In this paper we develop some group theoretical methods which are shown to be very useful for a better understanding of the properties of the Riccati equation and we discuss some of its integrability conditions from a group theoretical perspective. The nonlinear superposition principle also arises in a simple way.

The basic concepts of factorizable problems in one-dimensional Quantum Mechanics, as well as the theory of Shape Invariant potentials are reviewed. The relation of this last theory with a generalization of the classical Factorization Method presented by Infeld and Hull is analyzed in detail. By the use of some properties of the Riccati equation the solutions of Infeld and Hull are greatly generalized in a simple way. PACS numbers: 11.30.Pb, 03.65.Fd.

Second order supersymmetry transformations which involve a pair of complex conjugate factorization energies and lead to real non-singular potentials are analyzed. The generation of complex potentials with real spectra is also studied. The theory is applied to the free particle, one-soliton well and one-dimensional harmonic oscillator.

We show that the finite difference Bäcklund formula for the Schrödinger Hamiltonians is a particular element of the transformation group on the set of Riccati equations considered by two of us in a previous paper. Then, we give a group theoretical explanation to the problem of Hamiltonians related by a first order differential operator. A generalization of the finite difference algorithm relating eigenfunctions of three different Hamiltonians is found, and some illustrative examples of the theory are analyzed, finding new potentials for which one eigenfunction and its corresponding eigenvalue is exactly known.