The Efficacy of Group Therapy for Depression

Abstract

This article reviews the empirical research on the efficacy of group therapy for depressive disorders from 1970 to 1986. The review was undertaken in light of a multidimensional classification system designed to clarify differences between conceptual and measurement parameters of the various studies. The results suggest that group interventions have shortterm efficacy in the alleviation of depressive symptomatology with an outpatient population. Although more research needs to be done before definitive conclusions can be drawn, the availablefollow-up data suggest that lasting well-being would be anticipated following successful group inten'ention. As there was nofocus on the process-outcome interaction, no conclusions could be drawn about factors responsible for the positive outcome found.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

American Psychiatric Association . (1987). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed., rev.). Washington, DC: Author.

Antonuccio, D. , Lewinsohn, P. , & Steinmetz, J. (1982). Identification of therapist differences in a group treatment for depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 50, 433-435.

Antonuccio, D. , Thompson, A. , Chatham, P. , Monagin, J. , Tearman, B. , & Aidger, B. (1984). An exploratory study: The psychoeducational group treatment of drug-refractory unipolar depression. Journal of Behavioral Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 15, 309-313.

Burlingame, G. , Fuhriman, A. , & Drescher, S. (1984). Scientific inquiry into small group process: A multidimensional approach. Small Group Behavior, 15, 441-471.

Comas-Diaz, L. (1981). Effects of cognitive and behavioral group treatment on the depressive symptomology of Puerto Rican women. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 49, 627-632.

Covi, L. , Lipman, R. , Derogatis, L. , Smith, J. , & Pattison, J. (1974). Drugs and group psychotherapy in neurotic depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 131, 191-198.

Dies, R. (1985). A multidimensional model for group process research: Elaboration and critique. Small Group Behavior, 16, 427-446.

Fuchs, C. , & Rehm, L. (1977). A self-control behavior therapy for depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 49, 206-215.

Fuhriman, A. , Drescher, S. , & Burlingame, G. (1984). Conceptualizing small group process. Small Group Behavior, 15, 427-440.

10.

Lewinsohn, P. , Weinstein, M. , & Alper, T. (1970). A behavioral approach to the group treatment of depressed persons: A methodological contribution. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 26, 525-532.

11.

Rehm, L. , Fuchs, C. , Roth, D. , Komblith, S. , & Romano, J. (1979). A comparison of self-control and assertion skills treatment of depression. Behavior Therapy, 10, 429-442.

12.

Rush, J. , & Watkins, J. (1981). Group versus individual cognitive therapy: A pilot study. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 5, 95-103.

13.

Shaffer, C. , Sharpio, J. , Sank, L. , & Coghlan, D. (1981). Positive changes in depression, anxiety, and assertion following individual and group cognitive behavior therapy intervention. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 5, 149-157.

14.

Sharpio, J. , Sank, L. , Shaffer, C. , & Coghlan-Donovan, D. (1982). Cost effectiveness of individual versus group cognitive behavior therapy for problems of depression and anxiety in an HMO population. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 38, 674-677.

15.

Shaw, B. (1977). Comparison of cognitive therapy and behavior therapy in the treatment of depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 45, 543-551.

16.

Steuer, J. , Mintz, J. , Hammen, C. , Hill, M. , Jarvik, L. , McCarley, T. , Motoike, P. , & Rosen, R. (1984). Cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic group psychotherapy in the treatment of geriatric depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 52, 180-189.