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Group Therapy and Hospitalization of Narcotic Addicts

1961; American Medical Association; Volume: 5; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1001/archpsyc.1961.01710160073008

1538-3636

Paul H. Blachly,

Psychiatric care and mental health services

Introduction Conflicting opinions have been expressed in the literature concerning the value of group psychotherapy for the treatment of narcotic addicts. Johnston 1 and Thorpe and Smith 2 claim that it has considerable therapeutic value whereas a popular psychiatric textbook 3 states flatly that it is not successful. Likewise there are conflicting opinions regarding the value of hospitalization of addicts with some groups stating that shortterm hospitalization may be satisfactory, 4 while others believe that the patient should remain hospitalized for a prolonged period so that he can learn to live effectively without drugs. 5 Both groups agree that prolonged posthospital psychotherapy or follow-up is desirable. This paper reports the results of testing the null hypotheses: ( a ) Attendance at group psychotherapy meetings has no significant influence on the attitudes of narcotic addict patients; ( b ) a 2-month period of hospitalization produces no significant change in