Group therapy in Canada: a national survey.

Abstract

A nation-wide questionnaire survey concerned with the practice of group therapy in Canadian psychiatric in-patient settings showed that:— 1) At any one time less than 10% of the psychiatric in-patient population receives group therapy. 2) The typical group consists of about ten patients meeting for one hour a day over a period of four weeks or more. 3) Patients belonging to a wide variety of diagnostic classifications are considered suitable for group therapy. 4) Most group therapists are eclectically oriented psychiatrists, using predominantly verbal techniques. Occupational therapists and, to a lesser extent, psychologists and social workers, also act as group therapists, but only in about 40% of the hospitals conducting this form of treatment. 5) Most respondents would like to see more group therapy being done in their hospitals. They cite shortage of trained staff as the main obstacle in bringing this about. The findings of this survey are related to recent studies demonstrating the usefulness of non-professional personnel in the role of group therapists.