Immediate and Follow-up Effects of Family Therapy in theTherapeutic Community for Neuroses at Kromeriz

Overview

System of the therapeutic community for neurotic disorders with six weeks lasting group treatmentwas enriched by invitation of a relevant family member for participation in one weeklasting special family therapy program, included approximately in the middle of the stay. Theinfluence of this additional program on immediate and follow-up effects of therapy was investigated.A group of 130 patients with participating partners was compared to a similar group withoutthem. Positive changes at the end of therapy on a scale of individual symptoms and on a questionnaire,evaluating general effects of therapy and its special influence on symptoms, insight, attitudesand behavior, were more pronounced in patients, whose family member participated.Differences were statistically significant. Also, most differences in the same questionnaire, returnedafter 1 to 3 years from 95 patients with and 84 patients without a participating family member,pointed into the same direction.Inclusion of family therapy, which makes possible direct therapeutic confrontation of patientswith their relevant family members and at the same time training of more effective communicationbetween them, adds significantly to both immediate and remote positive effects of grouppsychotherapy.

Key words:
neurotic disorders, group therapy, therapeutic community, family therapy, immediateresults and follow-up.