[Discharge reports to the patients as a contribution to a person-centred therapy--concept and pilot study in a psychiatric day clinic].

We present the concept of an extended documentation of psychiatric-psychotherapeutic treatment with the patients being in the center of information. Apart from a short treatment report for the outpatient therapist, we write a detailed letter to the patients themselves including informations and backgrounds of their psychiatric and medical history, psychopathological findings, diagnose(s), course of the current treatment and recommendations for the future. This procedure is in agreement with the tradition of psycho-educative approaches and self-management concepts. It intends to support patients to be self-conscious and responsible partners during and after the treatment process. We performed a pilot study for a predominantly descriptive evaluation of the concept in the day clinic setting. A standardized questionnaire in 30 previously treated patients and three case studies yielded a high acceptance and positive appraisal of the received letters with a substantial subjective impact for coping with the disorder and a positive option for dealing with family members and friends.