Effects of Interpersonal Group Therapy for Adolescents with Behavioral Problems / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Fast change and confusion of the value system in society affect the identity formation of adolescents. So Adolescents' behavioral problems seem to be increasing yearly. It is known that the interpersonal group therapy is the most effective treatment modality among many group programs for adolescents with behavioral problems. Objectives of this study are as follows; first, evaluate therapeutic effects of the interpersonal group therapy for adolescents with behavioral problems second, examine the therapeutic factors; third, analyze the group process; fourth, orgamize the group therapy for adolescents with behavioral problems as an applicable treatment modality. The types of group therapy performed in this study are small, closed, homogeneous, outpatient, time limited, and adolescent group. METHODS: This study was carried out at one of the adolescents mental health services in Uiwang Mental Health Center, from April to June and from September to November in 2000. The subjects were 2nd grade students in K middle school with behavioral proplems. The experimental groups were composed of 4 groups including 2 male groups and 2 female groups (male 11, female 17), and the control groups matched the same conditions as the experimental groups (male 10, female 19). The group therapy was performed weekly in CA (club activity) time, and it took 60-70 minutes at one time. They met total 10 sessions including preparatory meeting and termination meeting. Before and after this program, self-rating scales (behavioral problems, aggression, and impulsivity) were applied for subjects, and the teacher rating scales (behavioral problems, aggression and impulsivity) were performed by teachers in charge. After each session, Yalom's 13 therapeutic factors scale was performed. At the last meeting, total assessment questionnaire was completed. RESULTS: The mean scores of all self-rating scales (behavioral problem, aggression, and impulsivity) were lower in the experimental groups (both male and female group) than the control groups, but not significant statistically except the behavioral problem scale of female students. The mean scores of all teacher rating scales (behavioral problem, aggression, and impulsivity) were lower in the experimental groups (both male and female group) in comparison with the control groups, all significant statistically. As faras the therapeutic factors are concerned; first, the mean scores of all therapeutic factors in female students were higher than in male students and the mean scores of all therapeutic factors in the later half sessions were higher than the former half sessions; second, catharsis and existential factor were high in all students and sessions; third, identification with therapist factor was high in all students and sessions; fourth, during the later half sessions, interpersonal input was relatively high in male students and socializing technique was relatively high in female students. Its for the total assessment questionnaires; 100% of male students and 88.2% of female students reported that they were helped by this group therapy; 100% of male students and 82.4% of female students reported that they would participate willingly if future opportunity of the same group therapy is given for them. CONCLUSION: Adolescents with behavioral problems who participated in this study showed the decrease of behavioral problems and the change of aggressive and impulsive attitudes in comparison with the control groups although they had some differences between male and female students. The group therapy with adolescents would be practiced more broadly and extensively though there are several accompanied problems including the difficulty of structuring, the deficit of motivation, and financial problem.

A Survey of Adolescent Substance Uses in a Small City / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this research is to help solve adolescent issues involving substance uses, which may become begin to undergo many changes(i. e. practising various roles, thereby leading to independent life styles). More often than not, adolescent drug problems develop into social problems, chiefly behavioral imitations and heavy dependence on medicine. The authors conducted a survey of adolescent substance uses to develop preventive measures against the drug habit prevalent among young people, thereby formulating a policy to deal with problematic community. Funded by a Youth Counselling Center in the city of H. the research was conducted on the following assumptions that there will be:Firstly, a comparison of drug uses by sex and age:Secondly, variance of substance users by family background and peer group:Thirdly, a combination of heavy drinking, smoking and delinquency resulting in the drug habit. METHODS: The survey included a total of 1613 students during 3 days, 12 through 14, July, 1999. The subjects were 833 pupils(51.6%) from 4 middle schools and 780 students(48.4%) from 3 high schools in the city of H with a ratio of 49.5 %(males) and 50.5%(females). RESULTS: 1) Experience of substance use is most referable to drinking(59.4%) and smoking(34.4%) while given to analgesics(33.1%) among medicines, glue(0.7%) among inhalants and philophone(0.4%) among narcotics. 2) High school students found more than double the amount of smoking and drinking as well as uses of hypnotics, stimulants and sedatives by junior high school students. 3) Our resalt showed was significantly noted that non-users had a better relationship with their parents than most users. 4) Smoking and drinking problean could be more easily developing into adolescent substance uses. 5) Alcohol, cigarette, and drug users showed more misconducts than other adolescents. 6) Most adolescents believe that drinking is necessary for making friends(55.0%), while smoking is just for killing time(50.9%). 7) Drinking, smoking, and other substance users were found to develop into more problematic habits. CONCLUSION: The present survey and several others show that adolescent substance uses in Korea are on the rise. Therefore, extensive counter-measures will be necessary followed by nationwide epidemiological survey of the pending issue, with the psychiatrists participating in the campaign.

Therapeutic Factors in the Outpatient Group Psychotherapy for the Adolescents with Conduct Disorder / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Group psychotherapy is known to be an effective treatment program for adolescents who attach importance to peer relationship, but it is not activated in Korea. Therefore, researchers performed weekly the closed, homogeneous, time-limited (10 sessions), outpatient group psychotherapy for adolescents with conduct disorder. Objectives of this study were as follows: first, we practiced the group psychotherapy for adolescents with conduct disorder and evaluated its effectiveness: second, we examined the therapeutic factors which were used by participants: third, we intended to settlee down the group psychotherapy for adolescents with CD as an effective and efficient treatment modality. METHODS: This study was performed two times from October to December in 1998 and from April to June in 1999. It was sponsored by Youth Counselling Center in H city. The case group were composed of 15 female students who were second grade in H high school, and 4 students were dropped out. The control group were composed of 18 female students who were same grade in H high school and 3 students were dropped out. Before and after this program, self-report delinquency scale, aggression scale and impulsivity scale were asked to them. And just after each session, Yalom 13 therapeutic factors scale and satisfaction questionnaire for group psychotherapy were asked to them. And at last meeting, total assessment questionnaire was asked to them. RESULTS: We compared the change of therapeutic factors between the former half sessions(1-5) and the later half sessions (6-10), and the results were as follows: in the former half, the upper ranks of therapeutic factors were existential factor, universality, catharsis, identification with leader, and identification with members in order. And in the later half, the upper ranks of therapeutic factors were catharsis, existential factor, identification with leader, identification with members, and guidance of members in order. The rank of catharsis and guidance of members went upward and the rank of universality went downward when we compared the ranks in the former half to those in the later half. Altruism and family enactment were the lowest ranked in both half. The satisfaction questionnaire for group psychotherapy showed to be helped by participants at the rate of 45.7% in former half, 83.3% in later half. The total assessment questionnaire showed the willingness of re-participation at the rate of 85.7% if future opportunity of group psychotherapy is given for them. CONCLUSIONS: The time-limited group psychotherapy for adolescents diagnosed by conduct disorder was very effectively practiced and the participants reported high level of the satisfaction. The outpatient group psychotherapy for adolescents would be expanded and practiced though there are several accompanied problems including the difficulty of structuring, the deficit of motivation, and financial problem.