Psychotherapy research between process and effect: the need of new methodological approaches

The methodological problems and scanty results of psychotherapy research are noted and placed in a metascientific context. Efforts to attain ever greater specificity and standardization, guided by the idea of uniform methodology, are leading researchers steadily further away from the unique case. The underlying assumptions in current psychotherapy research are defined and the necessity of returning to case studies is indicated. Research methods need to be relevant and to make use of essential aspects of what is being researched (care of the research object). Psychotherapy research cannot avoid interpretations of meaning, and clinical methods should have a steering role. Case-study methods lead to specific problems of control and generalization. The scientific research strategy used in case studies is described and compared with the hermeneutic circle.