On the basis of three outpatient psychodynamic short-term group therapies therapeutic factors and group leader effects on treatment outcome of patients with somatoform disorders were investigated. Besides high effect sizes in general symptom reductions, it could be demonstrated that the level of activity of group leaders is highly significantly correlated with the activities on side of the group members and that group leaders seem to serve as a role model for their groups. Particularly higher Feedback activities in the therapy groups were associated with significant improvements in important dimensions of the body experience of the patients, one of the cornerstones in the treatment of somatoform disorders
