Individual Versus Group Aftercare Treatment
MARVIN I. HERZ M.D.1,
ROBERT L. SPITZER M.D.2,
MIRIAM GIBBON M.S.W.3,
KENNETH GREENSPAN M.D.4, , and
STEPHEN REIBEL M.D.4
1 Director, Washington Heights Community Service, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 722 West 168th St., New York, N.Y. 10032
2 Director, Evaluation Section, Biometrics Research, New York State Department of Mental Hygiene, New York, N.Y.
3 Senior Research Scientist, Evaluation Section, Biometrics Research, New York State Department of Mental Hygiene, New York, N.Y.
4 Senior Attending Psychiatrists, Evaluation Section, Biometrics Research, New York State Department of Mental Hygiene, New York, N.Y.
The authors designed a study to test the relative efficacy of minimal individual contact versus group therapy, given an equal amount of therapist time allocated to each treatment. One hundred forty-four aftercare patients were randomly assigned to either group or individual therapy conducted by 12 incoming first-year residents. Results at the end of one year showed no significant differences in outcome measures for either group. However, the therapists greatly preferred the group method, and the group patients seemed more enthusiastic. Greater utilization of group treatment in aftercare clinics is recommended.
