Evaluation of the Klinik Group Teufen Psychiatric Day Clinics

Background:

Day-clinic psychiatric treatment programs provide intensive, structured therapy for individuals with various psychiatric disorders. In Switzerland, these programs typically include psychoeducation, medication optimization, individual and group therapy, coping skills training, and relapse prevention.

Research shows that day clinic programs achieve outcomes comparable to inpatient treatment, particularly regarding symptom reduction and quality of life, while offering advantages in social functioning and daily-life integration. Patients remain in their home environment, facilitating the transfer of therapeutic strategies into everyday life and maintaining important social and occupational roles. Day clinic programs are also more cost-effective than inpatient care.

Klinik Group Teufen offers a multimodal, group-based day-clinic programs in Teufen, Rorschach and Zurich, including psychosomatic treatment with a strong focus on body therapy, conversation-based therapy, and complementary creative and preventive services. To date, no systematic evaluation of this specific program has been conducted. This project addresses this gap.

Methods:

The evaluation of the day clinics follows an impact model and uses a convergent mixed-methods design combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. Three core areas are examined:

1. Patient Evaluation:
   Standardized instruments assess changes in symptom burden, recovery orientation, functional level, well-being, and patient satisfaction. Data are collected via anonymous online questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
2. Service Evaluation:
   The structure, content, and efficiency of the therapeutic program are examined through formative evaluation elements, including semi-structured interviews and focus groups with project stakeholders. Qualitative data are analyzed using content analysis.
3. Financial Evaluation:
   A cost-benefit analysis compares personnel, infrastructure, and treatment costs with clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction to assess cost-effectiveness.

The integration of quantitative and qualitative findings follows a convergent mixed-methods approach. The project compares patient surveys over the three time points to assess changes in symptom burden, functional level, and satisfaction and examines these in conjunction with qualitative feedback from interviews and focus groups to identify mechanisms of action, contextual factors, and potential for optimization. This enables a comprehensive evaluation of treatment effects, organizational processes, and economic sustainability.

Outcomes and Impact:

This project provides the first systematic evaluation of the multimodal day-clinic treatment offered by Klinik Group Teufen. It generates evidence on patient outcomes, program quality, and financial viability, supporting continuous quality improvement in routine clinical practice.

Findings will inform service development, enhance patient-centered care, and contribute to the broader discussion on the role of day-clinic treatment as an effective and sustainable alternative to inpatient psychiatric care.