Laverenne et al. (2013)

Question 1

What was the aim?

Answer 1

To describe how a therapy group can provide a firm boundary within which individuals can explore their own fragile ego boundaries

Question 2

What is psychotic decompensation?

Answer 2

The unravelling of a person with schizophrenia

Question 3

What were the results?

Answer 3

• One member gave out calender & cards to the other members which helped his ego boundary and the group’s
• One member couldn’t accept the calendar (had delusions about working on a multinational engineering project)
• One giving calendar took this as a rejection of oneself & got upset, suggesting weak ego boundaries as he could not distinguish between himself and the calendar

Question 4

What were the conclusions?

Answer 4

• Each member showed that they suffered from weak ego boundaries however, the group helped strengthen the ego boundaries

Question 5

What are 2 strengths of this study?

Answer 5

• There were 3 researchers which increased inter-rater reliability
• High external validity as schizophrenic symptoms are naturally occurring and can be generalised to everyday setting.

Question 6

What are 2 limitations of the study?

Answer 6

• 6 patients who all suffer differently from weak ego boundaries meaning it’s not generalisable to target population
• Lacks Internal validity as notes were taken after the group and therefore are subject to the memories of the group leaders.

Question 7

What are 2 strengths of case studies?

Answer 7

• Can collect both quantitative and qualitative data
• Done in participants natural environment so ecological validity is increased

Question 8

What are 2 weaknesses of case studies?

Answer 8

• Lacks standardised procedures so study cannot be repeated which reduces reliability
• Lacks internal validity as extraneous variables can’t be controlled so a cause and effect isn’t established