66th Annual Conference

Thursday, February 19

Morning Workshops

10:00 A.M.-12:30 P.M.

Workshop 10

The Interface Between Group Therapy and Psychopharmacology

Chair:

Henry I. Spitz, M.D., CGP, DFAGPA, Director, Group and Family Therapy, Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York

Therapy groups often contain members who are taking psychotropic medications. This workshop will provide: 1) A mini-course about anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, mood-stabilizing and anti-psychotic drugs; and 2) The clinical challenges and proposed solutions for common issues that confront group therapists when medication is a component of the group experience.

didactic-sharing of work experiences-demonstration-experiential

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Define the indications for the use of medications.

2. Understand the benefits, side-effects and risks of medications.

3. Identify group treatment issues such as resistances that center around medication related themes.

4. Develop strategies for effectively managing the interaction of medication in psychotherapy groups.

Course References:

1. Stahl, SM;(2005) Essential Psychopharmacology: The Prescriber's Guide; Cambridge University Press; Cambridge, UK

2. Spitz, HI & Spitz, ST; (1999) A Pragmatic Approach to Group Psychotherapy; Taylor & Francis, New York

3. Sussman, N. (1993) Integrating psychopharmacology and group psychotherapy; in Comprehensive Group Psychotherapy. 3rd edition; Kaplan, HI & Sadock, BJ, Eds. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, MD.