Original scientific paper

SOCIAL FUNCTIONING OF PATIENTS WITH PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS IN LONG-TERM PSYCHODYNAMIC GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY: PRELIMINARY RESEARCH

Branka Restek-Petrović ; Psychiatric Hospital ‘’Sveti Ivan’’, Zagreb, Croatia
Rudolf Gregurek ; Department of Psychological Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ratimir Petrović ; Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Protection, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Nataša Orešković-Krezler ; Private psychiatric practice, Zagreb, Croatia
Mate Mihanović ; Psychiatric Hospital ‘’Sveti Ivan’’, Zagreb, Croatia
Ena Ivezić ; Psychiatric Hospital ‘’Sveti Ivan’’, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Background: In recent years, social functioning of patients has increasingly been used as a criterion for assessing therapeutic
efficacy of the group psychotherapy. The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine whether social functioning of patients
with diagnosed psychotic disorders changes during their participation in psychodynamic group psychotherapy.
Subject and methods: The sample consisted of 30 patients involved in the psychodynamic group psychotherapy (PGP), and a
comparative group of 30 patients treated only with antipsychotic medication therapy (treatment as usual; TAU). After two years of
therapy, the instruments designed for this study (self-assessment and therapist-assessment questionnaire) were applied to examine
changes in patient communication in their interpersonal relations, romantic and working functioning, and overall social functioning.
The research also included data as to whom patients turned to for help, and the number of hospitalisations in the observed period.
Results: The majority of patients from both groups assessed their social functioning as improved, with significant differences
found only in the area of romantic relations: more patients in the TAU group assessed their functioning as worsened. Nevertheless, a
significantly higher number of patients in the PGP group were assessed by their therapists to have improved social functioning in all
dimensions, except in the area of romantic relations, where there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. In
comparison with the TAU group, twice as many patients in the PGP group turned to their psychiatrist for help and had four times
fewer hospitalisations.
Conclusion: Considering the limitations of this preliminary study, it can be concluded that the findings are promising, although
further research is required to determine whether a psychodynamic approach to group psychotherapy truly leads to improved social
functioning of patients with psychotic disorders.

Keywords

social functioning – psychosis - psychodynamic group psychotherapy

Hrčak ID:

162061

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/162061

Publication date:

17.6.2014.

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