A central perspective on the research of consequences of social services work is the contemplation of side effects. In our colloquium, we were able to welcome psychologist and university professor Dr. Yvonne Nestoriuc as a guest lecturer. This coloquiums’ focus lay on “risks and side effects in the psychotherapeutic context”. We could gain interesting insights into current studies on the topic of side effect research, and its significance for patients and psychologists. In the lecture, questions about the challenge of recording side effects, the (non-)avoidability of effects, and the importance of previous therapeutic experiences of patients were discussed. Furthermore, the legally and ethically required briefing of patients about possible side effects as a possible trigger of side effects was debated.
The view on side effect research in the psychotherapeutic context was not only profitable for our doctoral students from the field of psychology. The discussions and feedback in the colloquium clearly indicated that the presented perspective has been enriching for all projects concerning the research of consequences of social services work.
