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Biomedical subjects

H Haltenhof

Publications and source records attributed to H Haltenhof.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

[Coping behaviors in Parkinson's disease].

In 45 patients with Parkinson's disease, we investigated coping behavior and its correlations to demographic and disease-related data, locus of control, depression, and psychosocial adaptation. Active, problem oriented, and self-reorganizing strategies were predominantly used and regarded as especially helpful by the 27 men and 18 women (age: 56 years; duration of illness: 9 years). While age and sex were not associated with coping, external locus of control correlated positively to "depressive coping" and duration of illness correlated negatively to "distraction and self-affirmation." Coping strategies regarded as maladaptive and a small degree of internal locus of control correlated to unfavourable results for depression and satisfaction.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

[Origins of dialogue: phenomenological theories of intersubjectivity in developmental perspectives and as a foundation of psychotherapeutic processes].

Recognizing the other with his/her psychic peculiarity is an important assumption for psychotherapy. But how is empathy possible? Answers are to be expected by phenomenological-philosophical approaches concerning intersubjectivity and infant research. They are described in a comprehensive way and related to each other in spite of their epistemological differences. As can be seen in the beginning of showing and reading maternal emotions (so-called "social referencing") an infant is able to show intersubjective behaviour from the age of nine months on. Research on the reflected image of the infant and the development of shame shows that consciousness of the ego is not built before the age of one and a half years. These empirically well established results contradict those phenomenological approaches claiming that the other cannot be experienced directly but via cognitive analogies of own emotions (Lipps, Husserl). They better fit an anthropology that states the human being as an innate dialogically structured one and therefore being capable of empathy. Therefore the base for a deeper understanding of the following results of psychotherapy-research is established: 1. Early infant's memories probably do not exist as isolated images but are embedded in interactional structures. 2. Strict therapeutical abstinence may be experienced as a denial of communication and may have a retraumatic effect. 3. Quality of therapeutical relationship is crucial for the success of psychotherapy.

Child↗

Reliability of biographical data, their relations to personality variables and their influence on life-events.

BACKGROUND: First, this study aims to investigate the reliability of biographical and personality data, i.e. analysing the impact of depressive mood on these variables. Second, the influence of early life experience and personality on the reporting of life events was examined. METHODS: Self-reporting questionnaires were administered for a sample of 250 depressive subjects at the beginning, and to assess the influence of depressive mood on the reporting of biographic data at the end of inpatient treatment we used a random sample of 50 subjects out of the 250 patients. RESULTS: Biographical data, unlike personality data, are not significantly influenced by depressive mood and depressive cognition. The number of life-events, and their mean subjective stress, neuroticisms and aim-relatedness are on a direct path strongly influenced by biographical data. That means that the more negatively primary socialisation was reported, the more life-events were communicated, with corresponding increases in the reporting of their subjective stress, and more neuroticism and less aim-relatedness, and vice versa. Neuroticism strongly influences in a positive way, and aim-relatedness negatively influences in a medium way, the number of life-events and their subjective stress. That means the higher neuroticism and the lower aim-relatedness were reported, the more life-events and higher stress were communicated, and vice versa. CONCLUSION: Linear causal processes from mood-independent factors (e.g. biographical factors, vulnerability) may be the beginning of cyclic causal processes, i.e. vicious circles between life-events and mood-dependent factors (e.g. personality variables). LIMITATIONS: According to the design of the investigation there is no differentiation possible between personality and depression. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To avoid vicious circles between life-events and mood-dependent factors, preventive psychotherapeutic intervention seems to be necessary to avoid the genesis of harmful life-events.

Adult↗

Coping with refractory epilepsy.

We investigated the coping behaviour and its correlation with demographic and illness-related data, depression, locus of control and psychosocial adaptation in 40 patients with intractable epilepsy with primarily or secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Three standardized self-reporting questionnaires were applied, which are the Freiburg Questionnaire of Coping with Illness (FKV), the von Zerssen Depression Scale (D-S), and the IPC-questionnaire measuring generalized locus of control beliefs; the Social Interview Schedule (SIS), a semi-structured interview, was used to measure the psychosocial adaptation. Active, problem-focused and compliance strategies were predominantly used and regarded as most helpful. Hence, the epileptic patients use similar coping patterns reported in patients with other non life-threatening chronic diseases. The level of depression was moderate and in the range of other chronic somatic diseases. The use of coping patterns, which are regarded as maladaptive, was correlated with distinct depression, a small degree of internal locus of control beliefs and poor psychosocial adaption. These results indicate the possibility to improve psychosocial adjustment by supporting effective strategies.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Coping with Parkinson's disease and refractory epilepsy. A comparative study.

Coping strategies and their correlations with demographic and illness related data, depression, locus of control, and psychosocial adaptation were investigated in 45 patients with Parkinson's disease and 40 patients with intractable epilepsy. Three standardized self-report questionnaires were applied: the Freiburg Questionnaire of Coping with Illness (FKV), the von Zerssen Depression Scale (D-S), and the IPC-questionnaire measuring generalized locus of control beliefs. The Social Interview Schedule (SIS), a semi-structured interview, was used to measure psychosocial adaptation. Active, problem-focused and compliance strategies were predominantly used and regarded as most helpful in both groups of patients. Hence, Parkinson and epilepsy patients used similar coping patterns despite the strong dissimilarities of symptoms and illness-associated burdens. The level of depression was not significantly different in both groups and in the range of other chronic somatic diseases. The use of coping patterns, which are regarded as maladaptive, was correlated with distinct depression and a poor psychosocial adaption. In conclusion, no indications for illness-specific coping patterns were found in patients with Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. In both groups, certain coping strategies are associated with good and others with poor psychosocial adjustment. These results indicate the possibility of improving psychosocial adjustment by supporting effective strategies.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

[Which patients participate in exercise therapy? An empirical study of a psychiatric clinic].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to find out in which clinical and sociodemographic parameters patients who take part in kinetic therapy and those, who don't, differ. METHODS: 38 patients of a psychiatric university clinic who regularly took part in movement therapy were compared with 32 patients who did not. RESULTS: The participants had a higher level of education, obtained fewer psychotropic drugs and were assessed as slightly less impaired by their disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings cannot fully explain what determines participation in kinetic therapy. Other factors like the cut-off of five times for assignment, the therapist's influence and the theory of self-efficacy need to be discussed.

Adult↗

[Evaluation and utilization of complementary medical procedures--a survey of 793 physicians in general practice and the clinic].

It is well known that complementary medicine is demanded by numerous patients and used by many doctors. In a representative postal survey of 793 female and male doctors working in practices and hospitals in the town and in the district of Kassel we could confirm the wide distribution of these procedures, especially as far as doctors in practice are concerned. It was the special interest of our study to analyse the motives for the use and the indications and to ask for a detailed and differential assessment of 18 complementary techniques.

Adult↗

[Tricyclic antidepressants in depressed patients with cardiovascular diseases: a contraindication?].

Depressive disorder and cardiovascular diseases occur quite frequently together in the same patient, especially in older patients. On the one hand depressions can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, on the other hand cardiac disease can lead to depressive disorders in need of treatment. Thus the problem of prescribing tricyclics for patients with cardiovascular diseases is of great clinical relevance. In our review we summarize first of all the important cardiovascular effects of tricyclics in healthy persons and patients with cardiovascular diseases. Indications and (relative) contraindications for this medication with respect to cardiovascular disorders and proposals for diagnostic procedures in the beginning and during the course of antidepressant medication are following. Finally we present some recommendations for the treatment of tricyclic-induced side effects.

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic↗

The evaluation of life event data.

Data from three life event studies are compared. The interviews covered events that occurred within a period of 2 years before interview. The same inventory was used in each of the studies. Samples were drawn from depressives, myocardial infarction patients and an industrial worker population. The patient groups were interviewed twice within 4 weeks. Fewer than 50% of the total number of events reported in the retests were recorded twice. For events reported in both interviews the correlations of subjective appraisals were only moderate. There is considerable fall-off for reports of events occurring more than 6 months before interview. It was expected that the severest events would have the lowest, and the least severe ones the highest frequencies. Instead, inappropriate labels of the rating scales led to clusterings of severity ratings at their extreme points. Numbers of events and severity ratings were positively correlated with measures of depression.

Adult↗

[Depression in Parkinson disease. A literature review].

Depressive disorders occur in Parkinson's disease in about 40%. They often manifest--not seldom preceding diagnosis of Parkinson's syndrome--like monopolar depression. Their cause has not yet been explained in a satisfactory way. Neurotransmitter disturbances are discussed as well as psychogenic factors. There seems to be a subtype of Parkinson's disease with more frequent depression, which is characterized by increased rigidity and bradykinesia, lower age at onset and family history of Parkinson's disease. Especially antidepressants, but also sleep deprivation and electroconvulsive therapy are efficient. The review is illustrated by a case report.

Depressive Disorder↗

[Coping with depression: how do depressed patients manage their illness? Review of the literature].

In this review first of all and relating to the paradigm of salutogenesis some principles of coping research and some different aspects of the relation between depression and coping are discussed. A survey of studies on coping with depression is following. In this context conceptual and methodical issues are especially considered, which are in our opinion responsible for the fact, that psychic, particularly depressive disorders are--in comparison with somatic and psychosomatic diseases--so seldom object of empirical coping research. Finally some therapeutic conclusions are deducted from the presented data.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

[The significance of the Balint-group work: a review of the literature and an empirical study in Unterfranken].

The group work initiated by Michael Balint aims at a comprehensive understanding of the doctor-patient-relationship and a patient-centered medicine. In a review of the literature some studies are presented, which focus on results of Balint work and changes in the participants of this group method. An empirical study of 436 physicians in Unterfranken shows that about 9% have participated in Balint work. Attitudes and motivations of the participants and setting and results of Balint work are studied as well as notions and knowledge of those, who have not done Balint work yet. The study demonstrates positive results in most of the participants.

Adult↗

[Ethical aspects of psychotherapy].

There are many ethical problems in theory and practice of psychotherapy. Aims of therapy, effectiveness, side effects and modalities of therapy are discussed in detail. The dependency of these aspects from anthropological considerations and understanding of illness is stressed. As far as side effects of psychotherapy are concerned abuse of the patient by the psychotherapist is distinguished from those potentially harmful effects which are due to the specific process of psychotherapy. The relationship of psychotherapy to psychopharmacotherapy is discussed in a special passage.

Ethics, Medical↗

[Achievement motivation in essential hypertension: an empirical study].

The influence of achievement-motivation on hypertonia was investigated by a psychometric questionnaire for achievement-motivation with four scales: achievement-motivation, steadiness and diligence, positive examination-anxiety and negative examination-anxiety. The sample of 53 persons was drawn by chance out of an unbiased set of hypertonic patients. Mean by age: 45 years; part of female: 28 subjects; part of male: 25 subjects; vocational school: 16 subjects; high-school: 20 subjects; academics: 20 subjects. The sample of the hypertonic patients was compared with a matched sample of normotonics, concerning sex, age, and education and also with the sample for the construction of the questionnaire. There were significant differences (p = .05) of the hypertonics in the scales achievement-motivation, steadiness and diligence, and positive examination-anxiety but no difference in negative examination-anxiety. The results were discussed with regard to neurophysiological activation theory.

Achievement↗

[Psychosocial competence of general practitioners in managing psychiatric patients: initial results of a questionnaire study].

OBJECTIVE: Given the frequency of patients with psychosocial problems and mental disorders in primary care our study focuses on the relationship between the psychosocial qualifications of general practitioners and their management of these patients. METHOD: A questionnaire was sent to all general practitioners in Hessen asking for sociodemographic and profession-related data as well as their psychosocial competence and their procedure during a regular day in practice. Based on 396 questionnaires we compared five groups of general practitioners with different psychosocial qualifications, proportionate incidence of diagnoses, medical procedures and referrals to specialists and hospitals. RESULTS: The average age of the participants of our study is 45 years, they have been working for 14 years. 163 general practitioners without and 59 with a special interest in psychosocial qualification and 174 psychosocially qualified physicians participated in the study. Of a total of 65 patients seen during the reference day 18 were diagnosed as suffering from mental disorders. Their number increased with greater psychosocial competence of the physicians. Psychosomatic and reactive disorders are the most frequent mental disorders to be seen in primary care with nearly 60%. Verbal therapy is often applied, procedures of the so-called psychosomatic basic care and prescription of psychotropic drugs play only a minor role. Nearly every fourth patient is referred to other specialists, referrals for inpatient treatment occur with 1.3% only. DISCUSSION: Because of the low response rate our study is not representative. Nevertheless the results permit some conclusions concerning the relationship between psychosocial qualification of general practitioners and their management of patients with mental disorders.

Clinical Competence↗