ABSTRACT
Clinical psychology in Germany has a long history and a short past. Fifteen years ago systematic training and application regarding clinical psychology did not exist, certainly not on a scientific basis. The psychological scene was heavily influenced by depth-psychological speculation, antiscientific humanism, organic reductionism, holistic imprecision, divided Gestaltism, and lack of controlled clinical research. Even now universities are hardly in the position of producing clinical psychologists sufficiently in command of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to be ready for general practice. On the other hand, society is in need of effective treatment and prevention programs for dependencies and chronic illness behavior, as well as psychiatric and educational problems, all of which contribute heavily toward mounting health costs.
