Researchers from University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, UK, performed a systematic review of counseling interventions designed to prevent the acquisition of posttraumatic stress.  Earlier reviews had already established that Critical Incident Stress Debriefing has no effect on preventing PTS. Single session interventions were excluded for this review, which looked at other forms of multiple session early psychological intervention, begun within three months of a traumatic event, aimed at preventing PTS.

Researchers from Monash University in Victoria, Australia, compared Panic Online (PO), an internet-based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) intervention, to best-practice, face-to-face CBT, for people with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia.

Researchers from Cheju National University in Korea performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of various kinds of job stress management interventions.   From 46 studies, six intervention types were distinguished: cognitive-behavioral interventions (CBT), relaxation techniques (RT), exercise (EX), multimodal programs 1 and 2(MT1, 2), and organization focused interventions (OTs).

Romanian researchers from Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj, Romania, undertook a randomized clinical trial to investigate the relative efficacy of rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT), cognitive therapy (CT), and pharmacotherapy in the treatment of 170 outpatients with nonpsychotic, major depressive disorder.

The patients were randomly assigned to one of the following: 14 weeks of REBT, 14 weeks of CT, or 14 weeks of pharmacotherapy (fluoxetine or prozac). The outcome measures used were the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Beck Depression Inventory.

Overweight Adolescents Lose Weight, Body Fat, Waist Circumference

A ten week Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program in Australia delivers significant improvements in 47 overweight Australian teenagers.

Research from the University of South Australia in Adelaide examined the effectiveness of a Cognitive Behavioral Training (CBT) program (called CHOOSE HEALTH) for improving body composition, diet, and physical activity in overweight and obese adolescents.

Effective Approaches for Adults & Kids with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

A thorough review and meta-analysis from Brazil affirms the usefulness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Certain SSRI Meds for OCD.

Researchers from the Psychiatric Institute of the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro in Brazil performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials published in the last decade involving cognitive and/or behavioral treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

A small pilot study by researchers from the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health Research at the Cluain Mhuire Family Centre in Dublin, Ireland looked at the impact of group-based mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on reducing residual depressive symptoms in psychiatric outpatients with recurrent depression, and to especially explore the effects of these techniques on the symptom of rumination.

Researchers from Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Western Australia, compared the effectiveness of group vs. individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and found both programs highly effective by the time of follow-up.

Researchers from the School of Psychology at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Western Australia, compared the effectiveness of group vs. individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Subjects were randomly assigned to either a 10-week individual CBT program, an identical, 10-week group CBT program or a wait-list condition. Large effect sizes were found for both treatment conditions. Analysis of clinically significant change showed that, although the individual treatment program was associated with a more rapid response, both treatments had equivalent rates of recovered participants by the time of follow-up.

Citation: Anderson RA, Rees CS. Group versus individual cognitive-behavioural treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder: a controlled trial. Behavioral Research and Therapy. 2007 Jan; 45 (1): pages 123-37. Epub 2006 Mar 15.