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Group therapy for mood disorders: A meta-analysis
Rebecca A Janis1, Gary M Burlingame2, Hal Svien2
1Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA.
Psychotherapy Research : Journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research
|September 15, 2020
Summary
Group therapy is effective for depression and bipolar disorder, showing better outcomes than waitlist controls and usual care. It also demonstrated comparable results to medication for depression, with similar recovery and attrition rates.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- The American Psychological Association recognized group psychotherapy as a specialty in 2018.
- This recognition necessitates empirical reviews of group treatments for various mental health conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on group psychotherapy for mood disorders.
- To evaluate treatment efficacy at posttreatment and follow-up, and assess recovery and attrition rates.
Main Methods:
- Searched major databases for RCTs of group therapy for depression and bipolar disorder (1990-2018).
- Included 42 studies in the meta-analysis.
- Analyzed outcomes, recovery rates, and attrition using random-effects models.
Main Results:
- Group therapy for depression showed superior outcomes to waitlist control and treatment as usual, and equivalent outcomes to medication.
- Group therapy for bipolar disorder yielded superior outcomes compared to treatment as usual.
- Attrition rates did not significantly differ between group therapy and control conditions for either disorder.
Conclusions:
- Group psychotherapy is a supported treatment for depression and bipolar disorder.
- Further research is recommended to compare group therapy with medication for bipolar disorder.
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