title: [Transparency and outcome orientation as means to improve psychotherapeutic services: a study to evaluate outpatient psychotherapy (TRANS-OP)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is clear evidence for the efficacy of psychotherapy. However, there is a lack of large-scale naturalistic studies on the course of psychological problems and its predictors in people in psychotherapeutic routine care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between September 1998 and February 2000, 627 insurees of the "Deutsche Krankenversicherung", a major German health insurance company, who received outpatient psychotherapy (psychodynamic psychotherapy, analytic psychotherapy, or cognitive behavioral treatment), gave informed consent to participate in this study. During a two-year period, participants' health status was comprehensively assessed using standardised instruments. Hierarchical linear models were used to estimate courses of improvement in and transitions between the phases before, during, and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Psychological, interpersonal and physical problems improved substantially in all 3 forms of treatment. However, courses of improvement also varied among domains and form of treatment. The helping alliance was an ubiquitous, but not very strong predictor of treatment outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results could be used as the basis for comprehensive quality management in psychotherapeutic care.
authors.affiliation: Universität Ulm, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie II.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Puschner
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kordy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome