Citation

Petković J, Tupkovic E. Acta Med. Acad. 2007; 36(2): 51-58.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Akademija nauka i umjetnosti Bosne i Hercegovine)

DOI

10.5644/ama.v36i2.31

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In the present study we analyzed 30 patients (20 females and10 males) diagnosed with a severe depressive disorder, mean age 37.6 ± 9.3 years, who were under cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. The patients were divided into three groups: one group was submitted to group therapy only (group I), the other one to individual therapy (group II), while the third group was submitted to combined individual and group psychotherapy (group III). We applied the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scale and Global Assessment of Functioning(GAF) scale at the beginning of treatment and at its end (namely, after 12 months), and again six months later following the one-year period of treatment. At the beginning oftreatment the median values of the whole group were noted as follows: BDI 42, and GAF 50.5. After one year of psychotherapy the median values of improvement were registered as follows: in respect of BDI it was recorded as 38, while forGAF it was recorded as 22. GAF score correlated very significantly with BDI (-0.52). Six months after the last individual and group sessions were held all parameters were significantly worsened. At this stage there was a moderate correlation of GAF with BDI (-0.47). Through all the stages BDI value in group I showed a significant correlation with GAF: -0.65 before the introduction of therapy, -0.48 after psychotherapy, and -0.48 after a six-month period without therapy. Similar values were observed in group II: -0.58 before therapy, -0.36after therapy, and -0.85 six months later, while in group III the following values were observed: -0.58 before therapy, -0.36 after therapy and -0.47 six months later. Conclusion: GAF is most strongly correlated with BDI in all stages, both in thestage of improvement or aggravation of illness and it may be applied as a useful screening test in further psychotherapeutic strategy. The combined individual and group psychotherapy increases the overall functioning rate regardless of a significantly lesser improvement of depression in comparison with the isolated group psychotherapy.

Language: en