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G Buchkremer

Publications and source records attributed to G Buchkremer.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

[Self-reported substance abuse related emergencies: frequency and nature].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency and nature of self-reported and drug-related emergencies. METHODS: 47 patients of a ward for opiate detoxification were interviewed about their experiences with drug-related emergencies. Typical categories had to be found like overdoses, seizures, accidents and suicide attempts respectively. RESULTS: 68% had own experience with drug-related emergency. A majority suffered opiate overdose with different extensions as unconsciousness or breath-depression. Alcohol and polydrug use was associated with overdose. Drug-related accidents were only reported by men. Half the number of drug-related emergencies were treated in hospital. Most emergencies occurred alone either in a home environment or outside. CONCLUSION: Harm reduction interventions like observed user rooms should be established. Furthermore other strategies to reduce the number of emergencies as sharing naloxon or resuscitation programs in wards for detoxification could also be an effective method to prevent near fatal or fatal overdoses in dependent subjects.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1999

Frontal brain asymmetry as a biological substrate of emotions in patients with panic disorders.

BACKGROUND: Right frontal hemisphere activation, as indicated by reduced frontal alpha amplitude, seems to represent activation of an avoidance-withdrawal system and seems to be associated with negative emotions. Since patients with panic disorder are characterized by both negative emotions and avoidance-withdrawal behavior, we expected them to show greater right than left frontal hemisphere activation. METHODS: Spontaneous electroencephalography was recorded from the left and right frontal and parietal scalp regions of 23 patients with panic disorder patients without a diagnosis of depression and from 25 healthy control participants during the following conditions: rest, confrontation with neutral, panic-relevant, anxiety-relevant but panic-irrelevant, or anxiety-irrelevant but emotionally relevant stimuli, and performance of a motor task. Their emotional state during these conditions was assessed by the Self-Assessment Manikin. RESULTS: In patients with panic disorders, there were asymmetries in frontal hemisphere activation during resting phases and when confronted with anxiety-relevant stimuli. Their right frontal alpha power was significantly decreased compared with the left, while control participants did not show frontal brain asymmetry during these phases. There was no frontal brain asymmetry when patients observed an emotionally neutral picture or performed a motor task. Under these conditions, left and right frontal hemisphere alpha activation of patients with panic disorder and healthy participants were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that patients with panic disorder are characterized by greater activation of a right frontal avoidance-withdrawal system in negatively valenced situations. The findings are interpreted as biological evidence for a disturbed cortical processing in patients with panic disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Psychoeducational-psychotherapeutic treatment of schizophrenic patients and their caregivers. II. Supplementary findings at a 2-year follow-up].

In this study we investigated whether, in conjunction with neuroleptics, a psychoeducational and cognitively oriented treatment for schizophrenic outpatients and their key-persons can improve the course of schizophrenic illness within a 2-year follow-up. This prospective randomized study covered a total of 191 schizophrenic patients (according to DSM-III-R) and comprised a psychoeducational training and cognitive psychotherapy for patients and counseling for their key persons in various combinations. Patients were examined before, immediately after and 2 years after the end of the intervention. Patients in the treatment groups reduced their overall psychopathology and their attention deficit. For patients receiving all three treatment conditions, there was a relevant preventive effect with regard to the rehospitalization rate appearing during the second year of the follow-up. We conclude that in the mid-term, a combination of psychoeducational and cognitively oriented therapy for patients and their keypersons can improve the course of schizophrenic illness.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Differential therapy effects of psychoeducational psychotherapy for schizophrenic patients--results of a 2-year follow-up.

There is increasing evidence of the efficacy and effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in schizophrenic patients. However, little research has been done on differential therapy effects. In a prospective, randomized clinical trial we carried out psychoeducational medication management training, cognitive psychotherapy, and key-person counseling. The patients of the control group participated in structured free-time activities for control of therapeutic commitment. Data from a total of 156 schizophrenic patients (DSM-III-R, no first-admissions) were available at 2-year follow-up. We analyzed in this study whether there are differential therapy effects of these interventions, depending on patient characteristics at baseline. There was a significant statistical interaction between treatment condition (specific/non-specific) and prognosis with respect to treatment outcome. Patients with a favorable prognosis and better social functioning had a better course under the specific treatment but a less favorable outcome in the non-specifically treated control group. These results suggest that more vulnerable patients are not sufficiently capable of learning and using coping strategies for relapse prevention. We need to learn more about differential indications for psychosocial treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Long-term effects of a psychoeducational psychotherapeutic intervention for schizophrenic outpatients and their key-persons--results of a five-year follow-up.

The study examines long-term effects on rehospitalization rates of a psychoeducationally and cognitive-behaviorally oriented intervention for schizophrenic outpatients and their key-persons. 191 patients and their key-persons were allocated by random into four different treatment groups and one control group. Five years after completion of treatment 126 patients were reexamined by interviews or case notes. The rate of patients experiencing psychiatric rehospitalization during the follow-up was assessed in each respective treatment group. Concerning rehospitalization rates there was no significant difference between controls (n = 35) and patients of the four treatment groups (n = 91). There were, however, fewer rehospitalized patients in the group with combined psychoeducational and cognitive treatment, including key-person counselling (42%), than in the control group (69%). Regarding the overall functioning, the patients in this treatment group did slightly better than those in the control group. These results are in accordance with the findings of comparable studies.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1999

Psychiatrists meet on the web: the chance for a virtual congress. Results and experiences from the First International Internet Congress on Psychiatry 1997.

From December 1-31, 1997, the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy in co-operation with the Department of Information Technology, University of Tübingen, Germany, organised the first virtual congress on psychiatry in the Internet. The congress was aimed at facilitating exchange of results of psychiatric studies and ideas and at stimulating discussion among interested colleagues. Almost 100 participants from 17 countries on four continents took part in this event. Sixteen contributions were presented and discussed. The problems and opportunities of this medium in the organisation and running of congresses are presented and discussed. The experience gained in this congress suggests that the Internet will find increasing use as a medium for medical congresses within the next few years.

Germany↗
PubMed1999

[The connection between labor integration and prognosis of schizophrenic patients: an 8-year follow-up study].

This study reflects the labour-situation of 67 DSM-III schizophrenic outpatients in an 8-year follow-up. About 50% of the patients had less than 20 hours of work a week on the average--most of them in work therapy or sheltered work-places. Many of them changed their location of work. Patients with an initially good prognosis (MPS) had a good outcome, regardless if they had a normal job and worked about 30 hours a week or worked about 20 hours in a sheltered place. For patients with a poor prognosis even the integration in a sheltered working place was difficult.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Antibrain antibodies in mental disorder: no evidence for antibodies against synaptic membranes.

Antibody reactivity in serum to synaptic membranes from human was investigated in major depressive disorder (N = 20), paranoid schizophrenia (N = 20), schizoaffective psychosis (N = 20), and in controls (N = 20) using Western and Immunoblots and ELISA technique. None of the patients showed a significant immune response to synaptic membranes. There was a base-line activity in both controls and patients with antibodies directed to a double band of proteins at 66kD. These antibodies may represent natural autoantibodies. The authors conclude from this and other studies that there is at present no proof of antibrain antibodies in mental disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Expressed-emotion development and course of schizophrenic illness: considerations based on results of a CFI replication.

This study examines the correlation between development of expressed emotion (EE) in relatives and course of illness of 99 DSM-III schizophrenic patients. Patients whose relatives were high EE at baseline and at the 2nd CFI approximately 20 months later had a poor prognosis at the very outset of the study and an unfavourable course of illness. They had a higher rehospitalisation rate, more symptoms, lower psychosocial assessment, and a poorer 2-year and even 8-year outcome. Patients from families with a fluctuating EE or a consistently low EE had better courses. Expressed emotion is therefore a valid predictor not only of symptomatic relapses, but also of other important aspects of schizophrenia. The connection between EE index and course of illness seems not to be simply reactive or causal, but complex and non-uniform.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Behavioral and neurophysiological evidence for altered processing of anxiety-related words in panic disorder.

Body-related and nonsomatic words were presented tachistoscopically to 15 panic patients and 15 healthy controls at each participant's threshold for correctly identifying 50% of neutral words. Behavioral (proportion of words correctly recognized) and electrocortical (event-related brain potentials [ERPs]) measures were registered. Panic patients recognized more body-related than nonsomatic words, and body-related as compared with nonsomatic words elicited, in these patients, significantly larger P300 amplitudes and enhanced positive slow waves (600 to 800 ms after stimulus presentation). In healthy controls, the number of correct recognized words and the ERPs were not differentially affected by the 2 word types. These results are grossly consistent with cognitive models of panic disorders, assuming that certain bodily sensation are perceived and processed in an affective manner that differentiates panic patients from healthy controls.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Psychoeducational psychotherapy for schizophrenic patients and their key relatives or care-givers: results of a 2-year follow-up.

Psychoeducational medication management training (PMT), cognitive psychotherapy (CP) and key-person counselling (KC) were carried out in various combinations in this randomized, controlled intervention study of schizophrenic out-patients (according to DSM-III-R). Special design characteristics of the study were a control group consisting of non-specifically treated patients and a 2-year follow-up after completion of treatment in order to evaluate medium-term effects. A total of 132 patients underwent a follow-up examination 2 years after completion of treatment and were evaluated with an intention-to-treat approach. In the second follow-up year, all treatment groups had lower but not significantly different relapse rates compared to the control group. The most intensive treatment (PMT+CP+KC) produces a clinically relevant reduction in rehospitalization rate (a 26% reduction compared to the control group). In comparison with the non-specifically treated control group, whose original effect decreased, at least a medium-term therapeutic effect was recorded in the treatment groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Family interaction and the course of schizophrenic illness. Results of a multivariate prospective study.

The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic relevance of relatives' interactive behaviour towards the patient, as covered by the Münster Family Interview (MFI), to the further course of the schizophrenic illness. The MFI is a family interview (of the whole family, including the patient) designed to record the emotional family atmosphere based on the concept of expressed emotion (EE). The ratings take place directly after the interview on five scales (criticism, hostility, overinvolvement, resignation and warmth), the resignation scale being added to the 'classic' EE scales. Ninety-nine families of outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to the DSM-III were examined with the MFI during a home visit. The patients were seen 1 and 2 years after the first examination. The target criteria selected for the prognostic significance of the interaction measurements were: rehospitalisation within 2 years; extent of symptoms after 1 year, and psychosocial skills after 1 year. The significance of the interaction dimensions was verified in regression models. The control variable used in the regression models was the Strauss-Carpenter scale. Regression models were produced for the total group and for a subgroup of moderately ill patients. All target criteria yielded serviceable prediction models. The most important variable for prediction was the control variable, the Strauss-Carpenter scale. However the interaction variables made additional contributions to the prognosis, especially in the subgroup of moderately ill patients. The best MFI scale for all the outcome criteria was resignation; criticism predicted only the symptomatology, and emotional overinvolvement the level of social functioning after 1 year. In conclusion, practical work with families of schizophrenic patients should emphasise the protective function of relatives towards patients more strongly.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Psychoeducational training for schizophrenic patients: background, procedure and empirical findings.

As neuroleptic therapy alone still fails to other effective relapse prevention in schizophrenic patients, psychoeducational therapeutic approaches have been developed as an additional aid for patients and their families. This article details the central characteristics of these approaches. A psychoeducational group program for schizophrenic outpatients, the efficacy of which was investigated within the scope of a German controlled intervention study on 191 patients, is also presented. The article describes in detail the methods used and the therapeutic objectives, reporting on changes in the attitudes of patients to their medication. At the end of the training program, patients who had attended regularly showed significantly better medication compliance and were more reserved with respect to their medication self-management. After 1 year the positive effects had diminished. However, booster sessions or participation of the psychiatrist in charge as group therapist would have had longer lasting effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Family therapy and work with relatives in various psychiatric diseases].

The use of family therapy and relatives' groups in various areas of psychiatry, e.g. schizophrenia, affective disorders, eating disorders, dependency disorders, psychogeriatrics, and adolescent and child psychiatry, is discussed. These forms of therapy have continued to increase in popularity, although relatively few controlled studies of their effectiveness had been undertaken until quite recently. For each disorder, the most frequently employed types of therapy are compared with each other on the basis of controlled studies of efficacy. More flexible combinations and integrated approaches are constantly being developed. These rely less on particular methods of treatment than on the patients themselves, their illnesses, and their attitudes towards their mental states and social environments. A few of these treatment strategies are discussed, and their most important features described. Controlled studies have provided increasing evidence of the efficacy of family therapy and relatives' groups in respect of various criteria: relapse rate, psychopathology, symptoms, quality of life (both of the patients and of their relatives), social integration, and subjective well-being, amongst others. The effectiveness of such treatment in many areas requires further investigation, for example in chronic mental illness and psychogeriatric disorders, which represent fields of ever-increasing interest. More basic research and continued assessment of the methods employed in practice will be required to clarify further the underlying principles and the best framework for carrying out family therapy and relatives' group sessions, and thereby develop successful methods of treatment based on firm theoretical principles.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Catatonia, malignant neuroleptic syndrome and myositis ossificans].

Lethal catatonia and the malignant neuroleptic syndrome represent two potentially fatal disorders that require different therapeutic regimens. Clinical differentiation is considered difficult because of a number of similarities with respect to mode of onset, signs and symptoms, and outcome. Recent observations emphasizing similarities between the two disorders, however, suggest that catatonia and the malignant neuroleptic syndrome may not represent separate diagnostic entities. Instead, the malignant neuroleptic syndrome has been hypothesized to be a neuroleptic-aggravated form of catatonia. In the present paper, we report the case of a 22-year-old male who developed different forms of malignant neuroleptic syndromes subsequent to a catatonic episode and overlapping it. In addition, the course was complicated by the occurrence of heterotopic calcification within skeletal muscles. The clinical value of diagnostic criteria that help distinguish catatonia from neuroleptic malignant syndrome and their therapeutic consequences are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Psychoeducational-psychotherapeutic treatment of schizophrenic patients and their caregivers. Results of a 1-year catamnestic study].

In this study we look into the question of whether, in addition to neuroleptic treatment, relapse rates among schizophrenic patients can be reduced by means of a combined psychoeducational and psychotherapeutic intervention strategy for patients and their relatives. In a randomized controlled intervention study in an outpatient routine treatment setting, psychoeducational training for medication management, cognitive therapy and work with relatives' groups were compared with each other and with a control group. The patients continued their standard treatment, including neuroleptic relapse prevention. The study comprised 191 chronic DSM-III-R schizophrenics. Data were collected before and after an 8-month intervention phase and at the 1-year follow-up. The group receiving all three treatments had the lowest relapse rates. Moreover, numerous gains recorded in subjective findings suggest that therapeutic work with schizophrenic patients and their relatives is of clinically significant benefit.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Smoking cessation with the nicotine patch].

Smoking cessation programs have become much more effective since the transdermal nicotine delivery system is available. Nicotine patches are well tolerated, have little side-effect and reduce the withdrawal symptoms of nicotine abstinence. Short- and long-term abstinence rates increase when nicotine patches are combined with behavioral therapy. This paper reports current scientific literature on placebo-controlled trials and gives treatment advices for smoking cessation using nicotine patches by general practitioners. Although nicotine patches are now available in Germany without prescription, therapeutic support by physicians, pharmacists or psychologists is indispensable for successful smoking cessation.

Administration, Cutaneous↗