Efficacy of Group Therapy in the Psycho-Social Management of Patients with Mental Illness in Federal Medical Centre, Owo Ondo State. Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction:- To escape isolation, an individual must become a member of a group in which he/she must be able to relate easily with other people which will help the individual to use the going experience to solve his/her psychological, emotional or social problem. Therefore, this study investigated the efficacy of group therapy in the psychosocial management of parents with mental illness.

Methodology:

This is an experimental research design. The subject consisted of sixty (60) mentally ill patients that were group into experimental and control groups. Three (3) null hypotheses were showed tested at 0.05 level of significance using chi-square test using SPSS window 17.

Results:

The results of the three (3) null hypotheses showed that:-

1.             There was significant efficacy of group therapy in the psychosocial management of

Patients with mental illness (x²=19.54, df=1; P<0.05

1. There was significant difference in the level of mental health of patients who attended Group Therapy sessions (x² = 13.46, df = 1; P<0.05
2. There was significant difference in the recovery of patients who attended group therapy sessions and who did not attend group therapy sessions (x² = 37.6, df = 1; P<0.05.

Conclusion

Based on the findings of the research it was concluded that intensive group therapy should be given to the mentally ill patients by the health care givers most importantly psychiatric nurses and clinical psychologist.

Key words: Efficacy, Group therapy, psychosocial managements, Mental illness.