Evaluation of a brief cognitive behavioral group therapy for psychological distress among female Icelandic University students.

Abstract

A study of a brief cognitive behavioral group therapy intervention for psychologically distressed Icelandic female university students was conducted using a pre-post test quasi-experimental design with intervention and control group conditions. Students were randomly allocated to control and intervention group conditions (n = 30). The intervention group received four sessions of cognitive behavioral group therapy, delivered by two advanced practice psychiatric nurses. Assessment of distress included self-reported depression and anxiety symptoms. Students in the intervention group experienced significantly lower levels of depression and anxiety symptoms compared to the control group post-test providing preliminary evidence concerning intervention effectiveness for Icelandic students.