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The Acceptability and Efficacy of a Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Programme in a Community Mental Health Setting

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Abstract

This paper presents data on a patient evaluation of a group cognitive behavioural therapy programme in an applied setting and its efficacy for reducing generalised anxiety and or depression, and distress. Patients (n = 14) participated in one of two 8-week group cognitive behavioural therapy programmes for generalised anxiety or depression, within a mental health service. Patients’ perceptions of the programme were collected via an evaluation questionnaire, and data on clinical outcomes were sourced from patients’ case notes. Most patients who were invited to participate in the programme (n = 14 of 17), and their evaluations were generally favourable. Almost all participants (93%) indicated that the programme either met or exceeded their expectations. The clinical outcomes of the intervention were similar to those found in efficacy studies reported in the published literature (approximately half to threequarters of one standard deviation improvement in anxiety, depression, and distress scores).

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the patients whose data was used in this study. No funding was sourced to support this project. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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Correspondence to Ian Munro.

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Naik, A., O’Brien, A.P., Gaskin, C.J. et al. The Acceptability and Efficacy of a Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Programme in a Community Mental Health Setting. Community Ment Health J 49, 368–372 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-012-9484-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-012-9484-3

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