Patients’ and Therapists’ Experiences of Standardized Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Needs for a Personalized Approach

Jasmin Rejaye Gryesten*, Stig Poulsen, Christian Moltu, Elisabeth Belmudez Biering, Kirsten Møller, Sidse Marie Arnfred

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
5 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Personalizing psychotherapy can be challenging within standardized group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), in which sessions are structured according to a protocol and must accommodate the needs and preferences of multiple patients. In the current study, we aimed to examine patients’ and therapists’ experiences of standardized group CBT and identify their perceptions of different patient needs. Furthermore, we explored how these needs can inform possible content of add-on interventions for patients who are not improving as expected during group CBT. We conducted 21 individual in-depth interviews with patients with depression and their therapists about their experiences during group CBT with Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM) and feedback. Interviews were analyzed by using a hermeneutic-phenomenological thematic analysis. Five themes, representing different patient needs, were identified: (1) Individual attention, (2) Psychological exploration, (3) A focus on the patient’s life outside of therapy, (4) Extended assessment, and (5) Agreement on therapeutic tasks. The study supports that “one size does not fit all” when it comes to psychotherapy. Patients have varying needs when they are not making progress in therapy, and these needs, when unmet, can negatively impact the overall experience of group CBT. By acknowledging the unique needs of each patient and providing additional individual sessions as necessary, we can move towards a more personalized approach that maximizes the benefits of group psychotherapy.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAdministration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research
Volume51
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)617-633
Number of pages17
ISSN0894-587X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Open access funding provided by Royal Library, Copenhagen University Library. This work was supported by Trygfonden, grant number: 150579, and Region Sjællands Sundhedsvidenskabelige Forskningsfond, grant number: R32-A1117.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Depression
  • Group psychotherapy
  • Personalizing psychotherapy
  • Psychiatry
  • Routine Outcome Monitoring
  • Thematic Analysis

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