[A pilot study for handling errors in psychotherapy - therapists report from practical experience].

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychotherapy Research
• Clinical Psychology

Context:

• Psychotherapists' perspectives on managing treatment errors are crucial for improving patient safety and therapeutic outcomes.
• Understanding therapist self-awareness and reporting behaviors regarding errors informs training and supervision.
• Existing literature often focuses on error types rather than the nuanced management strategies employed by clinicians.

Purpose:

• To explore and analyze psychotherapists' views on the management of treatment errors.
• To understand the practical approaches and attitudes of therapists when errors occur during treatment.
• To identify common themes and variations in how psychotherapists handle and disclose treatment errors.

Summary:

• Semi-structured interviews with 30 psychotherapists revealed a prevalent open approach to managing treatment errors, with most indicating they would discuss errors with patients.
• Experiences with error disclosure were generally reported as positive.
• Therapists reported discussing colleagues' errors in a supervisory context, escalating to formal reporting only in more serious cases.

Impact:

• Findings suggest a prevailing constructive and open approach to error management within psychotherapy practice.
• Therapists exhibit caution when evaluating and addressing errors made by their colleagues, highlighting a potential need for standardized reporting mechanisms.
• This research provides valuable insights for developing best practices in psychotherapy training and clinical supervision.