Comparison of TA Group and TA Individual Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety. Outcomes evaluation in community clinics

This research compared outcomes of Transactional Analysis (TA) individual and group psychotherapy for depression and anxiety, within the research clinic at Metanoia Institute and the TA group therapy conducted within Sutton and Merton IAPT services. The research was a naturalistic, open label trial, with no control group and limited randomisation. The analysis focused on treatment outcomes for clients who presented for therapy within the clinical range for depression (PHQ -9 ≥10)  and anxiety (GAD-7 ≥8).

The outcomes showed the reduction of symptoms for depression and anxiety for both groups with large effect size (Cohen’s d). There were no significant differences between group and individual therapy in the length of therapy, effect size (Cohen’s d) or the Reliable and Clinically Significant Change Index (RCSI). However, there was an indication that the effect size of change was slightly larger in individual therapy, with a slightly larger improvement in depression. Group therapy showed slightly more improvement for anxiety, although the differences were not significant in this sample.

The project was completed in 2014.

Funded by: Metanoia Institute and Sutton and Merton Psychological Services

Principal and Co-Investigators: Dr Biljana van Rijn, Ciara Wild