Diversity in the Practice of Inpatient Group Psychotherapy in North America

Abstract

In the USA and Canada inpatient group psychotherapy is widely practised, although rarely with the kind of sophistication required to conduct such a complicated form of treatment. In most hospitals, groups are usually led by clinicians with the least training. At major training centres, psychiatric department residents may or may not conduct such groups, but even when they do they invariably receive inadequate supervision (Yalom, 1983). Under these circumstances, unsophisticated, pragmatic approaches have won popularity: it is easier to control patients when simple formulas are applied. This paper describes the evolution of inpatient group psychotherapy in North America and summarizes current trends. Then a more dynamic approach is presented, its principles grounded in object relations and general systems theories.