The "Internet-Brücke" is intended to facilitate the patient's return from a specialist institution for psychotherapy and psychosomatics to the everyday setting. Participants meet once a week in an internet chat room. The open group sessions are accompanied by a group therapist, and their overall availability is limited to 12-15 weeks. This option was greatly welcomed by the patients, and from the technical point of view proved reliable, secure and easy to use. In a prospective, controlled study, the "Internet-Brücke" turned out to be an effective means of maintaining the health improvements achieved during institutionalized treatment.This option would appear to be strongly indicated when continued, post-institution treatment either cannot be provided at all, or only after too long a delay.