Outcome differences between individual and group formats when identical and nonidentical treatments, patients, and doses are compared: A 25-year meta-analytic perspective.

Abstract

There are mixed findings regarding the differential efficacy of the group and individual format. One explanation of these mixed findings is that nearly all-recent meta-analyses use between-study effect sizes to test format equivalence introducing uncontrolled differences in patients, treatments, and outcome measures. Only 3 meta-analyses were located from the past 20 years that directly tested format differences in the same study using within-study effect sizes; mixed findings were reported with a primary limitation being the small number of studies. However, we located 67 studies that compared both formats in the same study. Format equivalence (g = -0.01) with low effect size heterogeneity (variability) was found in 46 studies that compared identical treatments, patients, and doses on primary outcome measures. Format equivalence (g = -0.06) with moderate effect size heterogeneity was found for 21 studies that compared nonidentical treatments; however, allegiance to a specific format moderated differences in effect sizes. There were no differences between formats for rates of treatment acceptance, dropout, remission, and improvement. Additionally, there were no differences in outcome between formats by patient diagnosis; however, differences in pre-to-post improvement were explained by diagnosis with depression, anxiety, and substance disorder posting the highest outcomes and medical and childhood disorders the lowest. Findings are discussed with reference to the practical challenges of implementing groups in clinical practice from an agency, clinician, and reimbursement perspective. (PsycINFO Database Record

Group psychotherapy for eating disorders: A meta‐analysis

“…In two separate studies, researchers have found that group psychotherapy for panic disorder was more cost-effective than individual psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy (Otto et al, 2008;Roberge et al, 2008). In a study of children (Burlingame et al, 2016). In the three RCTs in the current metaanalysis that compared group and individual psychotherapy for EDs (Chen et al, 2003;Nevonen & Broberg, 2005, similar dropout rates were reported for both modalities.…”

“…The findings indicate that group psychotherapy may be a suitable treat- (Burlingame et al, 2016). In the three RCTs in the current metaanalysis that compared group and individual psychotherapy for EDs (Chen et al, 2003;Nevonen & Broberg, 2005, similar dropout rates were reported for both modalities.…”

“…The findings indicate that group psychotherapy may be a suitable treatment option for individuals with EDs. Group psychotherapy may be more cost-effective than individual psychotherapy (McCrone et al, 2005;Otto, Pollack, & Maki, 2008;Roberge, Marchand, Reinharz, & Savard, 2008), and treatment acceptance and dropout rates of group psychotherapy are equivalent to individual psychotherapy (Burlingame et al, 2016). Research evaluating and comparing the costs of group psychotherapy compared to other forms of treatment for mental disorders is limited, but shows some promise.…”

“…Savard, 2008), and treatment acceptance and dropout rates of group psychotherapy are equivalent to individual psychotherapy(Burlingame et al, 2016). Research evaluating and comparing the costs of group psychotherapy compared to other forms of treatment for mental disorders is limited, but shows some promise.…”

Therapist-related feasibility of blended group therapy (bGT): Mixed methods study of a brief online- and mobile-supported group intervention for major depression (Preprint)

“…Observed effects correspond to earlier bGT depression studies [40,41,74], to benchmarking meta analyses on group therapy [75][76][77], and to recent group therapy trials in routine care [78,79]. Moreover, the current study expands these findings by indicating high treatment effects in a comparably short period of time; as guideline-based group CBT usually entails 15 -20 hour sessions [33].…”