[Long-term stability of body experience after in-patient group psychotherapy with concentrative movement therapy]

Body experience of 34 patients was investigated two years after the end of treatment with Concentrative Movement Therapy (KBT) in an in-patient integrative psychotherapy. Change in body experience at the end of treatment and after the two year period was compared to symptomatic strain and the amount of interpersonal problems. Body experience was rather restricted in the beginning of treatment. The improvement of body experience during treatment showed to be stable after two years, as did the symptomatic strain. Interpersonal problems were not reduced as much during treatment but in the follow-up period. Patients with benefit from KBT treatment through a better approach to their body, felt more bodily self-confident at the end of treatment. They also had less feelings of insecurity and apprehension concerning their body than those who could profit little from KBT. In both groups a reduction of symptomatic strain was found. Patients with little profit from KBT had higher symptomatic and interpersonal strain and more feelings of insecurity concerning their body in the beginning of the treatment. Their improvement at the time of follow-up was low. Results are discussed regarding the relevance of different elements of integrative in-patient therapy and the possibility of differential indications for body-oriented psychotherapy.