The Impact of Group-as-a-Whole Work on Anxiety and Depression in a Severely Mentally Ill Population∗

∗Accepted under the editorship of Donald E. Ward, Ph.D.

Abstract

This study explored the impact of a group-as-a-whole processing group on 11 severely mentally ill adult clients residing in a long term care facility over 30 weeks. Participants were evaluated for the effect of the group on anxiety and depression, using the Beck Depression Index (BDI-II) and the Beck Anxiety Index (BAI). This longitudinal study incorporated measurements at 4 time points, 10 weeks apart, and utilized a control group. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in anxiety for the experimental group, and a significant drop in depression in the experimental compared to the control group.

Keywords:

• anxiety
• depression
• group
• tavistock

The authors would like to offer special acknowledgement to New Beginnings Community Services, Inc. (NBCS) and The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), DuPage County, IL for their contributions to this article.

Notes

∗Accepted under the editorship of Donald E. Ward, Ph.D.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Diana J. Semmelhack

Dr. Diana Semmelhack is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology in the Department of Behavioral Medicine at Midwestern University.

Clive Hazell

Dr. Clive Hazell is a Senior Professor at DeVry University.

William Hoffman

Dr. William Hoffman is Director of Research in the Department of Anesthesia at the University of Illinois, Chicago.