Stemming from a series of outcome and process studies, this book presents an evidence-based, integrative group therapy treatment model that includes elements from psychodynamic, interpersonal, psychoeducational, and cognitive-behavioral approaches to address the needs of people suffering from psychosis.

Designed to help patients deal with delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, interpersonal problems, mood changes, and the stigma of having a serious mental illness, the book chronicles the evolution of the integrative approach from research in inpatient and outpatient settings to theoretical and clinical issues that were derived from the empirical studies. Chapters also include information and vignettes to assist the reader in conducting therapy groups for patients suffering from psychosis, including schizophrenia spectrum and bipolar disorders.

Shown to be a safe and supportive adjunct to medications that is useful in both inpatient and outpatient settings, readers will find value in this unique, empirically driven model for groups that are long-term, short-term, and time-limited.

About the Author

Nick Kanas, MD, is Professor Emeritus (Psychiatry) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He has conducted clinical and research work on group therapy at the San Francisco Veterans Hospital, UCSF, and other national and international settings. He has been leading therapy groups for psychotic patients since 1975, and his first book on the subject was Group Therapy for Schizophrenic Patients.

Reviews

"In this excellent and well written text, Dr. Kanas thoughtfully illustrates the implementation of group therapy for individuals with psychotic disorders. Advancing well beyond the limitations of traditional, theoretical singularity, Kanas' integrative approach brings to life a model of group therapy that addresses the human experience that lies beneath our patients' manifest symptomatology. This book describes in clear and useful fashion how group therapy improves patients' interpersonal engagement and self-efficacy, in the context of chronic and recurrent major mental illnesses."

Molyn Leszcz MD, FRCPC, CGP, DFAGPA, professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto; President, The American Group Psychotherapy Association.

"A masterful piece of clinical scholarship representing over four decades of dedicated study of group psychological treatments for psychotic level pathologies. In a creative and comprehensive manner, filled with illuminating clinical vignettes, Dr. Kanas brings together the best of what too often are isolated schools of psychotherapy - psychodynamic, interpersonal, psychoeducational and cognitive behavioral. This is a compelling and authoritative work, backed by keen clinical observation and empirical evidence, that should serve as a mainstay for all who face the challenges of psychological work in groups with this difficult clinical population."

Les R. Greene, PhD, past president, American Group Psychotherapy Association; clinical faculty, Yale University School of Medicine; Co-editor, Core Principles of Group Psychotherapy: An Integrated Theory, Research, and Practice Training Manual (2019)

"Dr. Kanas's Integrative Group Therapy for Psychosis: An Evidence-based Approach is a must read for clinicians. The historical chapter is comprehensive, succinct and provides a vital understanding of the types of group treatment offered to people with psychotic conditions over the past several decades. I loved the clinical and personal richness added by the excerpts from Robert Francis who suffers from chronic schizophrenia throughout the book! The integrative model presented incorporates the rigor of science and the wisdom of an experienced clinician."

Gary M. Burlingame, PhD, CGP, APA Fellow and DFAGPA; president-elect, AGPA; professor and chair of psychology, Brigham Young University.

"Finally, there is a book addressing the powerful impact that group therapy provides a severely neglected population, those people struggling with psychotic disorders. Dr. Kanas does an excellent job reviewing the literature, describing the integration of dynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and interpersonal theories, and summarizing the research and work he has been done over the course of his life. Not only does Dr. Kanas educate us about the strong evidence supporting this group treatment, but he also shares clinical vignettes and helpful information to group leaders who are working with this vulnerable population. Dr. Kanas reminds us of the heart and soul of these patients who benefit from todays' treatment and the power of group therapy to facilitate change."

Cheri L. Marmarosh, PhD, associate professor of Professional Psychology, George Washington University; Fellow, American Psychology Association; associate editor of Psychotherapy and on the editorial boards of Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice and the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy.

"As a clinical psychologist who has spent nearly four decades doing both group and individual therapy with non-psychotic patients, and teaching /supervising numerous psychiatrists and psychologists to do so as well, I was surprised by how clearly and simply Dr. Kanas could provide a model for working with a group of patients for which I had so little training and experience. Unlike my anticipation that I would find that there was too much new here to be either readily or usefully absorbed, I found the book to be a terrific mini-course on the nature of psychosis and to provide an easily learnable evidence-based approach to effective treatment. In short, though I had expected this book to be a challenging and perhaps exhausting workout, I found it to be surprisingly enjoyable, highly readable, and of great potential value to anyone involved in the treatment of mental illness-- especially to those working with psychotic patients."

Geraldine Alpert, PhD, past president of the Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society; former director of Group Therapy Training, McAuley Neuropsychiatric Institute; associate clinical professor of psychiatry, University of California Medical School; Fellow, American Group Psychotherapy Association.

"In this excellent and well written text, Dr. Kanas thoughtfully illustrates the implementation of group therapy for individuals with psychotic disorders. Advancing well beyond the limitations of traditional, theoretical singularity, Kanas' integrative approach brings to life a model of group therapy that addresses the human experience that lies beneath our patients' manifest symptomatology. This book describes in clear and useful fashion how group therapy improves patients' interpersonal engagement and self-efficacy, in the context of chronic and recurrent major mental illnesses."

Molyn Leszcz, MD, FRCPC, CGP, DFAGPA, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto; President, The American Group Psychotherapy Association

"A masterful piece of clinical scholarship representing over four decades of dedicated study of group psychological treatments for psychotic level pathologies. In a creative and comprehensive manner, filled with illuminating clinical vignettes, Dr. Kanas brings together the best of what too often are isolated schools of psychotherapy-psychodynamic, interpersonal, psychoeducational, and cognitive behavioral. This is a compelling and authoritative work, backed by keen clinical observation and empirical evidence, that should serve as a mainstay for all who face the challenges of psychological work in groups with this difficult clinical population."

Les R. Greene, PhD, Past President, American Group Psychotherapy Association; Clinical Faculty, Yale University School of Medicine; Co-editor, Core Principles of Group Psychotherapy: An Integrated Theory, Research, and Practice Training Manual (2019)

"Dr. Kanas's Integrative Group Therapy for Psychosis: An Evidence-Based Approach is a must read for clinicians. The historical chapter is comprehensive, succinct, and provides a vital understanding of the types of group treatment offered to people with psychotic conditions over the past several decades. I loved the clinical and personal richness added by the excerpts from Robert Francis who suffers from chronic schizophrenia throughout the book! The integrative model presented incorporates the rigor of science and the wisdom of an experienced clinician."

Gary M. Burlingame, PhD, CGP, APA, Fellow and DFAGPA; President-elect, AGPA; Professor and Chair of Psychology, Brigham Young University

"Finally, there is a book addressing the powerful impact that group therapy provides a severely neglected population, those people struggling with psychotic disorders. Dr. Kanas does an excellent job reviewing the literature, describing the integration of dynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and interpersonal theories, and summarizing the research and work he has been done (sic) over the course of his life. Not only does Dr. Kanas educate us about the strong evidence supporting this group treatment, but he also shares clinical vignettes and helpful information to group leaders who are working with this vulnerable population. Dr. Kanas reminds us of the heart and soul of these patients who benefit from todays' treatment and the power of group therapy to facilitate change."

Cheri L. Marmarosh, PhD, Associate Professor of Professional Psychology, George Washington University; Fellow, American Psychology Association; Associate Editor of Psychotherapy; and on the editorial boards of Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice and the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy

"As a clinical psychologist who has spent nearly four decades doing both group and individual therapy with non-psychotic patients, and teaching /supervising numerous psychiatrists and psychologists to do so as well, I was surprised by how clearly and simply Dr. Kanas could provide a model for working with a group of patients for which I had so little training and experience. Unlike my anticipation that I would find that there was too much new here to be either readily or usefully absorbed, I found the book to be a terrific mini-course on the nature of psychosis and to provide an easily learnable evidence-based approach to effective treatment. In short, though I had expected this book to be a challenging and perhaps exhausting workout, I found it to be surprisingly enjoyable, highly readable, and of great potential value to anyone involved in the treatment of mental illness-especially to those working with psychotic patients."

Geraldine Alpert, PhD, Past President of the Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society; former Director of Group Therapy Training, McAuley Neuropsychiatric Institute; Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of California Medical School; Fellow, American Group Psychotherapy Association

Book Information
ISBN 9780367339425
Author Nick Kanas
Format Paperback
Page Count 182
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 272g