Dysfunctional aspects of a supportive group.

A number of voluntary organizations exist for the support of patients and 
their relatives suffering from specific medical conditions. It is usually assumed 
that membership will provide positive emotional and social support but membership 
may provide dysfunctional responses. A small-scale study of parents of fibrocystic 
children provides some evidence of dysfunctional aspects of membership of one 
specific organization. Further research into the effects of formal and informal 
reference group activity and the types of support most acceptable to 
patients and their families is suggested. 