Dolan, N., Simmonds-Buckley, M., Kellett, S. et al. (2 more authors) (2021) Effectiveness of stress control large group psychoeducation for anxiety and depression : systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 60 (3). pp. 375-399. ISSN 0144-6657
Abstract
Objectives
This review sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the ‘Stress Control’ (SC) large psychoeducational 6‐session group programme developed to increase access to treatment for patients with anxiety and depression.
Design
Systematic review and meta‐analysis (Prospero registration: CRD42020173676).
Methods
Pre–post and post‐treatment follow‐up effect sizes were extracted and synthesized in a random effects meta‐analysis, and variations in effect sizes were investigated via moderator analyses. Secondary analyses synthesized between‐group effect sizes from controlled studies containing comparator treatments and calculated the average dropout rate. The quality of the meta‐analysis was assessed using the GRADE approach.
Results
Nineteen studies with pre–post treatment outcomes were included. The average group size was N = 39, and the average dropout rate was 34%. Pooled effect sizes indicated moderate pre–post treatment reductions in anxiety (ES = 0.58; CI 0.41 to 0.75; N = 5597; Z = 7.13; p < .001), moderate reductions in depression (ES = 0.62; CI 0.44 to 0.80; N = 5538, Z = 7.30; p < .001), and large reductions in global distress (ES = 0.86; CI 0.61 to 1.11; N = 591; Z = 7.41; p < .001). At follow‐up, improvements in anxiety, depression, and global distress were maintained. When SC was compared to active and passive controls, outcomes were equivalent for anxiety (ES = 0.12, 95% CI −0.25 to 0.49, Z = −0.70; p = .482) and depression (ES = 0.15, 95% CI −0.24 to 0.54, Z = 0.84; p = .401).
Conclusions
SC appears to be a clinically effective and durable low‐intensity group intervention that facilitates access to treatment for large patient numbers. However, conclusions are limited by the low methodological quality of the evidence.
Practitioner points
- The stress control version of large group psychoeducation is appropriate and effective for mild‐to‐moderate anxiety and depression
- The evidence base for stress control is predominantly made up of practice‐based studies
- Stress control needs to form one component of the overall offer made to patients presenting with mild‐to‐moderate anxiety and depression
- The competencies required to deliver such groups need better specification.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
Keywords: | depression and anxiety; group psychoeducation; primary care |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > Department of Psychology (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 21 Apr 2021 06:52 |
Last Modified: | 18 Feb 2022 11:26 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | John Wiley & Sons Ltd |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/bjc.12288 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:173271 |