Integrative Group Therapy for Psychosis An Evidence-Based Approach

Stemming from a series of outcome and process studies, this book presents an evidence-based, integrative group therapy treatment model that includes elements from psychodynamic, interpersonal, psychoeducational, and cognitive-behavioral approaches to address the needs of people suffering from psychosis.

Designed to help patients deal with delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, interpersonal problems, mood changes, and the stigma of having a serious mental illness, the book chronicles the evolution of the integrative approach from research in inpatient and outpatient settings to theoretical and clinical issues that were derived from the empirical studies. Chapters also include information and vignettes to assist the reader in conducting therapy groups for patients suffering from psychosis, including schizophrenia spectrum and bipolar disorders.

Shown to be a safe and supportive adjunct to medications that is useful in both inpatient and outpatient settings, readers will find value in this unique, empirically driven model for groups that are long-term, short-term, and time-limited.

Chapter 1. Nature of Psychotic Conditions; Chapter 2. Historical and Clinical Issues; Chapter 3. Research Issues; Chapter 4. Clinical Issues of the Integrative Model: The Basics; Chapter 5. Clinical Issues of the Integrative Model: Special Topics; Chapter 6. Evaluation of the Integrative Model; Chapter 7. Integrative Groups for Non-Psychotic Bipolar Patients; Chapter 8. Conclusions.

Nick Kanas, MD, is Professor Emeritus (Psychiatry) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He has conducted clinical and research work on group therapy at the San Francisco Veterans Hospital, UCSF, and other national and international settings. He has been leading therapy groups for psychotic patients since 1975, and his first book on the subject was Group Therapy for Schizophrenic Patients.