Reduction of Anxiety and Personal Space as a Function of Assertion Training with Severely Disturbed Neuropsychiatric Inpatients

7 severely disturbed neuropsychiatric inpatients participated in a 12-session assertion training program as well as the normal hospital milieu therapy program. A matched group participated in only the normal hospital milieu therapy routine. All Ss were compared on the dependent measures of personal space and the Spielberger Self-evaluation Questionnaire 1 wk. before and 1 wk. after the assertion training program. The experimental group showed a significant reduction in both personal space and self-reported anxiety while the matched control group shewed no significant reduction. Small rhos indicate the need for further research examining the relationship between personal space and anxiety.