Psychosomatic Medicine 10:257-274 (1948)
© 1948 American Psychosomatic Society

Criteria for the Evaluation of Group Therapy

¹ Assistant professor clinical psychology, Queens College, New York, formerly chief clinical psychologist, Boston Mental Hygiene Unit
² Psychiatric consultant, Boston Mental Hygiene Unit
³ Chief clinical psychologist, Boston Mental Hygiene Unit

A review of the literature on group psychotherapy revealed wide divergences in orientation, goals, technics and methods of reporting.

The omission of pertinent variables from many reports and the lack of any generally accepted vocabulary and frame of reference made any comparison of methods or evaluation of differential success almost unsurmountable.

In an attempt to clarify this situation the authors have developed a proposed schema of pertinent variables embracing seven major categories with varying numbers of subdivisions. The suggested major categories are: (a) therapist's frame of reference, (b) therapeutic aims and goals; (c) patient population treated; (d) role of therapist; (e) the group; (f) management of meetings; and (g) appraisal of results.

The reports of fifteen investigators representing different therapeutic approaches were analyzed according to the proposed schema and the results of this analysis presented in summarized form on charts. Examination of the charts reveal the lack of uniformity in the reporting of significant data.

If the foregoing suggestions are utilized, it may be possible that a measure of uniformity in the reporting of studies in group psychotherapy will be introduced. The inclusion of such a basic number of minimum variables may make it possible to compare technics and assay results.

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