[Analysis of the activity and effectiveness of lay persons as therapists in a psychiatric rehabilitation project].

A wealth of research indicates equal or even superior psychotherapeutic effects of lay-persons in comparison to professional therapists. Detailed analysis of process and effects however is needed. Results of the first period (4 months) of a longer controlled psychiatric therapy and rehabilitation project are presented. One out of four groups was run by psychiatrically unexperienced lay therapists. Objective behavior and subjective experiences as well of therapists as of patients were assessed by means of continuous observation, rating- and attitude-scales, sociographical methods and interviews. Results confirm the therapeutic change-potential of lay-persons and give interesting findings on the therapeutic process itselves.