Evaluation of a salutogenetic concept for inpatient psychosomatic treatment.

Thilo Hinterberger,Jochen Auer,Thomas Loew,Stephanie Schmidt

doi:10.1155/2013/735731

Thilo Hinterberger, Jochen Auer + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/735731

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Abstract

The increase of psychosomatic disorders due to cultural changes requires enhanced therapeutic models. This study investigated a salutogenetic treatment concept for inpatient psychosomatic treatment, based on data from more than 11000 patients of a psychosomatic clinic in Germany. The clinic aims at supporting patients' health improvement by fostering values such as humanity, community, and mindfulness. Most of patients found these values realized in the clinical environment. Self-assessment questionnaires addressing physical and mental health as well as symptom ratings were available for analysis of pre-post-treatment effects and long-term stability using one-year follow-up data, as well as for a comparison with other clinics. With respect to different diagnoses, symptoms improved in self-ratings with average effect sizes between 0.60 and 0.98. About 80% of positive changes could be sustained as determined in a 1-year follow-up survey. Patients with a lower concordance with the values of the clinic showed less health improvement. Compared to 14 other German psychosomatic clinics, the investigated treatment concept resulted in slightly higher decrease in symptoms (e.g., depression scale) and a higher self-rated mental and physical improvement in health. The data suggest that a successfully implemented salutogenetic clinical treatment concept not only has positive influence on treatment effects but also provides long-term stability.

Highlights

Since 1948, the World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” [1]
Our study focuses on the inpatients in three clinics of the Heiligenfeld group which are all located in Bad Kissingen/Germany
Starting with the assumption that a sustainable form of healing in a psychosomatic inpatient clinic requires more than the focus on symptom reduction, we presented one approach of a psychosomatic hospital in Germany that follows a holistic and specific salutogenetic approach

Summary

Introduction

Since 1948, the World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” [1]. The diagnosis of diseases is strongly influenced by social, temporal, and local factors This becomes obvious when looking at internationally used diagnostic tools such as the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). An increasingly diagnosed group of symptoms known as “burnout” syndrome is not recognized as disease in the ICD10 These examples illustrate that the definition of disease is dependent on social conditions and norms and a tool of health care policy

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