[Group psychotherapy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder]

Working with psychotraumatized war veterans we perceived their extremely regressive position, which is accompanied by several destructive and autodestructive compulsions. Facing the multiple traumatic experiences which they lived through, a certain degree of regression has been appearing, since even a satisfying "nourishing-indulgence of their needs" cannot completely make up for their pre-war position. In this way occurred the splitting between ideal (introjected) object and real object, in which were projected all bad experiences, and which is still persecuting and wants to destroy. Through interactions between all group members of traumatized patients we analyzed the phenomena and the specificities of these groups-particularly their regressive position. The aim of the group psychotherapy was to enable progressive overcoming of regressive position and transition into a more mature stage of development, thus creating a favorable climate for growing up and independence.