Description:
This article reports on one of the largest outpatient group psychotherapy studies which investigated long-term psychodynamic groups in a naturalistic setting, i.e. the PAGE (Projekt für ambulante Gruppentherapie-Evaluation)-Study. More than 450 patients of 28 group analysts in private practices were included in the Study. The analytic and psychodynamically oriented long-term outpatient groups were accompanied by a university based research team without impacting the normal patient-therapist contact, treatment contract, and treatment itself, therefore all treatments took place in a naturalistic setting with very experienced group analysts (effectiveness-study). Results of this large study clearly demonstrate that the longer psychotherapeutic treatments take place the better the outcomes are. The average effect sizes are beyond 1.30. Statistical as well as clinical significance was reached on all levels of investigation: symptoms, interpersonal problems, treatment goals, and overall psychiatric functioning.