On the effects of psychoanalytic oriented psychotherapy -: an inpatient multicenter study

Whereas the efficacy of inpatient treatment in socalled psychosomatic rehabilitation clinics in Germany has been well researched and documented, studies involving large samples on the efficacy of inpatient treatment in acute hospitals are lacking. A multicentered retrospective study involving clinics for psychotherapy at three separate universities was conducted on an sample of n = 495. The patients were treated on an inpatient basis between April 1990 and July 1998 in one of the clinics. The predominant approach to treatment of these clinics was psychodyamic. Other approaches such as behavioral therapy are integrated. In addition to sociodemographic variables clinical data (SCL-90-R, IIP, BSS, ICD-Diagnosis) at admission and discharge were collected. A follow-up study was not conducted. With an average effect size of 0.84 in terms of clinical scales the results demonstrate good efficacy of inpatient treatment. Effect sizes were high on the depression, obsessiv-compulsive and anxiety scale of the SCL-90-R, and were low on the phobia subscale. By self report 55% of all patients indicated they had markedly improved, 22% indicated no change and 6% stated they were worse. 17% of all patients were below the chosen cut-off point of the GSI. Patients with a low level of education took benifit as well from the offered therapy. There was no clear relationship between effect size and length of hospital stay. This may he due to the particular setting of an university clinic.