[Inpatient treatment of woman with depressive disorders due to stress--does inclusion of the partner in treatment influence outcome? A randomized, controlled, prospective study].
BACKGROUND
The incorporation of couple therapy into the treatment concepts of inpatient psychotherapy has been intensified in recent years. However, no controlled studies on its efficacy have as yet been undertaken. The aim of this study was to examine this question in the case of women with depressive symptomology related to overstress.


METHODS
In a prospective, randomized and controlled study, the monitored results of 31 female inpatients (15 for whom the partner was incorporated into the therapy and 16 without additional partner therapy) were compared with each other (response rate 91.2 %). The period of observation amounted to six weeks. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Questionnaire on Changes in Experience and Behavior) (VEV) were employed as instruments of assessment.


RESULTS
VEV assessment after six weeks resulted in a significant difference between patients who received regular sessions in couple therapy in an inpatient treatment setting and those who were treated without inclusion of the partner (p < 0.01). The Beck Depression Inventory likewise yielded a statistically significant difference between the results for both groups (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
There are indications that female patients with depressive symptomology related to overstress, who are treated in an inpatient setting with additional, consistent couple therapy, achieve significantly better treatment results than those who are treated without the inclusion of their partners.
Nickel
Marius
M
Inntalklinik, Fachklinik für Psychosomatik, Simbach/Inn, Deutschland. m.nickel@inntalklinik.de
Nickel
Cerstin
C
Tritt
Karin
K
Lahmann
Claas
C
Leiberich
Peter
P
Loew
Thomas
T
Rother
Wolfhardt
W
D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008388:Marital Therapy; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010343:Patient Admission; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology