[Involving patients in research]

Politics advocate the integration of patients in decision making processes as a means of individual participation. Patients' participation in research projects is a next step to fulfil this democratic goal.Concepts essential for rehabilitation are introduced that are germane in the context of participatory rehabilitation research. They are based on the results of 2 workshops where researchers, patients and those working in the field developed ideas for patients' participation in research and on a screening of relevant literature. Research traditions relevant for rehabilitation research are lined out, a stage model allowing design and documentation of patient participation is introduced, and recommendations for practice are given. The article ends with a list of open questions that need to be addressed in the future.

[Evidence-based therapy of depression: S3 guidelines on unipolar depression]

Unipolar depressive disorders are among the most frequent reasons for utilizing the health care system. Although efficacious treatments are available and further advances have recently been made there is still a need for improving diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Alignment of treatment on evidence-based treatment guidelines establishes an essential mainstay. The new S3 and National Health Care guidelines on unipolar depression, the compilation of which was coordinated by the German Society of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Neurology (DGPPN) and which were approved by 29 scientific and professional associations, is the ambitious effort to present state of the art evidence and clinical consensus for the treatment of depression. For pharmacotherapy of depression differentiated recommendations can be given, also separate from and in addition to psychotherapy.

Self-help groups in West Germany. Developments of the last decade

The paper reports on the discussions currently going on in West Germany-and in some neighbouring countries - on self-help groups, on their political and social background, on attempts to define them, and on theoretical considerations and practical experiences, especially with a model of cooperation which for some years has been tried out at the Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy in the University of Giessen. The Clinic has a psychoanalytical orientation and has a strong tradition in group psychotherapy, family therapy and social therapy.