[Real-time monitoring in psychotherapy - methodology and casuistics]

Real-Time Monitoring in psychotherapy is a new method to increase quality and efficacy in psychotherapy. This internet-based information technology offers an online collection of psychotherapy-related data and allows insights into therapeutic patterns of change without any time-delay. The classical pre-post-evaluation is completed by an assessment of therapeutic processes. Besides an internet-based data collection the Synergetic Navigation System (SNS) integrates different methods of nonlinear time series analysis and provides a visualization of results.

SNS is a new internet-based technology of data collection and data analysis. For illustration we present a single case study (avoidant personality disorder (DSM IV 301.82) with recurrent major depressive episodes) where SNS was applied in clinical practice (in-patient treatment). SNS results are used for therapy planning by repeated feedback interviews with the patients.

Critical phases and nonlinearities of the ongoing self-organization processes can be identified. In addition to the practical impact of real-time monitoring SNS allows for continuous process-outcome-research in naturalistic settings. Models of change processes (e.g. sudden gains) can be tested but also used as a interpretation frame of idiographic results.

In every day practice SNS enhances transparency, self-efficacy of patients, and supports the motivation to change. Compliance of patients is high, and the data show high validity. Therefore as a future perspective SNS should become routine in clinical practice and be integrated in professional psychotherapy training.