FINAL RESULTS OF THE HEIDELBERG LONG-TERM PSYCHOTHERAPY FOLLOW-UP PROJECT

In the ''Heidelberg Long Term Psychotherapy Follow-up Project'', a nat uralistic study design, all types of treatment were included that had been performed at the Psychosomatic Clinic of the University of Heidel berg for a certain period (combined inpatient and outpatient individua l and group therapy, as well as outpatient dynamic psychotherapies and psychoanalyses). The specific value of this project is due to the fac t that - apart from many other, for instance psychological, assessment evaluations - three to five individual therapy goals had been predete rmined for each patient before starting the treatment (goal attainment scaling). After the end of therapy and at the time of follow-up (3.5 years later on the average), attainment of these goals was assessed by an independent rater. A total of 208 patients were examined who were evaluated according to their diagnosis (neurotic, functional or psycho somatic disorders) and the kind of treatment. With regard to symptomat ology, individual therapy goals, psychological assessment and patient satisfaction, the overall results were good, partly very good, and wer e almost invariably stable during the long follow-up period. Two parti cular results are discussed separately: 1. As far as symptomatology wa s concerned, the group of psychoanalysis patients could not maintain t he good outcome at the end of therapy during the long follow-up period . 2. Patients with ''psychosomatic disorders'' attained remarkably goo d results, particularly if the treatment had initially been an inpatie nt setting.