Two Years' Experience of Group Methods in the Treatment of Male Alcoholics in a Scottish Mental Hospital

Summary An account is given of the creation and management of an in‐patient therapeutic programme for male alcoholics at Bellsdyke Hospital, Larbert, Stirlingshire, commencing with a selected group within a psychoneurotic unit which it was found necessary to convert into an unstaffed alcoholic unit with open admission procedure. Statistics over a two‐year period are provided and discussed. In the discussion which followed an attempt was made to answer a serifs of questions posed by the experience involved. For their advice and support in the preparation of this Paper, I would like to thank Dr. A. P. Russell., Physician Superintendent, Bellsdyke Hospital, Larbert; Dr. D. A. Pemberton, Consultant Psychiatrist, Bellsdyke Hospital, Larbert; Dr. A. B, Sclare, Consultant Psychiatrist, Eastern District Hospital, Glasgow; Professor Ferguson Rodger, Chair of Psychiatry. Glasgow University; and Dr. R. J. Simpson, Registrar in Psychiatry, Bellsdyke Hospital, Larbert.