A 12-month comparison of brief psychodynamic psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy treatment in subjects with generalised anxiety disorders in a community setting

• Published in: European psychiatry Vol. 22; no. 8; pp. 530 - 539
• Main Authors: Ferrero, Andrea, Pierò, Andrea, Fassina, Simona, Massola, Tiziana, Lanteri, Antonello, Daga, Giovanni Abbate, Fassino, Secondo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Elsevier SAS 01.11.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Agoraphobia; Anti-Anxiety Agents - therapeutic use; Anxiety disorders; Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis; Anxiety Disorders - psychology; Anxiety Disorders - therapy; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Biological and medical sciences; Brief psychotherapy; Combined Modality Therapy; Community Mental Health Services; Drug; Female; Follow-up; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Internal Medicine; Male; Medical sciences; Medication; Mental health; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Outcome; Panic; Panic disorder; Patient Satisfaction; Personality Assessment; Personality disorders; Psychiatry; Psychoanalytic Therapy; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychotherapy, Brief; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Treatment; Drug; Panic; Treatment; Agoraphobia; Anxiety disorders; Outcome; Mental health; Medication; Personality disorders; Brief psychotherapy; Follow-up; Human; Analytical psychotherapy; Anxiety disorder; Pharmacotherapy; Personality disorder; Chemotherapy; Generalized anxiety disorder; Follow up study
• ISSN: 0924-9338; 1778-3585
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2007.07.004

Abstract Little information is available on the use of brief psychotherapy among subjects with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) within community mental health services. This study compared results among subjects treated with brief Adlerian psychodynamic psychotherapy (B-APP), those treated with medication (MED), or those who experienced combined treatment (COM). Symptomatology and occupational functioning were assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression scales (HAM-A; HAM-D), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) at intake (T1) and at 3, 6, and 12 months later (T3, T6, T12). The study sample included 87 patients with GAD (B-APP 34; MED 33; COM 20), and an ANOVA was applied for analysing repeated measures while controlling for personality disorder. After 6 months, CGI, HAM-A, HAM-D, and SOFAS scores significantly improved independently from the type of treatment. Subjects with personality disorders treated with B-APP exhibited superior results to those treated using other methods only in SOFAS scores at T6. These results were generally maintained at T12. Remission rates among subjects (HAM-A scores <7) varied between 55% (MED) and 74% (B-APP) at T6 and between 63% (MED) and 78% (COM) at T12; no significant differences appeared between the three treatment groups. A logistic regression model predicted anxiety remission only by CGI at T1. This paper discusses these results in relation to the use of brief psychotherapy within community mental health services.