Qualitative methods: the cologne documentation system for psychotherapy and trauma treatment

Abstract

If psychotherapy is defined as an independent scientific discipline, the question of the research method suitable for this discipline cannot be ignored. This contribution is based on the hypothesis that the methods developed in its associated disciplines “experimental psychology” and “biological psychiatry” do not do justice to the subject of research psychotherapy. Psychotherapy needs methods which comprehend knowledge of change, knowledge as to how and in what way people who suffer from mental disorders change in the therapeutic sense. This means that the objective of research is not only that patients change in psychotherapies, which is to be proven by outcome research, but how this happens.

The article is divided as follows: In the first part, psychotherapy - in particular psychodynamically oriented psychotherapy - is compared with its associated discipline “experimental psychology” and “biological psychiatry”. Theoretical and methodical bases of qualitative research are then presented. In the third part, the author illustrates how research can be carried out in the context of practice using the example of the Cologne documentation system for psychotherapy and trauma treatment (KODOPS).

Keywords Qualitative research; single case research; comparative casuistics; psychotherapy process research; Cologne documentation system.