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Randomized Comparative Trial of a Ward Discussion Group

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

E. D. West
Affiliation:
Sutton Hospital, Sutton, Surrey
A. Jackson
Affiliation:
Sutton Hospital, Sutton, Surrey
A. Physentides
Affiliation:
Sutton Hospital, Sutton, Surrey
S. Seenivasagan
Affiliation:
Sutton Hospital, Sutton, Surrey
P. Jezard
Affiliation:
Sutton Hospital, Sutton, Surrey
A. Nicholson
Affiliation:
Sutton Hospital, Sutton, Surrey
R. Ram
Affiliation:
Sutton Hospital, Sutton, Surrey
H. Knight
Affiliation:
Sutton Hospital, Sutton, Surrey

Summary

A randomized controlled study of 38 catchment unit psychiatric in-patients in a discussion group showed no significant additional benefit compared with 36 in-patients in an activity group. Symptom change scored by three rating groups agreed closely, average r = +0.64. Patients treated with ECT showed 2.6 times as much reduction in morbidity as those not so treated, but there was still no appreciable difference between discussion and activity groups when this was allowed for. Other treatment factors and the Hawthorne effect appeared to obscure any effect due to group therapy.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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