The value of group psychological procedures in the treatment of peptic ulcer

A review of research synergies (and lack thereof) between group psychology and group psychotherapy.

“…I have already noted Pratt's (1907) work with patients with tuberculosis. Other early examples include group treatment of people with peptic ulcers as a means of providing social support for altered dietary regimens (Chappell, Stefano, Rogerson, & Pike, 1936), use of groups to reduce negative arousal in hypertensive patients (Buck, 1937), and group therapy as a means of helping people cope with neurologic diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis: Long, 1954;Parkinson's disease: Chafetz, Bernstein, Sharpe, & Schwab, 1955). These practitioners saw the group as an effective tool for reducing negative psychological states that were thought to impact certain physiological systems in such a way as to make the condition worse.…”

Group Therapy in the Treatment of Diabetes

“…55 The desire for technical information means that most "medical" groups have a strong didactic component and are often combined with a formal lecture. In groups of patients with peptic ulcer, Chappell et al 39 used "daily lectures for a period of 45 minutes devoted to education with regard to the nature of thought and its influence on bodily activity, the patients' manner of reaction to the common situations in his life, the origin of his ideas and emotional reactions, and many other factors bearing on the situation in hand. The value and efficacy of the medication and diet were frequently extolled.…”

Psychotherapeutic interventions in physical health: Effectiveness and economic efficiency.

“…Just as headache seems to attract therapists skilled in training patients to relax, the gastrointestinal diseases, including peptic ulcer and ulcerative colitis, for some reason are among the favorite problems of psychoanalysts. While analytic psychotherapy has not made a poor showing, the best results reported in the literature were attained through a group-therapy procedure that encouraged suppression of symptoms and anxiety (Chappell, Stefano, Rogerson, & Pike, 1937;Chappell & Stevenson, 1936). All patients were diagnosed as having peptic ulcer and were put on a restricted diet.…”