[How can acceptance by psychiatric patients of group psychotherapy be improved? An empirical study of the effect of combined individual and group psychotherapy on attitude to group psychotherapy].

This study investigates whether the sceptic attitude of many psychiatric patients to group therapy can be improved by a combined individual and group therapy program. The investigation was made on 50 patients, most of them with neurotic disorders, partly with secondary alcohol or substance abuse as well as some schizophrenic patients. Before admittance to the psychotherapy program enquiries were made by means of a questionnaire, about what subject they would like to speak in the individual or group therapy sessions. The results differ significantly dependent on sociodemographic and illness related factors. A second examination after discharge reveals an ameliorated attitude concerning group therapy in nearly all central themes. Thus, one of the important goals of in-patient psychotherapy has been achieved to improve patients ability to receive out-patient group therapy.