Therapeutic Factors Within In-patient and Out-patient Psychotherapy Groups

Abstract

Therapeutic factors operative in in-patient and out-patient therapy groups were compared. These settings differ greatly, both in terms of the patient population they serve and the overall systems within which they operate. The study revealed significant differences between the therapeutic factors operative in these two settings, and suggested that clinicians should modify their techniques for running psychotherapy groups across settings, to take account of these findings.

Survey of patients on an alcohol in‐patient unit in relation to group therapeutic factors

“…The identification of existential factors may reflect the element of crisis suggested by Schaffer and Dreyer (1982) and Kapur et al (1988), in shortterm acute psychiatric in-patient groups. These findings contrast with longterm out-patients groups and personal growth groups, where interpersonal behaviour was stressed and existential factors were consistently not highly val ued.…”

“…This could relate to the short-term nature of the group and may also explain the low value placed on the altruism factor where egocentric considerations may have been paramount, in what may have been seen as brief relationships. It could also suggest that alcohol dependent patients are more self-orientated than short-term acute psychiatric patients, who valued the altruistic factor (Lovett & Lovett, 1991, Kapur et al, 1988.…”

“…This suggests that people in crisis may have different perceptions from those of the staff, who stress interpersonal behaviour, and also from those of members of encounter groups. Further support for this can be found in a study of acute psychiatric in-patients by Kapur et al (1988) who found that altruism and consideration of existential issues were highly valued. These studies highlight differences in perception of therapeutic factors between long-term out-patient and personal growth groups and short-term acute psychiatric groups with patients with mixed diagnosis; they also provide a comparison for in-patient alcohol dependent groups.…”

“…Yalom's research instrument of the 60-item, seven pile Q-sort, or a modified version of it, has been used in numerous studies. (Schaffer & Dreyer, 1982, Kapur, Miller &. Mitchell, 1988.…”

Therapeutic factors and insight in group therapy for outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia

“…There are more studies that include self-understanding as one of the most beneficial factors in outpatient group therapies (Almenta, García Robles, & González Duro, 1994;Berzon, Pious, & Farson, 1963;Bloch & Reibstein, 1980;Butler & Fuhriman, 1980, 1983Hobbs, Birtchnell, Harte, & Lacey, 1989;Kapur, Miller, & Mitchell, 1988), although none of these evaluated psychotic patients. In our case, the results differ significantly according to the level of insight reached.…”