Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

1. General Principles of Managed Mental Health Care in the Clinical Setting -- 2. Brief Group Psychotherapy: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Trends -- 3. Overview of the Pragmatics of Brief Group Therapy in the Context of Managed Mental Health Care -- 4. Practical Concerns for Leaders of Managed Care Groups -- 5. Construction of the Managed Care Group -- 6. Preparation of Prospective Group Members for Group Entry -- 7. Stages of Group Development and Their Significance in the Managed Care Setting -- 8. Conduct of the Initial Stage of Managed Care -- 9. The Middle Stage of Brief Groups: Problems and Solutions -- 10. Termination of the Group and Follow-up Planning -- 11. The Inpatient Group and Groups with Unique Patient Populations -- 12. Recording and Reporting the Managed Care Group Experience -- 13. Evaluating the Outcome in Brief Group Psychotherapy -- 14. Future Directions and New Challenges -- Appendix A: American Group Psychotherapy Association, Inc. Guidelines for Ethics -- Appendix B: National Registry of Certified Group Psychotherapists Instruction Guidelines for Completing Eligibility Form.