Psychosocial therapy in psychiatry : Update of the DGPPN-S3 guidelines "Psychosocial therapies for severe mental illnesses"

Background: Severe mental illnesses are often associated with substantial impairments of psychosocial functioning and a high risk of social exclusion. Along with somatic and psychotherapeutic treatment approaches, psychosocial interventions are an integral component of treatment. Psychosocial therapies aim to improve participation and enable patients to live self-determined lives as far as possible.

Objective: This paper provides an overview of the structure and recommendations of the German S3 guidelines "Psychosocial therapies for severe mental illnesses" of the German Association for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (DGPPN).

Methods: In the DGPPN S3 guidelines psychosocial therapies are systematically described for the first time and recommendations are formulated on the basis of a systematic processing of scientific evidence and a formalized consensus process.

Results: The evidence-based and consensus-based guidelines formulate a total of 33 recommendations and 12 statements. For many psychosocial interventions there is a broad evidence base. In the field of individual interventions psychoeducation, social skills training and health-promoting interventions have been given the highest recommendation strength (A). In the field of system level interventions, team-based, multiprofessional community psychiatric approaches, supported employment and self-determined housing with mobile support (supported housing) are given A level recommendations. For other interventions, the current evidence base is less robust.

Conclusions: The successful implementation of guidelines depends not only on the quality but also on the dissemination. Therefore, in addition to the treatment guidelines a short version, a patient version and a waiting room version were developed.