Group psychotherapy in acute treatment settings: theory and technique

Group psychotherapy has long been a part of most inpatient and partial hospital programs, but conducting groups in these settings has become more difficult as the average patient stay has shortened. The authors integrate findings from previous research in which patients ranked the importance of several therapeutic processes in acute care groups, and they suggest a theory of group psychotherapy that incorporates realistic clinical objectives for these short-term settings. Seven therapeutic factors--self-responsibility, self-understanding, instillation of hope, group cohesiveness, catharsis, altruism, and universality--are identified as important in promoting patient change. Specific techniques to enhance these factors in short-term settings are recommended.