[Work profile of social work in inpatient psychotherapy. Clinical fields and social rights implications].

OBJECTIVES

The task profile of social work in (acute) inpatient psychotherapy--unlike psychiatric inpatient treatment--is only fragmentarily described by the so-called Psychiatrie-Personalverordnung (Psych-PV). The aim of the present investigation was, therefore, to provide valid and representative data to define its respective scope of duties.

METHODS

During a prospective one-year assessment at the Department of Psychotherapy and Behavioral Medicine at the Philipps-University of Marburg/Germany, we recorded corresponding data of social work referring to three areas of interest, i.e., "education and occupation", "housing and family", and "psychotherapy support".

RESULTS

Our data suggest a broad overlap with the corresponding task profile of social work at psychiatric hospitals, which clearly differs, however, from the more therapeutical approach in social work as practiced in Anglo-American countries.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings stress the need for a re-evaluation of social work in inpatient psychotherapy concerning its specific task profile and the respective time values.