A Therapeutic Aftercare Setting for "Refractory" Chronic Schizophrenic Patients

Twenty-four chronic "refractory" schizophrenic patients were removed from a large aftercare clinic and randomly placed into one of two smaller clinics meeting biweekly. Both groups had the same therapist and both clinical settings attempted to provide nurturance and alleviate countertherapeutic interpersonal anxieties. The group that received nurturance in the setting of a social group (rather than individual supportive psychotherapy) responded much more favorably, as measured by cost efficiency, clinic attendance, and increased socialization.