Short-term Caregiver Psychotherapy

This prospective study will be offered to caregivers from the out patient clinic of the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine of the University Rostock Medical Center. In a first pilot study with 10 participants without control group, we tested the feasability and acceptance of the program (completed 2/2015). From 4/2015 a phase IIa study started with 10 participants in the intervention group and 10 in the control groups (will be organized by waiting list). The program consists of two modules of caregiver education followed by ten psychotherapeutic group modules. Duration of each module is planned to be 90 minutes including a relaxation exercise at the end of each module. Primary outcomes are the feasibility, acceptance and the effect on caregiver burden.