Group therapy for spouses of aphasic patients

The setting, course, and results of a counseling and a therapeutic group for relatives of chronic aphasic patients are reviewed. Generally, providing and discussing information on the illness, its consequences, and medical and social services are greatly appreciated by group members. Counseling and group psychotherapy, as conducted by us, did not result in measurable improvements of relatives' perceptions of personal, social, and familial burdens. We assume, however, that group therapy does lead to more realistic attitudes toward burdensome and severely straining situations and may help with coping. Further research into psychotherapeutic strategies for relatives of disabled persons, who themselves suffer from psychological and social handicaps, is needed.