A Psychoeducational Group for Clients with Heterogeneous Problems

Abstract

The improvement of 23 clients with heterogeneous psychological problems attending three 16-sessiont psychoeducational (structured) tlherapy groups was compared to 20 similar clients attending three experiential (less structured, conttrol) groups, employing the Autoinatic Thoughlts Questiotnnaire atnd a measure of overall pathology based on the American Psychiatric Association 's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Additionally, the clients in the psychoeducational groups were assessed by a GoalAttainment Scaling procedure. The clients in the experienttial groups were considered to be a conservative cotntrol group rather than a comparison group because of the length of treatment. Additionzally, clienits in both types of group completed process evaluations selected by thle therapists of both cotnditions after every session. Results inidicated that the clients in the psychoeducational groups improved significantly more than the clients in the experiential grouips ont both measures and improved on the Goal Attainment Scaling measure when compared to goals not addressed in therapy. Each condition was significantly superior on the process measures chosen by the therapists of that condition; however, factor analysis of the process and outcome data indicated the relationshtip of process to outcome was not linear and was extremely complex.