Engagement in Group Psychotherapy Among Marginalized Individuals With Hepatitis C

ABSTRACT

This article examines an innovative psychoeducational group model at a community-based hepatitis C treatment program in Toronto, Canada. Group support is increasingly used as part of community-based, interdisciplinary approaches to addressing the complex psychosocial needs and barriers to care of individuals living with and/or undergoing treatment for hepatitis C. This article articulates the theoretical framework and details of one such group model. It also examines group engagement and outcomes using data collected over three group cycles. Psychotherapeutic engagement was higher than might be anticipated for a highly marginalized population. Specifically, group cohesion measures were equivalent or higher compared to norms for other support/psychotherapy groups. This study suggests that individuals with complex psychosocial issues have the ability to engage meaningfully in group therapy.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors acknowledge the support of Regent Park Community Health Centre, South Riverdale Community Health Centre, Sherbourne Health Centre, the Toronto Community Hep C Program Staff and Patient Advisory Board. In particular we would like to thank Steve Villeneuve, Patient Advisory Board member, for his comments on the manuscript. The authors would also like to thank all of the Toronto Community Hep C Program clients who participated in this study.

FUNDING

This study was supported by funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Hepatitis C Secretariat.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Hepatitis C Secretariat.

Notes on contributors

Zoë Dodd

Zoë Dodd is the Hep C Program Coordinator for the Toronto Community Hep C Program at South Riverdale Community Health Centre and Regent Park Community Health Centre. Claire Ann Banga is a Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Edinburgh. Kate Mason is the Research Coordinator for the Toronto Community Hep C Program. Christopher Meaney is a Biostatistician at the University of Toronto, Department of Family & Community Medicine. Molyn Leszcz is Psychiatrist-in-Chief at Mount Sinai Hospital, Professor and Vice Chair, Clinical, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Sanjeev Sockalingam is Deputy Psychiatrist-in-Chief at the University Health Network and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Parts of this paper were presented at the March 2013 meeting of the 3rd Canadian Symposium on Hep C, the September 2013 meeting of the Canadian Psychiatric Association Conference, the November 2013 meeting of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine Annual Meeting, and the May 2014 meeting of the Canadian Group Association Conference.

Claire Ann Banga

Zoë Dodd is the Hep C Program Coordinator for the Toronto Community Hep C Program at South Riverdale Community Health Centre and Regent Park Community Health Centre. Claire Ann Banga is a Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Edinburgh. Kate Mason is the Research Coordinator for the Toronto Community Hep C Program. Christopher Meaney is a Biostatistician at the University of Toronto, Department of Family & Community Medicine. Molyn Leszcz is Psychiatrist-in-Chief at Mount Sinai Hospital, Professor and Vice Chair, Clinical, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Sanjeev Sockalingam is Deputy Psychiatrist-in-Chief at the University Health Network and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Parts of this paper were presented at the March 2013 meeting of the 3rd Canadian Symposium on Hep C, the September 2013 meeting of the Canadian Psychiatric Association Conference, the November 2013 meeting of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine Annual Meeting, and the May 2014 meeting of the Canadian Group Association Conference.

Kate Mason

Zoë Dodd is the Hep C Program Coordinator for the Toronto Community Hep C Program at South Riverdale Community Health Centre and Regent Park Community Health Centre. Claire Ann Banga is a Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Edinburgh. Kate Mason is the Research Coordinator for the Toronto Community Hep C Program. Christopher Meaney is a Biostatistician at the University of Toronto, Department of Family & Community Medicine. Molyn Leszcz is Psychiatrist-in-Chief at Mount Sinai Hospital, Professor and Vice Chair, Clinical, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Sanjeev Sockalingam is Deputy Psychiatrist-in-Chief at the University Health Network and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Parts of this paper were presented at the March 2013 meeting of the 3rd Canadian Symposium on Hep C, the September 2013 meeting of the Canadian Psychiatric Association Conference, the November 2013 meeting of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine Annual Meeting, and the May 2014 meeting of the Canadian Group Association Conference.

Christopher Meaney

Zoë Dodd is the Hep C Program Coordinator for the Toronto Community Hep C Program at South Riverdale Community Health Centre and Regent Park Community Health Centre. Claire Ann Banga is a Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Edinburgh. Kate Mason is the Research Coordinator for the Toronto Community Hep C Program. Christopher Meaney is a Biostatistician at the University of Toronto, Department of Family & Community Medicine. Molyn Leszcz is Psychiatrist-in-Chief at Mount Sinai Hospital, Professor and Vice Chair, Clinical, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Sanjeev Sockalingam is Deputy Psychiatrist-in-Chief at the University Health Network and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Parts of this paper were presented at the March 2013 meeting of the 3rd Canadian Symposium on Hep C, the September 2013 meeting of the Canadian Psychiatric Association Conference, the November 2013 meeting of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine Annual Meeting, and the May 2014 meeting of the Canadian Group Association Conference.

Molyn Leszcz

Zoë Dodd is the Hep C Program Coordinator for the Toronto Community Hep C Program at South Riverdale Community Health Centre and Regent Park Community Health Centre. Claire Ann Banga is a Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Edinburgh. Kate Mason is the Research Coordinator for the Toronto Community Hep C Program. Christopher Meaney is a Biostatistician at the University of Toronto, Department of Family & Community Medicine. Molyn Leszcz is Psychiatrist-in-Chief at Mount Sinai Hospital, Professor and Vice Chair, Clinical, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Sanjeev Sockalingam is Deputy Psychiatrist-in-Chief at the University Health Network and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Parts of this paper were presented at the March 2013 meeting of the 3rd Canadian Symposium on Hep C, the September 2013 meeting of the Canadian Psychiatric Association Conference, the November 2013 meeting of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine Annual Meeting, and the May 2014 meeting of the Canadian Group Association Conference.

Sanjeev Sockalingam

Zoë Dodd is the Hep C Program Coordinator for the Toronto Community Hep C Program at South Riverdale Community Health Centre and Regent Park Community Health Centre. Claire Ann Banga is a Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Edinburgh. Kate Mason is the Research Coordinator for the Toronto Community Hep C Program. Christopher Meaney is a Biostatistician at the University of Toronto, Department of Family & Community Medicine. Molyn Leszcz is Psychiatrist-in-Chief at Mount Sinai Hospital, Professor and Vice Chair, Clinical, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Sanjeev Sockalingam is Deputy Psychiatrist-in-Chief at the University Health Network and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Parts of this paper were presented at the March 2013 meeting of the 3rd Canadian Symposium on Hep C, the September 2013 meeting of the Canadian Psychiatric Association Conference, the November 2013 meeting of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine Annual Meeting, and the May 2014 meeting of the Canadian Group Association Conference.