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Group Therapy for Patients with Adjustment Disorder in Primary Care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 November 2018

José Manuel Sanz Cruces ,
Isabel María García Cuenca ,
Laura Lacomba-Trejo ,
Miguel Ángel Cuquerella Adell ,
Isabel Cano Navarro ,
María Ferrandis Cortés ,
Eva Jordá Carreres  and
Eva Carbajo Álvarez
José Manuel Sanz Cruces
Affiliation:
Hospital Universitario Institut Pere Mata (Spain)
Isabel María García Cuenca*
Affiliation:
Consorci Hospital General Universitari de Valencia (Spain)
Laura Lacomba-Trejo
Affiliation:
Consorci Hospital General Universitari de Valencia (Spain)
Miguel Ángel Cuquerella Adell
Affiliation:
Consorci Hospital General Universitari de Valencia (Spain)
Isabel Cano Navarro
Affiliation:
Consorci Hospital General Universitari de Valencia (Spain)
María Ferrandis Cortés
Affiliation:
Consorci Hospital General Universitari de Valencia (Spain)
Eva Jordá Carreres
Affiliation:
Consorci Hospital General Universitari de Valencia (Spain)
Eva Carbajo Álvarez
Affiliation:
Consorci Hospital General Universitari de Valencia (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Isabel María García Cuenca. Unidad de Psicología Clínica y de la Salud del Consorci Hospital General Universitari de Valencia (Spain). Avenida Tres Cruces, 2, 46014 Valencia (Spain). E-mail: isagarciacuenca@gmail.com
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Abstract

A high percentage of patients have a diagnosis of adjustment disorder (AD) when they arrive at primary care (PC) appointments. However, most of them do not receive adequate psychological treatment. The present study’s aim is to determine the efficacy of a group psychological treatment program in patients with AD. The sample consisted of patients with AD from two PC units in Valencia, from which two groups were randomly generated: A treatment group (n = 31) and a waiting-list group (n = 20), homogeneous in terms of socio-demographic and psychometric variables prior to treatment. Treatment consisted of eight one-hour group sessions held on a weekly basis; taking a cognitive-behavioral approach, they addressed aspects like controlling anxiety, cognitive restructuring, and coping techniques. The variables analyzed were: Psychopathology (Revised Symptom Inventory, SCL–90–R), health-related quality of life (Health Questionnaire, SF–12), and risk of suicidal behavior (Suicide Risk Scale). Means comparisons, ANCOVAs, and tests of effect size were performed. Statistically significant differences were observed in the variables, such that after intervention, the experimental group exhibited less anxious (F = 4.11, p =.048, η2 = .08) and depressive symptoms (F = 2.41, p =.029, η 2= .10) and higher quality of life related to physical (F = 7.17, p =.010, η2 = .13) and emotional health (F = 10.31, p =.002, η2 = .18). For the reasons above, we conclude that a comprehensive approach to emotional distress in PC, including group psychological interventions, is one solution for the demand for social services, and could provide savings on economic as well as human costs.

Keywords

adjustment disordergroup therapyhealthprimary care
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 21 , 2018 , E50
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2018 

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