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This article is a response to Miriam Berger's Foulkes lecture on the importance of facts and the healing potential of group therapy. The author reflects on their own experiences working with war veterans and the impact of traumatic events on their lives. They discuss the difficulty of facing the fact that one has killed another human being and the long-lasting effects of such experiences. The author also emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment in group therapy to facilitate the sharing of traumatic facts and promote healing. [Extracted from the article]

In the seventh chapter, Shihui Han discusses a sociocultural neuroscientific perspective on how ingroup bias can lead to differences in empathy and the relationship to social behaviour. He states ... the ingroup bias in empathy reflects a pivotal social demand of ingroup help and intergroup competition that are critical for individuals' survival during human development. [Extracted from the article]

This paper describes the implementation of psychodynamic treatments in Croatia, and the development of training programmes and professional bodies to facilitate this approach. The article is written in three parts, commencing with a historical overview. This is followed by a detailed description of the development of Group Analysis in Croatia. The paper concludes with a comprehensive report of the RIPEPP programme, a psychodynamic intervention for people experiencing psychosis and members of their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the author focuses on teh use of expressions demanding forgiveness. It mentions the significance and possibilities of forgiving attitude in the professional psychological spheres. It also mentions the working of the writer Farhad Dalal regarding teh phenomenon of forgiveness and possibility of completing the forgiving process.

Group psychotherapy is widely accepted for treatment of patients suffering from psychosis. Nevertheless, some uncertainties remain regarding efficacy of insight-oriented group psychotherapy in these cases. Embracing the thinking of those authors that consider corrective symbiotic experience as essential in psychotherapeutic treatment for patients with psychosis, we explore the possibilities of group psychotherapy in enabling corrective emotional experience in our group therapeutic activity. Through some clinical examples from long-term outpatient group psychodynamic psychotherapy, which was insight oriented, we demonstrate how this method works with patients suffering from psychosis in a carefully selected group. Our experiences are positive, showing that the group analytically informed approach can offer a corrective symbiotic experience to patients with psychosis. However, patients with very deep symbiotic needs, who exclusively demand gratification of their symbiotic transferences, are not recommended for inclusion in group analytic work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers the author's view on the soldier's matrix. The author states that it intends to designate constructive, positive direction of engaging activities, and having in mind that the existence of cultural achievement is guaranteed unless the usefulness and importance of achievement has been understand. The author mentions that the soldier matrix can unfold up to a certain level.

Information about 16th European Group Analytic Society Symposium held in Lisbon, Portugal on July 30, 2014. Topics discussed include developments and internationalization of Group Analysis Society and its name change to Group Analysis Society International (GASI), initiatives of the International Association for Group Analysis, and practical applications of psychodynamics and therapeutic use of group analysis with Croatian experiences to treat psychosis and trauma.

Victims with traumatic histories and hatred may suspect that forgiveness is an impossible illusion and resign themselves to an existence in a harsh, hostile world in which one is destined to live chronically by one’s sword; such a stance undermines constructive vision, hinders learning from experience, and obstructs healing and renewal. It is therefore crucial to enable the unfolding of a culture of forgiveness as an essential element woven into the process of reconciliation with oneself and others. In the framework of this dynamic the process of mourning all losses is of crucial importance, in order to restore the capacity to believe and to enable a dialogue to unfold. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The rapid development of new technologies has led to significant changes in the work environment in general, as well as in seafaring, namely on board. Moreover, the daily life of the modern man is inextricably intertwined with technology. Its impact on personal and professional life leads to a series of changes that are reflected not only in the mode of business performance but also in the influence of private events during professional work. The significant and rapid progress of technology presents a challenge to our consciousness and conscience that has to be discussed over and over again, as both categories are exposed to the influence of personal experiences and environment. Originating from the interaction of one's personality and his environment, our consciousness and conscience potentiate us to act in accordance with socially established rules and values. In addition, the lack of training after the official education, except by inertia with respect to the requirements of the work position, certainly increases the percentage of errors, ultimately leading to difficulties in performing vocation and even to disaster. The tragedy aboard Costa Concordia and other maritime accidents, involving passenger and cargo vessels with increasing harm to humans and the environment, point to the growing importance of the categories of human consciousness and conscience in performing the profession of seafarer's profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers the author's view on an article that represents an attempt to systematize the different approaches to the knowledge on empathy. He mentions that the motherly channel of communication is the most appropriate primal to connect with regressed patients. He also proposes that the most appropriate attunement for severely regressed patients is the offer and establishment of corrective symbiotic experience in the framework of corrective emotional experience.

The phenomena of silence and quietness have been omnipresent in human life since its beginning. Nevertheless, they are rarely explored in their comprehensive and particular meanings. The author explores the meanings of silence and quietness in psychotherapy and in everyday life through theoretical considerations, clinical and social life examples, bearing in mind the psychodynamic/group analytic frame of reference. The dynamics of the transformation of non-verbal communication into verbal, the many meanings of an apparent lack of communication, and its understanding and differentiation from the culture of keeping silent are discussed, as well as the roles of internal and external group influences. In conclusion, the author refers to the phenomena of silence and quietness as regressive, repressive, transitional, transferential and countertransferential, as well as progressive phenomena spectrum. This article is dedicated to Malcolm Pines for the pleasant and thought provoking encounters, both personally and through his works, and for his sharp eye in perceiving messages and nuances of verbal and silent communications in depth and width, that inspired me to examine the contents of silences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the psychotherapeutic model of treatment of war veterans in Croatia with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The symptoms of PTSD are analysed and evaluated, together with associated neurotic symptoms, ways of coping with stress, and indicators of quality of life and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the authors document their experiences in small and median groups of supervision of conductors and therapeutic teams who are engaged in group psychotherapy with psychotic patients within different institutional frameworks, and discuss dynamics, as well as the enlarging of therapeutic possibilities of group psychotherapy of group-analytic orientation for application in these settings. They propose the possibility that at times the group itself can become the supervisor, i.e. that the supervision might be effectuated by the group, under guidance of an experienced conductor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one by Rudolf Gregurek on the internal and external boundaries of supervision and another one by Ljiljana Moro on the role of supervision in training psychotherapists.

Copyright of Društvena Istraživanja is the property of Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents the author's view on the paper about the psychodynamics of the relationship between staff and difficult patients in the nephrology department. According to the author, the researcher has presented the paper comprehensively, in such a way that it allows the readers to understand every aspect of the issue presented. The paper talks about the two subgroups in the nephrology department, the subgroup of patients and the subgroup of nursing staff. The researcher points out the emotions elicited by each subgroup and offers ways on how to deal with them.

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article highlights specific and unique challenges which confront the therapist when dealing with patients suffering from the effects of trauma within a war situation - refugees, displaced persons and relatives of those who have `disappeared' in war. In presenting clinical vignettes, the author focuses on war in Croatia, whilst also demonstrating how many problems are common to all those in war situations, including the therapist as well as patients, particularly problems and dilemmas in countertransference and empathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To assess the effectiveness of the long-term group psychotherapy in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in war veterans on the basis of clinical picture of PTSD, associated neurotic symptoms, and adopted models of psychological defense mechanisms. Methods Prospective cohort study involved 59 war veterans who participated in dynamic-oriented supportive group psychotherapy for five years. The groups met once a week for 90 minutes. Forty-two veterans finished the program. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale structured interview was used to assess the intensity of PTSD. Crown-Crisp Index was used to evaluate other neurotic symptoms, and Life Style Questionnaire was used to assess the defense mechanisms. The assessments were done at the beginning of psychotherapy, after the second, and after the fifth year of treatment. Comorbid diagnoses, hospitalizations, and outpatient clinic treatments were also recorded. Results Long-term group psychotherapy reduced the intensity of PTSD symptoms in our patients (the difference between Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale score at the beginning and the end of treatment, F = 9.103, P = 0.001). Other neurotic symptoms and the characteristic profile of defense mechanisms did not change significantly during the course of treatment. Predominant defense mechanisms were projection (M = 82.0 ± 14.4) and displacement (M = 69.0 ± 16.8). None of the symptoms or defense mechanisms present at the beginning of the treatment changed significantly after two or five years of treatment. The number of diagnosed major depressive episodes, which increased after the second year of psychotherapy, decreased by the end of treatment. Conclusion Psychotherapy can reduce the intensity of PTSD symptoms, but the changes in the personality of veterans with PTSD are deeply rooted. Traumatic experiences lead to the formation of rigid defense mechanisms, which cannot be significantly changed by long-term group psychotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the long-lasting and resistant symptoms characteristic of chronic combat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), its treatment is complex and often requires a tailored therapeutic approach incorporating both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. A multimodal approach of psychoeducative, sociotherapeutic, and dynamically oriented trauma-focused groups is described. We assessed the short- and long-term effectiveness of this therapeutic program by monitoring its impact on PTSD symptoms, depression, neurotic symptoms, coping skills, and quality of life for three years. The findings revealed short-term reduction in the symptoms of PTSD and depression, while the long-term results were manifested as the increased use of all coping mechanisms and a greater level of obsession.

In writing about the group setting in treatment of patients with psychosis the author is drawing from his long clinical practice and his writings on the subject. He underlines the value of group-analytic concepts, formulated by S.H.Foulkes, as well as needed modifications when patients with psychosis are in question. Through clinical examples he will explain his experiences and discuss some specific features concerning inpatients and outpatients group psychodynamic psychotherapy for patients with psychosis. A special attention will be directed towards the dynamics of the therapist's/therapeutic team's roles, and to the need of continuous supervision.

Modern societies are growing ever more sensitive to the various sources and many kinds of psychic traumas, resulting even in psychotic reactions or states of functioning. Especially the war captivity situation represents the prolonged basis for chronic severe psychic stress and traumatisation, that may become deleterious even for the core self of the person. Severely psychotraumatized war veterans, or ex-POWs in the aftermath of the war captivity situation, survivors of extreme forms of violence and humiliation, are very reluctant to recall traumas. This avoidant behaviour is many times one of the most prominent symptoms that should be recognised and confronted in order to start the retraumatising process of healing the previously unthinkable traumas. The authors believe that shameful feelings are at the very basis of the psychotraumatised persons' withdrawal, depression, suicidal attempts, and even psychotic answers. The main feature of the first phase of any therapeutic work with these patients is the mourning process that should be gradually unfolded. The clinical examples will illustrate therapeutic work with these patients. The authors will expose some basic psychodynamic approaches and concepts regarding shame. This difficult feeling will be put in relationship with the psychotic answers. In that frame of reference the concept of 'near psychosis' will be described.

The historical development of the psychodynamic approach to psychotherapy is described. The origins of ISPS are described, and ISPS Croatia and Slovenia are introduced.

The role of the father in the onset and development of schizophrenic disorder/disturbance is very often secondary as compared to that of the mother. This study deals with the father's sphere in the family with a patient/son suffering from schizophrenia, the traits of his personality and his relationship with his son/patient, and with his wife/the mother of the patient. The methods applied were clinical interview, structured interview and semantic differential. The following statistical procedures were used: correlation, componential, discriminative, factor and quasicanonical analyses. The results include some characteristic excerpts from clinical interviews with patients/sons and their fathers, projective perception of current family relationships, quasicanonical analysis of the father's, mother's and son's experiences of the patient's/son's early childhood, and the projective view of the father. Among the conclusions reached, the phenomenon of "dead father" is emphasized as one of the main factors in the onset and development of schizophrenic disorder/disturbance.

In this pilot study the authors present the group members' assessment of their conductor in group analysis--the treatment conducted in accordance with concept >>group-as-a-whole<< of S. H. Foulkes. There will be presented the results obtained by scale for evaluation of characteristics of the group therapist. In the scale, developed by the authors of the study, there were 30 items and by factorial analysis it gave three interpretable factors: authenticity, empathy and distrust. By self-evaluation the members of three small groups, i.e. 20 patients, ranked characteristics of their conductor. The patients, assessing the degree of their accordance with 30 items of the evaluation scale, expressed whether and how much they experienced their conductor as an authentic, empathic and trustworthy person. While in the beginning of the group analytic process the conductor's role was important, his importance decreased as the group-as-a-whole developed. Group experience became more important than the conductor. In other words, the group itself became the therapist, what is one more the proof of the Foulkes' concept of >>the group-as-a-whole<<.

The aim of this research is to assess which therapeutic factors are of greatest importance to patients in group analytic psychotherapy, and whether the patients' characteristics and the phase of the group process influenced their evaluation of therapeutic factors. The Yalom's group therapeutic factors questionnaire was filled out by 66 patients, members of small groups conducted according to group analytic principles. The average scores for each therapeutic factor were subsequently ranked by importance to the patients and related to their age, sex, education, previous psychotherapeutic experience and phase of group process. Self-understanding was the highest-ranking therapeutic factor for the patients (average score 21.32 +/- 0.04 out of 25 maximum), whereas identification was the lowest ranking factor (15.88 +/- 0.06 in average). Group therapeutic factors were scored higher by women, patients up to 30 years of age, high-school graduates, and those with previous psychotherapeutic experience. Self-understanding seems to be the most important therapeutic factor in group analysis, emphasizing the importance of appropriate selection of patients for group analysis in order to utilize therapeutic factors the best.

Aim: Mothers use linking object to externalize the complex aspects of their relationship to the loss of their child. We analyzed the linking objects that mothers kept in memory of their sons who disappeared in the 1991-1995 war in Croatia or whose remains were uncovered and identified long time after they had gone missing., Method: The case study of disturbed mourning included 26 mothers of Croatian soldiers from Croatian Osijek-Baranja County who went missing in war or whose remains were recovered and identified long after they had gone missing. The mothers were selected independently by the president of the Association of Families of Missing and Detained Croatian Soldiers and agreed to participate in the study in 2001. They were interviewed in their homes, their testimonies were recorded, and photographs of the linking objects taken. Linking objects were classified according to the Volkan's four-group classification., Results: Out of four Volkan's groups of linking objects, we identified the objects belonging to the first three. Those were 1) objects that had been worn by the deceased (clothes, wrist-watch, ring, or glasses), (6/26); 2) objects that could be viewed in the psychoanalytic sense as an extension of the body of the disappeared or dead person, such as a camera (4/26); and 3) objects with realistic or symbolic resemblance to the deceased, usually a photograph (8/26). None of the examined objects belonged to the fourth Volkan's group (objects at hand when the news of the death came or objects present at the funeral, things that could be considered last-minute objects, ie, related to the moment when the deceased was last seen alive). However, 8/26 objects formed a new hitherto undescribed group. Mothers used such objects to create a memorial shrine to their sons. A photograph of the missing person or person whose remains were identified long after he had gone missing occupied a central place at the shrine, and was surrounded by other symbols of the Catholic iconography (Virgin Mary, crucifix), flowers, and candles. The memorial shrine to the beloved son who disappeared was always located in the room where the family spent most of their time and/or where guests were received (living room or kitchen)., Conclusion: We found three out of four original (Volkan's) groups of linking objects, but also an additional one, hitherto undescribed, comprising objects used for designing a memorial shrine to the deceased. This could be viewed as an expression typical of Christian, mid-European Croatian culture and tradition.