Professional paper
The change in perception of illness monitored by group psychotherapy of family members of patients with psychotic disorder
Slobodanka Kezić
; Psychiatric hospital "Sveti Ivan", Zagreb, Croatia
Pero Svrdlin
; Psychiatric hospital "Sveti Ivan", Zagreb, Croatia
Branka Restek-Petrović
; Psychiatric hospital "Sveti Ivan", Zagreb, Croatia
Mate Mihanović
; Psychiatric hospital "Sveti Ivan", Zagreb, Croatia
Majda Grah
; Psychiatric hospital "Sveti Ivan", Zagreb, Croatia
Ante Silić
; Psychiatric hospital "Sveti Ivan", Zagreb, Croatia
Nenad Kamerman
; Psychiatric hospital "Sveti Ivan", Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Aim: This paper gives the description of changes in the perception of illness during the four-year involvement of the patients’ family members in group psychotherapy. Within the program of early intervention in the first episodes of psychotic disorder, parents of patients with psychotic disorder take part in psycho-educational workshops as well as in psychodynamic group psychotherapy.
Methods: The method of work is based on the monitoring of session protocols noted from memory after the group therapies have been finished.
Results: Unacceptance of illness, denials and outer transfer of the problem (such as drug abuse) were noticed in the beginning of the group work. In the second phase, the feelings of shame were dealt with (illness as a narcissistic injury) and guilt (illness as punishment) as well as difficulties in facing the severity and long duration of illness. The third phase was also recognized in which we noticed that the group members (parents) focused their attention from their children’s difficulties to themselves (the period of grieving process started).
Conclusion: The group atmosphere which developed during the four- year period of work in the group contributed to the gradual acceptance of illness and so changed the relationship with children. Better setting of boundaries allowed separation, first from the group, and also from the inflicted family member later on.
Keywords
perception of illness; psychodynamic group psychotherapy of family members
Hrčak ID:
48844
URI
Publication date:
1.3.2010.
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