WORKSHOP: Moving Towards Interdisciplinary Care: How Mindfulness & Group Psychotherapy Can Benefit Patients with Chronic Health Conditions
Presenting Author(s): Ms. Kaitlyn Chappell, BSc, Dr. Diana Meakins, BMSc, MD, FRCPC, Dr. Laura Stovel, MA, MD, FRCPC
Co-Author(s): Melanie Marsh-Joyal, Allison Bihari, Karen Kroeker
Date and time: 23 Mar 2024 from 14:25 to 14:45
Location: Hawthorn B
Learning Objectives
1. Describe the therapeutic factors that act as mechanisms of change in group therapy;
2. Recognize how Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, as a modality of group therapy, facilitates therapeutic processes; and
3. Understand the experience of patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) participating in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as part of multidisciplinary treatment plans.
Literature References
1. Leszcz, M., & Goodwin, P. J. (1998). The rationale and foundations of group psychotherapy for women with metastatic breast cancer. International journal of group psychotherapy, 48(2), 245–273. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207284.1998.11491538
2. Leszcz M. (2020). Group Therapy for Patients With Medical Illness. American journal of psychotherapy, 73(4), 131–136. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.20200005
3. Yalom, ID., & Leszcz, M., (2020). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (6th ed.). Basic Books.
4. Chappell, KD., Meakins, D., Marsh-Joyal,l M., Bihari, A., Goodman, KJ., Le Melledo, JM., Lim, A., Peerani, F., Kroeker, KI. Integrating mental health into Inflammatory Bowel Disease care: A mixed methods feasibility trial of a virtual mindfulness intervention. JMIR Preprints. http://doi.org/10.2196/preprints.53550
Abstract
Background:
Group therapy is an effective modality in the treatment of a wide range of mind and body illnesses. Research has identified several therapeutic processes that operate in groups and support group members’ growth and change. A growing body of research focuses on understanding the benefits of group psychotherapy for patients with medical illnesses.
Methods:
We offered a therapy group, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), to adults with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and co-morbid mood and anxiety symptoms. We collected objective measures of mental and physical improvement and conducted interviews with participants to understand their experiences. We used deductive thematic analysis to describe participants’ perceived benefits and the relevant group therapeutic factors.
Results:
After participating in MBSR, participants noted improvements in their mental and physical health. Quantitative data demonstrated that improvements in mental health and quality of life were sustained at 6- month follow-up. Through qualitative data, participants emphasized these improvements were “life-changing” and “empowering”. Further analysis revealed that several therapeutic factors were described by participants when discussing the benefits of group psychotherapy. Participants expressed their desire to have access to psychiatric care as part of their treatment plan.
Conclusions:
Group psychotherapy can be effective in improving the health of patients with IBD and co-morbid mood and anxiety symptoms. MBSR facilitates group therapeutic processes through its curriculum and delivery. Group members spontaneously identified recognized therapeutic processes as contributing to therapeutic change. Collaboration between specialists to provide multidisciplinary care is important to patients and is important in improving patient health.