Is this the state of the art: Changing perspectives in psychotherapy?

In the context of the current discussion of the volume by Grawe, Donati and Bernauer ''Psychotherapie im Wandel; Von der Konfession zur Profession'' (1994) the main critical points are reviewed regarding essentual-theoretical issues. The crucial points of the resulting criticism refer to the fact that metastudies are historical and culture bound, to etiological validity as well as to ethical-political implications. One main statement designates the investigation by Grawe et al. as a conventional review that bases its conclusions on outcome-studies of psychotherapy that are to be considered out-dated. Whether it is possible to decide which therapy is most effective is as doubtful as the necessity to contrast therapeutic orientations by discriminating valuation. The results of Grawe's therapy-outcome-analysis are put into a historical and cultural context. Thereby the findings are put into relation to particular periods and speech areas from which the included studies originate. In this context Grawe's volume appears not to be the Ultima ratio but is fruitful to initiate further research.