Abstract
This article is based on research which was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of two types of group work in the assessment of acutely disturbed adult psychiatric patients. The effectiveness of groups for assessment was determined by comparing the occupational therapy assessments of patients after one group session with those assessments made by other professional team members over the period of one week. The study was carried out at two acute psychiatric units in Johannesburg. Thirty patients were assessed by the author and by four members of the team. The five assessments were compared for each patient by statistical analysis. The results indicate that there is no significant difference between the five assessments or between the assessments undertaken in the art groups and those undertaken in the discussion groups. The short-term assessments of patients during these two types of group work is therefore effective.
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