An evaluation of large group CBT psycho-education for anxiety disorders delivered in routine practice

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical utility and acceptability of a brief CBT psycho-educational course delivered in an NHS psychotherapy service. METHODS: All patients referred, found suitable for CBT, and who had an anxiety disorder, were invited to enrol in a psycho-education course, delivered in an outpatient mental health clinic by two mental health nurses with post-registration training in CBT. There were up to 24 patients in each course. Outcome measures used were CORE-OM and Fear Questionnaire administered pre-course and at 12-week follow-up and Client Satisfaction Questionnaire administered post-course. RESULTS: One-hundred and ninety one patients were referred. Of these 120 remained in contact with the service to the follow-up meeting. Ninety-seven patients were discharged at the follow-up point and 92 requested further individual psychotherapy. A number of patients made a clinical and reliable change as measured by CORE-OM and Fear Questionnaire. One-hundred and two patients completed the CSQ-8 reporting high satisfaction with the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention appears to be helpful for a number of patients and largely acceptable for most patients that attend. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Large group psycho-educational interventions for anxiety disorders could be increasingly used as a method of delivering low intensity treatments within a stepped care model of the treatment of anxiety disorders. The intervention is relatively simple to deliver and potentially could be delivered by primary care clinicians.