ABSTRACT
In Münster/W.-Germany the effect of therapeutical work with relatives of young schizophrenic patients is investigated in a government supported prospective study. In this paper we reveal therapeutical concepts and difficulties dealing with the formation and guidance of the relatives groups. After a personal interview about one third of the relatives was interested in relatives groups (151 relatives of 99 patients). Relatives of younger patients with a shorter duration of illness were somewhat more interested. During the one-year-period of group-work about one third of the relatives left the groups. The motivation for a regular participation dependent on the symptoms of the patients. A special training produced better motivation for taking part in long-term self-help-groups.
Subject(s)
Family Therapy/methods , Schizophrenia/rehabilitation , Schizophrenic Psychology , Self-Help Groups/methods , Adult , Combined Modality Therapy , Family , Female , Humans , Male , Patient Dropouts/psychologySubject(s)
Child Behavior Disorders/therapy , Psychotherapy, Group/methods , Self-Help Groups/methods , Adolescent , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Computer conferencing has become popular as an alternative to face-to-face conferencing in many kinds of organizations. Since users can participate at any time, from any terminal, computer conferencing makes communication very convenient, though many find the medium to be impersonal. This paper discusses the potential of computer conferencing to increase the number of people who participate in self-help groups, such as groups to help people lose weight or stop smoking. The kinds of interactions that make for successful self-help groups might be encouraged by a computer-conferencing format, even though there is no direct, face-to-face contact. The results of a trial smoking-cessation program which employed computer conferencing suggest that computer conferencing could play a useful role in health promotion.
Subject(s)
Computers , Self-Help Groups/methods , Smoking Prevention , Telecommunications , Computer-Assisted Instruction , Evaluation Studies as Topic , HumansABSTRACT
A Dialysis Patient Concerns Inventory (DPCI) was administered to 15 chronic hemodialysis outpatients by their nurses to assess concerns related to being a hemodialysis patient. This direct information from patients rather than experts in the field was used to construct a group counseling program to address these and other concerns later acknowledged by patients once group counseling began. Components of the counseling program, how the program was implemented, its effects, and factors important in effective program implementation with nurse involvement are discussed. It was concluded that it is important for nurses to play key roles in group counseling to address patients' concerns. It is also important for such counseling to be based on structured assessment of specific concerns reported from patients. Furthermore, it was concluded that group counseling should be planned and executed in ways that actively involve patients and that allow patients to participate for skill development and for life enhancement, rather than to get help with personal problems--a motivator that is often stigmatized.
Subject(s)
Counseling/methods , Renal Dialysis/psychology , Self-Help Groups/methods , Adult , Aged , Female , Florida , Group Processes , Humans , Kidney Diseases/therapy , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Four distinct but related categories of group intervention with adolescents are proposed as a means of reducing the confusion of terminology within the "group" field. Major theoretical and methodological issues in group treatment of adolescents are delineated. Stress is placed on the need for special training of practitioners and proper balancing of groups, along with a flexible approach aimed at fostering workable groups.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/therapy , Psychotherapy, Group/methods , Adolescent , Combined Modality Therapy , Group Processes , Group Structure , Humans , Patient Care Team , Self-Help Groups/methodsABSTRACT
A review is presented of recently developed forms of therapeutic work with relatives of psychiatric patients. Using the dimensions of "dominance of the expert" and "dominance of the relative" a typology of work with relatives is presented, which besides different forms of group work encompasses also "family therapy" at the one end of the spectrum and "self-help" at the other end.
Subject(s)
Family Therapy/methods , Mental Disorders/therapy , Adaptation, Psychological , Humans , Professional-Family Relations , Psychotherapy, Group/methods , Schizophrenia/therapy , Self-Help Groups/methodsABSTRACT
In recent years self-help-groups have grown in importance. The reason is an increasing gap between the needs of the population and the services, the medical system can supply. The patients themselves have started to take over the initiative to deal with the psychosocial aspects in connection with their illness. They no longer want to be passive objects but rather subjects, who take responsibility for their own well-being. After the creation of AA many other self-help-groups have been set up, which concern themselves with very diverse illnesses and emotional and social problems. In the above paper the group setting variables and the concept of the therapeutic work of self-help-groups are being presented. Also the model of "Gesamttreffen" is introduced, where several members of different self-help-groups join monthly to share view-points and experience. These "Gesamttreffen" can be accompanied by a professional from the medical or psychological field, whose help is offered if so needed.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/therapy , Self-Help Groups/methods , Group Processes , Group Structure , Humans , Patient Care Team/organization & administration , Professional-Patient Relations , Self-Help Groups/organization & administrationABSTRACT
A treatment model using a randomly selected group of patients at various postmastectomy stages is discussed. Our hypothesis predicted that such a group would provide women with a much clearer and more positive understanding of their disease syntonic to each one's life style. At the end of this group therapy, we felt that we had established a self-therapy group, in which patients could sustain themselves and could readjust to new ways of living with their disease.
Subject(s)
Mastectomy/psychology , Self-Help Groups/methods , Adult , Attitude to Health , Female , Humans , Israel , Middle Aged , Models, PsychologicalABSTRACT
This participant observation study of the first Gamblers Anonymous group in Israel is designed to show (1) the ways in which the group helps it members rehabilitate themselves, (2) the three stages through which they must go in order to ensure success, and (3) the reason why some participants fail to do so. The article concludes with a number of observations concerning the extent of gambling in Israel and the different ways that should be developed for dealing with the problem.
