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Patient experiences with group behavioural activation in a partial hospital program

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 August 2020

Aliza T. Stein Open the ORCID record for Aliza T. Stein [Opens in a new window] ,
Lulu Tian ,
Kristy Cuthbert ,
Kaitlyn R. Gorman ,
Stephanie G. Best ,
Thröstur Björgvinsson  and
Courtney Beard
Aliza T. Stein*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Lulu Tian
Affiliation:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
Kristy Cuthbert
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological and Brain Science, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
Kaitlyn R. Gorman
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, USA
Stephanie G. Best
Affiliation:
Behavioral Health Partial Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA Department of Psychology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Thröstur Björgvinsson
Affiliation:
Behavioral Health Partial Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA Department of Psychology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Courtney Beard
Affiliation:
Behavioral Health Partial Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA Department of Psychology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
*
*Corresponding author. Email: atstein@utexas.edu
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Abstract

Background:

Behavioural activation (BA) is an evidence-based treatment for depression that has been primarily delivered in individual out-patient treatment. Prior research supports a positive participant experience in individual therapy; however, less is known about the patient experience in group therapy, which is common in acute psychiatric settings.

Aims:

The present study examined the patient experience of Brief Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (BATD) delivered in group acute psychiatric treatment.

Method:

We used thematic analysis to extract themes from feedback surveys administered as part of quality improvement practice at a partial hospital program. Survey questions explored what patients learned, liked, disliked and thought could be improved in the BATD groups. Three individuals independently coded survey responses and collaboratively developed categories and themes.

Results:

Themes included several helpful content areas (e.g. value-driven activities, increasing motivation, goal setting, activity scheduling, cognitive behavioural model, self-monitoring) and learning methods (e.g. group format, experiential exercises, worksheets). Patients also identified unhelpful content (e.g. specific focus on depression and listing activities by mood). There was mixed feedback regarding the repetition of material and balance of lecture versus group participation.

Conclusion:

Overall, these findings suggest a mostly positive patient experience of group-delivered BATD and support the acceptability of group-delivered BATD as a component of short-term intensive treatment.

Keywords

behavioural activationgroup psychotherapyqualitative methods
Type
Brief Clinical Report
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 49 , Issue 1 , January 2021 , pp. 112 - 117
Copyright
© British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2020

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References

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