Group psychotherapy - A third basic approach in the psychotherapy service system?

This contribution reviews the group therapeutic approach from different the oretical perspectives regarding a possible basic approach in the psychother apeutic service system in Germany besides established therapy schools such as psychoanalysis and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Starting with an histor ical overview of the development of psychological theories and a brief elab oration of their inherent interpersonal perspectives of psychic health and disease, the group therapeutic setting is being discussed as a particularly interpersonally focused form of psychotherapeutic help. Specific interpers onal therapeutic factors, specific prognostic factors for a group treatment and a roughly similar efficacy compared to individual treatments as well a s the relatively better economic cost-benefit relations in therapy groups a re being emphasized.