Outpatient group therapy for post-COVID patients - a naturalistic feasibility study of a face-to-face and online group concept
BackgroundA significant number of individuals diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 continue to suffer from persistent symptoms, a condition commonly referred to as Post-COVID syndrome (PCS). The most common manifestations are fatigue, post-exertional malaise, respiratory problems and cognitive deficits due to...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1500210/full |
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| author | Verena Zimmermann-Schlegel Nadine Gronewold Nadine Gronewold Sandra Stengel Mechthild Hartmann Uta Merle Hans-Christoph Friederich Hans-Christoph Friederich Beate Ditzen Beate Ditzen Jonas Tesarz Jonas Tesarz Jonas Tesarz |
| author_facet | Verena Zimmermann-Schlegel Nadine Gronewold Nadine Gronewold Sandra Stengel Mechthild Hartmann Uta Merle Hans-Christoph Friederich Hans-Christoph Friederich Beate Ditzen Beate Ditzen Jonas Tesarz Jonas Tesarz Jonas Tesarz |
| author_sort | Verena Zimmermann-Schlegel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundA significant number of individuals diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 continue to suffer from persistent symptoms, a condition commonly referred to as Post-COVID syndrome (PCS). The most common manifestations are fatigue, post-exertional malaise, respiratory problems and cognitive deficits due to the lack of a causal treatment, therapeutic options remain symptom oriented. The aim of this study was to develop a low-threshold group therapy concept for patients with PCS and to test its feasibility in face-to-face and online format.MethodAn interprofessionally oriented group therapy concept for patients with PCS was developed and a treatment manual was established. The concept comprises eight weekly sessions of 90 minutes each, during which the management of fatigue, stress intolerance and other symptoms are addressed and coping strategies are discussed and developed. The group therapy was conducted alternating in face-to-face and online format and evaluated via questionnaires.ResultsA total of 57 patients, most of them with severe limitations due to PCS, took part in the groups (n=36 online; n=21 face-to-face). The group offer was requested and accepted in both the face-to-face and online formats, and was predominantly evaluated as beneficial. Of particularly value was the opportunity to engage with peers who share similar experiences.ConclusionThe interprofessional, integrative psychotherapeutic/psychoeducational group therapy is safe, accepted and is predominantly rated as helpful by participants. It should be carried out in online formats for patients with PCS who are limited in mobility. Controlled studies are necessary to further evaluate the proposed concept and its integration into the care landscape. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ffaf5ff8b7a1439097142c340bfc1601 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-ffaf5ff8b7a1439097142c340bfc16012025-08-20T02:49:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402024-12-011510.3389/fpsyt.2024.15002101500210Outpatient group therapy for post-COVID patients - a naturalistic feasibility study of a face-to-face and online group conceptVerena Zimmermann-Schlegel0Nadine Gronewold1Nadine Gronewold2Sandra Stengel3Mechthild Hartmann4Uta Merle5Hans-Christoph Friederich6Hans-Christoph Friederich7Beate Ditzen8Beate Ditzen9Jonas Tesarz10Jonas Tesarz11Jonas Tesarz12Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, GermanyInstitute of Medical Psychology, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, GermanyInstitut für Arbeitsmedizin (ifa), Institute for Occupational Medicine, Baden, SwitzerlandDepartment of General Practice and Health Services Research, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, GermanyDepartment of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, GermanyDepartment of Internal Medicine IV, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, GermanyDepartment of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, GermanyDZPG (Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit) - German Centre for Mental Health - Heidelberg, GermanyInstitute of Medical Psychology, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, GermanyDZPG (Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit) - German Centre for Mental Health - Heidelberg, GermanyDepartment of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, GermanyDZPG (Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit) - German Centre for Mental Health - Heidelberg, GermanyDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, GermanyBackgroundA significant number of individuals diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 continue to suffer from persistent symptoms, a condition commonly referred to as Post-COVID syndrome (PCS). The most common manifestations are fatigue, post-exertional malaise, respiratory problems and cognitive deficits due to the lack of a causal treatment, therapeutic options remain symptom oriented. The aim of this study was to develop a low-threshold group therapy concept for patients with PCS and to test its feasibility in face-to-face and online format.MethodAn interprofessionally oriented group therapy concept for patients with PCS was developed and a treatment manual was established. The concept comprises eight weekly sessions of 90 minutes each, during which the management of fatigue, stress intolerance and other symptoms are addressed and coping strategies are discussed and developed. The group therapy was conducted alternating in face-to-face and online format and evaluated via questionnaires.ResultsA total of 57 patients, most of them with severe limitations due to PCS, took part in the groups (n=36 online; n=21 face-to-face). The group offer was requested and accepted in both the face-to-face and online formats, and was predominantly evaluated as beneficial. Of particularly value was the opportunity to engage with peers who share similar experiences.ConclusionThe interprofessional, integrative psychotherapeutic/psychoeducational group therapy is safe, accepted and is predominantly rated as helpful by participants. It should be carried out in online formats for patients with PCS who are limited in mobility. Controlled studies are necessary to further evaluate the proposed concept and its integration into the care landscape.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1500210/fullonline therapiespost-COVIDgroup therapiesfeasibilityfatiguecoping |
| spellingShingle | Verena Zimmermann-Schlegel Nadine Gronewold Nadine Gronewold Sandra Stengel Mechthild Hartmann Uta Merle Hans-Christoph Friederich Hans-Christoph Friederich Beate Ditzen Beate Ditzen Jonas Tesarz Jonas Tesarz Jonas Tesarz Outpatient group therapy for post-COVID patients - a naturalistic feasibility study of a face-to-face and online group concept Frontiers in Psychiatry online therapies post-COVID group therapies feasibility fatigue coping |
| title | Outpatient group therapy for post-COVID patients - a naturalistic feasibility study of a face-to-face and online group concept |
| title_full | Outpatient group therapy for post-COVID patients - a naturalistic feasibility study of a face-to-face and online group concept |
| title_fullStr | Outpatient group therapy for post-COVID patients - a naturalistic feasibility study of a face-to-face and online group concept |
| title_full_unstemmed | Outpatient group therapy for post-COVID patients - a naturalistic feasibility study of a face-to-face and online group concept |
| title_short | Outpatient group therapy for post-COVID patients - a naturalistic feasibility study of a face-to-face and online group concept |
| title_sort | outpatient group therapy for post covid patients a naturalistic feasibility study of a face to face and online group concept |
| topic | online therapies post-COVID group therapies feasibility fatigue coping |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1500210/full |
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