ABREACTION THERAPY

Abreaction is a process by which repressed material, particularly a painIul experience

or conIlicts is brought back to consciousness. The person not only recalls but also relives the material,
which is accompanied by the appropriate emotional response. It is most useIul in acute neurotic
conditions caused by extreme stress. Although abreaction is an integral part oI psychoanalysis and
hypnosis, it can also be used independently.
METHOD:
Abreaction can be brought by strong encouragement to relive stressIul events. The
procedure is begun with neutral topics at Iirst, and gradually approaches areas oI conIlict. Although
abreaction can be done with or without the use oI medication, the procedure can be Iacilitated by
giving sedative drug intravenously. A saIe method is the use oI thiopentone sodium 500 mg dissolved
in 10cc oI normal saline. It is inIused at a rate no Iaster than 1 cc/ minute to prevent sleep as well as
respiratory depression.

GROUP THERAPY
Group psychotherapy is a treatment in which careIully selected people who are emotionally ill
meet in a group guided by a trained therapist and help one another eIIect personality change. It is a
less time consuming procedure in which usually 8-10 people can be treated at one time. It is a Iorm oI
treatment in which careIully selected, emotionally ill person are placed into group, guided by a trained
therapist Ior the purpose oI changing the maladaptive behaviour oI the individual member.
Therapeutic Functions of Group Therapy:
i. Imparting of information: psycho education or health education inIormation that are
structured or planed are given through lecture method in the group and also sharing
experience helps the patient to realize that they are not isolated and that others also have
similar experiences and problems.
ii. Instillation of hope: it helps the client to maintain Iaith in the therapeutic modality. The
client is optimistic; he believes he will get better.
iii. Universality: client learns that others in the group have problems, thoughts and Ieelings
similar to his own.
iv. Altruism: is the process oI client`s adding or helping each other. The act oI giving to others
becomes therapeutic Ior the giver, which increases the selI- esteem oI the giver.
v. Development of socializing techniques: role play and Ieedback in group therapy helps to
develop social skills. This process can be helped by trying out new ways oI interacting within
the saIety oI the group.
vi. Interpersonal learning: the client learns to proIit Irom the therapeutic use oI anxiety, when
anxiety is minimized the client relates more openly. He learns to trust, to expose himselI, to
expect Irom others, to test reality and there Ior to experience growth and learning about
diIIiculties in relationships by examining the interaction o individuals with the other members
oI the group.
vii. Catharsis: it is the expression o Ieelings, deep emotions and anxiety provoking problems in
the group. This enables the client to in a practical solution.

Selection:

Homogeneous groups.
Adolescents and patients ith personality disorders.
Families and couples where the system needs change.

Contraindications:

Antisocial patients.
Actively suicidal or severely depressed patients.
Patients who are delusional and who may incorporate the group into their delusional
system.

Most group psychotherapists conduct group sessions once a week; each session may
last Ior 45- minutes to 1 hour.

FAMILY AND MARITAL THERAPY:

Family therapy Iocus oI treatment is not the individual, but the Iamily. Most Iamily theorist
identiIies the individual`s problem as symptom oI trouble within the Iamily.

Indications:
Relational problems within the family or marital unit it leds to other psychiatric
problems like.
Psychoses.
Reactive depression.
Anxiety disorders.
Psychosomatic disorders.
Substance abuse.
Childhood psychiatric problems.

Components of therapy:

Assessment of family structure, roles, boundaries, resources, communication patterns
and problem solving skills.
Teaching communication skills.
Teaching problem solving skills.
riting a behavioural marital contract.
Homework assignments.

Client selection:
I. Families may be reIerred Ior treatment by private physicians, and agencies such as the school
system, welIare board, parole oIIicers, and judges.
II. Some Iamilies are reIerred Ior therapy Irom emergency room psychiatric services aIter a visit
caused by a crisis in the Iamily, such as a drug over dose.
III. On discharge Irom a psychiatric hospital, a client and his Iamily may b reIerred Ior Iamily
therapy. As part oI Iollow up services.
IV. Family therapy is the treatment oI choice when there is a marital problem or sibling conIlict.
V. Situational crisis such as a sudden death oI a Iamily member.

TYPES OF FAMILY THERAPY:

1. Individual family therapy
In individual Iamily therapy each Iamily member has a single therapist. The whole
Iamily may meet occasionally with one or two oI the therapist to see how the members are
relating to one another and workout speciIic issues that have been by individual member.
. Conjoint family therapy
The most common type oI Iamily therapy is the single-Iamily group, or conjoint
Iamily therapy. The nuclear Iamily is seen, and the issues and problems raised by the Iamily
are the ones addressed by the therapist. The way in which the Iamily interacts is observed and
become the Iocus oI therapy. The therapist helps the Iamily deal more eIIectively with
problems as they arise and are deIined.
. Couples therapy
Couples are oIten seen by the therapist together. The couple may be experiencing
diIIulties in their marriage, and in therapy they are helped to work together to seek a
resolution Ior their problems. Family patterns, interaction and communication styles and each
partner`s goals hope and expectations are examined in therapy. This examination enables the
couple to Iind a common ground Ior resolving conIlicts by recognising and respecting each
other`s similarities and diIIerences.
. Multiple family group therapy
In multiple Iamily therapy Iour or Iive Iamilies meet weekly to conIront and deal with
problems or issues they have in common. Ability or inability to Iunction well in the home and
community, Iear oI talking to or relating to others, abuse, anger, neglect the development oI
social skills and responsibility oI oneselI are some oI issues on which these groups Iocus. The
network also encourages each person to reach out and Iorm new relationships outside the
groups.
. Multiple impact therapy
In Multiple impacts therapy several therapist`s come together with the Iamilies in
community setting. They live together and deal with pertinent issues Ior each Iamily member
within the context oI the group. Multiple impact therapy is similar to multiple Iamily group
therapy except that it is more intense and time-lmited.like multiple Iamily group therapy it
Iocus on developing skills or working together as a Iamily and with other Iamilies.