Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care (Apr 2018)
Psychoeducation against depression, anxiety, alexithymia and fibromyalgia: a pilot study in primary care for patients on sick leave
Abstract
Objectives: Feasibility testing of a psychoeducational method -The Affect School and Script Analyses (ASSA) – in a Swedish primary care setting. Exploring associations between psychological, and medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS). Design: Pilot study. Setting: Three Swedish primary care centers serving 20,000 people. Intervention: 8 weekly 2-hour sessions with a 5–7 participant group led by two instructors - followed by 10 individual hour-long sessions. Subjects: Thirty-six patients, 29 women (81%), on sick-leave due to depression, anxiety, or fibromyalgia. Outcome measures: Feasibility in terms of participation rates and expected improvements of psychological symptoms and MUPS, assessed by self-report instruments pre-, one-week post-, and 18 months post-intervention. Regression coefficients between psychological symptoms and MUPS. Results: The entire 26-hour psychoeducational intervention was completed by 30 patients (83%), and 33 patients (92%) completed the 16-hour Affect School. One-week post-intervention median test score changes were significantly favorable for 27 respondents, with p 80% participation rates, and clear improvements of self-assessed psychological symptoms and MUPS. The ASSA intervention thus showed adequate feasibility in a Swedish primary care setting.Key Points A pilot study of a psychoeducational intervention – The Affect School and Script Analyses (ASSA) – was performed in primary care • The intervention showed feasibility for patients on sick-leave due to depression, anxiety, or fibromyalgia • 92% completed the 8 weeks/16 hours Affect School and 83% completed the entire 26-hour ASSA intervention • 9 of 11 self-reported measures improved significantly one-week post intervention • 7 of 11 self-reported measures improved significantly 18 months post-intervention
Keywords
