Predicting outcome of group counseling with severely disabled patients

Client characteristics associated with outcome of group counseling were identified in a sample of physically disabled persons using standardized self report inventories. Thirty-eight subjects were tested before and after an 8 week treatment interval for signs of emotional disorder, inactivity, and social problems related to being severely disabled. Treatment consisted of group conference phone calls using self determined task assignments as a focus for discussion. Change in report of life satisfaction was predicted reliably from pretest data. Loneliness accounted for 73% of the variance in posttreatment life satisfaction scores. Other significant predictors included signs of depression, alcohol use, and constructs related to social support. Using regression analysis, persons with adjustment problems could be identified and prognosis for treatment predicted with acceptable reliability.