Group versus individual supportive-expressive psychotherapy for chronic, symptomatically stabilized outpatients

The authors compared the effectiveness of group versus individual supportive-expressive psychotherapy for chronic symptomatically stabilized outpatients (N = 23). Patients were from the lower-middle socioeconomic class, were middle-aged, and had an intermediate to low education. The battery of assessment scales included an individualized scale (Target Complaint Scale), an unobtrusive measure assessing self-esteem and readiness for active coping (Shanan Sentence Completion Test), and 2 structured Likert-type scale items assessing mental health in both of its manifestations: pathological (Brief Symptom Inventory and Mental Health Inventory [MHI]) and positive well-being (MHI). The gains achieved in individual therapy were significantly, but only slightly, better than those achieved in group therapy. In view of these results, the economic advantages as well as the potential of group therapy for enhancing interpersonal skills were emphasized.