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R Verres

Publications and source records attributed to R Verres.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

[Primary headache in childhood and adolescence. The association between changes in family interaction patterns and therapy success--a pilot study].

INTRODUCTION: Family interaction patterns are often involved in diseases and disorders in childhood and adolescence in complex ways (e.g in their development, maintenance and cure). The present study deals with the role of family factors in success in a pediatric headache therapy consisting of group hypnotherapy and systemic family consultation. METHODS: A sample of 12 outpatients, aged 9-15 years and balanced in sex, is investigated. Patients were diagnosed by IHS-criteria. Global symptom strain was measured by numeric rating scale (NRS) at pre-appointment and at 9-months follow-up appointment. Also family interaction patterns associated with the occurrence of headache symptoms were measured by content analysis. RESULTS: We found an association between changes in two independently assessed variables: global symptom strain and family interaction patterns. (1) When patients assessed global symptom strain as unchanged, family interaction patterns associated with headache were also assessed as unchanged by observers; (2) when patients assessed their global symptom strain as positively changed, family interaction pattern associated with headache were also assessed as positively changed by observers. CONCLUSION: These data provide empirical evidence about when to include family in treatment of pediatric headache: when rigid family interaction patterns associated with headache complicate a symptom change.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Music therapy for chronic headaches. Evaluation of music therapeutic groups for patients suffering from chronic headaches].

PROBLEM: This paper presents a new approach to music therapeutic treatments. We developed a short time treatment ( 8 group sessions) for patients suffering from chronic headaches. The multimodal concept of this headache treatment and particularly the effect of a sound trance on headache patients are explained and evaluated in this paper. METHODS: An evaluation study was done with 34 patients, who belonged to four therapy groups. In order to evaluate this treatment the patients were interviewed and had to fill out several self-rating scales about pain and some psychological variables (e. g. depression) before, directly after and 6-12 months after the treatment. This treatment group (n=26) was compared to a small waiting group (n=9). A case study elucidated the psycho-social anamnesis, and the process and outcome of the music therapy. RESULTS: The case study shows that the sound trance caused a loss of the affect control or at least reduced it. This experience enabled the patients to develop creative solutions, which resulted in a pain relief 6-12 month later. The comparison of the statistic means directly before and after the treatment did not reveal many therapeutic effects. Yet, 6-12 months later many patients reported less days at which they suffered from headaches; and they also significantly improved their ability of pain control. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that music therapy groups are more successful than a waiting group. The study's results agree with numerous other psychological evaluation studies and shows once more that music therapists working with patients suffering from chronic headaches are able to achieve successful results particularly long-dated. Thus, creative therapeutic approaches supplement the medical treatment, as they help the patients to develop an adaptive way of coping their pain. Yet, it will need further research to confirm the benefit of music therapy for patients suffering from chronic pain.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Psychosocial characteristics of infertile couples: a study by the 'Heidelberg Fertility Consultation Service'.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to identify differences in psychological characteristics between couples with fertility disorders, especially idiopathic infertility, and a representative sample. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 564 couples was examined using psychological questionnaires pertaining to sociodemographic factors, motives for wanting a child, dimensions of life satisfaction and couple relationships, physical and psychic complaints, and a personality inventory. RESULTS: Specific to our sample was the high educational level of the couples, and the large number with idiopathic infertility (27% of all diagnoses). There were no remarkable differences in psychological variables between the infertile couples and a representative sample, except that the infertile women showed higher scores on the depression and anxiety scales. Couples with idiopathic infertility showed no remarkable differences in the questionnaire variables compared with couples with other medical diagnoses of infertility. CONCLUSIONS: A typical psychological profile for infertile couples could not be identified using standardized psychometric rating methods. This may be an effect of the specific characteristics of our sample. For some couples, the infertility crisis can be seen as a cumulative trauma, which indicates that these couples have a marked need for infertility counselling.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1995

[Social support of radiotherapy patients in emotional stress and crisis situations].

PURPOSE: This study assesses the psychosocial strains imposed upon radio-oncological patients throughout their treatment. We investigated patients' resources of social support and their relationship towards doctors, nursing staff and technical staff. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and fifty radio-oncological follow-up patients were asked retrospectively to complete a standardised written questionnaire. This was preceded by 30 in-depth interviews led with radio-oncological in-patients who currently received treatment. RESULTS: Radiotherapy patients reported a spectrum of major stresses, which showed a considerable individual variability. Many patients had experienced emotional crises during hospitalization for their radiation treatment. Most frequently the main social support was provided by relatives. Still, medical staff also played an important supportive role in alleviating emotional distress. Almost half of all patients appeared to have a generally positive attitude towards psychological counseling. CONCLUSION: This study is part of a psychosocial intervention project established in a radiotherapy department. Support is provided for patients directly, e.g. through crisis intervention, supportive therapy, creative therapy, etc. In addition, indirect intervention is aimed at enhancing psychosocial competences of the clinical staff, through lectures, case conferences and seminars.

Crisis Intervention↗
PubMed1994

[Video-feedback therapy with the flexible nasopharyngoscope. The potentials for modifying velopharyngeal closure and phonation deficiencies in cleft patients].

Psychological interviews with cleft palate patients have revealed why a number of these patients do not profit, or do so only on a limited basis, from conventional speech therapy. They don't control articulation by means of the auditory canal. To treat these patients the video feedback therapy with the nasopharyngoscopy (Witzel et al.) was employed as the initial step. The next step was to expand on this method by establishing indication criteria, necessary diagnostic techniques, and an efficient therapy plan. In this paper a single case study is employed to discuss this method and show the results attained by its use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[How do patients experience radiotherapy?].

PURPOSE: In the course of a radiotherapy treatment oncological patients--in addition to some physical symptoms--often experience severe psychological distress. This study assesses and analyses the psychological strains emerging throughout a radio-oncological treatment. Specific intervention measures are being suggested to alleviate patient's psychosocial distress. This study is part of a psychosocial intervention project performed in a radio-oncological department. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using a semi-standardised interviewing technique 30 radio-oncological in-patients were questioned in depth about their psychosocial situation. Subsequently a fully standardised written questionnaire was designed, enabling a further 150 patients to be investigated retrospectively, when presenting themselves for routine radio-oncological follow-up examinations. RESULTS: In particular, the irradiation session itself, the waiting time beforehand, and the relationship to fellow patients were found to be potentially stressful. More than half of all patients reported anxiety during their first irradiation, which usually decreased during subsequent sessions, and in no case increased. One third of the 30 inpatients wished to have more contact and conversations with fellow-patients, e.g. while waiting for their treatment. The 150 retrospectively assessed patients stated a substantially lower wish for further contact. Almost one third of the in-patients apparently gained comfort from a downward comparison to patients who they perceived as being worse off than themselves. CONCLUSION: Psychosocial intervention can help radiotherapy patients to cope with fears and distress, and thus enhance their quality of life. Support should be provided by psychological specialists, as well as by clinical staff in various ways. Anxiety concerning radiotherapy can often be alleviated through a sensitive and empathetic manner while explaining the radiotherapy process. Patient groups and seminars offer patients the opportunity to exchange experiences and to gain further information about their disease and treatment. In situations of extreme distress psychologists can accompany patients, and if necessary perform crisis intervention. Psychological specialists can also provide further education and support for the clinical staff.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of psychosocial aspects in a breast preservation trial.

Our preliminary and exploratory data analysis of the current state of QOL assessment in the ongoing BMFT breast preservation trial indicates that our questionnaire meets criteria of validity, differentiability, and practicability in the context of a large multi-center trial. The results of treatment comparisons tend towards accordance with those of comparable studies, in that they do not show the often-postulated global superiority of breast-preserving therapy over mastectomy with respect to QOL. The special study concept of combining patients with and without treatment preference gives rise to a lot of methodological issues but is the only way to find out whether participation in the therapeutic decision-making process is beneficial to the patient or not.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[The cancer patient and his environment].

There are complex interacting factors at work both in the frequent social ostracism of cancer patients and in their self-imposed stigmatisation. Attribution of guilt and fantasies about the infectiousness of cancer are cited as examples of how the layman's concept of the disease often includes metaphorical elements. "Victimization" of the cancer patient on the part of a healthy person can often be interpreted as a defence mechanism in the process of the latter's coming to terms with his own fears and at the same time it may be due to unconscious justification of his tendency to keep distance. In view of the widespread tendency of people to behave insincerely and ambiguously towards cancer patients, it is shown how difficult it is for these patients to recognize any clear pattern in the reactions of others. This explains many of the conformist and defensive forms of behaviour adopted by cancer patients; however, such behaviour tends to reinforce isolation, rather than to dispel it. The feelings of cancer patients are frequently disregarded in medical institutions and this may take on the character of an "institutional defence"; this is a further reason why there are also many doctors (as well as laymen) who believe that they can do nothing to help overcome the psychosocial isolation of cancer patients.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1982

[Therapeutic interactions with aggression].

This article deals with the following three problems: 1. Which aspects must be given special consideration in respect of psychological diagnosis and therapy planning in those patients who have been referred to psychiatric treatment mainly because of violence displayed by them? 2. What are the conclusions we can draw from our knowledge of the behaviour of persons whose everyday behaviour patterns seem absolutely normal or even characterized by an inhibition of their aggressive tendencies, and who suddenly and unpredictably perform acts of aggression, and what are the conclusions we can draw from our experience in respect of the therapeutic management of such patients? 3. What is our knowledge regarding the actual course of aggressions and violence between patients and therapeutic personnel in everyday psychiatric ward practice, and what are the conclusions regarding a possible improvement of such interactions by appropriate therapy?

Aggression↗