gms | German Medical Science

Background: Treatment and rehabilitation of personality- and posttraumatic stress disorders requires a long term, continuously and individually planned strategy across the limitations of specific treatment settings. Gaps in between rehabilitative services often endanger the success of therapeutic interventions. Internet based follow-up strategies can be the key for successful treatment and rehabilitation results.

Aim: Acceptance and efficiency of a residence independent Internet-based intervention is investigated.

Method: We conducted a pilot study in order to investigate the feasibility and individual results of an internet based follow-up treatment module at the transition between either different treatment resp. rehabilitation settings or immediate employment. Core elements of the intervention are weekly group chats. Other core elements are individual weekly schedules, goal attainment interventions and more individual support material. 31 participants were interviewed at the beginning (t1) and after three months of participation (t2).

Results/findings: After discharge from hospital or acute rehabilitation 84% of the participants used the intervention at least once. The average length of participation was 63 days (SD=4.6). Individual acceptance and satisfaction were high. 80% of participants had no psychiatric hospital or day care admission at t2. The implementation within the clinical and rehabilitative setting was possible with only minimal increase of financial and staff resources.

Discussion and conclusions: The results of our pilot study indicate high acceptance of the intervention within the target population. Individual processes show an actual improvement in critical transitions from one setting into another or into employment. Implementation of the intervention can be realized in clinical and rehabilitation settings.