Effects in Combining Pharmacotherapy and Group Psychotherapy for Outpatients with Schizophrenia

Lee, Hoo Kyeong; Kim, Sun Jae; Yoon, Sung Chul; Ahn, Hyun Joo

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study is to prove that combining pharmacotherapy and group psychotherapy is more effective way to prevent recurrence and rehospitalization, to promote their interpersonal relations and to improve their satisfaction on treatment by making a comparison with pharmacotherapy and individual psychotherapy (supportive therapy).
METHODS
This study was performed from September 2000 to October 2001. The subjects were all schizophrenic outpatients who were treated by authors in the specialized mental hospital, the psychiatric department of a general hospital, and psychiatric clinics. The experimental groups and the control groups were composed in matching, sex, diagnosis, duration of illness, number of admission and function level. During this period, the experimental groups had been treated by pharmacotherapy and group psychotherapy, and the control groups by pharmacotherapy and individual supportive therapy. Numbers of admission (ratio of readmission) and changes of drug doses were traced, at the same time' group psychotherapy effectiveness scales' were applied. Just after each session, Yalom's 13 therapeutic factors scale was administered.
RESULTS
During study periods, 3 cases (17%) among total 18 cases of the experimental groups were re-admitted and 6 cases (33%) among total 18 cases of the control group were re-admitted. During study periods, the doses of chlorpromazine in the experimental groups were decreased from 267 mg at start to 185 mg at closure and the doses of chlorpromazine in the control groups were increased from 264 mg at start to 265 mg at closure. The mean scores of insight, satisfaction on treatment, and satisfaction toward therapist were statistically high in the experimental groups in comparison with the control groups (<0.05).
CONCLUSION
'Combining pharmacotherapy and group psychotherapy' to outpatients with schizophrenia is very effective and expedient for therapists. We expect that this combined treatment model would be practiced more broadly as an economic treatment method which could minimize problems caused by practicing pharmacotherapy only and to give patients full service, though there are accompanied problems including the difficulties of structuring, the eack of motivation of patients, and the financial burden.