ABSTRACT
The KPI (Kategoriensystem für Partnerschaftliche Interaktion; English version: Interactional Coding System ICS; Hahlweg & Conrad, 1983) was developed by Hahlweg, Reisner, et al. (1984) to provide a detailed understanding of the verbal and nonverbal behaviors that occur during marital or family problem-solving interactions. The KPI was designed to evaluate the effects of behavioral marital therapy (BMT). Therefore the major objective is to measure the communication and problem-solving skills taught in BMT and similar therapy programs. Furthermore, the KPI is also used to analyze family interactions with more than two persons. The reliability, validity, and generalizability seems to be established. The KPI has been used with a variety of community and clinical couples and families (ranging from schizophrenia to asthma) in different countries.
