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

In a cross sectional study of 1945 consecutive patients seen at a psychosomatic-psychotherapeutic outpatient unit between 1993 and 1995, we investigated how the therapists assessed the effectiveness of their work and what correlations there were with patient characteristics and with the way the therapists conducted the initial session. The therapists' ratings indicated that about two thirds of the patients benefited from the consultation. In the multivariate analysis of the data the most important determinants of effectiveness were found to be the patient's motivation, the ICD diagnosis, the patient's level of personality organisation and the reason for the consultation. In addition, we did a one-year follow-up of 260 patients to analyse the 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 to accept the treatment recommendation if the therapist conducts the session in a certain way (e.g. provides detailed information) and helps the patient to find an appropriate therapist.