[The effectiveness of family systems acute psychiatry - first results].

OBJECTIVE

The effectiveness of family systems therapeutic interventions in the treatment of psychiatric inpatients was investigated within an observational study.

METHOD

The entire multiprofessional teams of six psychiatric wards in Germany were trained to perform family systems interventions in practice routine. 187 inpatients treated with the new interventions were matched 1 : 1 on propensity score with controls treated before the team training in the same wards. Outcome measures included self-reports (BSI) and therapist ratings (BPRS and FaeBe).

RESULTS

The average improvement reached moderate to strong effect sizes in both group. A comparison between the groups shows no significant outcome differences.

CONCLUSIONS

No significant outcome improvement could be determined after the team training and implementation of the additional interventions. Different suggestions to improve the intervention program are discussed.