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Biomedical subjects

F Petermann

Publications and source records attributed to F Petermann.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Frequency and comorbidity of social anxiety and social phobia in adolescents. Results of a Bremen adolescent study].

Using data from the Bremen Adolescent Study, this report presents findings on the frequency, comorbidity and psychosocial impairment of social phobia and social fears among 1035 German adolescents of 12-17 years of age. The adolescents were randomly selected from 36 schools in the city and provincial government area of Bremen, Germany. Social phobia and other psychiatric disorders were coded based on DSM-IV criteria using the computerized personal interview of the Munich version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Seventeen (1.6%) of the adolescents had met the DSM-IV criteria for social phobia at some time in their life. More girls than boys were diagnosed as suffering from social phobia. The incidence of the disorder increased with age. The lifetime frequency of social fears is much higher. The most common types of feared social situations were fear of doing something in front of other people, followed by public speaking. Social phobia very often co-occurred with depressive disorders, somatoform disorders and disorders caused by excessive or inappropriate consumption of substances. Over 94% of those with social phobia and 54.4% with any social fears were severely impaired in their daily life during the worst episode. Despite the high level of psychosocial impairment, only a small portion of the cases received professional help.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Lower Saxony/Bremen Scientific Rehabilitation Research Group].

The Network for Rehabilitation Research Niedersachsen/Bremen (RFNB) combines the competencies of different disciplines and regional agents/institutions in the field of rehabilitation, hence creating a network of interdisciplinary rehabilitation research to support the further development of research methodology, to initiate studies whose results can be fed back to practice and be used for education and further qualification. The current research projects of the RFNB are focussing on outcome parameters such as prediction, optimization of interventions and costs in successful rehabilitation.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1998

["Questionnaire on Quality of Life in Asthma"--studies of the dimensionality and references for evaluation].

The FLA, representing the German revision of the LWAQ (Hyland et al., 1991), is one of the few available questionnaires for measuring the disease-specific quality of life (QOL) in adults suffering from asthma. The present study aimes at analysing the structure and reliability of the FLA and also at improving its feasibility. Therefore, the inventory has been analysed in terms of its dimensional structure, internal reliability, and homogeneity. To facilitate the interpretation of the test outcomes and to obtain more differentiated predictors, the 40 items of the FLA were--according to theoretical considerations--categorised into three dimensions ("Physical Symptoms", "Psychological Distress" and "Functional Status"). In this study the FLA was applied with a sample of 136 hospitalised asthma patients of varying severity (63 male, 73 female, meanage; 49.5 years) in the North German "Allergie- und Asthmaklinik Wilhelm Gronemeyer, Bad Lippspringe, to evaluate the reliability of the total scale and its dimensions. The findings of the item analysis with regard to selectivity and item difficulty yielding satisfying results are presented in multiple tables. Furthermore, recommendations for the transformation of original values into summary scores and evaluation procedures were developed to improve the strength of evidence in the data. The summary scores, which can be computed for both total scale and the three dimensions, facilitate intra- and interindividual comparison of the patients' quality of life and point to special deficits in different QOL domains requiring specific therapeutic interventions. Finally, the FLA's range of application, its limitations, developmental perspectives and proposals for improvement are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1998

[Illness specific data collection on quality of life of patients with asthma and chronic obstructive bronchitis].

Resource allocation in health care and rehabilitation has been increasingly influenced by medical outcome studies. In recent years, the importance of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the evaluation of medical care and intervention practice has been widely acknowledged. In particular for chronic diseases like asthma or COPD the multi-dimensional concept of quality of life (QOL) has adopted the role of an essential outcome parameter. Instruments used to measure QOL can be categorised as one of two types: a) generic instruments which assess overall QOL and b) disease-specific questionnaires which focus on specific aspects related to a particular disease. Over the last two decades more than 1,000 QOL-instruments have been developed, including nearly 20 disease-specific inventories for patients with chronical lung diseases. In clinical practice, both generic and specific questionnaires are used to assess quality of life in patients with asthma and COPD. Disease-specific QOL-instruments are considered to be more sensitive in establishing the specific restrictions related to asthma or COPD and in detecting possible improvements in QOL after treatment. To exemplify its properties, limitations, and special methodological issues, we chose two of the most widely used and well-validated disease-specific quality of life inventories: the "St. George Hospital Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)" and the "Fragebogen zur Lebensqualität bei Asthma (FLA)". The FLA, representing the German revision of the "Living with Asthma Questionnaire (LAQ)" (Hyland et al., 1991), has been one of the first questionnaires available for measuring disease specific quality of life (QOL) in adults with asthma. The FLA contains 40 items in three dimensions ("physical symptoms", "functional status", "psychological distress"). The SGRQ (Jones et al., 1991) is a standardized questionnaire for measuring health related restrictions and quality of life in patients with chronical lung disease. In contrast to LAQ/FLA the SGRQ can be used both for patients with asthma and COPD. It includes 76 items, divided in three subscales ("symptoms", "activity", and "impacts") permitting to calculate different summary scores as well as a total score. Both questionnaires appear to be reliable, valid and efficient for the assessment of QOL in patients with asthma or COPD, and may facilitate decision making in the treatment process. On the other hand there are some unsolved methodological problems requiring further investigations and improvements in this research area.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1998

[Substance abuse and dependence in adolescents].

This manuscript reviews literature on the prevalence/frequency, risk factors, course and outcome of substance use disorders in adolescents. Recent epidemiological studies conducted in various parts of the world have indicated a high frequency of substance use disorders in adolescents, with values ranging from 5 to 8%; the rate for alcohol abuse and dependence range from 2 to 32%, and for drugs from 5 to 10%. Substance use disorders were significantly higher in males than in females, and that they increased with age. Other risk factors commonly reported for substance use disorders include biological, familial, and social factors. Several intervention and prevention programs are presented and discussed.

Adolescent Psychiatry↗
PubMed1997

[Idiopathic abdominal pain in children: results, deficits and perspectives of empirical research].

Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) is one of the most common pain syndromes in childhood, with prevalence rates ranging from 10 to 20% in all school-age children. In nearly 50% the complaints persist over many years of their life-span to adolescence or adulthood. Although the empirical findings have increased in the last decade, our knowledge about the etiology, pathogenesis, and pathophysiology is still very limited. Current approaches suggest that we understand recurrent pain syndromes as a complex and multidimensional disturbance (biopsychosocial paradigm). In this respect there is strong evidence for the major importance of psychosocial causes (daily hassles, specific life events), psychopathological factors (anxiety, depression, somatization disorder), and social environmental influences (mother's psychopathology, social modelling, reinforcement) in the pathogenesis of functional abdominal pain. The noticeable correlation with other pain syndromes and functional disturbances indicates that recurrent pain may possibly be a manifestation of a basic somatization disorder. The unfavourable long-term prognosis supports the need for early and specific interventions. Psychological treatment requires a medical examination to exclude organic origins. Some of these invasive diagnostic procedures can be very difficult, expensive and distressing for the child. Behavioural medicine is based upon having an extensive family history and symptom analysis. The psychological interventions applied in clinical practice include prophylaxis, reduction of pain symptoms and environmental modification. In recent years there has been an increasing trend to create more complex and multidimensional behavioural treatment programs for children. Although preliminary data on the use of these behavioural medicine programs have shown some promise, further investigations are needed to examine the applicability and effectiveness of specific interventions in the treatment of abdominal pain symptoms.

English Abstract↗
PubMed1997

[Quality of life in home ventilation].

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to assess quality of life in patients with chronic respiratory failure who require home mechanical ventilation (HMV). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with COPD (n = 20), scoliosis (n = 20), neuromuscular diseases (n = 20) and others (n = 7) were examined. A specific questionnaire containing forms for the patient, the physician and for the relatives was developed according to the formulation of the question (Fragebogen zur chronischen Heimbeatmung = FCH, Interview zur chronischen Heimbeatmung = ICH). In addition to that the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire were used. Arterial blood gas tensions, pulmonary function and inspiratory mouth occlusion pressure were studied. RESULTS: Quality of life in patients with scoliosis and neuromuscular diseases is improved during HMV compared to patients with COPD who especially are impaired with regard to psychological and functional conditions. Correlations with physiological parameters and with the compliance could not be observed. CONCLUSION: Despite progression of the disease HMV enhances quality of life in patients with scoliosis and neuromuscular diseases. The outcome in COPD is less evident. Therefore the indication must be considered more critically.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Developmental psychopathology and pediatric behavior therapy].

This article exemplifies by the development of aggressive behaviour that there is a group of children (about 5%) who as "early starters" show stable aggressive behaviour with a poor prognosis. On examining the development of these children biopsychosocial risk factors can be found such as minimal neurological disturbances, which again correlate with the so-called difficult temperament of a child and later with impulsivity and oppositional defiance behaviour. Since these disturbances commence at an early age, preventive methods and early intervention are necessary. Criteria are listed that help to recognise risk children as "early starters". Questions lead to the planning of intervention, for instance, whether individual, group or combined therapy is indicated. Five demands to be made on child-specific behaviour therapy are named, e.g. specificity of age group, material and resource orientation. The principles of methods and materials are explained by means of numerous examples, such as the training of perception in respect of social occurrences, relaxation methods, model-learning techniques with the aid of video material, various behavioural exercises and self-control techniques. Parent and family consultation is also dealt with. Results of combined methods lead to complex training programmes, like in a unit construction system. Such combinations are the most effective treatment methods.

Aggression↗
PubMed1997

[Behavior therapy with aggressive children].

Modern behavior therapy strategies which reduce aggressive behavior are based on developmental psychopathological assessments. These help to confirm intervention steps adapted to each specific age group. The extensive spectrum of methods in child behavior therapy offers different cognitive and social elements which are used to help the child effectively. The training for aggressive children by PeTERMANN and PeTERMANN (1994) which generally includes behavior-oriented family counselling shall be considered.

Aggression↗
PubMed1997

[Attitude of established physicians to medical rehabilitation: an empirical study of the access to rehabilitation problem].

Office-practice physicians' attitudes towards and knowledge of available medical rehabilitation benefits are crucial influences concerning the manner and extent to which they pursue their patients' access to rehabilitation. Covering some 1200 office-practice physicians in the catchment area of a workers pension insurance agency, LVA Oldenburg-Bremen, the present questionnaire study is directed at a closer analysis of these influences. The findings, for one, indicate great diversity of overall approval of rehabilitation measures, for the other they however also reveal varying judgements of the relevancy of rehabilitation benefits for the various disease groups. Suggestions are set out on the basis of our findings on how access to rehabilitation could be upgraded.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Depressive symptoms and syndromes in adolescents].

The present study examined the frequency of self-reported depressive symptoms in high school students aged 11 to 19 years using the Revised Ontario Child Health Study Scales. A high percentage of subjects occasionally experienced some types of depressive symptoms in the last six months. Three levels of diagnostic certainty were generated by varying the severity of depressive symptoms. The frequency of depression for the 'low diagnostic certainty' was 51.6%, the "medium diagnostic certainty' 5.6%, and for the 'high diagnostic certainty' 0%. Depressive symptoms correlated significantly with doctor's visit and life events. The implication of the results for clinical practice and research was discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Measuring scales for assessment of coping behavior: a critical evaluation].

In the present report, assessment problems in the area of coping research are discussed. On the basis of some objective criterion, assessment procedures with theoretical background, development and areas of uses, are chosen to make clear the current status of the instrument for evaluating illness coping strategies. A comprehensive review allows an evaluation of the presented assessment instruments. The development, psychometric properties, testing, advantages and disadvantages of the procedures are briefly discussed to enable the selection of appropriate assessment procedures to answer specific questions and for specific target groups.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1996

[The Brodsky & Brodsky risk factor model of schizophrenia--an empirical contribution].

In the year 1981 the Canadian psychologists Patricia & Marvin Brodsky published an article about a model integrating risk variables involved in the development of Schizophrenia which is very important but not very well known in the German speaking countries. This model which describes essentially the interaction of four risk variables, such as mental health of the mother, neonatal status, temperament and mothering style, shall be published for the interested reader on the one hand. On the other hand the consequences of the risk variable "mothering style" should be empirically examined in a retrospective study. With a standardized interview containing all essential variables of Brodsky's risk model 73 patients suffering in schizophrenia and being inpatient in the Rheinische Landesklinik Bonn were examined and the interview data were evaluated with regard to the contents in contrast to a control group of 26 healthy persons. With regard to the "schizophrenia spectrum" the portion of so called "superphrenics" (defined as "artistically and muscially gifted offspring with a schziophrenic mother" was not significantly increased in the schizophrenic sample (17.8% vs 7.7%) but the comparison of mothering style (empathic contingent vs. non-empathic and non-contingent) revealed a statistically significant difference between the groups. Finally the data of the risk variable "mothering style" are discussed in the light of the Brodsky-model and it is pointed at the special problems in reliable and valid opertionalisation and assessment of the risk variables.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Patient expectations of pulmonary rehabilitation].

Expectations of 315 adults concerning flexible medical rehabilitation were assessed in the framework of a four-week inpatient rehabilitation programme. Especially younger patients (15-40 years) showed greater acceptance to participate in a two-week inpatient rehabilitation programme.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Coping with employment discrimination against diabetics: trends in social medicine and social psychology.

In many European countries, social-medical aspects in the management of diabetes mellitus are not satisfactorily respected. Our contribution reports a study addressing the impact of diabetes on the patient's career and daily work, in order to determine the extent to which diabetics are being discriminated against at work. Type I diabetics were questioned about their experience, and not on the objective burden. A questionnaire was developed to evaluate patients' social and employment problems. Few elements of an education program for Type I diabetes optimizing social skills (social competence) are demonstrated. In a group of 6-8 patients, assertive behavior in the work place is modelled (e.g., for hypoglycaemia, social phobia) by applying psychological methods (behavior modification role-playing). These methods can help diabetic patients to master their discrimination. They learn assertive behavior in social situations with superiors and colleagues and develop self-confidence (self-efficacy). This special education program supports Type I diabetics in coping with employment discrimination.

Adaptation, Psychological↗