[Use of Q-sort assessment methods for diagnostic purposes and in treatment evaluation?].

OBJECTIVES

Does quantifying psychotherapy research do justice to its subject matter?

METHODS

Q-sort techniques are presented for the assessment of personality pathology, mental and interpersonal problems, as well as for quantifying the psychotherapeutic process.

RESULTS

In studies on psychotherapy planning we identified mechanisms characteristic of nonresponders which could be efficiently captured with q-sort methods. From these clinically relevant intervention techniques can be derived. In psychoanalytic process research we operationalized relevant microelements in the patient-therapist interaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Q-sort methods are efficient and helpful for studying research questions that are clinically relevant but often difficult to grasp as well as for dismantling studies.