Stress Management Groups in General Practice - a pilot randomized trial

BACKGROUND: Stress management delivered to groups of psychologically stressed patients effectively decreases their distress. This study investigated the effects of stress management delivered by Australian general practitioners. METHOD: In a pilot randomised controlled trial, stress management was provided to a group of 11 patients whose outcomes were compared with another six patients acting as wait listed controls. Standard psychological questionnaires were administered before the course and 1 week and 2 months after. RESULTS: At 1 week there were significant improvements in intervention group scores compared to controls in two out of 6 measures: the Positive and Negative Affect Scales. At 2 months there was only one significant improvement (brief disability days). There were no significant differences in the Kessler 10, self rated stress levels or brief disability score. DISCUSSION: Group stress management delivered by GPs may help distressed patients and should be further investigated for effectiveness and cost effectiveness.