Quality assurance of psychotherapy: Structure-, process- and outcome-quality in psychotherapeutic outpatient treatment

Abstract

Models for the assurance of the quality of psychotherapy are intensively discussed in the german speaking countries during the last years, not only in Germany, where quality assurance in psychotherapy is prescribed by law, but also in Austria and in Switzerland. Although quality assurance is obligatory only for inpatient treatment in these countries, it is very important to take outpatient treatment into consideration as well. Therefore, this paper is dedicated to this matter. After a short introduction into the terms and models central aspects of quality assurance in outpatient psychotherapy are presented (quality standards, quality monitoring and continuous quality improvement). For practical realization internal methods for the management of treatment quality seem to be most appropriate for ambulatory psychotherapy. Specific quality-related working-groups, so called “ambulatory quality-circles", may function as an organisational basis of these efforts. Although basic concepts and methods are already developed, future developments must implement them. Some necessary steps into this direction are discussed at the end of the paper.

Keywords:
Quality, quality-management, quality-assurance, psychotherapy.