Group dynamic interpersonal therapy (GDIT): adapting an individual interpersonal therapy to a group setting in an NHS IAPT service: a pilot study

Abstract

Dynamic interpersonal therapy (DIT) was developed for individual clients. This pilot project set out to evaluate if DIT could be adapted to group psychotherapy. Three consecutive groups were run in an NHS IAPT service over two years. Twenty-seven clients (10 men and 17 women, median age 34) were offered treatment. Groups were facilitated by accredited DIT therapists. Clients completed the PHQ9 and the GAD7 at assessment and then weekly. Scores were used to evaluate the impact of GDIT on client symptoms. Data collected during routine treatment was later analysed.

The delivery of key aspects of the model that included the formulation of the IPAF and the Goodbye Letter were changed. Results suggest that DIT can be adapted to a group setting and that this way of working may have significant benefits for clients. 74% of patients (n = 19) who completed treatment were above Caseness on the PHQ9 (p = < .00001, d = 1.82) and 58% on the GAD7 (p = < .000001, d = 1.63). Only one client (5%) dropped out of treatment. Given the small size of the sample and no control, the reduction in client symptoms cannot be reliably attributed to GDIT. More research is needed.

Keywords:

• dynamic interpersonal therapy
• group psychotherapy
• depression
• anxiety
• IAPT

Acknowledgements

Our heartfelt thanks to those clients who took the risk of trying group DIT psychotherapy and from whom we learned so much. We would also like to thank our colleagues and managers in the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust IAPT service for their encouragement and support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).