Systemic therapy is a widely used psychotherapy approach. Yet there exist few systematic reviews on its efficacy. A meta-content analysis was performed to analyze the efficacy of systemic therapy for the treatment of mental disorders in adulthood. All randomized (or matched) controlled trials (RCT) evaluating systemic/systems oriented therapy in various settings (family, couple, individual, group, multifamily group therapy) with adult index patients suffering from mental disorders were identified by database searches and cross-references in other reviews. Inclusion criteria were: index patient diagnosed with a DSM or ICD listed mental disorder, trial published in any language up to the end of 2008. The RCTs were content analyzed according to their research methodology, interventions applied, and results. Thirty-eight trials published in English, German, Spanish, and Chinese were identified, 34 of them showing systemic therapy to be efficacious for the treatment of mood disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, mental and social factors related to medical conditions and physical disorders, and schizophrenia. Systemic therapy may also be efficacious for anxiety disorders. Results were stable across follow-up periods of up to 5 years. There is a sound evidence-base for the efficacy of systemic therapy for adult index patients with mental disorders in at least five diagnostic groups.

For families with children with severe disabilities such as Rett syndrome, it is crucial that they reach a high level of adaptation to the continuing challenges they will face over a long period of time. A number of factors have been described that from the outside perspective of experts are supposed to promote resilience in families living with disabled children. This article explores resilience-related narratives of families who are living with Rett syndrome. Two types of resilience narratives were reconstructed, reflecting different resources, strategies, and changes in family beliefs that help families in the process of adaptation. Although the findings of this study are limited by the small sample and selection of families from a parent self-help organization, they provide an inside perspective of resilience processes. Implications for treatment and counseling are discussed.

Kirs ten von Sy dow 1 · Ste fan Be her 2 · Rü di ger Retzlaff 3 · Jo chen Schweit zer-Ro thers 4 1 Psy cho lo gi sches In sti tut, Uni ver si tät Ham burg 2 Uni ver si tät Mainz 3 In sti tut für Psy cho so ma ti sche Ko ope ra ti ons for schung und Fa mi li en the ra pie, Zent rum für Psy cho so zia le Me di zin, Uni ver si täts kli nik Hei del berg 4 In sti tut für Me di zi ni sche Psy cho lo gie, Zent rum für Psy cho so zia le Me di zin, Uni ver si täts kli nik Hei del berg Sys te mi sche The ra pie bei Stö run gen des Er wach se nen al ters Eine Me tain halts ana ly se von 28 ran do mi sier ten Pri mär stu di en Psy cho the ra peut