Psychosocial Aspects on the Treatment of Adult Aphasics and Their Families: A Group Approach in Germany

Group Therapy for Spouses of Aphasic Patients

“…Close relatives of aphasic persons perceive and suffer from psychological stress and psychosocial burdens. They also perceive a need for psychotherapy but usually do not find the ways and means to obtain it (Johannsen-Horbach et al, 1993). Because burdens and their perceptions differ between patients and close relatives, we decided to offer separate group treatments for both.…”

“…We assume that such thoughts and feelings are acted upon more openly in younger couples when one partner becomes disabled. Spouses of young aphasic patients participated in neither group, and it has been our experience that younger couples usually separate, with the aphasic partner frequently returning to his/her parents' home or entering a sheltered or nursing facility (Johannsen-Horbach et al, 1993).…”

“…The group progressed through three stages, described in more detail in Johannsen-Horbach et al (1993). The first stage was dominated by requests for information concerning aphasia, its prognosis, and its treatment.…”

“…Patients view the family as stable and providing emotional support, whereas close relatives perceive family stability as endangered (Wenz & Herrmann, 1990). Thus, spouses can suffer a considerable degree of handicap, although they are not perceived socially as ill or disabled (Johannsen-Horbach et al, 1993).…”

“…These findings suggest that the psychosocial needs and therapeutic require-ments of people with aphasia and their relatives differ considerably (Schulz et al, 1988). Consequently, for the last 8 years, we have offered separate psychosocially oriented counseling and therapeutic groups to patients and their relatives (Johannsen-Horbach et al, 1993;Potthoff et al, 1995). This article focuses on our experiences with groups of relatives and reviews data published previously as well as other findings.…”