APPS-Study 2020 - On outpatient psychotherapeutic care for people with psychotic disorders

Abstract

Background Although patients with psychotic disorders (PPS) are indicated for outpatient psychotherapy at any stage of their illness, they are rarely treated in this way. For this purpose, structural conditions, the experience of competence of therapists, as well as content-related aspects of training and further education of psychotherapists are analyzed. Methods Based on a qualitative preliminary study, an online survey was conducted among 487 psychological psychotherapists. Results Half of the respondents indicated a high willingness to treat PPS. In the acute phase of the disease only 20% are willing to do so. In the studies as well as in the theoretical part of the education and further education, there is hardly any preparation for a corresponding treatment. In contrast, practical experience in psychiatric clinics is considered very important. With regard to structural framework conditions, low hourly quotas and inflexible billing modalities are criticized. With regard to patients, in addition to sufficient motivation for treatment, low reliability, low cognitive ability, low insight into the illness, and frequent discontinuation of therapy are stated. Contrary to some prejudices, patients are characterized as peaceful in their interactions. The reduction of psychotic relapses, social integration and reduction of comorbid symptoms are mainly mentioned as achievable outcomes. The reduction of psychotic symptoms is rated less optimistically. Psychotherapists from psychiatric outpatient clinics (PIA) differ from other outpatient psychotherapists by better competence experience and correspondingly more frequent work with PPS, also in the acute stage. Discussion Although every second therapist does not feel well trained, the willingness to treat PPS seems to be higher than the pure supply figures suggest. There is potential for optimization in education and training as well as in networking with other professional groups/relatives. This could be responsible for the fact that in the acute psychotic stage there are fears of contact and competence concerns. Psychotherapists in PIAs, where there is closer networking with other professional groups for structural reasons, experience corresponding deficits to a lesser extent. With regard to other structural barriers, the question arises as to whether these represent disorder-specific or rather general problems in psychotherapy.