[2 to 3 years following inpatient crisis intervention: further inpatient treatment, present adjustment and subjective assessment of the index treatment in retrospect].

2-3 years after having been treated in a special crisis intervention inpatient department, 404 patients were asked to write down in an anonymous letter what kind of therapy they had since undergone, how they feel at present, and how they rate the treatment in retrospect. The main reasons for the crisis had been conflicts in partnership relations such as separation or divorce. The patients covered by the inquiry--about 40% of them had been treated directly after attempted suicide--had again consulted their family doctor (almost 80%) or a psychiatrist (slightly more than 40%). 50% of the patients who could be contacted, had since participated in individual or group therapy. 23% had to return to inpatient treatment. Feeling tone (according to a standard rating scale) was depressive in only 40% of the patients and normal in far more than one-half. Index treatment was considered as "unhelpful" by only 3.4% of the patients. More than 95% of the patients would recommend the crisis intervention ward to other patients, too.