GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY WITH PSYCHOTIC PATIENTS AND THEIR RELATIVES

Experiments have been described in the use of group psychotherapy with schizophrenic patients in a mental hospital, and with their relatives in a separate group. These were started to help the mothers of young chronic male schizophrenics to adjust to their sons' illness and hospitalization. The mothers benefited considerably, and the sons showed some temporary but slow improvement. Efforts have been shifted to more recently admitted patients being given insulin coma treatment, along with a few of the chronic patients in the initial group. The discussions with the patients are held 3 times a week during a period of greater accessibility following revival after coma. The psychotherapy is rapport-increasing, educational, and insight-promoting, at a level concerned with socialization, but not with deep analysis. The discussions with relatives are aimed to modify traumatic attitudes by them to the patients, and to obtain leads for more fruitful discussion with the patients. The long-term results cannot be reported yet. The treatment of patients and relatives by the same psychiatrist has worked out satisfactorily. The technique is difficult but rewarding, and it appears practical in the mental hospital setting.