The team meeting on a rapid turnover psychiatric ward: Clinical illustration of a model for stages of group development

This article illustrates stages of group development in a semi-structured t eam meeting of staff and patients in an inpatient psychiatric unit. Clinica l material drawn from such a group at the Massachusetts Mental Health Cente r is presented in support of the view that, even in a rapid-turnover ward g roup process in a mixed-level, mixed-diagnosis "ward meeting" follows some predictable lines and responds to the articulation of certain predictable c oncerns Garland's (1981) model of group development is adapted to show the cyclical nature of group process in a teaching hospital; where doctors as w ell as patients may make only brief stays. Effective leadership strategies are suggested.