Substance Use Disorders and Telehealth in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era: A New Outlook.

During the current coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic, many outpatient chemical dependency treatment programs and clinics are decreasing their number of in-person patient contacts. This has widened an already large gap between patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) who need treatment and those who have actually received treatment. For a disorder where group therapy has been the mainstay treatment option for decades, social distancing, shelter in place, and treatment discontinuation have created an urgent need for alternative approaches to addiction treatment. In an attempt to continue some care for patients in need, many medical institutions have transitioned to a virtual environment to promote safe social distancing. Although there is ample evidence to support telemedical interventions, these can be difficult to implement, especially in the SUD population. This article reviews current literature for the use of telehealth interventions in the treatment of SUDs and offers recommendations on safe and effective implementation strategies based on the current literature.

Psicoterapia multifamiliar en la psicosis incipiente: un enfoque interdisciplinar y comunitario / No disponible

La psicoterapia multifamiliar es un modelo de terapia grupal compleja, rica e integradora, que permite incluir en un mismo lugar a pacientes, familias y equipo terapéutico. Las primeras experiencias en grupos multifamiliares se inician en Estados Unidos durante los años cincuenta, en entornos hospitalarios, para el tratamiento de los trastornos psicóticos como la esquizofrenia. Con el tiempo, el modelo multifamiliar se expande por el mundo y se ha venido implementando en distintos dispositivos asistenciales como hospitales de día o programas comunitarios, así como en una gran diversidad de poblaciones clínicas. En febrero de 2018, en el Equipo de Intervención Precoz en Psicosis (EIPP) del área del Baix Empordà, de la red de salud mental pública de la provincia de Girona, se crea un Grupo Multifamiliar (GMF) para jóvenes que han sufrido un Primer Episodio Psicótico (PEP) o bien tienen riesgo de padecerlo, los llamados Estados Mentales de Alto Riesgo (EMAR). En el equipo se construye un escenario terapéutico grupal con el objetivo de vincular, contener y dar continuidad de tratamiento al paciente y a su familia. Nuestro enfoque multifamiliar se ha inspirado en las ideas de Jaakko Seikkula y su modelo psicoterapéutico de Diálogo Abierto (Open Dialogue), y en las aportaciones de Irvin Yalom sobre la eficacia de los Factores Terapéuticos Grupales. Hemos hecho especial hincapié en los elementos a tener en cuenta en la gestión del clima emocional del grupo, que como sabemos es una de las variables de cambio psíquico más importantes. Nuestro GMF tiene como característica particular, la conducción terapéutica interdisciplinar. El presente artículo muestra el proceso de implementación e integración del GMF en un programa comunitario de intervención precoz de los trastornos psicóticos incipientes

Multifamily psychotherapy is a complex, rich and inclusive group therapy model that allows patients, families and a therapeutic team to be included in the same place. The first experiences in multi-family groups began in the United States during the 1950s, in hospital settings, for the treatment of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. Over time, the multi-family model has been spread throughout the world and has been implemented in different healthcare services such as day hospitals or community programs as well as in a wide variety of clinical populations. In February 2018, in the Early Intervention Team in Psychosis (EIPP) of the Baix Empordà area, of the public mental health network of the province of Girona, a Multifamily Group (MFG) is created for young people who have suffered from a First Psychotic Episode (FPE) or they are at risk of suffering it, the so-called High Risk Mental States (HRMS). The team builds a group therapeutic scenario with the aim of linking, controlling and giving continuity of treatment to the patient and their family. Our multifamily approach has been inspired by Jaakko Seikkula's ideas and his Open Dialogue psychotherapeutic model, and by the contributions of Irvin Yalom on the efficacy of Group Therapeutic Factors. We have placed special emphasis on the elements to be taken into account when managing the emotional climate of the group, which is known as one of the most important variables of psychic change. Our GMF has as its particular characteristic, Interdisciplinary Therapeutic Management. This article shows the process of implementation and integration of the GMF in an incipient psychotic disorders early intervention community program

Process of therapeutic changes in Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy adapted to the Portuguese language: A narrative analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to understand the processes of therapeutic changes in Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy (MCGP) in a Portuguese sample. METHOD: Adult cancer patients with distress motivated to participate in MCGP were identified; descriptive and narrative analyses were performed on the session content. RESULTS: The sample had 24 participants (mean age: 63.43 years); the majority were females (75%), with a median academic degree (54%). Breast cancer was most frequent (67%) at the localized stage (71%). The narrative analysis defined seven categories according to the MCGP themes. In "Moments with Meaning (MwM)," the most relevant dimensions were related to interpersonal relations, the moment of diagnosis, and personal achievements. This category established relations with almost all other categories, as did the category "historical sources of meaning (SoM)." The category "identity before and after cancer diagnosis" was only related to "attitudinal SoM" and "transitions." Historical SoM had two dimensions, "past" and "present and future" legacies, in which prominent topics related to family, childhood, achieved goals, and values to pass to others explored. Attitudinal SoM established relations only with the category "creative SoM," in which "courage" and "responsibility" were the main dimensions, which were also related to "MwM," "historical," and "attitudinal SoM." Experiential SoM, with the main dimension "love," was related to "MwM" and "historical SoM." Transitions only established relations with "historical SoM" and "identity before and after cancer." SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: The findings that "MwM" and "historical SoM" were the categories which established a solid pattern of relations suggest that these are the main psychotherapy topics that can have more influence for the participants; one explanation is that these categories imply a concrete way of thinking, which is easier to understand. This process of therapeutic changes must be integrated in a cultural context, as it is well known to have an impact upon the "meaning" of life.

Making a Difference: A Study of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for Persons with Dementia.

Affecting nearly 5.4 million older adults in the United States and 35.6 million individuals worldwide, dementia is one of the greatest public health crises of our time. As a result, helping professionals, clients, and care partners seek effective and affordable treatment. Developed in the United Kingdom by Spector and colleagues, Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is a non-pharmacologic psychosocial group intervention for persons with dementia. To expand upon and fill the gaps within existing research, the authors developed a descriptive study to assess the impact of CST on cognition, quality of life, and depression, among six CST groups (n = 40). A paired sample t-test was run among pre- and post-test measures. There was a statistically significant difference in Saint Louis University Mental Status Exam (SLUMS) scores after CST (t = 2.80, p = 0.008). There was also a statistically significant difference in Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia scores (t = -3.36, p = 0.002). There was no statistically significant difference in Quality of Life scores.

Intervenciones psicoterapéuticas con familias / Psychotherapeutical interventions with families

En el presente trabajo se describen algunos tipos de intervenciones con niños y adolescentes y sus familias, en la Unidad de Salud Mental Infanto-Juvenil del Hospital de Valme (Sevilla, España), ya sean grupos de asesoramiento o terapia, terapias familiares, incluso dispositivos organizados combinando intervenciones de arte-terapia y psicoterapia con padres, adolescentes y grupos multifamiliares. Es importante, mejor crucial, contar con la familia para ayudar al niño. En cualquier caso, ayudar al niño es ayudar a la familia (AU)

In this paper some types of interventions with children and adolescents and their families are described in Unit of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Valme Hospital (Seville, Spain), whether counseling or therapy groups, family therapy, even devices combining interventions organized art therapy and psychotherapy with parents, teens and multi-family groups. It is important, crucial best, count on the family to help the child. In any case, help the child is to help the family (AU)

El lenguaje y la maduración emocional, ¿Cómo lo trabajamos en grupo? / Language and emotional evolution: How to work on this area in groups?

En este artículo se expone el tratamiento de problemas de lenguaje y maduración emocional a través de grupos. En el CDIAP del Maresme, a menudo la demanda viene focalizada en el retraso de lenguaje, pero observamos que un grupo importante está relacionado con alteraciones en la vinculación. Estos casos se tratan en grupos de niños y padres. Se presentan dos experiencias: grupo de niños y padres con las mismas terapeutas y grupo paralelo de padres. Los beneficios terapéuticos se concretan en la mejor integración de las emociones y su reflejo en el avance en las relaciones con los iguales y en los aprendizajes Maltrato en la infancia y la adolescencia: Características y psicopatología asociada en un Centro de Salud Mental Infanto-Juvenil

In this article we deal with the treatment of language and emotional maturation problems through groups. In CDIAP Maresme, demand it is often focused on problems of language delay, but we have noted that a significant number of cases are related to alterations in entailment. These cases can be treated in groups of children and parents. Two experiences are presented: a group of children and parents with the same therapists, and a parallel group of parents. The therapeutic benefits take the form of improved integration of emotions and their reflection in the progress in relations with peers and learning

Evolución de un paciente con diagnóstico de Tea en una terapia grupal / Evolution of a patient diagnosed of ASD in a therapy group

Presentamos la evolución de un niño con diagnóstico de Trastorno del Espectro Autista en el marco de una terapia grupal mantenida durante tres años en una institución pública de Salud Mental. La principal herramienta terapéutica era el juego. El grupo, al igual que los niños, pasa por distintas fases. A, a pesar de seguir presentando el núcleo de las dificultades de los niños con TEA, ha podido a través de su camino grupal vivir experiencias nuevas en un ambiente sostenedor. Los juegos de alianzas que los diferentes miembros del grupo le han permitido creemos han sido un elemento clave en su evolución (AU)

We report the clinical course of a child diagnosed with ASD as a part of a sustained group therapy during a three year period in a public Mental Health institution. Game was the main therapeutic tool. The group, as children, goes through different phases. In spite of the persistance of the main core of hándicaps in ASD children, he has been able to live new experiences throughout his group pathway in a supportive environment. We believe alliance games given by the different team members have been a key ítem in his clinical course (AU)

Desarrollo emocional y social en un grupo de personas con discapacidad intelectual / Emotional and social development in a group of people with intellectual disabilities

Esta comunicación plantea una intervención que pretende el desarrollo emocional y social en personas con discapacidad intelectual en la etapa de la vida adulta. Con ella se trabaja la adquisición y potenciación de estrategias de afrontamiento emocional y social para controlar y gestionar mejor sus emociones en su desenvolvimiento emocional y relacional, en busca de un adecuado desarrollo personal que fomente su adaptación al grupo y al entorno. La intervención propuesta consta de tres sesiones semanales durante 9 semanas en las que se trabajan cinco bloques: conocimiento y cuidado personal, relación con otros, habilidades comunicativas, expresión de emociones y regulación personal. Después de la intervención los participantes han obtenido resultados positivos observándose que los indicadores utilizados para la evaluación de los bloques trabajados estaban conseguidos o estaban en proceso de lograrse (AU)

This communication presents an intervention that aims to emotional and social development in people with intellectual disabilities in the stage of adulthood. In it, was worked the acquisition and empowerment of emotional and social coping strategies to better control and manage their emotions on their emotional and relational enfoldment, looking for a suitable personal development to promote their adaptation to the group and the environment. The proposed intervention consists of three sessions per week for nine weeks in five blocks work: knowledge and personal care, relationships with others, communication skills, emotional expression and personal regulation. After the intervention participants have shown positive results and were observed that the indicators used for the evaluation of the worked blocks were obtained or were being achieved (AU)

Psicoterapia de grupo en una unidad de hospitalización psiquiátrica breve / Inpatient group psychotherapy in a brief hospitalization psychiatric unit

Se describe una experiencia de cuatro años de psicoterapia de grupo en la Unidad de Hospitalización Psiquiátrica Breve del Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre de Madrid. En este análisis los autores se centran en las dificultades técnicas que este tipo de grupos suponen, las modificaciones necesarias para su manejo y el estilo terapéutico más eficaz. Finalmente se destaca la utilidad de este enfoque en la consecución de objetivos terapéuticos y la concordancia con experiencias similares llevadas a cabo en otras Unidades de Agudos en España (AU)

Four years experience of inpatient group psychotherapy in the Brief Hospitalization Psychiatric Unit of the University Hospital 12 de Octubre (Madrid, Spain) are described. In this analysis the authors focus on the technical difficulties that this type of groups pose, the necessary changes to its management and the most effective therapeutic style. Finally, it highlights the utility of this approach in the achievement of therapeutic targets and the concordance with similar experiences conducted in other acute-care units in Spain (AU)

¿Qué sucede en los grupos con trastorno mental grave? Comprender la matriz grupal agujereada / What happens in the groups with severe mental disorders? Understanding the "Holey" group matrix

El artículo busca comprender la frágil estructura grupal que se constituye en los grupos de terapia de niños y adolescentes con trastorno mental grave. Se describe el concepto de matriz grupal “agujereada” y los elementos que dan lugar a la misma, así como la necesidad de crear una matriz auxiliar para paliar las carencias de aquella y ayudar al desarrollo del grupo terapéutico (AU)

The article seeks to understand the fragile group structure which constitutes the therapy groups of children and adolescents with severe mental disorder. The concept of “holey” group matrix and elements that origin it is described as well as the need to create an auxiliary group matrix to alleviate the lack of that and help the development of therapeutic group (AU)

Using telepsychology to provide a group parenting program: A preliminary evaluation of effectiveness.

Telepsychology offers the potential to reach rural and underserved children and families with mental health concerns. The current study evaluated the effects of using videoconferencing technology to deliver an evidence-based parenting program, the Group Triple P Positive Parenting Program (Group Triple P; Turner, Markie-Dadds, & Sanders, 2002), with families who had a child experiencing behavioral problems. Using a pre/post design, families (N = 13) from low socioeconomic backgrounds in Kentucky completed the Group Triple P via a videoconferencing delivery format. A benchmarking strategy (Weersing & Hamilton, 2005) indicated that treatment effect sizes for the videoconferencing format were generally comparable to treatment effect sizes for Group Triple P studies conducted in-person. Specifically, child behavior and parenting outcomes were similar across delivery formats. Implications of the study's findings and future directions for telepsychology research and practice with underserved families and children are discussed.

Cognitive processing therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder delivered to rural veterans via telemental health: a randomized noninferiority clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical and process outcomes of cognitive processing therapy-cognitive only version (CPT-C) delivered via videoteleconferencing (VTC) to in-person in a rural, ethnically diverse sample of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHOD: A randomized clinical trial with a noninferiority design was used to determine if providing CPT-C via VTC is effective and "as good as" in-person delivery. The study took place between March 2009 and June 2013. PTSD was diagnosed per DSM-IV. Participants received 12 sessions of CPT-C via VTC (n = 61) or in-person (n = 64). Assessments were administered at baseline, midtreatment, immediately posttreatment, and 3 and 6 months posttreatment. The primary clinical outcome was posttreatment PTSD severity, as measured by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. RESULTS: Clinical and process outcomes found VTC to be noninferior to in-person treatment. Significant reductions in PTSD symptoms were identified at posttreatment (Cohen d = 0.78, P < .05) and maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-up (d = 0.73, P < .05 and d = 0.76, P < .05, respectively). High levels of therapeutic alliance, treatment compliance, and satisfaction and moderate levels of treatment expectancies were reported, with no differences between groups (for all comparisons, F < 1.9, P > .17). CONCLUSIONS: Providing CPT-C to rural residents with PTSD via VTC produced outcomes that were "as good as" in-person treatment. All participants demonstrated significant reductions in PTSD symptoms posttreatment and at follow-up. Results indicate that VTC can offer increased access to specialty mental health care for residents of rural or remote areas. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00879255.

Use of movies for group therapy of psychiatric inpatients: theory and practice.

This paper reports on the use of cinema therapy at a psychiatry clinic for inpatients. The program, "Watching Cinema Group Therapy," was used with over 500 inpatients over the course of one year. We found that using movies for group psychotherapy sessions encouraged the patients to talk about their beliefs, thoughts, and feelings while discussing the characters and stories. We also used the movies as a reward for patients who had developed a therapeutic alliance. It motivated the patients to be active instead of simply remaining in their rooms. As a follow-up to full-length films, it was more useful to show short scenes to patients who had been administered high doses of drugs. Movies can be an important, positive, and productive means of treatment and teaching.

Evaluación de una intervención para dejar de fumar en personas con enfermedad mental / Evaluation of the intervention to quit smoking in people with mentall illness

Fundamentos: Una alta proporción de quienes solicitan ayuda para dejar de fumar padecen trastornos psiquiátricos. El objetivo del trabajo es conocer si las intervenciones grupales recomendadas para la atención de personas fumadoras son efectivas en pacientes con antecedentes de patología psiquiátrica y si ello supone un factor pronóstico negativo. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo longitudinal con un año de seguimiento. Se evaluaron los grupos de deshabituación realizados en atención primaria durante el período 2006-11, incluyendo a 267 fumadores, 97 de ellos con antecedentes personales de patología psiquiátrica. Se realizaron cinco sesiones presenciales de 90 minutos (hasta 6ª semana abstinencia) y seguimiento telefónico posterior de 12 meses. La abstinencia fue comprobada por cooximetría en las sesiones presenciales y auto-declarada posteriormente. Análisis estadístico: descripción de variables cualitativas y cuantitativas, análisis comparativo de las mismas entre los dos grupos y regresión logística binaria según cesación. Resultados: La tasa de abstinencia continua declarada al año fue 39,7%, en mujeres del 43,1% y en hombres 35,1%; p: 0,18). Las personas fumadoras sin historia psiquiátrica presentaron tasas de abstinencia del 42,9% y las que sí la tenían del 34,0% (p: 0,16). No hubo interacción entre las variables sexo y patología psiquiátrica. Quienes presentaban antecedentes psiquiátricos recayeron en las 6 primeras semanas tras la abstinencia en el 23,7% y quienes no los tenían:10,6% [(p:0,019; OR:1,90 [LC95%:1,08-3,36)]; a partir de entonces las tasas de recaída fueron similares recayendo el 44,1% y un 42,5%, respectivamente (p>0,8). Conclusiones: Las personas con patología psiquiátrica asociada o previa parecen encontrar más dificultades para dejar de fumar pero la intervención es efectiva en ambos grupos (AU)

Background: Ahigh proportion of those seeking help to quit smoking have psychiatric disorders. The aim of this work is to analyze the effectiveness of those group smoking cessation programswho are usually employed in Primary Care and to compare their results to those obtained with non psychiatric patients. Methods: A descriptive longitudinal study with a one-year follow-up that evaluated smoking cessation groups conducted in a Primary Care setting between 2006 and 2011. Nineteen groups were carried out and 267 smokers were included; 36.3% had been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. The program consisted of five 90 minutes sessions (up to six weeks after abstinence) with telephonic follow-up for a year. Abstinence was verified by cooximetry at the end of the program and by self–declaration afterwards. Quantitative and qualitative variables were described, and the association between variables analyzed through binary logistic regression. Results: Self-declared continuous abstinence rate at 12months of was 39.7%, being slightly higher, not in a non significant way, in women (43.1% vs. 35.1%; p: 0.18). Smokers with no history of psychiatric illness showed better abstinence rates, although without significant differences (42.9% vs. 34.0%; p: 0.16). There was no significant interaction between sex and psychiatric pathology. Those with a psychiatric disorder relapsed in a significantly higher rate during the first six weeks after abstinence [23.7%vs. 10.6%, p: 0.019; OR:1.90(1.08-3.36)]; relapse rates were similar afterwards (44,1% vs. 42,5%; p> 0,8). Conclusions: This group intervention program for smoking cessation is effective. Although smokers with a present or previous history of psychiatric disordermay find abstinence harder to attain, they benefit from the intervention (AU)

Sequential analysis of an interactive peer support group / Análisis secuencial de la ayuda interactiva en grupo terapéutico

Background: A therapeutic matrix for women who had survived breast cancer was designed by combining the principle of interactive peer support with the exploratory approach of group therapy. Method: An observation instrument was designed and applied to the recorded therapeutic sessions, thereby enabling the multidimensional coding of the interactive support process. Lag sequential analysis was then applied to the data. Results: The analysis revealed patterns of interactive peer support which were conditioned by the therapist’s communicative behaviour and by other derived behaviours. The significant associations correspond to strategies that serve to facilitate the therapeutic factors. Conclusions: The therapist’s behaviour is the fundamental axis around which the corrective process unfolds, and it is this process that facilitates the mobilization of therapeutic factors. The levels of interactive support shown by the group members acquire greater discursive complexity and interpersonal sensitivity as the group sessions progress (AU)

Antecedentes: se diseña una matriz terapéutica para mujeres que han superado el cáncer de mama combinando el principio de la ayuda interactiva entre iguales con la orientación exploratoria de los grupos terapéuticos. Método: se construye un instrumento de observación de las sesiones terapéuticas registradas que ha permitido la codificación multidimensional del proceso de ayuda interactiva. El análisis se ha llevado a cabo aplicando la técnica de análisis secuencial de retardos (lag). Resultados: se han hallado patrones de ayuda interactiva tomando como referente la conducta comunicativa del terapeuta y otros comportamientos derivados. Las asociaciones significativas tienen sentido como estrategias facilitadoras de los factores terapéuticos. Conclusiones: la conducta del terapeuta es el eje fundamental para el seguimiento del proceso correctivo que facilita la gestión de los factores terapéuticos. Los niveles de ayuda interactiva ganan en complejidad discursiva y en sensibilidad interpersonal a medida que las participantes realizan las sesiones previamente programadas (AU)

Effects of providing patient progress feedback and clinical support tools to psychotherapists in an inpatient eating disorders treatment program: a randomized controlled study.

Research on the effects of progress feedback and clinician problem-solving tools on patient outcome has been limited to a few clinical problems and settings (Shimokawa, Lambert, & Smart, 2010). Although these interventions work well in outpatient settings their effects so far have not been investigated with eating-disordered patients or in inpatient care. In this study, the effect of providing feedback interventions was investigated in a randomized clinical trial involving 133 females diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or eating disorders not otherwise specified. Comparisons were made between the outcomes of patients randomly assigned to either treatment-as-usual (TAU) or an experimental condition (Fb) within therapists (the same therapists provided both treatments). Patients in the Fb condition more frequently experienced clinically significant change than those who had TAU (52.95% vs. 28.6%). Similar trends were noted within diagnostic groups. In terms of pre to post change in mental health functioning, large effect sizes favored Fb over TAU. Patients' BMI improved substantially in both TAU and the feedback condition. The effects of feedback were consistent with past research on these approaches although the effect size was smaller in this study. Suggestions for further research are delineated.

The Group Questionnaire: a clinical and empirically derived measure of group relationship.

The Group Questionnaire (GQ) is a recently developed self-report measure of the therapeutic relationship based on Johnson and colleagues (2005) three-factor model; Positive Bonding, Positive Working, and Negative Relationship. This study validated Johnson's model with a new and extended sample and created a shorter 40-item trial version. SEM analysis of the GQ tested whether it produced the same three-factor structure found in three earlier studies with 486 participants from three populations-outpatient university counseling center, non-patient AGPA process groups, and inpatient state hospital. Results of further SEM refinements demonstrated that a final 30-item version had good fit to the three-factor model although distinct differences in response pattern were found between the three populations. Implications for future utility and clinical relevance of the GQ are discussed.

Terapia de grupo en primeros episodios psicóticos / Group therapy in first episode psychoses

Introducción: El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la eficacia de la psicoterapia de grupo en la evolución de primeros episodios psicóticos. Método: Mediante un estudio naturalístico comparamos la evolución al cabo de 6 años de 37 primeros episodios psicóticos: 12 acudieron a terapia de grupo durante al menos dos años y el resto recibió tratamiento convencional. Se realizaron entrevistas de evaluación al mes, 3, 6, 9 meses, al año y a los 6 años. Resultados: los resultados al año sólo muestran diferencias en cuanto al insight y motivación por el tratamiento. Los resultados al final del estudio son significativamente mejores para los pacientes que recibieron terapia de grupo a nivel sintomático (positive-PANSS, negative-PANSS), adaptación funcional (GAF, relaciones sociales y autonomía). Conclusión: las intervenciones psicoterapéuticas, entre ellas las de orientación grupal, favorecen la recuperación del paciente psicótico no sólo en lo referente a los síntomas específicos sino también en su funcionamiento global (AU)

Aim: This study has aimed to evaluate the efficacy of group psychotherapy in the evolution of first episode psychosis. Methods: By means of a naturalistic study, we compared the evolution of 37 first episode psychoses after 6 years. Twelve came to group therapy and the rest received conventional treatment. Evaluation interviews were conducted at admission, one and 6 years. The methods used were PANSS, GAF, Grip on Life and a standardized semi-structured questionnaire. Results: The results at the end of the study were significantly better for patients who received group therapy for both symptomatic (positive-PANSS, negative-PANSS) and functional outcome (GAF, grip on life). Conclusion: Psychotherapeutic interventions, including group therapy, favors the recovery of the psychotic patient not only regarding specific symptoms but also in their overall functioning (AU)

Psicoterapia de grupo en una unidad de agudos / Group psychotherapy in an acute psychiatric admission ward

Se describe el proceso de puesta en marcha y desarrollo de una terapia de grupo en una Unidad de Agudos (AU)

The starting process and development of a group therapy in an acute-care unit is described (AU)

Palmtop computer-assisted group therapy for social phobia.

This article describes the application of group computer-assisted therapy for social phobia. The computer program includes a diary function for ongoing self-monitoring of anxiety as well as guidance on the practice of relaxation, cognitive restructuring, and self-control desensitization. Although the program was originally designed to treat individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), it was hypothesized that the program also would be effective for individuals with social phobia; therefore, it was implemented in a group of individuals with a primary diagnosis of GAD or social phobia. We present the case of a client with social phobia who received six sessions of group therapy and who carried the ambulatory computer throughout this treatment. Outcome data suggest that the treatment was highly effective for this client as well as others with a diagnosis of social phobia or GAD.