Individual versus group psychotherapy - Equally effective?

22 controlled outcome studies regarding direct comparisons between individu al and group psychotherapy treatments have been included in an actual revie w. Including only clinically relevant problems and randomized controlled ou tcome studies, no systematic superiority of one therapeutic setting over th e other could be found. This review stands therefore within the context of results of recent meta-analyses regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of group versus individual teatment outcomes. Given the comparable treatment outcome effects of the group treatment format compared with the individual setting, the advantage of the group format lies in its relatively better ec onomic and time-effective side effects. Methodological problems of most of the available comparative outcome studies are being discussed.