The Perceived Importance of Yalom’s Therapeutic Factors in Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy for Patients with Psychosis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the importance of Yalom’s therapeutic factors in psychodynamic group psychotherapy based on the duration of patients’ participation in the group and their sociodemographic characteristics. A total of 57 outpatients with psychosis completed Yalom’s therapeutic factors questionnaire, and were divided into four groups according to the duration of their participation in the group. The instillation of hope, group cohesiveness and existential factors were the highest ranking, whereas identification was the lowest ranking therapeutic factor. Longer participation in the group was associated with greater perceived importance of catharsis and family re-enactment factors. The relationship between the perceived importance of the therapeutic factors and the participant’s gender, age, and level of education was examined. The findings of this study may contribute to an improved understanding of group processes in patients with psychosis, and may assist with the development of more effective therapeutic approaches in this population.