Quality of Life in Depression and Anxiety Disorders: An Exploratory Follow-Up Study after Intensive Inpatient Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Abstract

Thirty-seven patients with depression and anxiety disorder, who participated in an intensive inpatient cognitive behaviour therapy program for 6 weeks, were interviewed before treatment and 6 weeks after the end of treatment; in addition to other measures, quality of life was assessed with the Berlin Quality of Life Profile. Substantial reduction in subjective quality of life, objective functioning and environmental assets was found at baseline. At follow-up, according to clinical global impression, 13.5% of the patients were very much improved, 45.9% much improved; in 26.3% only slight improvement and in 16.2% no improvement was reported. Quality of life changed for the better in areas like work and education, leisure, housing, social relations, psychological well-being and a global rating of satisfaction with life, but not in marital relations, health in general and in finances.

Quality of Life and Marital Adjustment after Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Behavioural Marital Therapy in Couples with Anxiety Disorders

“…The present study is consistent with previous literature that has demonstrated a significant benefit in quality of life with CBT [10][11][12][13][14][15] and with prior literature on the benefits of BMT [16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. The effects of combining CBT and BMT in the management of anxiety disorders is a value addition to the literature especially from India.…”

Quality of life in depression: An important outcome measure in an outpatient cognitive–behavioural therapy group programme?

“…The lack of long-term follow-up is a second weakness of this study as it is unknown whether mood state and QOL ratings continue to become more distinct or whether the changes in QOL continue to improve or deteriorate after group CBT. Some aspects of the sociological dimensions of QOL may be more susceptible to change over time (Evans, Banerjee, Leese, & Huxley, 2007;Lenz & Demal, 2000). Changes to external factors such as housing and employment may not be amenable to change after 10 sessions of therapy.…”

“…These improvements have occurred at a global and domain-specifi c level. Lenz and Demal (2000) investigated a 6-week intensive CBT inpatient programme among individuals with mixed anxiety (60%) or depressive (40%) primary diagnoses. Longitudinal improvement at 6 weeks follow-up was observed for leisure-time activities, housing, psychological well-being, social relations, and work and education.…”

Poverty, Psychological Resources And Subjective Well-Being

“…Also, the association between depression and subjective wellbeing has been broadly explored in various studies in which a strong association has generally been found (Schneier, 1997, in Lenz andDemal, 2000).…”

“…In other words, a person who experiences depression may report a fairly high level of well-being, depending on the particular mood present at the moment of an evaluation (Schneier, 1997, in Lenz andDemal, 2000).…”