None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health presentations in primary Care. Usual treatment for anxiety and depression consists of antidepressants and psychological interventions. The most common psychological intervention is individual Cognitive Behavioural Therapy-informed sessions by brief intervention counsellors. This may not be the most effective or efficient model of treatment. Transdiagnostic (targeting depression and a range of anxiety disorders) treatment in group form provides an efficient way to deliver effective treatment that targets the common factors and processes underlying anxiety and depressive symptoms. We believe that group transdiagnostic treatment will allow for treatment of more people with the same clinician resource and be more effective than treatment currently offered. This trial is for adults with anxiety and/or depression who are referred by brief intervention workers for zoom Transdiagnostic Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Christchurch. The study will evaluate the feasibility of studying group transdiagnostic treatment (involving up to 10 participants over four, 2-hour sessions).
Interventions
A Zoom assessment then 4x 2 hour weekly sessions of Zoom group transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy (Group TCBT) for anxiety and depression. Maximum of 10 participants/group.
Group TCBT will be facilitated by an experienced psychologist familiar with Group TCBT in various forms and co-facilitated by a community therapist (nurse/Occupational Therapist/Social Worker/ or Psychologist) familiar with individual brief intervention counselling (the usual intervention for patients with anxiety
A Zoom assessment then 4x 2 hour weekly sessions of Zoom group transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy (Group TCBT) for anxiety and depression. Maximum of 10 participants/group. Group TCBT will be facilitated by an experienced psychologist familiar with Group TCBT in various forms and co-facilitated by a community therapist (nurse/Occupational Therapist/Social Worker/ or Psychologist) familiar with individual brief intervention counselling (the usual intervention for patients with anxiety and depression in the community). The Group TCBT will follow a manual developed specifically for this group by the experienced psychologists. The community therapist will participate in a 1 day training programme prior to group commencement. Content of the group will cover the following content: Socialisation to the group, goal setting and motivation, introduction to the TCBT model, understanding the function of emotion, emotion-driven behaviours and the role of avoidance, behavioural activation, learning to observe emotions and thoughts (mindfulness exercises). Thinking biases and thought restructuring, behavioural experiments, awareness of and tolerating physiological sensations (including interoceptive exposures), and relapse prevention. A treatment integrity checklist will be used to ensure all planned content is covered during each group programme. Attendance at groups will be monitored. Assessments for the groups will occur in the month prior to group commencement.
Sponsors
Dr Ben Beaglehole
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
All patients referred for psychological assistance with anxiety and depression by GPs to brief intervention services and deemed appropriate for psychological intervention by brief intervention services will be eligible for study entry.
Exclusion criteria
Patients not eligible include those whom alcohol and drugs are identified as the main clinical issue, those for whom a referral to specialty services is appropriate to manage moderate-severe illness or high levels of risk, and those with significant cognitive problems that mean psychological interventions are not possible unless in modified form.
Outcome results
None listed