Psychopharmacological treatment from the patients’ perspective. A computer-based automatic interview system

Increasingly more attention is been paid to the patients’ perspective in psychopharmacology (1) and quality assurance (2). This is largely based on the notion that subjective parameters like well-being and quality of life – especially under psychiatric medication – are of major importance for the patients’ satisfaction with treatment and compliance, and therefore indirectly affect treatment outcome.

We present a modern computer-based interview system that interrogates psychiatric patients about these issues as well as about desired and adverse effects under psychopharmacological medication (2, 3). Computer interviews present numerous advantages when compared with standard methods, especially when large samples are involved. Our system leverages these strengths by supporting multicentric research projects through an automated, secure transmission of clinical data via Internet (3). Rating scales are scheduled automatically obviating the need of cost-intensive human intervention. If desired, the system can make relevant clinical data available on the ward in real time.

1. Karow, A. & Naber, D. Subjective well-being and quality of life under atypical antipsychotic treatment. Psychopharmacology 162 (2002) 3–10

2. Freudenmann, R.W. & Spitzer, M. Computergestützte Patientenbefragungen als Grundlage für eine moderne Qualitätssicherung in der Psychiatrie. Nervenarzt 72 (2001) 40–51

3. Viviani, R. A type/domain security policy for internet transmission, sharing and archiving of medical and biological data. In: Sloman, M. et al. (eds.) Policies for distributed systems and networks. Berlin: Springer; 2001: p. 73–87