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Group psychotherapy in the treatment of the schizophrenic syndromes

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Summary

A psychoanalytically active group psychotherapy program is useful in the treatment of the schizophrenic syndromes. Following the lead of Fromm-Reichmann, the application of the usual treatment principles of psychodynamic psychotherapy is advocated. Certain features of the treatment situation are worthy of special emphasis. First, the therapy group serves as an important source of emotional reference for the patient—in terms of establishing reality values of emotional responsiveness as well as distorted ones. Second, the role of the therapist should be much more in the direction of a therapeutic resource person, than of more active leadership. Third, special awareness of, and attention to, the prominence of symbolic communication by the schizophrenic patient is essential. The usual aspects of dynamic psychotherapy, such as dream interpretation, analysis of transference and countertransference, and mechanisms of distortion are all applied.

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  1. 135 Crest Road, Ridgewood, N. J.

    Joseph J. Geller M.D.

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  1. Joseph J. Geller M.D.
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Geller, J.J. Group psychotherapy in the treatment of the schizophrenic syndromes. Psych Quar 37, 710–722 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01566439

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