Efficacy of psychosomatic inpatient treatment for somatoform disorders: results of a multicenter study

The present study describes self- and therapist-reported treatment effects of inpatient psychotherapy for various somatoform disorders. A total of 2,062 patients with the primary diagnosis F45.XX (ICD-10, Somatoform Disorders) were treated at 17 psychosomatic clinics in Bavaria, Germany. Subgroup analyses were performed for F45.0X, F45.3X, and F45.4X as well as a combined group of F45.1X, F45.2X, and F45.5X. Symptom severity decreased for all subgroups of somatoform disorders. The pre-post effect size was d = -.58 for the Symptom Check-List 90-R (GSI), and -1.26 for the impairment score rated by the therapist. Symptom levels differed among the various subgroups; patients with somatoform pain had the highest scores. Patients with various somatoform disorders appear to profit well from psychosomatic inpatient psychotherapy. Patients with somatoform pain disorders reported the lowest effect on GSI, but received the highest effect in the therapist ratings.