Studying the efficacy and service users' experience of a cognitive behaviour therapy group for adults experiencing anxiety and/or panic in a community mental health setting

This study examines the efficacy of a psycho-educational group for adults experiencing anxiety and/or panic using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) at a community mental health agency. A pre-post design was used to measure target behaviours related to anxiety and/or panic and post-intervention interviews were conducted to explore the service users' experience of the group process, content and outcome. The five pretest-posttests (Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3, Mobility Inventory for Agoraphobia, Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology and Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire) measured eight target behaviours. Seven of the eight target behaviours for the average client showed significant improved functioning after the group in: (1) affective and somatic symptoms of anxiety (general anxiety), (2) anxiety sensitivity, (3) panic attack intensity, (4) while alone, severity of avoidance behaviour of certain common situations, (5) while accompanied, severity of avoidance behaviour of certain common situations, (6) severity of depressive symptoms, and (7) frequency of certain fearful thoughts. The target behavior, number of panic attacks experienced per week did not show any significant change from before and after the group. For the qualitative interviews, content analysis was used to analyze the verbatim interview transcripts. Seven superordinate themes emerged from the data: (1) joining the group and expectations of the group, (2) the group experience, (3) coping strategies, (4) strengths, likes and highlights of the group (5) weaknesses, dislikes and low points of the group and individuals suitable or unsuitable for the group, (6) suggestions, and (7) the interviewee's environment. There is a lack of studies investigating the efficacy and service users' experience of group CBT on anxiety and panic in community settings without using strict exclusion criteria. This study is an extension of this research and explored the latter in the context of northern British Columbia thereby addressing a research gap.