Biomedical subjects

K Stengler-Wenzke

Publications and source records attributed to K Stengler-Wenzke.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

[Stigma experiences of patients with obsessive compulsive disorders].

BACKGROUND: Only in recent years has research shown interest in stigma experiences of patients with mental disorders. However, subjective experiences of patients with OCD have not been published until now. METHOD: Fifty-one patients with OCD were questioned about anticipated and actual stigmatization experiences as well as their stigma coping strategies, using a questionnaire especially developed for this study. RESULTS: Most of the patients expected negative reactions from their environment. Eighty per cent of the respondents were convinced that they would be rejected at work when it became known that they are mentally ill. Two thirds of the respondents feared that they would be rejected in a partnership. Concrete stigmatization was rarely reported by patients with OCD. Contrary to patients with depression and schizophrenia, the group of patients with OCD showed some differences between anticipated and actually experienced stigmatization. Concealing is a relevant strategy for dealing with the illness for three quarters of the respondents. CONCLUSION: Possibilities of reducing stigmatization and discrimination because of mental illness in general and OCD in particular are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2002

Depression and quality of life: results of a follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Although there is sufficient evidence that the quality of life of people suffering from depression is reduced hardly anything is known about their quality of life after the remission of a depressive episode. AIMS: We therefore set out to study the quality of life of patients with depression (ICD-10 F32, F33) one, four and seven months after discharge from hospital. For comparison, a random sample of the general population was studied in addition. METHOD: Quality of life was assessed by means of the WHOQOL-100, a self-administered questionnaire developed by WHO. RESULTS: Although, shortly after discharge, quality of life of patients whose depression remitted was better than that of patients with persisting depression it was still slightly worse than that of the general population. During the subsequent six months, there was no further improvement of quality of life, i.e. even at the end of the follow-up period there was a slight lack of quality of life, especially as concerns the level of independence, spirituality/religion/personal beliefs and physical health. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, what already had been reported based on the objective assessment of quality of life, namely that depression implies a persisting impairment of social functioning and living conditions, can be replicated to some extent from the point of view of the patients themselves.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

[Depression and stigma].

AIM: Until now, the interest of stigma research in psychiatry has been predominantly focused on schizophrenia. The fact that individuals suffering from depression may also be exposed to stigmatization, on the other hand, has received little attention. METHOD: Using the scales for the assessment of perceived stigma and stigma coping developed by Link et al., 39 patients who had received in-patient treatment for a depressive episode were questioned 4-7 months after their discharge from hospital. RESULTS: 45% of the respondents reported concrete instances of stigmatization. Respondents expected to find discrimination and devaluation on the part of their environment especially with regard to their changes on the labour market. The vast majority of those questioned was in favour of keeping the fact that one had experienced a mental illness or had received psychiatric treatment to themselves. Further, our results show a tendency to avoid situations which might imply an increased risk of stigmatization. While respondents considered it important to facilitate a better understanding of mental illness on the part of their closest friends and relatives, the idea of being actively involved in educating the lay public received comparatively little support. CONCLUSION: Although individuals suffering from depression may be confronted with less rejection or resentment than schizophrenic patients or patients with substance use disorder, this does not imply that they do not have to struggle with the problem of stigmatization.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1999

[Presentation of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a patient with schizophrenia treated with clozapine].

PURPOSE: Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic agent for the treatment of schizophrenic patients whose symptoms do not respond to traditional antipsychotic drugs. The emergence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms during treatment of clozapine has been reported in some case studies. We report on the case of a 31-year old man with chronic schizophrenia who had shown obsessive-compulsive symptoms during treatment with clozapine. RESULTS: A 31-year old patient with treatment refractory schizophrenia was treated with clozapine. During clozapine treatment, positive symptomatology decreased, but after 4 months after starting clozapine the patient showed obsessive and compulsive symptoms. This symptomatology had previously not been a feature of this patient's illness. CONCLUSIONS: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms were observed during treatment of clozapine in a schizophrenic patient. This may be explained either by the serotonin-receptor antagonism of clozapine or its atypical dopaminergic receptor effects.

Adult↗