The Relationship Between the Group Therapeutic Factors and Relapse in Alcohol Dependent Inpatients

The relationship between the group therapeutic factors and relapse in alcohol dependent inpatients Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship of relapse with the therapeutic factors in here-and-now focused group oriented interpersonal therapy of alcoholic patients. Method: Fifty nine alcohol dependent male patients were selected from the patients receiving inpatient treatment form the study population. After the termination of the group therapy, each patient was administered Yalom's 60-item therapeutic factor-Q-sort and they were followed for 6 months. Results: The most valued therapeutic factors by the patients were existential factors, self-understanding, catharsis and family re-enactment. Difference between the ranks of therapeutic factors in the abstinent and the non-abstinent group was not statistically significant. The instillation of hope appeared in the tenth rank in the non-abstinent group and in the fifth rank in the abstinent group, and universality appeared in the eleventh rank in the non-abstinent and in the sixth rank in the abstinent group of patients. Conclusion: Instillation of hope and universality are the two therapeutic factors that should be emphasized in alcoholic patient groups and also be studied on. Group context seems as an important factor for ordering of the therapeutic factors. Duration of hospitalization is an important factor on the outcome of treatment, remission.