Application of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) in individuals after stroke

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effects of Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) in individuals after stroke on self-efficacy, symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Clinic of Adult Neurology of Medical University of Gdańsk and M. Copernicus Pomeranian Traumatology Centre in Gdańsk.

Subjects: A total of 62 patients, aged 54.0 ± 9.6 years.

Interventions: They were randomly assigned to one of the two groups: SFBT participating in 10 therapy sessions and control - not participating in any psychotherapy.

Main measures: Symptoms of depression and anxiety according to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer (scale originally designed for cancer patients) and Self-efficacy Scale were examined at baseline of the study and later in the same time intervals in both groups.

Results: The intensity of depression and anxiety complaints drops in the SFBT group (from 5.0 to 2.0 and 8.0 to 4.0 respectively; both p < .001 Friedman's ANOVA (analysis of variance)) whilst in the control group remains unchanged. In addition to the gradual reduction of destructive attitudes (from 34.5 to 17.0), the increase in the number of constructive attitudes (from 42.0 to 50.5) and increased self-efficacy (from 79.0 to 96.0) was observed after therapy but not in the control group.

Conclusions: The authors suggest SFBT as a simple, beneficial and inexpensive method to manage patients after stroke.

Keywords: Stroke; anxiety; coping; depression; psychotherapy.