Multi-Center Effectiveness Study of Inpatient Psychosomatic-Psychotherapeutic Treatment in German University Hospitals

• Conditions: F30-F39; F40; F50-F59; F60-F69; Mood [affective] disorders; Phobic anxiety disorders; Behavioural syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors; Disorders of adult personality and behaviour

• Registration Number: DRKS00016412

Brief Summary

Background: Reliable outcome data of psychosomatic inpatient and day hospital treatment with a focus on psychotherapy are important to strengthen ecological validity by assessing the reality of mental health care in the field. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of inpatient and day hospital treatment in German university departments of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy in a prospective, naturalistic, multicenter design including structured assessments. Methods: Structured interviews were used to diagnose mental disorders according to ICD-10 and DSM-IV at baseline. Depression, anxiety, somatization, eating disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, as well as personality functioning were assessed by means of questionnaires on admission and at discharge. Results: 2,094 patients recruited by 19 participating university hospitals consented to participation in the study. Effect sizes for each of the outcome criteria were calculated for 4-5 sub-groups per outcome domain with differing severity at baseline. Pre-post effect sizes for patients with moderate and high symptom severity at baseline ranged from d=0.78 to d=3.61 with symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety showing the largest and somatization as well as personality functioning showing somewhat smaller effects. Conclusions: Inpatient and day hospital treatment in German university departments of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy is effective under field conditions.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2018-12-20
• Study Completion: 2022-04-15
• Results First Posted: 2022-12-14
• Last Update Posted: 19 August 2024

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Complete
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 2094

Inclusion Criteria

Age = 18 years, sufficient knowledge of German language, admission for inpatient or day-/nightcare treatment in clinic for psychosomatics and psychotherapy

Exclusion Criteria

Acute psychotic disorder, brain organic disease, substance dependency with current substance use and intoxication

Study & Design

• Study Type: observational
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Symptom load (anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms) as assessed by th PHQ-D at the end of the treatment and one-year follow-up.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Social functioning (WHODAS 2.0), personality structure (OPD-SF), mental health care service utilization (modified version of the CSSRI) at the end of the treatment and one-year follow-up.