Journal article

Why the concept of distinct psychotherapeutic approaches is indispensable - and why the tool box concept of psychotherapy cannot work


Authors listLeichsenring, Falk; Abbass, Allan; Beutel, Manfred; Guendel, Harald; Heuft, Gereon; Hoffmann, Sven Olaf; Kaechele, Horst; Kruse, Johannes; Rueger, Ulrich; Rudolf, Gerd; Spitzer, Carsten; Salzer, Simone; Luyten, Patrick; Wampold, Bruce; Steinert, Christiane

Publication year2019

Pages321-340

JournalZeitschrift für psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie : Organ der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychosomatische Medizin und Ärztliche Psychotherapie (DGPM)

Volume number65

Issue number4

ISSN1438-3608

eISSN2196-8349

Open access statusHybrid

DOI Linkhttps://doi.org/10.13109/zptm.2019.65.4.oa1

PublisherVandenhoeck & Ruprecht


Abstract

Background: In Germany, the official psychotherapy guidelines are oriented towards the model of distinct psychotherapeutic approaches. Within the German health care system this also applies to the training in psychotherapy. Some critics, however, are presently pleading in favour of abolishing the model of distinct psychotherapeutic approaches, which also implies to abolish the concept of the so called "Richtlinienverfahren" in Germany - approaches of psychotherapy which proved to be efficacious and whose costs are reimbursed by the insurance companies.

Objective: The arguments put forward such as the heterogeneity of the approaches as well as the proposed alternatives, for example, an "integrative" model of both mental disorders and psychotherapeutic treatment are critically discussed.

Results: Both the arguments and proposed alternatives are found to be not convincing, neither from a scientific nor from a psychotherapeutic perspective. From a scientific perspective, there is no evidence for efficacy of a "general" or "integrative" model of psychotherapy - which is in contrast to the Richtlinienverfahren for which evidence for efficacy exists. From a psychotherapeutic perspective psychotherapy cannot be taught, learnt and applied by use of tools or modules without a theoretical orientation.

Conclusions: The concept of distinct psychotherapeutic approaches proves to be an in dispensable principal for orientation in psychotherapy, for both therapists and patients.




Citation Styles

Harvard Citation styleLeichsenring, F., Abbass, A., Beutel, M., Guendel, H., Heuft, G., Hoffmann, S., et al. (2019) Why the concept of distinct psychotherapeutic approaches is indispensable - and why the tool box concept of psychotherapy cannot work, Zeitschrift für psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie : Organ der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychosomatische Medizin und Ärztliche Psychotherapie (DGPM), 65(4), pp. 321-340. https://doi.org/10.13109/zptm.2019.65.4.oa1

APA Citation styleLeichsenring, F., Abbass, A., Beutel, M., Guendel, H., Heuft, G., Hoffmann, S., Kaechele, H., Kruse, J., Rueger, U., Rudolf, G., Spitzer, C., Salzer, S., Luyten, P., Wampold, B., & Steinert, C. (2019). Why the concept of distinct psychotherapeutic approaches is indispensable - and why the tool box concept of psychotherapy cannot work. Zeitschrift für psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie : Organ der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychosomatische Medizin und Ärztliche Psychotherapie (DGPM). 65(4), 321-340. https://doi.org/10.13109/zptm.2019.65.4.oa1



Keywords


COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPYCONTROLLED-TRIALDYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPYMAJOR DEPRESSIONMODULESPSYCHODYNAMIC THERAPYPsychotherapeutic ApproachesSocial anxiety disorderTraining in PsychotherapyTRUTHUNIFIED PROTOCOL

Last updated on 2025-10-06 at 11:06