Biomedical subjects

A M Leimkühler

Publications and source records attributed to A M Leimkühler.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1996

[Patient satisfaction--artefact or social reality?].

The concept of patient satisfaction has become an independent evaluation criterion in the context of quality assurance. A review of patient satisfaction surveys referring to consumer satisfaction as a relevant health care concept, mostly being conducted in the USA, identifies numerous theoretical and methodological deficiencies. A consistently high level of patient satisfaction is reported, which is difficult to interpret. This requires critical analysis of what is meant by the term "satisfaction", considering theoretical concepts of satisfaction taken from various research areas. The paper concludes by pointing out that the concept "patient satisfaction" as it is used at present should not be seen as a valid indicator for the quality of care.

Humans↗

PubMed1993

["Systemic psychiatry"--recognition and therapeutic use?].

In this paper the question is discussed, whether the use of systems theory in psychiatry can improve the success of psychiatric intervention as being proclaimed by systemic therapists. On the contrary: Taking into account the logical conditions to be considered when referring the model of self-organizing systems from biological to social and cognitive systems, one must come to the conclusion, that systemic therapy implicates the improbability of successful intervention.

Family Therapy↗

PubMed1990

[Psychosocial after care: studies of the value of psychosocial measures in clinical practice].

The present study analyses aftercare planning for 2.536 Patients of the Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Düsseldorf. Data were collected from the Psychiatric Basis Documentation and on the basis of hospital reports on 100 schizophrenic patients taken from the same sample. All statements concerning aftercare and discharge planning in the hospital reports were submitted to content analysis. Results indicate a remarkable discrepancy between psychopharmacological and psychosocial aftercare, especially for schizophrenic patients. Possible conditions which strengthen biomedical thinking to the disadvantage of psychosocial aftercare are discussed.

Aftercare↗

PubMed1987

["Self-help potential of the family" can overtax the abilities of the marital partner. Report on a family group of Huntington chorea patients].

The following study on family groups of patients with Huntington's chorea shows the changed psychosocial life patterns resulting from the disease of the marriage partner, as seen from the viewpoint of the other partner. It is evident that "family groups" are not necessarily self-sustaining, and cannot manage the additional strain without outside help; as a matter of fact, the limits of familial self-help become very apparent if the partner cannot cope with the burden. In this manner, family groups actually emphasise and underline the need for external social support.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1985

[The family and chronic disease. A review of recent family and medical sociology research with special reference to Huntington chorea].

This review discusses actual results of family-oriented medical sociology in the Federal Republic of Germany in relation to Anglo-American findings. Recently the paradigm of family theory has changed also in the Federal Republic of Germany from considering the family as a disturbing factor, to interpreting it as a system of support. In dealing with the contemporary research, now centered around social support by the family as well as by an extended social network, possible inconsistencies of terms like family dynamics, structure and system are discussed. A final methodological discussion shows that results depend on the methods. This leads to a possible concept of a pattern of research which is better adapted to the family as a whole.

Family↗

PubMed1984

[Studies on the relation between seasons and mental disorders].

Studies published in literature have claimed that there are interconnections between seasons and mental diseases. However, such conclusions are unacceptable, since they have no methodological foundation: whatever was claimed to have been measured, was actually not measured at all. This makes any discussions on the causes of such interconnections redundant. What was actually found, were certain connections between rates of hospitalisation and certain seasons. In our study, such relationships were also measured, but partly we also found other seasonal variations in hospital admission rates. The only conclusion that can be drawn from these observations is that, while there are certain connections between seasons and hospitalisation, the reasons for such variations are rules and conditions governing the admission to hospitals which do not bear any relation to the season at a particular time. Such relations, if any, are probably so highly complex that it will be necessary for establishing any causal relationship to gradually eliminate any possible disturbing factors by examining their impact and importance in each case. This requires a stepwise and extremely cautious approach.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The status of elderly females in psychiatry. Results of an empirical study of patients transferred to long-term nursing homes].

The factors influencing the transfer from the Rheinische Landesklinik - Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Düsseldorf - to long-term care facilities are examined for 131 psychiatric patients between March 1987 and March 1988. Our data indicate a high probability of transfer for geronto-psychiatric patients especially for elderly women, and a far lower probability of transfer for younger and middle-aged psychiatric patients with chronic disease. The selection criteria for the transfer of female patients over 65 years seem to be - far more so than for males - influenced by structural conditions of the psychiatric hospital. Also, in geronto-psychiatric patients a predominant influence of gender on the selection criteria of long-term care facilities can be observed.

Aged↗