[Documentation of the Treatment Indication Decisions in Depressive Disorders: Development and Feasibility Study of the STEP-D (Setting Guide for Patients with Depression)]. / Dokumentation der differentiellen Behandlungsindikation bei depressiven Störungen: Entwicklung und Machbarkeitsprüfung des STEP-D (englisch: Setting Guide for Patients with Depression).

OBJECTIVE: Depressive disorders require differential treatment. Therefore a new decision-tree (STEP-D, Setting Guide for Patients with Depression) was developed and evaluated to assist the documentation of the decision-process for a treatmentsetting for patients with depressive disorder. METHODS: The development of the decision tree followed several steps and was guided by the treatment guidelines. It was tested by 36 specialists on case reports. The case reports were rated with or without the decision tree. A questionnaire assessed transparency of the indication decision, simplification of documentation, time saving, improved communication in teams and confidence in the decision-making process. RESULTS: STEP-D was rated intelligible, feasible, and helpful to improve the communication in teams, transparency and documentation of indication decisions. CONCLUSION: Employing STEP-D can help documentation and facilitate communication with patients, benefactors and colleagues.