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An Outcome Study of Group Psychotherapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Diana Bovill*
Affiliation:
Burnley General Hospital, Casterton Avenue, Burnley, Lancs BB10 2PQ

Abstract

In 1975 a long-term follow-up was undertaken on patients collected as in-patients, treated and studied in 1962–64 (Bovill, 1972). Treatment was by didactic group psychotherapy and relaxation. Treatment was for a mean of six months and of 30 sessions, treatment remained available on demand for a mean of two years after discharge from attendance. In 1975 30 treated patients and 24 control patients were traced out of the original 36 in each group. The criterion of success was, as before, the inverse of days spent re-hospitalized. The success ratio fell from 7: 1 in 1962–64 to 2½: 1 in 1965–74 and to 2: 1 in the single year 1974. This fall was expected in view of the known spontaneous recovery rate operating on the controls.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1977 

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References

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