Clinical Research Directory

Cognitive Behavior Therapy in Psychiatric Inpatient Care

The current project aims to evaluate the extent to which psychological interventions based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), provided within the framework of care, may be helpful for patients in psychiatric inpatient care. The background to the project is the substantial lack of psychological treatment available to patients in psychiatric inpatient care, despite evidence suggesting that active psychological interventions can have a positive effect on psychiatric problems, such as reduced depressive symptoms, decreased anxiety, and reduced rates of readmission to inpatient psychiatric care. Previous research evaluating the effects of CBT in inpatient settings is, however, rare and more knowledge is needed both nationally and internationally. In addition to the potential direct effect of psychological treatment on patients' difficulties, there is also a high demand for such support from patients, for example, as expressed at patient forums conducted by participation coordinators in Region Stockholm, Sweden. In psychiatric outpatient and primary care, there is currently good evidence supporting CBT, and these methods are highly beneficial for both patients and practitioners. Digitalization and blended formats, with therapist-supported internet treatments, can also increase access to interventions. Studies of CBT for, for example, depression, anxiety, and psychosis are well documented and have shown a significant reduction in psychiatric symptoms as well as improved quality of life. But scarcity of studies conducted in inpatient care limits available knowledge on feasibility and effects of CBT interventions to this group of patients. This strongly motivates further systematic evaluation and research on CBT in inpatient psychiatric care, and the aim of the present study is to implement and evaluate CBT in this context. Investigators plan to test this at four to six psychiatric inpatient units and evaluate the impact of the intervention on patients' levels of activity and symptoms of low mood and depression in a randomized controlled trial. In addition, investigators wish to conduct two different interview studies with patients and staff to obtain a detailed description of how they experience the intervention.