Gruppentherapie für somatoforme Störungen – Behandlungsleitfaden, Akzeptanz und Prozessqualität

Abstract

Group Therapy for Somatoform Disorders: Treatment Guidelines, Acceptance, and Process Quality Background: Patients with multiple and chronified somatoform symptoms are difficult to treat in psychotherapeutic settings. Therefore a group intervention has been developed. The acceptability and parts of the process quality are analyzed. Patients and Method: 107 patients with somatization syndrome (at least 8 physical symptoms) were treated in an inpatient setting with an integrative behavioral-cognitive approach. They received an additional standardized group therapy (‘Soma group’) to modify attributions and to develop coping strategies for the symptoms. After each of the 8 group therapy sessions, evaluation questionnaires were filled out. These process data were correlated with baseline data on symptomatology, psychotherapy motivation and outcome data of the 1-year follow-up. Results: The group intervention was highly accepted. More than 90% of patients stayed in therapy and filled out the questionnaires. While the ratings for the first session are medium, from the 2nd session forward ratings are very positive (above 4 on a 1–5 scale) and continuously improve. The initial number of somatoform symptoms only has a small influence on treatment satisfaction. Motivation for psychotherapy at the beginning has no substantial impact, indicating that patients without psychotherapy motivation can develop satisfaction with the treatment as well. Process data on treatment satisfaction are associated with general treatment satisfaction and symptom reduction 1 year later. Discussion: The group intervention seems to be an economic and highly accepted way to develop motivation for psychological treatments in somatoform disorders.