[Operationalized psychodynamic diagnostic (OPD)--potential for quality assurance].
OBJECTIVE
Psychotherapy is subjected to the legal conditions of quality assurance(QA). Does operationalized psychodynamic diagnostics (OPD) contribute substantially to this?


METHODS
We investigated the application of OPD in outpatient psychodynamic psychotherapy, inpatient treatment, rehabilitation, and legal assessment.


RESULTS
Psychodynamic diagnostics, treatment plan, and evaluation by means of the OPD and Heidelberg Structural Change Scale (HSCS) may be comprehensibly described for quality assurance (QA) of outpatient and inpatient psychotherapy. Virtually all psychodynamic conceptualized departments for psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy as well as some rehabilitation centres applied OPD. Furthermore, data-collection periods were defined during and after inpatient short- and long-term psychotherapy. OPD serves QA in legal assessment and is of a pivotal significance in judicial proceedings.


CONCLUSIONS
It must be deliberated whether more extensive use of QA, in cooperation with outpatient psychotherapists and in comparison to institutions, could be of benefit to patients.
Heuft
Gereon
G
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Domagkstrasse 22, 48149 Münster, Germany. heuftge@mednet.uni-muenster.de
Jakobsen
Thorsten
T
Kriebel
Reinholde
R
Schneider
Wolfgang
W
Rudolf
Gerd
G
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010343:Patient Admission; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000592:standards; D011574:Psychoanalytic Theory; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D016896:Treatment Outcome