Long-term outpatient group therapy may be of considerable help to manic-depressive patients who have been hospitalized and are on lithium profylaxis, with recognising the symptoms of a depressive or manic character in an early stage.

Also, long-term participation in such a group leads to conscious acceptance of the illness and finally to a revaluation of their existential position. There are indications that these factors may lead to a significant reduction of relapses.