Biomedical subjects

H Klimitz

Publications and source records attributed to H Klimitz.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

[Developing a cooperation model between 3 psychiatric clinics with the goal of quality assurance in mandatory treatment exemplified by restraint documentation].

Since 1996 three psychiatric hospitals have been working together closely in a team aiming at improving the quality management of coercive measures. The first comparison of documented restraints showed conspicuous differences in incidence and duration. Due to this, the group decided to document and to compare the incidence, duration and reason of restraints and the legal status and sociodemographic variables in the three hospitals over one year. Considerable deviations were found with regard to the number and duration of restraints and number of patients concerned. Hospital A (2622 admissions) registered 103 restraints of 53 persons whereas hospital B (5802 admissions) reported 254 restraints of 121 persons, hospital C (4252 admissions) finally, documented 621 restraints of 120 persons. Hypotheses giving reason for these findings are discussed. Furthermore, developments and changes aiming at reducing coercive measures and at complete and comparative documentation by co-operation of the three hospitals, are reported.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

[Are restraints used too frequently? Indications, incidence and conditions for restraint in a general psychiatric department. A prospective study].

A 10-month prospective study of 148 restraints on the acute psychiatric wards of a general hospital aimed to describe the institutional context of restraints. Nursing and medical staff were inquired according to a standardised procedure about ward atmosphere, staffing, medication and other factors. 81% of restraints lasted up to 2 hours, danger of harm to others was found the principal indication criterion (70%). 41% restraints occurred during the first 3 days after admission, mainly within the late shift of nursing staff and outside the regular office hours of the doctors. Ward atmosphere was rated rather relaxed, whereas nursing staff twice as often as doctors rated medication as insufficient. Implications for indication on the use of restraints and for future research are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

[Compulsory treatment in psychiatry from the viewpoint of the patient. A prospective study].

During a 6-month period all patients who had been treated involuntarily in a state-funded mental mental health unit were studied prospectively. They were interviewed after the first compulsory measure and at the end of treatment. A control group of patients (not experiencing involuntary treatment) were interviewed as well. The aim of the study was to establish whether the groups differed with respect to judgement of subjective well-being and satisfaction with treatment. The stability of these judgements over time and especially changes in perception and acceptance of involuntary treatment during the course of treatment were also monitored. the 36 patients in the study group perceived themselves as being far less ill at both time points and were less satisfied with treatment than the 29 control patients. At the end of treatment, all patients judged themselves to be significantly more ill retrospectively and patients of the study group were more satisfied with treatment than at the beginning. When questioned in the days after an involuntary measure, 25% of the patients concerned denied that any measure had taken place against their will; at the end of the hospital stay this figure had increased to 42%. In contrast, four control patients complained that they had been involuntarily subjected to treatment. In discordance with the previously published literature, the acceptance of involuntary treatment declined over time.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

[Psychoeducational family treatment in schizophrenia--a popular concept? A critical evaluation of different treatment models].

Having outlined the background of psychoeducational intervention in the treatment of schizophrenic disorders the goals of family psychoeducation and of psychoeducation are described. Two formats of family psychoeducation are discussed to illustrate the differences in form of intervention. Especially the underlying illness concept and anthropology are critically assessed: it is worth nothing that patients and relatives are provided with a somatic illness concept not consistent with current research evidence and which may support passive illness-management strategies. Finally, the reduction of psychoeducational treatment to the improvement of medication compliance is discussed.

Caregivers↗

PubMed1986

[Effect of aging on the sex distribution of depressive disorders].

The effects of age on sex differences in depression were studied in an inpatient-sample of the Department of Psychiatry, Free University Berlin. The dependent variable depression was defined by nosological classification (ICD) and by the severity of the Depressive Syndrome of the AMP-Rating Scale on admission. With the exception of the 40-49 years olds women were more often diagnosed as depression compared to men, the preponderance of women was significant till the age of 40. With regard to the Depressive Syndrome women manifested a more pronounced symptomatology up to the age of 70. The difference diminished for male and female patients 50-69 years old and changed to a higher score for men older than 70. The results were discussed in comparison to other findings published in the last years.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1982

Correlations between psychopathology, psychological test results and computerized tomography changes in senile dementia.

This study is an investigation of the relationship between morphological, neuropsychological, and clinical measurements, all presumably contributing to an expert's diagnosis of senile dementia. Morphological assessment was carried out by linear measurements taken from the photographs of the CT scanners display. The battery of tests comprised instruments able to evaluate performance (WAIS, Benton test, d2 test, Trail Making test) as well as personality (FPI) from a quantitative point of view. For clinical assessment the Assessment Scale for Gerontopsychiatry (AGP) was used. A group of 39 patients suffering from mild to severe dementia was studied. The results show strong correlations between some sub-tests of the WAIS and certain CT measurements but fail to show comparable features in using the full scale IQ. The other cognitive tests did not work as well in detecting brain atrophy. Surprisingly, the personality inventory (FPI) showed some correlations with brain atrophy. A number of correlations between morphological and clinical variables were found as well, consistent with well-known clinical experience. Topographical features will be discussed supporting the view that cerebral lesions in the progress of senile dementia take the form of distinct patterns.

Affect↗