title: [Inpatient treatment of woman with depressive disorders due to stress--does inclusion of the partner in treatment influence outcome? A randomized, controlled, prospective study].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Inntalklinik, Fachklinik für Psychosomatik, Simbach/Inn, Deutschland. m.nickel@inntalklinik.de
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nickel
authors.forename: Cerstin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nickel
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tritt
authors.forename: Claas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lahmann
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leiberich
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Loew
authors.forename: Wolfhardt
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rother
mesh_terms: 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