ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the relevant research in creating therapeutic atmospheres through individual and group therapeutic interventions as psychoanalyts apply to working with people with severe mental illness. It offers a research informed guideline which professionals can keep in mind when constructing a therapeutic atmosphere, conducting a small or large group, or speaking individually to people with severe mental illness. Sigmund Karterud who was one of the first psychotherapy researchers to explore the effect of different therapeutic styles on patients suffering from psychotic disorders in inpatient settings. The chapter reviews the aspects of validity with particular reference to conducting a simple pre- and post-intervention study, as this will be the most likely evaluation of outcomes in the real world of mental health and social care. External validity is the strength of psychoanalytic work as it works within the “real world” of the therapist/patient interaction.
