LARGE GROUPS IN TREATMENT AND TRAINING SETTINGS

A review of published work over the past decade and a half supports th e effectiveness of the large group in clinical settings. Greater sophi stication among practitioners has led to combining administrative, psy chotherapeutic, and sociotherapeutic large groups and to the use of ef fective treatment teams and clearly defined contracts in inpatient hos pital work. Some research findings suggest that large treatment groups are as effective as small therapy groups with some patient population s. There appears to be a movement toward convergence in the techniques employed by individual, small group, and large group therapists in pr actice, while not in theory. This positive trend in the mental health field may lead to more flexible practitioners.