A Rapid Stabilization Cognitive Group Therapy Programme for Psychiatric Inpatients.

This paper describes a programme for inpatients with severe personality disorders as well as acute exacerbation of Axis II pathology. The goal of the programme was to quickly stabilize participants with respect to self-injurious behaviour and return them to the community. The programme consisted of frequent coordinated cognitive group therapy sessions with supporting written and audiovisual materials. The groups were open-ended and heterogenous, and employed educational and experiential-affective components. An extended group case example is presented in order to illustrate the operation of the programme. The range of typical participants is described, including their diagnoses, treatment plans, and homework assignments. Some comments on the personal and professional difficulties encountered by therapists working with this population ate described as well as some suggestions for alleviating those difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]