Evaluation of a brief Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy for Psychological Distress among Female Icelandic University Students

Abstract

A study of a brief cognitive behavioral group therapy intervention for psychologically distressed Icelandic female university students was conducted using a pre–post test quasi-experimental design with intervention and control group conditions. Students were randomly allocated to control and intervention group conditions (n = 30). The intervention group received four sessions of cognitive behavioral group therapy, delivered by two advanced practice psychiatric nurses. Assessment of distress included self-reported depression and anxiety symptoms. Students in the intervention group experienced significantly lower levels of depression and anxiety symptoms compared to the control group post-test providing preliminary evidence concerning intervention effectiveness for Icelandic students.

Keywords: :

• anxiety
• cognitive behavioral therapy
• depression
• females
• students