Letters to the Editor
Group Therapy Was Omitted
The new clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of depression is undoubtedly a gain. However, it did not make any mention of group therapy, whose effectiveness is scientifically confirmed and which can often be superior to individual therapy because of specific effectiveness features. It is well known that group therapy takes center stage in all psychiatric and psychotherapeutic clinics/hospitals. The reason why it is largely lacking in the outpatient setting—for children and adults— are manifold: a lack of interest on the part of the representatives of statutory health insurers, problems of individual practices, force of habit, lacking specialist training, ideologic reasons emphasizing the exclusivity of the individual. In view of the public demand for more psychotherapists (especially for children) the main question relates to funding. Group therapy is not a panacea, but it has been proved to be effective and economical. This should prompt doctors to tackle this problem before politicians start.
DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2023.0210
Dr. med. Wilfried Hammacher
Psychotherapeut a. D./Gutachter, Schwerte
ernsthammacher@online.de
Conflict of interest statement
The author declares that no conflict of interest exists.
| 1. | Härter M, Prien P, on behalf of the NVL Guideline Group: Clinical practice guideline: The diagnosis and treatment of unipolar depression—National Disease Management Guideline. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2023; 120: 355–61 VOLLTEXT |
