LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF OUTPATIENT PSYCHOANA LYTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOANALYSIS - ANALYSIS OF 53 CATAMNESTIC INTERVIEWS

In this paper we evaluate the long-term outcome of outpatient psychoan alytic treatment (1) by evaluation of catamnestic interviews (at least 2 years after the end of therapy) with a text-analytic methodology an d (2) measured by prospectively determined individual therapy goals (I TG - adequate to the Goal Attainment Scaling). From 69 psychoanalytic (n=36) and psychoanalytically oriented patients treated in the Heidelb erg Catamnesis Project, 91% could be reached for this catamnestic stud y. Of these patients, 77% agreed to the detailed interview and answere d the ITG-Ratings. The text-analytic methodology from the original tra nscript of the interviews to the selective protocol, evaluation of the category system of personal goals from the individual patient's point of view and an outcome rating is described. It was demonstrated that changing the self-image is the most important category out of the 16 d istinct outcome categories. Fifty-five percent of the whole sample had a ''good'' or ''very good'' outcome, controlling the influence of soc iodemographic data, setting variables and themes in the interviews. By rating the ITG, 72% of the psychoanalytically treated patients reache d a ''good'' or ''very good'' result. Discussing the outcome evaluatio n by text analysis and by ITG rating showed that both methods are nece ssary as they access distinct outcome aspects.