Combining psychopharmacotherapy and group psychotherapy: problems and advantages

This report presents the responses to the authors' survey of therapists' attitudes and perceptions regarding the problems and advantages of combining pharmacotherapy with group psychotherapy. Group therapists representing physicians, psychologists, and social workers were asked about their practices and attitudes regarding this practice. One hundred forty-three valid responses were received to the questionnaire (response rate = 55.4%). No significant differences among the three professions were found in years of experience, number of groups conducted, or percentage of included patients taking medication. The authors categorized the responses for both problems and advantages. The problem categories were medication arrangements and effects, impact on the group processes, relationship to the therapist, and interprofessional collaboration. The advantages were identical except for the initial category, which addressed group composition. The responses reflect clinicians' concerns, both positive and negative, and provide a framework for therapists to examine their practices.