Experience of implementing an adult educational approach to treating anxiety disorders

• Published in: Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 95 - 99
• Main Authors: WOOD, S. D., KITCHINER, N. J., BISSON, J. I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.02.2005; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; adult education; Aged; anxiety; Anxiety Disorders - therapy; cognitive behavioural; Feasibility Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; group treatment; Health Promotion; Humans; Male; mental health nurses; Middle Aged; Nursing; Patient Education as Topic; Pilot Projects; Psychiatric Nursing - methods; psychological therapy; Surveys and Questionnaires; United Kingdom > UK; Wales
• ISSN: 1351-0126; 1365-2850
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2850.2004.00799.x

This paper describes the background to the development and delivery of a self‐help package for anxiety disorders. Evidence of effectiveness is summarized. The paper outlines the intervention and describes the experience of two mental health nurses, who set out to assess its acceptability, evaluate its outcomes in routine clinical practice and assess the feasibility of its delivery by mental health nurses. Acceptability of the intervention was high, judged by retention and attendance rates. The pilot study produced promising clinical outcomes, especially for people with depression secondary to anxiety. Clinical measures showed significant improvements from pre‐course to 6‐month follow‐up in anxiety, psychological well‐being and depression. The outcomes suggest that appropriately trained mental health nurses could deliver the intervention as a routine treatment. The paper concludes by discussing future plans, including a randomized controlled trial and implementation in primary care.