Group Therapy Has Long-Term Benefits in Teens’ Mental Health

Rebecca Lewis October 07, 2013

Teens, who participate in group therapy, for even a short period of time, are 25-33 per cent less likely to develop mental health problems. What’s more, the benefits extend for over two years after their last therapy session.

Researchers at King’s College London conducted group therapy sessions in students from 19 high schools in Greater London, and compared them with students who did not receive any intervention.

Prior the study, the students were assessed of their likelihood to develop mental health issues, including substance abuse, using an established personality scale. The test highlights several factors that are known to be strongly correlated with behavioural issues, such as anxiety sensitivity, impulsivity, hopelessness, and sensation-seeking.

Students from the intervention schools took part in a two-session group therapy in which they learned some cognitive-behavioural strategies for managing their personality types. The groups discussed thoughts, emotions and behaviours within the context of their personality type, identified situational triggers, and explored various ways to deal with their issues.

In two years following the group therapy sessions, students from the intervention group answered questionnaires every 6 months for the researchers to assess their likelihood of developing mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, panic attack, behavioural disorder, and suicidal thoughts.

The researchers found that teens who received group therapy intervention had 21 to 26 per cent reduction in their risk of severe depression, anxiety, and behavioural problems during the entire study period, and for two years following the group sessions. Notably, teenagers with high levels of impulsivity had 36 per cent reduced risk of reporting severe behaviour problems. Similarly, teens with high levels of anxiety reported 33 per cent reduced odds of severe anxiety problems after joining the group therapy.

“Our study shows that teacher-delivered interventions that target specific risk factors for mental health problems can be immensely effective at reducing the incidence of depression, anxiety and conduct disorders in the long term.” said Dr Patricia Conrod, clinical senior lecturer in the Addictions Department Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London. She added that brief intervention programmes can be both effective and sustainable when run within the school system.

Source of this article:

Brief Group Therapy Can Improve Teen Mental Health