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Multi-person settings in routine care: Implementation and benefits

Project overview

The current Psychotherapy Guidelines 2020 allow systemic therapy to be used in a multi-person setting (MPS) in every therapy session.

While there is good evidence for the effectiveness and benefits of MPS (Braus et al., 2024, 2025, 2026; Pinquart et al., 2014; v. Sydow et al., 2010; v. Sydow et al., 2013a, 2013b), there is a lack of information on its actual use, manifestations, as well as the effort and cost-effectiveness in the context of psychotherapy-financed care.

In addition, a standardised evaluation scale (EBM) for the multi-person setting in the current fee schedule item (GOP) is still missing.

This long-term collaborative project, carried out in partnership with 16 outpatient clinics and nine institutions across three professional associations, focuses on the cost-effective and replicable assessment of MPS in publicly funded systemic therapy for adults, children and adolescents, and examines its impact on the course of therapy, potential indications and psychotherapeutic efficacy.

Further information

Selected publications

  • Braus, N., Flückiger, C., Wichmann, J., Frankmann, C., & Hunger-Schoppe, C. (2024). Is symptom outcome the whole story? - A multilevel meta-analysis of Systemic Therapy for adults including family outcome. Psychotherapy Research, Sep 9:1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2024.2394192.
  • Riedinger, V-, Pinquart, M., & Teubert, D. (2017). Effects of Systemic Therapy on Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 46, 880-894.
  • Pinquart, M., Oslejsek, B., & Teubert, D. (2014). Efficacy of systemic therapy on adults with mental disorders: A meta-analysis. Psychotherapy Research, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2014.935830
  • Schweitzer-Rothers, J. (2014). Heilung als Gemeinschaftsleistung: Blick auf kollektive Psychotherapiekulturen [Healing as a joint achievement. View of collective psychotherapy cultures]. Psychotherapist, 59(2), 82-88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00278-014-1033-9
  • v. Sydow, K., Beher, S., Schweitzer, J., & Retzlaff, R. (2010). The Efficacy of Systemic Therapy With Adult Patients: A Meta-Content Analysis of 38 Randomised Controlled Trials. Family Process, 49(4), 457-485.
  • v. Sydow, K., Retzlaff, R., Beher, S., Haun, M. W., & Schweitzer, J. (2013a). The Efficacy of Systemic Therapy for Childhood and Adolescent Externalising Disorders: A Systematic Review of 47 RCT. Family Process, 52(4), 576-618.
  • v. Sydow, K., Retzlaff, R., Beher, S., Haun, M. W., & Schweitzer, J. (2013b). The Efficacy of Systemic Therapy for Internalising and Other Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence: A Systematic Review of 38 Randomized Trials. Family Process, 52(4), 619-652.
  • Braus, N., Flückiger, C., Gräfenkämper, R., Frankman, C., Wichmann, J. & Hunger-Schoppe, C. (accepted). Is there an Allegiance Bias on the Efficacy of Systemic Therapy? A three-level Meta- Regression Analysis. Psychotherapy Research.
  • Braus, N., Flückiger, C., Wichmann, J., Frankmann, C., Gräfenkämper, R., Zemp, M., & Hunger-Schoppe, C. (2025). Who determines the outcome? A three-level meta-analysis on systemic therapy in children and adolescents. Psychotherapy Research, 9:1-14. doi: 10.1080/10503307.2025.2565236

Project management