An Inpatient Group Psychotherapy Model: Integrated Model led by A Psychiatrist

Yoon, Sung Chul; Lee, Hoo Kyeong

Abstract

Group psychotherapy is an important therapy far inpatient treatment. A lot of studies proved the effect of inpatient group psychotherapy. Therefore it is necessary to use group psychotherapy actively for inpatient treatment. There are many models of inpatient group psychotherapy made in foreign counties. But It is difficult to apply those models themselves directly in Korean inpatient unit, and so it is an urgent issue to make an inpatient group psychotherapy model that fits Korean inpatient unit setting. According to this need we made our paper in order to introduce an effective model of group psychotherapy for Korean inpatients in detail, and then to provide opportunity for effective inpatient treatment. The characteristics of this inpatient group psychotherapy model are as follows. 1) This model of group psychotherapy give a field in which a therapist encounter inpatients as a human being. 2) This model is easy to perform generally, and helpful to a comprehensive therapeutic approach for inpatients. 3) In this model heterogeneous inpatients participate in a same one group, therefore this model is able to apply various inpatients. 4) This model makes the basis of continuous outpatient treatment or day hospital treatment, and the basis of outpatient group psychotherapy or individual psychotherapy. 5) Group functions as a social microcosm, and so reveals patient's interpersonal relationship and gives the opportunity to treat it. Therefore group helps patients to be adapted well to inpatient unit and society. 6) In this model, social workers, nurses, or students in practice play a role of healthy egos or observers, and so they can activate group psychotherapy. And this model co be used as a practical and useful tool of the education for psychiatric residents, medical students, social workers, and other students. Psychiatrists seem to be less interested in group psychotherapy than other mental heath practitioners. But it may be appropriate for well trained psychiatrists to use group psychotherapy with individual psychotherapy.