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H Wormstall

Publications and source records attributed to H Wormstall.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

[The German Alzheimer Family Groups. An assessment of current status].

Counselling the relatives of psychiatric patients is becoming increasingly important. This includes the relatives of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Since little is known about the organization and function of support groups for family caregivers of Alzheimer patients, in 1994 we wrote to all such groups known to us and asked them to fill in a questionnaire. The response rate was 85% (84/99), and 66 of the forms could be used for further analysis. The results were as follow: Most groups for relatives of Alzheimer patients admitted new members at any time. 69% had existed for more than 1 year and 19% for more than 5 years. 81% consisted of 6-15 participants. 73% of the groups met once in a month. Health professionals organized the groups in 65% of cases. The main topics were trading information about the disease and support as well as daily care requirements. 73% of the groups were associated with health institutions or nationwide support organizations. Public relations were managed by personal contacts and press reports; did the groups rarely advertise. Based on a review of the literature, the impact of structure upon the function of groups is discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1996

[Sensitive delusion of reference--only of historical significance? A current case example].

In 1918, Ernst Kretschmer published the monograph "Der Sensitive Beziehungswahn" [The Sensitive Delusion of Reference], one of his most important contributions to psychiatry. It reflects the lively discussion on psychogenic psychoses that was going on at the turn of the century. An actual case is used to demonstrate that even today the "sensitive delusion of reference" can be clearly delimited as a distinct syndrome. On the basis of the current literature, possible reasons for the fact that this diagnosis is relatively rarely made today are discussed. The sensitive delusion of reference is also an example of socio-cultural change in psychiatric diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Treatment availability for patients with dementia].

Starting at a short account of epidemiological, symptomatical and therapeutical aspects of dementia, a group-referential concept for persons suffering from dementia is presented. Aims of treatment, points of view of carrying through and contents of the treatment are described. A summary of experiences up to now and recommendations for the therapeutical dealing with this group of patients follow.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Travel as a stabilizing factor in folie a deux?].

Case report on a folie à deux (double insanity) in a relatively young, married couple who decompensated psychologically subsequent to the failure of different compensation mechanisms after premorbid strange behaviour and jointly developed delusions of ugliness and of injury. The history of the disease pattern of "folie à deux", or double insanity, is described, as well as the present-day definitions, and the case report is set against this background.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Therapeutic sleep deprivation in depressives, restricted to the two nocturnal hours between 3:00 and 5:00.

1. In 33 patients with a depressive syndrome the effects of partial SD restricted to the 2 hours between 3:00 and 5:00 in the morning was compared to that of no SD (= undisturbed sleep, n = 17) and total SD (n = 16) in a balanced crossover design. 2. Partial SD had a moderate antidepressant effect which is, however, clearly inferior to that of total SD. 3. Reasons for the scarceness of the effect may be an inappropriate timing of this 2-hr SD period (which seems improbable), too short a duration of SD, or the resumption of sleep at 5 o'clock. 4. "Intermediate" SD in the form it was used here represents no therapeutic advantage as we had expected. Its moderate effects lend support to the hypothesis that sleep disturbance is a sign of (mostly insufficient) restorative or self-healing efforts of the depressive organism.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

The effects of several muscarinic antagonists on pre- and postsynaptic receptors in the isolated rabbit heart.

In order to reveal possible differences between pre- and postsynaptic muscarine receptors, seven antagonists were tested for their affinities on these receptor sites in the rabbit isolated perfused heart. Methacholine was used as an agonist to inhibit the noradrenaline overflow evoked by electrical stimulation (3 Hz, 3 min) of the sympathetic nerves (presynaptic parameter) and to decrease the systolic tension development of the right atrium (postsynaptic parameter). The affinity of an antagonist was expressed as pA2. A decreasing order of potency was obtained with ipratropium, scopolamine, atropine, trihexyphenidyl, amitriptyline, and gallamine, both for pre- and postsynaptic responses. The antagonists acted competitively and their effects were reversible. Furthermore, for none of the drugs did the pA2 (pre) differ from the pA2 (post). With QNB (3-quinuclidinyl benzilate) a pA2 (post) of 11.65 was obtained. However, the affinity to presynaptic receptors could not be determined as a pA2 value due to the very prolonged exposure time required for the equilibrium with QNB and for that with methacholine in the presence of QNB. It is concluded that the antagonists employed do not reveal differences between pre- and postsynaptic muscarine receptors of the rabbit heart, in spite of their greatly varying chemical structure and their individual affinities ranging over 5 orders of magnitude. The findings confirm the view of a homogeneous muscarine receptor population characterized by functional parameters.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A case of paranoia with severe consequences. From a historical approach to a multidimensional understanding of chronic delusional disorder.

Following a brief resume of the history of the notion of paranoia, we present the case history of a 67-year-old female patient, who suffered from irreversible physical handicap as a result of chronic delusion. Against the background of the on-going controversy about the existence of paranoia as a distinct illness, we discuss the contemporary understanding of delusional disorders, emphasising the importance of a multidimensional therapeutic approach.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Use of supportive autogenic training in multiple morbidity in geriatric psychiatry patients].

23 multimorbid, geronto-psychiatric patients, aged 60 years or older, participated in a "supportive" course of autogenic training according to Schultz. Participating in the course an average of 7 +/- 3 weeks, 17 (76%) of the subjects were able to learn the training. In general, subjects reported a better general condition after the training sessions, measured with visual analogue scales (p < 0.001). The psychopathological status improved significantly during the time of the course (BPRS: p < 0.001; GDS: p < 0.001). No significant change was found in the cognitive state (MMSE) and the statements on the "list of complaints" ("Beschwerdenliste"). The global training success was better in the psychopathological less affected than in the more severely ill (BPRS prior r = 0.64, p = 0.001, GDS prior r = 0.46, p < 0.05). No correlation was found between training success and age, number of somatic diseases, number of medication, MMSE and the "Beschwerdenliste". Autogenic training is a useful component in psychotherapeutic and psychiatric therapy for elderly multimorbid in- and outpatients. A half-open group, two therapy sessions per week, reciting the training formulae aloud, a structured, simple setting and co-therapists proved to be worthwhile.

Aged↗