The effectiveness of the initial interview of a psychosomatic-psychotherapeutic outpatient unit

In a cross sectional study of 1945 consecutive patients seen at a psychosom atic-psychotherapeutic outpatient unit between 1993 and 1995, we investigat ed how the therapists assessed the effectiveness of their work and what cor relations there were with patient characteristics and with the way the ther apists conducted the initial session. The therapists' ratings indicated tha t about two thirds of the patients benefited from the consultation. In the multivariate analysis of the data the most important determinants of effect iveness were found to be the patient's motivation, the ICD diagnosis, the p atient's level of personality organisation and the reason for the consultat ion. In addition, we did a one-year follow-up of 260 patients to analyse th e determinants that help patients to agree to the proposed treatment plan. Of the 235 patients for whom treatment was recommended, 174 (74%) actually began a treatment program. Our results show that a patient is more likely t o accept the treatment recommendation if the therapist conducts the session in a certain way (e.g. provides detailed information) and helps the patien t to find an appropriate therapist.