GROUP-THERAPY ON STATE-HOSPITAL CHRONIC WARDS - SOME GUIDELINES

The provision of psychotherapeutic services to the most impaired and t reatment-resistant chronically mentally ill (CMI) patients has been re latively neglected in the literature. These patients most often reside on the chronic wards of state mental hospitals where they often recei ve only custodial treatment and medications. This article discusses th e provision of group psychotherapeutic services in such settings, and delineates five levels of group involvement through which patients pro gress before they graduate to a less-restrictive environment.