Randomized Trials with Personotropic Treatments: Lessons from the Evaluation of Psychotherapy

Author(s): Pritsch, M.

Abstract: In the recent discussion about the effectiveness of unconventional medicine' (UCM), the adequacy and feasibility of randomized clinical trials have sometimes been questioned. However, many methodological problems of trials in UCM are not unique to this field. We will illustrate our point of view by looking at the field of psychotherapy research, which shares many features with some parts of UCM, especially because of its personotropic treatment approach. Typical design problems will be presented, which concern the standardization of psychotherapeutic treatment, the choise of a control group, the feasibility of randomization, and the definition and measurement of outcome variables. Possible solutions to these problems will be discussed based on our experience from psychotherapy trials.

Keyword(s): Psychotherapie: Kontrollierte klinische Studie

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