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Developing an Inpatient Group Psychotherapy Program: Challenges and Lessons Learnt Publisher



Razaghi EM1 ; Tabatabaee M1 ; Pourramzani A2 ; Mohammadpour RS1 ; Moghaddam AM1 ; Yahyavi ST3, 4
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Psychiatric and Clinical Psychology Research Center, Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Shafa Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, IR, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University Of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR, Iran
  4. 4. Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Addiction institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, IR, Iran

Source: Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Published:2015


Abstract

In Iran, inpatient group psychotherapy has been limited to transient practices for research purposes or fulfilling personal interest of therapists. The goal of this paper is to share and explain the experience of developing an inpatient group psychotherapy program in Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital, Tehran, Iran. After theoretical delineation and preparation of a draft of the program guideline, two pilot sessions were held. Based on this initial experience a final treatment guideline was prepared. Afterwards, the program was continued for more than 1 year in a female ward at Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital. The output of this exercise was a guideline that covers important topics in development of inpatient group psychotherapy. It is concluded that inpatient group psychotherapy has its unique challenges. Of the most important challenges that can be mentioned in this regard are the participation of patients with significant differences in levels of psychopathology and psychiatric signs and symptoms, and high comorbidity with specific personality traits or disorders. Other challenges relevant to the structure of the group include items such as very limited time for working through and inevitable out-of-group contacts. © 2015, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences.