[Zurich Intervention Planning and Evaluation Form (ZIPEF): a procedure for quality control of therapeutic...

This paper introduces the Zurich Intervention Planning and Evaluation Form (ZIPEF). The instrument covers (1) treatment problems, (2) interventions as to type, duration, and time expenditure, (3) treatment outcome and (4) causal factors. A total of 413 treatment problems were evaluated with the ZIPEF in a public child and adolescent psychiatric service. Depending on the target (e.g. symptoms, personality, relationship) the distribution of types of intervention differed. Time expenditures were significantly higher only for client-centred interventions than for parent counseling and similar for all other interventions. Treatment outcome and cooperation were independent from type of intervention. The main causal factor of treatment outcome for almost all types of interventions was cooperation followed by resources in some types of intervention. Complexity of the treatment problem tended to be another important determinant for treatment outcome. In summary, the ZIPEF can contribute to quality management in the area of intervention planning and evaluation of clienteles with mental health problems.