ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Psichiatrica 2000 June;41(2):93-102

Copyright © 2000 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Efficacy evaluation of therapeutic group experience with chronic psychotic patients

Masoni P., Mucci M., Salvadori P., Dini P., Muratori F.

Background. The problem of therapeutic and rehabilitative strategies in the field of psychotic disorders represents one of the major challenges in psychiatry. The hypothesis is the usability of group psychotherapy as a strategy of intervention to improve emotive-cognitive-relational conditions in subjects with chronic psychosis.
Methods. A two year long study carried out on young-adult chronic psychotic impatients is presented. The study included subjects who met diagnostic criteria for Schizophrenic Disorder and Schizotypical Personality Disorder, with onset of pathology at 14-16 years and mild cognitive deficit (if present). The group intervention is based on free verbal communication according to a psychodynamic viewpoint. During the study, the transformative effects of the group therapy have been monitored through the observation of the communication in the group.
Results. The positive effect of the group in loosening the chronic states and reanimating the psychic life of these patients has been observed. Through the group, the patients were able to adopt new modes of interpersonal relationships and more developed thinking.
Conclusions. The contribution that this group psychotherapy experience has represented for the entichment in rehabilitation of each patient and of the institutional context by promoting the inclusion in the model of rehabilitative strategies is underlined.