Therapeutic factors that promote recovery in high-risk adolescents intensive group psychotherapeutic MBT programme

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate whether therapeutic factors as identified by Yalom and potential additional therapeutic factors could be found in the qualitative individual reports of high-risk adolescents with personality disorders at the end of an intensive group psychotherapeutic MBT programme and whether the therapeutic factors were related to therapy outcomes.MethodsAt the end of treatment, 70 adolescents were asked to write a farewell letter. Content analysis of the letters was performed by two independent raters, using the 12 therapeutic factors of Yalom and potential additional therapeutic factors as coding categories. The factors were related to outcome, operationalized as a decrease in psychological symptoms as measured with the Symptom Check List 90 (SCL-90).ResultsAll therapeutic factors of Yalom and four new factors were identified in the letters, ranging from 1 to 97%. The factors of ‘cohesion’ (97%), ‘interpersonal learning output’ (94%), ‘guidance’ (98%) and ‘identification’ (94%) were found in most letters. By contrast, ‘universality’ (1%), ‘family re-enactment’ (3%) and ‘instillation of hope’ (1%) were found in very few letters. The factors ‘interpersonal learning input’, ‘self-esteem’ and ‘turning point’ were significantly associated with therapeutic recovery.ConclusionsLarge presence differences were encountered in therapeutic factors associated with resilience processes and the resolution of psychological distress. Although a relationship was found between certain factors and change in symptoms, it was unclear whether the factors had led to such change. Further research seems important for treatment in general and for the personalization of treatment.

“Feels Good to Get Wet”: The Unique Affordances of Surf Therapy Among Australian Youth

“…These findings are in agreeance with de Matos et al ( 2017 ) who concluded that surf therapy is beneficial for promoting well-being, emotional regulation, and personal and social skills in vulnerable youth populations, as well as, Godfrey et al ( 2015 ) and Marshall et al ( 2019 ) who reported participant experiences including resilience, self-esteem, friendship, happiness, and a sense of achievement or mastery. Moreover, there are demonstratable alignments between Yalom's therapeutic factors for group psychotherapy (Hauber et al, 2019 ) and the qualitative findings, including cohesion (i.e., participants were accepting of one another), guidance (i.e., sharing of psychoeducation resources), universality (i.e., the recognition that other participants had similar experiences), and self-understanding (i.e., learning to recognise that participants can exert control over their lives). Therefore, surf therapy seems effective in producing a myriad of benefits on mental health among this population.…”

The process of recovery and change in a dialectical behaviour therapy programme for youth

“…Similarly, even though some participants found aspects of the skills group very difficult at times, the alliance with the individual therapists assisted in maintaining commitment to attending group and thereby availing themselves of the therapeutic factors unique to group attendance such as identification with others and interpersonal learning (Hauber et al . 2019).…”

Auf der Suche nach dem Heiligen Gral – Wirkfaktoren der Gruppenpsychotherapie

“…Die Befragung von Patienten über die abgelaufene Gruppenpsy chotherapie hinsichtlich der Wirkfaktoren kann auch über einen Fra gebogen durchgeführt werden, der die gleichen Faktoren beinhal tet wie das QSortVerfahren. In einer aktuellen Arbeit [9] wurden therapiebezogene Abschiedsbriefe von 70 adoleszenten Patienten mit Persönlichkeitsstörung nach Ablauf einer mentalisierungsbasier ten Gruppentherapie inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet. Alle Wirkfak toren nach Yalom konnten in den Briefen mit erwartungsgemäß un terschiedlicher Gewichtung identifiziert werden.…”