Kognitiv-psychoedukative Gruppenintervention bei stationären Patienten mit depressiven Erkrankungen – Ergebnisse einer prospektiven Pilotstudie

Background: Psychoeducational interventions that provide
disorder-related information in a goal-oriented and structured
manner have been integrated in psychiatric and psychotherapeutic
approaches. The present cognitive psychoeducational group programme
for inpatients with affective disorders is based on a
multidimensional functional illness concept which covers aspects of
vulnerability, stressors and coping strategies. It covers
information about the disorder and its treatment options, building
up rewarding activities, cognitive restructuring and relapse
prevention. Materials und Methods: This programme was developed and
modified at the University of Munich, Department of Psychiatry
(LMU). A feasibility study was set up in a follow-up single group
design and analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were performed. A total of
231 patients participated in 46 groups. Results: 125 patients
evaluated the effectiveness of the programme and its treatment
strategies. The group programme was widely accepted among patients
that were pharmacologically and psychotherapeutically treated: more
than three quarters of the patients rated its contents to be
informative, helpful and applicable to everyday living.
Conclusions: Inpatients with affective disorders may already
benefit from a structured group programme if it takes into account
their cognitive and motivational deficits. The group leaders'
didactic and psychotherapeutic strategies as well as the patients'
exchanging ideas with each other play a central role. In the course
of further investigations the programme was differentiated for
patients with major depression or bipolar disorders.