Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Michael Geyer.
In the present study a psychoanalytic therapy was assessed by the CCRT method for the first time. We used reformulated categories for CCRT scoring. The data analyses were based not only on the most frequent categories but on newly developed alternative strategies. We could determine specific relationship patterns with special objects reflecting aspects of the clinical concept of transference.
This study, carried out at three different university centers contributes to validating the valence dimension of the CCRT-method. Working on the state of the CCRT-research on affective evaluation of relationship narratives, the connection between the valence dimension of the responses from others (RO), responses of the self (RS) and the severity of the psychic disorder has been analysed with the help of two different samples (n = 266 resp. n = 32) taken from female patients. Both, therapists as well as patients themselves, evaluated the severity of the impairment similarly. The more the patients were impaired, the more negatively they describes both their own reactions and those of their interaction partners as shown in the relationship episodes.
The present study describes the German version of the "Systems of Belief Inventory (SBI-15R)" developed by Holland et al. The questionnaire was used in a representative sample of 954 eastern and 1031 western Germans. The SBI met tests of internal consistency and demonstrated discriminant validity. But the two factors of the original version could not clearly be replicated. For the relevance of religious beliefs we found that women score higher than men, older score higher than younger, persons with lower education score higher than persons with higher education, western Germans score higher than eastern Germans. Connections between the SBI-15R-D and self-evaluation as being religious and importance of faith during childhood give hints to the instrument's validity. The SBI-15R-D can serve as a valid and economic tool to explore the role of religious and spiritual beliefs.
The Core Conflictual Relationship Theme Method (CCRT) is without doubt one of the most widely used relationship structure instruments in the field of psychodynamic psychotherapy research. Despite the important and sustained criticism of the German translation of the original Anglo-Saxon description of clusters and of standard categories, research in German-speaking countries still relies on this translation. This study aimed at developing an alternative German cluster version while maintaining the existing set of standard categories. This alternative cluster structure for the three CCRT components showed higher inner consistency while at the same time making more clinical sense. It also is promising in that it can be used with CCRTs scored using the original translation of the instrument. This first investigation of relationship patterns using the original and alternative clusters confirmed the increase of discriminant and convergent validity of the CCRT-method.
Connections between attachment styles and relationship patterns are studied on 32 female psychotherapy patients. Our study gives first hints to a connection between attachment variables, assessed by the German version of the Adult Attachment Prototype Rating (AAPR) and predominant relationship patterns, assessed by the Core Conflictual Relationship Theme Method (CCRT) developed by Luborsky, if both methods are used independently. Subsamples according to the attachment styles show differences in CCRT variables.
The study presents the subjective responses of a representative sample of the German population (2050 subjects, aged 14 to 92 years) on the prevalence of somatoform complaints, using the SOMS (Screening for somatoform disorders) developed by Rief et al. (1997). The results show that somatoform disorders are widespread in the German population. The symptoms named most frequently were pains in the back, aching limbs, pains in the arms or legs, headaches, facial pains and sensations of fullness in the stomach. Women named more somatoform complaints than men and elderly suffered more than the young. The higher rate found in East Germany could be accounted for by the responses of the East German women. Of particular economic and political relevance is the health care utilization behaviour of this group of patients. High medical consultation frequencies and increasing drug consumption were found for a significant proportion of all patients with somatoform disorders. In apparent contradiction to these findings is the classification according to DSM-IV and ICD-10, which diagnose somatoform disorders in only 0.2%-0.4% of the population. Such low prevalence can be attributed to the restrictive diagnostic criteria applied by these systems which obscure the real frequency of somatoform syndromes requiring specific treatment.
In the present study the Relationship Episode Paradigm Interviews of 70 female patients with different psychoneurotic diseases were analysed with respect to object-specific patterns with the CCRT method. The most frequent categories are the same in all relationship episodes and in subsamples of relationship episodes with mother and father. These categories are also predominant in episodes with women and men. Relationship episodes with mother do not differ from episodes with father, and relationship episodes with women do not differ from episodes with men. But there are substantial differences in relationship episodes with the mother and women and between episodes with the father and men. Patients recount much more positive relationship patterns with women and men than with their parents. This could be understood as a hint of interpersonal resources.
The study presents the results of a representative survey on the utilization of the health system and subjective attitudes to the psychosocial professions, based on the responses of 2179 subjects aged 16 to 96 years. The residents of Germany frequently seek medical and non-medical help in cases of illness or health-related problems. General practitioners are consulted most of all, but medical specialists also play a significant role. Women seek professional help more than men and the demand increases with age. Comparisons between West and East Germany reflect a few persistent qualitative differences. Doctors from the psychosocial fields (psychotherapists, psychiatrists) are consulted least of all. Utilization of psychotherapy is deficient, information about the existence of the psychosocial professions is poor and acceptance of their competence relatively low. However, the high proportion of those who have sought out a psychotherapist on the advice of a doctor demonstrates the high latent readiness to accept help in this field when needed. The particular responsibility of primary doctors in influencing attitudes here is thereby underlined.
The present study describes the development of the German short version "Fragebogen zu interpersonellen Schuldgefühlen" (FIS) of the "Interpersonal Guilt Questionnaire" (IGQ) developed by O'Connor et al. The questionnaire was used in a representative sample of 652 eastern and 1283 western Germans. Woman show higher scores on the subscales "Seperation Guilt" and "Omnipotent Responsibility Guilt" than man. Eastern Germans mark higher scores on the subscale "Omnipotent Responsibility Guilt" than western Germans. Correlations between interpersonal guilt and social anxiety and differences between a non-clinical and a clinical sample show that maladaptive aspects of guilt feelings can be assessed by the "Interpersonal Guilt Questionnaire".
In this study the present form of the Relationship Patterns Questionnaire (RePat) will be presented as a successor of the Interpersonal Relationship Patterns Questionnaire (IRQ). Similar to the IRQ the RePat assesses the behavior of relationship concerning both one's own and the anticipated behavior of an important person on the basis of the SASB model and the CCRT method. In contrast to the IRQ, the RePat is much shorter and thus easier to use. The study describes the construction and the psychometric examination of the questionnaire by using a representative study (n = 2007, East = 1015, West = 992). The samples of East and West Germany show structural differences concerning its relationship patterns, which in our opinion are plausible for political and historical reasons. The clinical application and their implications for therapeutic interventions will be demonstrated by a single case using both the patient's and her partner's assessment of their relationship.