| Abstract: | Therapeutic factors in occupational group therapy have only been subjected to minimal investigation [AUTHOR –I'VE REWRITTEN THE FIRST SENTENCE AS THE ORIGINAL SOUNDED ODD IN ENGLISH. IS THIS OK?]. Previous research (Howe & Schwartzberg, 1986) indicated that these factors accord with factors recognized in group psychotherapy, but additional specific occupational therapy factors were distinguished as well. The aim of the present study was to examine factors in treatment identified by patients and their significant others as therapeutic. Interviews with 20 mentally ill individuals and 12 significant others were conducted when the patients were discharged from a psychiatric day-care unit. Four therapeutic dimensions emerged from an inductive analysis of statements from the interviews: the group, the occupational, the treatment milieu, and the individual therapy. The majority of the statements were categorized in the group or occupational dimension. Important factors of the group dimension were group interaction, talking in a group, and the therapist's attitude and behaviour. The group factors were consistent with factors previously identified in group psychotherapy research studies. Being occupied, being engaged in certain activities, and developing new skills were significant within the occupational dimension. Since knowledge of which factors are perceived as helping the patients is important a) future replication studies are needed to determine how the occupational dimension should be specified into therapeutic factors, and b) research is required that makes clear how interventions can be improved by such factors. Copyright © 1997 Whurr Publishers Ltd. |
