Group psychotherapy in bronchial asthma

Some personality characteristics of asthmatic children

“…The literature contains many reports of psychotherapy carried out with asthmatic patients, by individual psychoanalysis or other psychotherapy, and in groups. A carefully controlled experiment with groups of patients, selected from among other asthmatics as showing marked psychic disturbance, and receiving physical treatment concurrently with psychotherapy, showed results disappointing in relation to symptom-reduction, although it was considered that there were personality changes for the better (Sclare & Crocket, 1957). With few exceptions, all writers on the subject seem to stress the intractable nature of the disorder, and to tell a tale of disappointment greater than satisfaction, whether their skill has been directed to individual patients or to groups.…”

Group Psychotherapy of Somatizing Patients

“…In comparing other authors' experience with group therapy of psycho somatic patients we find similarity in the preoccupation with themes of anger, dependency, and repressed sexuality (6,9,10,12). Our treatment results, however, appear more modest than those reported by some (3,5,6,8,10).…”

The evidence in favour of psychotherapy

“…Possibly because of these factors, the few controlled studies of psychosomatic disorders in which various psychotherapeutic techniques have been tried, show them to be more effective than in neurotic patients. The results in bronchial asthma are conflicting : Sclare & Crocket (1957) found no difference between treated patients and controls and Groen & Pelser (1960) found that the asthmatics treated with group therapy had improved more than a similar group of asthmatics followed up for the same period. Chappel & Stevenson (1936) found a remarkable improvement in patients with chronic peptic ulcer following group training consisting of lectures and directive counselling.…”