AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF A "GROUP LIVING' PROGRAM WITH WITHDRAWN SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENTS

Abstract

The problem of treating withdrawn schizophrenic patients is perhaps the greatest one confronting hospital psychiatry to date in terms of sheer numbers, bed-space occupied and personnel required. A major difficulty from a treatment standpoint lies in the passive resistant behavior of such patients against engaging in interpersonal relationships or in participating in the group living activities from which better adjusted individuals appear to derive major satisfactions. One may become involved in rather complex theoretical considerations in regard to the underlying determinants of such passive resistant social behavior. However, a rather parsimonious view might be that such individuals have been severely disappointed in their attempts at social growth and have withdrawn to protect themselves against further emotional anguish. In addition, they have erected various delusional defenses to explain their behavior to themselves and others. It may be hypothesized that such disappointments in attempts at social growth stem from a number of psychological factors. These may be lack of adequate social learning opportunities and experiences, intense frustration by others in attempts at social growth, lack of meaningful gratification or reward when progress was made, and, as commonly observed, inability to share with others due to the anticipation of deprivation based upon past experiences.