Impact of integrated psychiatric-psychotherapeutic treatment on coping methods and life satisfaction in patients with depressive and anxiety disorders

Aim of the study The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of integrated psychiatric-psychotherapeutic treatment on coping methods and life satisfaction, and to compare the effect of integrated approaches and standard psychotherapeutic methods on the aforementioned psychological measures. Subject or material and methods Patients diagnosed with depressive disorders (F32 and F33 according to ICD-10) and anxiety and neurotic disorders (F40 – F48 according to ICD-10) between the ages of 18 and 60 were eligible to participate in the study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: study group, which underwent a process of standardized integrated psychiatric-psychotherapeutic treatment (for the period of 12 weeks) (n = 32), and control group, whose course of treatment lacked a standardized integrated treatment involving direct cooperation between a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist (regular/standard psychotherapy for 12 weeks). All study participants (both the study and control group) had the following psychological questionnaires administered at three points in time (at inclusion in the study, after 6 weeks of psychotherapy, and after 12 weeks): CECS – Courtauld Emotional Control Scale, GSES – General Self-Efficacy Scale, BHI – Basic Hope Inventory, and SWLS – Satisfaction with Life Scale. Results Statistical analysis of the collected data demonstrated a positive impact of integrated psychiatric-psychotherapeutic treatment on life satisfaction and the level of basic hope measured by the BHI scale. Discussion . Conclusions The use of an integrated psychotherapeutic model can be beneficial in patients with anxiety and depressive symptoms, however further studies on larger cohorts are needed.