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Transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural group therapy for the treatment of anxiety disorders in primary care settings: an acceptability study

Year: 2019
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Background: Anxiety disorders are often chronic conditions with social and economic ramifications for which primary care is the predominant point of entry for obtaining care. Most patients do not have access to evidence-based psychotherapy as part of their primary care services because of a lack of resources and expertise. Group transdiagnostic cognitive behavior therapy (tCBT) could improve access to CBT. In order for treatments to be efficacious, patients need to accept, adhere and utilize the services offered. However, the efficacy of tCBT for the treatment of anxiety disorders has only been established within specialized anxiety disorder clinics, and its acceptability by patients has not been studied extensively. Objective: To document patient acceptability of group tCBT in primary care. Methods: An embedded qualitative study was conducted as part of a pragmatic clinical trial of tCBT. The sample was composed of participants with anxiety disorders from the experimental group (i.e. tCBT). A maximum-variation purposive sampling strategy method based on sex, principal diagnosis, and treatment adherence. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted based on a meta-definition of the concept of acceptability. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Results: Seventeen patients were interviewed. tCBT in primary care seems to have a good acceptability from a patient’s perspective. Patients’ perception of acceptability of tCBT was classified into eight themes: 1) the transdiagnostic aspect; 2) intervention strategies; 3) group format; 4) group cohesion; 5) presence of two therapists with different expertise; 6) the quality of therapeutic alliance; 7) perceived effectiveness; and 8) access to the therapy. Conclusion: The acceptability of the tCBT intervention for patients was generally perceived as adequate when offered in primary care. The main recommendations to enhance acceptability are related to group cohesion and transdiagnostic group exposure sessions.
Language: English
Field: Psychology
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7201918201
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