Exploration of experiences in therapeutic groups for patients with severe mental illness: development of the Ferrara group experiences scale (FE- GES)

Abstract

BackgroundGroup therapies are routinely provided for patients with severe mental illness. The factors important to the group experience of patients are still poorly understood and are rarely measured. To support further research and practice, we aimed to develop a questionnaire that captures how patients experience groups within a community mental health context.MethodsAn initial pool of 39 items was conceptually generated to assess different aspects of group experiences. Items were completed by 166 patients with severe mental illness attending group therapies in community mental health services in Italy. Patients with different psychiatric diagnoses who attended at least 5 group sessions were included. An exploratory factor analysis was used to identify different dimensions of group experiences and to reduce the number of items for each dimension.ResultsThe resulting questionnaire has five subscales: 1) sharing of emotions and experiences, 2) cognitive improvement, 3) group learning, 4) difficulties in open expression and 5) relationships. Each subscale has 4 items. The scale and sub-scales have good internal consistency.ConclusionsThe Ferrara Group Experiences Scale is conceptually derived and assesses dimensions of group experience that are theoretically and practically relevant. It is brief, easy to use and has good psychometric properties. After further validation, the scale may be used for research into patient experiences across different group therapy modalities and for evaluation in routine care.

Are Group Psychotherapeutic Treatments Effective for Patients with Schizophrenia? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…In particular, there has been a growing interest in the development and delivery of psychotherapeutic treatments in a group format for this population [3]. …”

<p>Measuring the Patient Experience of Mental Health Care: A Systematic and Critical Review of Patient-Reported Experience Measures</p>

“…The time frame for administering the instrument was reported for 29 instruments (38.7%): twenty were designed for completion before leaving the hospital, one of which was delivered 6 to 7 days after admission, 64 one at the end of a group therapy session (normally after the first week of admission), 119 one 1 week before discharge, 85 seven on the day of discharge, 50 , 51 , 74 , 90 , 106 , 118 , 120 1 day before discharge, 56 and nine unspecified, 53 , 59 , 67 , 78 , 84 , 95 , 121 two of which were designed to be completed near the patient’s discharge, generally within 24 to 72 hours 68 or 24 to 48 hours 80 before leaving. Two instruments were designed to be administered after discharge, 71 , 125 including one within 1 month of discharge.…”

“…Twenty-six instruments (48.0%) presented a combination of positively and negatively worded items. 42 , 43 , 46 – 48 , 53 , 54 , 59 , 60 , 67 , 71 , 73 , 81 , 82 , 86 , 87 , 89 , 93 , 97 , 99 , 102 , 108 , 110 , 116 , 124 Most items had Likert-type scale, though the response options varied between the instruments: the majority had an odd number of response options (52.0%), among which 35 had a 5-point Likert scale, two had a 7-point Likert scale, and two had a 3-point Likert scale. Seventeen instruments had a balanced rating scale (22.7%), among which 15 had a 4-point Likert scale and two had a 6-point Likert scale.…”

A Qualitative Evaluation of the Impact of the First Love Yourself (FLY) Women’s Support Group

“…Catharsis and Universality were evident as group members and group leader discussed benefiting from having the group as a safe emotional outlet to talk with peers who had similar experiences [7]. Group cohesiveness and corrective recapitulation of the primary family were also very apparent as the group described feeling a familial bond with one another and having learned to trust others as a result of group interaction [8]. Imparting of Information was also evident as group members discussed learning specific skills that allow them to parent and cope more effectively.…”

“…Additionally, the development of socializing techniques was also demonstrated as group members discussed having improved platonic, romantic, and parenting relationship as a result of the group [8], [9]. Elements of the remaining factors may not have been discussed explicitly by group members but nonetheless were observed during data collection and noted during the clinician interview.…”