Effects of Group Psychotherapy in College Students: A Six and Twelve Month Evaluation Comparison

Abstract

Group psychotherapy expects to afford more lasting changes on patients' symptomatology, as well as reinforce positive aspects of self-esteem and social adjustment. However, few investigations show the effects over an extended period of intervention. This study aimed to assess changes in symptoms of anxiety, depression, self-esteem and social adjustment within a period of six and twelve months in college students who attended interactional group psychotherapy. A longitudinal study was carried out with college students who attended group psychotherapy, using the database of forty-one of the students who stayed for six months and 23 of them, for 12 months. Significant improvements were observed at 6 and 12 months in anxietystate and depressive symptoms compared to baseline data, but there were no changes between 6 and 12 months. The comparison between well-being aspects such as self-esteem and social adaptation showed improvements mostly, up to 12 months, without any significant changes between 6 and 12 months. Also, there was observed a correlation between well-being punctuations (self-esteem and social adaptation) and the decrease of depressive and anxiety symptomatology. Long-term group psychotherapy demonstrates a decrease of symptomatology at six months of intervention, and they remain at 12 months; however, other aspects of patient's well-being, are enhanced to a higher level until 12 months.