[Evaluation of psychiatric treatment by patients--results and problems of systematic research]

In the last three decades there has been a growing scientific interest in users' assessment of psychiatric services and treatment. The "consumer satisfaction" research found that the majority of users show a high level of global satisfaction with the treatment they are receiving. Controlled and randomized studies in different treatment settings showed that users are significantly more satisfied with partial hospitalization and community care than with standard hospital care. Only a few consistent associations were found between sociodemographic data, clinical history and assessment of treatment, while a higher degree of chopathological symptoms was always correlated with a more negative assessment of treatment. Users' assessment of treatment is not only important as an outcome criterion of treatment but can also influence the therapeutic process itself and predict outcome. The interpretation of the findings is limited by several methodological and conceptual problems. The shortcomings and the relevance of users' assessment, e.g. in regard to improvement of psychiatric care are discussed.