Evidence basis of psychotherapy for schizophrenia patients in Germany

Background. Little is known about the degree of implementation of evidence-based psychotherapy in routine care of people with schizophrenia in Germany. Method. First, results of studies on the efficacy of psychotherapy in the treatment of schizophrenia are summarised. Second, the degree of implementation of psychotherapeutic practices in the routine care of schizophrenics is assessed through a systematic literature search and analyses of several data sets. Results. There is substantial evidence for the efficacy of cognitive-behavioural interventions in the treatment of schizophrenia. The paucity of data on the degree of implementation suggests a wide gap between evidence and practice. Conclusions. Barriers to implementation are outlined and discussed. There is a need for more studies on epidemiological and long-term effectiveness of health care.