The value of treatment-goal themes for treatment planning and outcome evaluation of psychiatric inpatients.

Background: The taxonomy of treatment-goal themes of the Bern Inventory of Treatment Goals (BIT-T) has shown to be a comprehensive coding system for outpatient use.

Aim: The current study examines the value of the BIT-T for treatment planning and outcome evaluation of psychiatric inpatients.

Method: The 1991 treatment goals of 675 predominantly non-psychotic psychiatric inpatients were coded using the BIT-T. Ratings of goal-related changes by patients and length of stay were used as outcome criteria.

Results: The BIT-T showed to be reliable and exhaustive. Distributions of goal themes are partially associated with diagnoses. Goal-related improvements as well as length of hospital stay differed depending on the themes of patients' treatment goals.

Conclusions: Coding of treatment-goal themes with the BIT-T provides researchers as well as practitioners with valuable information that goes beyond psychopathological diagnoses. This information can be used clinically for treatment planning as well as outcome evaluation.