Abstract

The main objective of group psychotherapy of persons who have had a psychotic episode is the strengthening of their ego and self and preventing the relapse of a psychotic episode. The cohesion of the self is achieved by corrective internalization and mentalization. The therapeutic environment with group cohesion and group matrix enables emotional growth and reactivation and correction of object relationships. In group psychotherapy of such patients, the therapist avoids the interpretation of their early experiences. Group psychotherapy stimulates the use of mature defence mechanisms and improves object relationships and social cognition. In this way, group psychotherapy also contributes to achieving greater authenticity of participants.