title: Social functioning of patients with psychotic disorders in long-term psychodynamic group psychotherapy: preliminary research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, social functioning of patients has increasingly been used as a criterion for assessing therapeutic efficacy of the group psychotherapy. The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine whether social functioning of patients with diagnosed psychotic disorders changes during their participation in psychodynamic group psychotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 30 patients involved in the psychodynamic group psychotherapy (PGP), and a comparative group of 30 patients treated only with antipsychotic medication therapy (treatment as usual; TAU). After two years of therapy, the instruments designed for this study (self-assessment and therapist-assessment questionnaire) were applied to examine changes in patient communication in their interpersonal relations, romantic and working functioning, and overall social functioning. The research also included data as to whom patients turned to for help, and the number of hospitalisations in the observed period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of patients from both groups assessed their social functioning as improved, with significant differences found only in the area of romantic relations: more patients in the TAU group assessed their functioning as worsened. Nevertheless, a significantly higher number of patients in the PGP group were assessed by their therapists to have improved social functioning in all dimensions, except in the area of romantic relations, where there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. In comparison with the TAU group, twice as many patients in the PGP group turned to their psychiatrist for help and had four times fewer hospitalisations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the limitations of this preliminary study, it can be concluded that the findings are promising, although further research is required to determine whether a psychodynamic approach to group psychotherapy truly leads to improved social functioning of patients with psychotic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Hospital "Sveti Ivan", Jankomir 11, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia, branka.restek-petrovic@pbsvi.hr.
authors.forename: Branka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Restek-Petrović
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gregurek
authors.forename: Ratimir
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Petrović
authors.forename: Nataša
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Orešković-Krezler
authors.forename: Mate
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mihanović
authors.forename: Ena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ivezić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D064889:Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic / Q000379:methods*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D012919:Social Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents