Factores terapéuticos en psicoterapia grupal: un estudio desde la perspectiva de los participantes / Therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy: a study from the perspective of group members

En el presente trabajo, los autores Investigan qué factores terapéuticos grupales (FTG) son los de mayor importancia para los participantes de psicoterapia de grupo. Una adaptación del cuestionario Yalom fue completada por 88 usuarios de un servicio ambulatorio de salud mental, analizándose las diferencias según características sociodemográficas, diagnóstico y la valoración de los conductores grupales. A nivel jerárquico, la universalidad, el altruismo y la cohesión fueron los FTG más valorados; por el contrario, la conducta imitativa y los factores existenciales fueron los que menos. Aquellos usuarios con un mayor nivel de estudios valoraron significativamente la reactualización familiar, sin observarse diferencias en la edad ni el sexo. El diagnóstico de un trastorno del espectro de la esquizofrenia presentó una elevada correlación con la cohesión, la catarsis y la universalidad. Las valoraciones de los terapeutas concuerdan de forma significativa con las de la muestra. La evaluación de los FTG permite que los terapeutas contemplen aquellos elementos que más favorecen a los usuarios en su proceso psicoterapéutico y en su mejora del bienestar

In the present work, the authors investigate which group therapeutic factors (GTF) are the most important for group psychotherapy participants. 88 users of an outpatient mental health service completed an adaptation of the Yalom's questionnaire. Differences regarding sociodemographic characteristics, diagnosis and assessment of the group therapists were analyzed. At the hierarchical level, universality, altruism and cohesion were the most valued GTF; while identification and existential factors were the least ones. Those users with a higher level of studies valued the family reenactment significantly, without observing differences regarding age or sex. The diagnosis of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder showed a high correlation with cohesion, catharsis, and universality. The therapists' scores correlated significantly with the sample scores. The evaluation of the GTF allows therapists to contemplate those elements that are most helpful for the users in their psychotherapeutic process and in the improvement of their well-being

The Scarier the Better: Maximizing Exposure Therapy Outcomes for Spider Fear.

BACKGROUND: While exposure therapy effectively reduces anxiety associated with specific phobias, not all individuals respond to treatment and some will experience a return of fear after treatment ceases. AIMS: This study aimed to test the potential benefit of increasing the intensity of exposure therapy by adding an extra step that challenged uncontrollability (Step 15: allowing a spider to walk freely over one's body) to the standard fear hierarchy. METHOD: Fifty-one participants who had a severe fear of spiders completed two 60-min exposure sessions 1 week apart in a context that was either the same or different from the baseline and follow-up assessment context. Participants were categorized into groups based on the last hierarchy step they completed during treatment (Step 14 or fewer, or Step 15). RESULTS: Those who completed Step 15 had greater reductions in fear and beliefs about the probability of harm from baseline to post-treatment than those who completed fewer steps. Although completing Step 15 did not prevent fear from returning after a context change, it allowed people to maintain their ability to tolerate their fear, which earlier steps did not. Despite some fear returning after a context change, individuals who completed Step 15 tended to report greater reductions in fear from baseline to the follow-up assessment than participants who completed 14 or fewer steps. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these results suggest that more intensive exposure that directly challenges harm beliefs may lead to greater changes in fear and fear beliefs than less intensive exposure.

From feelings of imprisonment to group cohesion: A qualitative analysis of group analytic psychotherapy with dual diagnosed patients admitted to an acute inpatient psychiatric unit.

OBJECTIVES: Group cohesion, the establishment of hope, and the expression of feelings have been said to be the basic ingredients of group psychotherapy. To date, there is few literature describing therapeutic processes in short stay settings such as acute psychiatric wards and with special patient groups such as addictions. Our goal with this study is to describe and analyze group processes in such contexts. METHODS: We used a qualitative methodology combining constant comparative methods and hermeneutical triangulation to analyze therapeutic narratives in the context of a group analytic process carried following Foulkes' and Yalom's styles. RESULTS: The results provide a picture of the therapeutic process including the use of norms to strengthen group cohesion facilitating the expression of emotions in early stages of group development. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis is intended to be a guide for practitioners implementing group therapy in contexts involving several constraints, such as acute psychiatric wards.

Motivational interviewing group at inpatient detoxification, its influence in maintaining abstinence and treatment retention after discharge.

The relapse rate after discharge from inpatient detoxification is high. The objective of this pilot study is to assess the sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic factors associated with maintaining abstinence in patients who participated in a brief motivational interviewing group during admission for detoxification. A total of 46 patients, diagnosed substance dependent according to DSM -IV, and admitted to the Hospital Detoxification Unit, participated in a brief motivational interviewing group. Sociodemographic, clinical, motivation to change (University of Rhode Island Change Assessment, URICA) and satisfaction with the treatment group (Treatment Perceptions Questionnaire, CPT) data were collected. Abstinence and treatment retention two months after discharge were assessed by weekly telephone calls. A survival analysis was performed. Being male, having more cognitions of the maintenance stage of change at discharge, being satisfied with group therapy and therapist during hospitalization are associated with longer abstinence after discharge. The brief motivational interviewing group approach with patients admitted for detoxification is related to greater likelihood of maintaining abstinence and subsequent treatment retention.

La tasa de recaída en el consumo al alta de una Unidad de Desintoxicación Hospitalaria es elevada. El objetivo de este estudio piloto es valorar los factores sociodemográficos, clínicos y terapéuticos asociados al mantenimiento de la abstinencia de pacientes que han participado en un grupo psicoterapéutico breve de corte motivacional durante su ingreso para la desintoxicación.Un total de 46 pacientes con diagnóstico de trastorno por dependencia a sustancias, según DSM-IV, ingresados en Unidad de Desintoxicación Hospitalaria participaron en un grupo breve de corte motivacional. Se midieron variables sociodemográficas y clínicas, así como la motivación al cambio (University of Rhode Island Change Assessment, URICA) y la satisfacción con el tratamiento grupal (Cuestionario de Percepciones de Tratamiento, CPT). El mantenimiento de la abstinencia y la retención al tratamiento, dos meses tras el alta, se evaluaron mediante llamadas telefónicas semanales. Se realizó un análisis de supervivencia. Los resultados muestran que ser varón, tener cogniciones del estadio de mantenimiento del cambio al alta y tener una buena satisfacción con la terapia grupal y su terapeuta durante el ingreso, se asocia con mayor tiempo en abstinencia tras el alta. El abordaje psicoterapéutico grupal breve de corte motivacional, en pacientes ingresados para la desintoxicación, se relaciona con mayor probabilidad de mantenimiento de abstinencia y de retención al tratamiento posterior.

Grupo motivacional en unidad hospitalaria desintoxicación, su influencia en mantenimiento de la abstinencia y retención al tratamiento tras alta / Motivational interviewing group at inpatient detoxification, its influence in maintaining abstinence and treatment retention after discharge

La tasa de recaída en el consumo al alta de una Unidad de Desintoxicación Hospitalaria es elevada. El objetivo de este estudio piloto es valorar los factores sociodemográficos, clínicos y terapéuticos asociados al mantenimiento de la abstinencia de pacientes que han participado en un grupo psicoterapéutico breve de corte motivacional durante su ingreso para la desintoxicación. Un total de 46 pacientes con diagnóstico de trastorno por dependencia a sustancias, según DSM-IV, ingresados en Unidad de Desintoxicación Hospitalaria participaron en un grupo breve de corte motivacional. Se midieron variables sociodemográficas y clínicas, así como la motivación al cambio (University of Rhode Island Change Assessment, URICA) y la satisfacción con el tratamiento grupal (Cuestionario de Percepciones de Tratamiento, CPT). El mantenimiento de la abstinencia y la retención al tratamiento, dos meses tras el alta, se evaluaron mediante llamadas telefónicas semanales. Se realizó un análisis de supervivencia. Los resultados muestran que ser varón, tener cogniciones del estadio de mantenimiento del cambio al alta y tener una buena satisfacción con la terapia grupal y su terapeuta durante el ingreso, se asocia con mayor tiempo en abstinencia tras el alta. El abordaje psicoterapéutico grupal breve de corte motivacional, en pacientes ingresados para la desintoxicación, se relaciona con mayor probabilidad de mantenimiento de abstinencia y de retención al tratamiento posterior

The relapse rate after discharge from inpatient detoxification is high. The objective of this pilot study is to assess the sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic factors associated with maintaining abstinence in patients who participated in a brief motivational interviewing group during admission for detoxification. A total of 46 patients, diagnosed substance dependent according to DSM -IV, and admitted to the Hospital Detoxification Unit, participated in a brief motivational interviewing group. Sociodemographic, clinical, motivation to change (University of Rhode Island Change Assessment, (URICA) and satisfaction with the treatment group (Treatment Perceptions Questionnaire, CPT) data were collected. Abstinence and treatment retention two months after discharge were assessed by weekly telephone calls. A survival analysis was performed. Being male, having more cognitions of the maintenance stage of change at discharge, being satisfied with group therapy and therapist during hospitalization are associated with longer abstinence after discharge. The brief motivational interviewing group approach with patients admitted for detoxification is related to greater likelihood of maintaining abstinence and subsequent treatment retention