Components of group processes: have they contributed to the outcome of mood and anxiety disorder patients in a group Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy program?

The present study assessed the influence of group processes on clinical outcomes of patients with anxiety and depression following group Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). Five group environment variables were measured: cohesion, leader support, expressiveness, independence, and self-discovery. One hundred and sixty two patients attended a group CBT program and were assessed at pre and post-treatment. Results provided evidence for the effectiveness of group therapy as patients reported significantly lower depression and anxiety at the conclusion of treatment. Expressiveness was the only predictor of post-treatment anxiety, whereas leader support, expressiveness, and independence were significant predictors of post-treatment depression. Overall, findings suggest that the patients benefited from high levels of expressiveness and independence within their therapy group. In contrast, they failed to benefit from high levels of leader support, whereas both group cohesion and self-discovery appeared to be unrelated to outcome.