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DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPEUTIC RESULTS OF THE DR S VON MESDAG CLINIC IN GRONINGEN (NETHERLANDS)

NCJ Number
63999
Journal
Monatsschrift fuer Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform Volume: 62 Issue: 3 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 91-97
Author(s)
R C HOEKSTRA
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT AND THE TREATMENT PROGRAM OF A DUTCH PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC AND THE RATES OF RECIDIVISM FOR THE SEVERELY DISTURBED INMATES ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
SINCE IT BEGINNING IN 1883, THE DR. S VAN MESDAG CLINIC IN GRONINGEN HAS DEVELOPED FROM A MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON TO AN OFFICIAL SOCIOTHERAPEUTIC ASYLUM WITH A NEW WELL EQUIPPED THERAPEUTIC BUILDING. BASED ON THE THEORIES OF THE CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST AND PSYCHOANALYST HART DE RUYTER, A COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PROGRAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED: (1) EACH PATIENT HAS A PERSONALIZED TREATMENT SCHEDULE, (2) NONVERBAL FORMS OF THERAPY ARE EMPHASIZED, (3) PATIENTS ARE EVALUATED EVERY 6 MONTHS TO CHECK THEIR PROGRESS, AND (4) THE RELATIONSHIP OF CLIENT AND SOCIAL THERAPIST IN THE THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT OF THE LIVING QUARTERS IS THE CENTER OF THE TREATMENT. IN PSYCHOANALYSIS, THE PATIENT, WITH THE HELP OF THE THERAPIST, LIVES THROUGH THREE PHASES OF FEAR: THAT OF BECOMING PSYCHOTIC, THAT OF KILLING A PERSON, AND THAT OF KILLING HIMSELF. THE EXPERIENCE OF THESE FEARS LEADS TO A RESTRUCTURING OF THE EGO, TO A MORE COURAGEOUS APPROVAL OF REPRESSED DRIVES, AND TO A MORE TOLERANT ATTITUDE ON THE PART OF THE SUPER-EGO. A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RATES OF RECIDIVISM BETWEEN 1952 AND 1974 CONCERNING PERIODS OF TRIAL VACATION INDICATES THAT THE RATE IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER IN THE PERIOD 1964-69 THAN IN THE PERIOD BEFORE 1961. OTHER RESULTS SHOW THAT THE PARTICIPATION IN INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOANALYSIS DOES NOT SIGNIFICANTLY INFLUENCE THE RATE OF RECIDIVISM AND THAT LONG-TERM TREATMENT (3 OR MORE YEARS) IS MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN SHORT-TERM TREATMENT. THE REPORT CONTAINS SEVERAL TABLES. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)