Healthy Minds: Group Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Sustainable Return to Work After a Sick Leave Due to Depression.

Background Depression is one of the major causes for sick leave and loss of productivity at work. Many studies have investigated return to work (RTW) interventions for people with common mental disorders. However, a paucity of studies has targeted depressive symptoms in the workplace, as well as work productivity. Objectives This study presents preliminary results on a novel group intervention based on cognitive behavioral principles in order to optimize sustainable RTW, by reducing clinical symptoms (anxiety and depression) and improving work productivity. Method This pilot study followed a quasi-experimental design, with participants randomly receiving the group intervention (N = 19) or only receiving usual services (N = 11, control group). The group intervention called Healthy Minds for Sustainable RTW consists of eight sessions based on cognitive behavioral therapy principles and techniques. Outcome measures on depressive and anxiety symptoms and work productivity were administered at baseline (i.e. the start of return-to-work or gradual RTW), as well 2 months later (post-intervention), and at 6-month follow-up. Results The results did not show a time × group interaction for symptoms of depression or anxiety (p = 0.07). Those who received the group intervention however did see a within-group reduction in anxiety and depressive symptoms over time, clinically significant for the group intervention only. A significant time × group interaction for work productivity was found, with those in the intervention group improving over time compared to the control condition. Conclusion Although replication is needed, these results suggest that a brief group cognitive-behavioral intervention specifically tailored to work-related issues is promising. Future studies are warranted, particularly with larger samples and remote webconferencing delivery.

Romantic relationship group intervention for men with early psychosis: A feasibility, acceptability and potential impact pilot study.

AIM: To assess the feasibility, acceptability and potential impact of a cognitive behavioural group intervention occurring over 12 sessions and focusing on romantic relationships for single men with early psychosis. METHODS: Recruitment, drop-out and participation rates were collected. An A-B-A within-subject design (n = 7), where each participant acted as his own control, was used to determine potential impact (on social functioning, romantic relationship functioning, self-esteem, theory of mind [ToM] and self-stigma) across time (six time points). RESULTS: Feasibility and acceptability were established. As for the potential impact of the intervention, participants did not all evolve the same way. Improvements were found on social functioning ("behaviours" subscale), romantic relationship functioning and ToM ("mentalizing" subscale). CONCLUSIONS: More studies are warranted to expand on these results and to further help men with early psychosis in their social and romantic development.

Metacognition Is Uniquely Related to Concurrent and Prospective Assessments of Negative Symptoms Independent of Verbal Memory in Serious Mental Illness.

The inability to synthesize information into experience of self and others could be one significant cause of negative symptoms. To explore this possibility, we examined the relationships between baseline metacognition and concurrent and prospective negative symptoms controlling for verbal memory. The participants were 62 adults diagnosed with serious mental illness enrolled in outpatient treatment. Metacognition was measured with the Metacognitive Assessment Scale-Abbreviated, symptoms were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and verbal memory was assessed using the California Verbal Learning Test. Significant correlations were found, indicating that poorer overall metacognition was associated with greater levels of negative symptoms assessed concurrently (r = 0.39) and 1 month later (r = 0.36). A significant relationship persisted after controlling for verbal memory and education. These findings support the idea that metacognitive deficits are related to negative symptoms and point to the potential of metacognitive interventions to positively influence negative symptoms.

Predicting and preventing symptom onset and relapse in schizophrenia-A metareview of current empirical evidence.

The stress-vulnerability-protective factors model is often used to explain the etiology and known risk and protective factors of initial psychotic symptoms and symptomatic relapses. Over the past 40 years since its initial conception, the model has evolved and gathered a plethora of evidence of varying quality for its different components. The objective of this metareview is to analyze the quality of the evidence and the effect sizes for each component of the model not previously reviewed. Recent meta-analyses covering each component of the model in relation to the onset of psychotic symptoms or symptomatic relapse in schizophrenia were reviewed with the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation system. Thirty-one meta-analyses were kept, from 3,044 papers reviewed. We did not add to previous metareviews in terms of obstetric/prenatal or genetic vulnerabilities. For stressors, moderate to strong research evidence was found for childhood adversity, cannabis, methamphetamine abuse, and expressed emotions as triggers of psychotic relapse or as linked to the onset of psychotic symptoms. For protective factors, moderate to strong evidence was found for antipsychotic medication in adults, family interventions, social skills training, as well as interventions focusing on recovery management skills. Poor evidence or no evidence (i.e., absence of meta-analyses) were found for the other components of the model. More rigorous studies and systematic reviews are needed in order to validate the various components of the model in regard to symptom onset and relapse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

[Engagement Strategies, Feasibility and Potential Impact of Group CBT for Psychosis Offered Within Assertive Community Treatment]. / Stratégies d'engagement, faisabilité et impact potentiel d'une intervention de groupe cognitive comportementale pour la psychose au sein d'une équipe de suivi intensif dans le milieu.

Objectives The study aims to document the strategies used to facilitate the engagement of participating receiving assertive community treatment (ACT) to a group cognitive-behavioral therapy for psychosis (CBTp) given for the first time in that context, and to describe the feasibility of this intervention with these consumers and the involved clinicians.Methods A group CBTp of 24 sessions has been delivered. Participants were recruited from both teams ACT of Laval, Quebec. Different strategies were elaborated and documented in order to promote participants' engagement to the therapy. Participants had to fill in the following questionnaires: Self-Esteem Rating Scale - Short Form; Brief Symptom Inventory; and Social Provision Scale before and after the therapy.Results The descriptive data show that the strategies from the Positive reinforcement category were the most used, closely followed by Materials and services, and then by the strategies that aim to compensate Memory problems. Participants showed up on average at 76% of the sessions. Four participants on eight had an improvement on their global self-esteem score, 3 improved on social support and 3 improved their global severity index of the BSI symptoms.Conclusion The information gathered could be very important for other ACT teams that wished to carry out a CBTp among the targeted customer base. These consumers could particularly benefit from this group CBTp considering it could diminish social isolation and marginalization often lived by individuals with severe mental illness.