pacientes con trastorno afectivoLa activación de recursos es un factor común de la psicoterapia y tiene un efecto sobre el éxito del tratamiento independientemente de la orientación especifica. Un enfoque equilibrado en los recursos y problemas parece constituir un método terapéutico prometedor. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los efectos de una nueva terapia de grupo para la activación de recursos (GTRA) para pacientes hospitalizados con trastornos afectivos depresivos unipolares y bipolares que experimentan un episodio depresivo. Los criterios de resultado primarios fueron el cambio en los recursos y en la graveded de la depresión. Ochenta y nueve pacientes con trastornos afectivos depresivos unipolares y bipolares (57,3% mujeres, edad media = 39,9 años) participaron en un ensayo aleatorizado y controlado que comparó G