The initiation and development of a group for relatives of patients with chronic emotional disorders

This paper describes the initiation and development of an educational discussion group for relatives of patients with chronic emotional problems and the process by which it became transformed into a group combining a self-help, modified therapy model with a primary focus on the members' interaction with their patientrelatives. The group offered the opportunity to ventilate pent up emotions in a supportive, reality-oriented context and provided information and education about the nature of emotional disorders. Generally this helped family members to effect positive changes in their interactions with their patient-relatives; to accept with greater understanding their relatives' illness; and to better evaluate the quality of treatment their relatives were receiving. The group chose this model over an educational model or traditional psychotherapy model or multifamily model, all of which were phases of this process. The positive results are supported by recent reports in the literature of similar groups.Formerly on the staff of The New Britain General Hospital Mental Health Clinic.