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Impact of Integrated Psychiatric and Psychotherapeutic Treatment on Perceived Anxiety and Severity of Depressive Symptoms

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background/Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of integrated psychiatric-psychotherapeutic treatment on anxiety levels, mental health perception, and depression severity. Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of depressive or anxiety disorders were included in the study. The group was randomly divided into two subgroups. The first was the study group (N = 32), which underwent a process of standardized integrated treatment, while the second was the control group (N = 32), whose course of treatment lacked a standardized integrated treatment involving direct cooperation between a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist. Both groups of patients participated in the study for a period of three months (12 weeks). All study participants (N = 64) had the following psychological questionnaires administered at three time points (at study enrollment, after 6 weeks of psychotherapy, and after 12 weeks): STAI, GHQ-28, and BDI-II. Results: The analysis showed a statistically significant beneficial effect of integrated psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment on anxiety (both state and trait), severity of depressive symptoms, and all dimensions measured on the GHQ-28 scale except somatic symptoms. In addition, comparing the impact of the integrated approach and standard psychotherapeutic methods, the analysis indicated a group × time interaction effect for the variable ‘trait anxiety’ (STAI) and ‘anxiety, insomnia’ (GHQ-28). Conclusions: The use of an integrated psychotherapeutic model can be beneficial in patients with anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Source: Journal of Clinical Medicine

DOI: 10.3390/jcm14072175