Therapeutic Factors in Group Psychotherapy: A Study of Egyptian Drug Addicts

Abstract

The effect of group therapy on substance-dependent patients has been demonstrated in several studies emphasizing the costeffectiveness of this intervention. However, little research was conducted on how group therapy can help these patients. The objective of this article is to study the therapeutic factors of group therapy among a group of substance-dependent patients and to study the relation between the therapeutic factors of group therapy with these patients and clinical outcome of relapse or continuing abstinence. The study includes 80 patients divided into two groups. Group I includes 40 substance-dependent patients attending group therapy sessions. Group II is a comparison group of 40 substance-dependent patients who did not attend group therapy. Both groups received the same treatment except for group therapy. All subjects were diagnosed according to a structured interview applying the International Classification of Diseases-10th Revision. Fifteen-session group therapy was conducted for Group I, and subjects were subjected to the Yalom test for assessing group therapeutic factors. The relapse/sobriety outcome was assessed and compared between the two groups 1 year after the intervention. All subjects have been subjected to drug screening before and after 1 year follow-up. The relation between choice of the therapeutic factor and outcome was 194 Therapeutic Factors in Group Psychotherapy 195 studied. Group I patients cited the most helpful therapeutic factor in group therapy as catharsis, followed by group cohesiveness and interpersonal learning (output). Identification is perceived as the least helpful factor in group therapy. One year into the study, 52.5 % of Group I remained sober in comparison to 22.5 % of Group II. No significant statistical relation was found between the choice of therapeutic factor and the outcome in Group I subjects. The most helpful factor perceived by addicts in group therapy is catharsis, followed by group cohesiveness and interpersonal learning (output). Patients who received group therapy had a significantly more favorable outcome rate than those who received other modes of treatment.

Efficacy indicators of four methods in outpatient addiction treatment

“…Additionally, our hypothesis was confirmed because patients engaged in therapeutic modality IV reported significantly better results in terms of abstinence than those who had attended in any of the other treatment modalities, consistent with literature previously discussed 14,18 . In general, in the area of mental health, empirical evidence has shown that treatment protocols which include group therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy, are more effective compared to other treatment modalities 12,18 .…”

“…Additionally, group therapy also provides social, emotional, and relational skills in order to increase their perception of being accepted and accept others, as well as dealing with emotional states in the relationship with others 13 . Some factors that arise from the group therapy include catharsis, cohesion, interpersonal learning 14 , affiliation, confrontation, support, gratification, and identification, which seem to promote the involvement of patients in their treatment 5,15 , and promote a better prognosis 16 . These factors promoted by group therapy increase the success of interventions, not only in the addiction problems, but also in psychotherapy in general 17 .…”

Psychometric Properties of The Curative Climate Questionnaire-Turkish Version

“…These factors were noted to be the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional aspects of change process in psychotherapy. Catharsis, insight, interpersonal learning and cohesion were valued above the remaining factors (5,6,7). These four factors were suggested to be inclusive of the other factors (8).…”

“…developmental causes of their behavior), or unconscious (4). Yalom suggested actual change took place when patients gained insight via here and now in therapy (5). Along with existential factors, insight and catharsis were the most valued therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy for inpatients with alcohol dependence difficulties (24).…”

“…Freud believed catharsis rescued patients from the hysterical symptoms by allowing expression of pathological impressions and affect (27). Catharsis was among the highest valued factors in group therapy for incest survivors, offenders' groups, men's groups, faculty encounter groups, children of families with substance dependence, and individuals with substance abuse problems (5,28,29,30,31,32,33,34). Catharsis was associated with good outcome when individuals had difficulty with expressing feelings (35).…”