P0069 - The effectiveness of a long term group therapy for patients with psychosis for diminishing the negative symptoms of psychosis

Abstract

Negative symptoms in psyhosis are disabling and distressing. This is an area of substantial unmet medical need. Long term group work for patients with psychosis has important short and long term effects on positive and especially negative symptoms of psychosis. It improves the quality of life, compliance with treatment, social functioning and reduces the stigma of psyhosis.

Objective:

Four years of group work for outpatients with psychosis and its influence on various aspects, especially on negative symptoms in psychosis were evaluated.

Methods:

A small group of 6 to 8 medicated patients is run in co-therapy. A modified, non-structured, psychoanalytic group technique which includes psychoeducation, cognitive techniques, nonstructured conversation and clarifications is used. Patients should be intrinsically motivated and well prepared for group work.

Results:

Better control and differentiation of the psychotic symptoms, emotions and improved social functioning were observed. Group situation affects and improves the negative symptoms of psychosis through several important group therapeutic factors €“ instilation of hope, universality, altruism, group cohesiveness, which has developed very slowly. Group members were able to manage transient worsening of their psychosis in an outpatient care.

Conclusions:

With its progression of group work, we observed more honest and open conversation about symptoms and real life problems. The most frequent topics discussed were: psychotic symptoms, at the beginning mostly positive symptoms of psyhosis, later on, with the progression of therapy members started to talk about the negative symptoms, interpersonal relations and stigma of psychosis.