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E Schwarz-Ottersbach

Publications and source records attributed to E Schwarz-Ottersbach.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

[Psychoimmunology].

Psychoneuroimmunology, an interdisciplinary field of research, is concerned with the interactions between the central nervous system, the endocrine system and the immune system. In this survey the importance of psychosocial factors is illustrated by means of a number of studies reviewed from the literature: 1. Psychosocial factors related to illness (except aids): In animal experiments it could be shown that the effects of aversive stimulation on tumor growth were dependent on the type and manner of application of the stressors. The influence of personality factors and psychological states on the course and possibly also on the susceptibility to illness was frequently confirmed with regard to upper respiratory infections, coronary artery disease, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. 2. Psychosocial factors related to changes in immunity: Changes in immunity could be demonstrated relating to bereavement of close relatives as well as in mental illness. In spite of immunologic abnormalities found in the various diseases the importance of the aforementioned immunosuppression on possible subsequent onset of illness is not yet clarified. The fact that we can experimentally strengthen or weaken the immune system by means of psychological methods offers a further possibility to influence the course and prognosis of various diseases by means of psychologically induced changes in immunity.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Treatment- and task-induced changes in interhemispheric EEG.

Fifteen male alcoholics treated for three weeks with phenobarbital, diazepam or placebo, the treatment being shifted in the fourth week to placebo in the medicament groups and to phenobarbital in the placebo one, were examined once a week. Frequency analyzed EEG recordings from both hemispheres at three activation levels (relaxation, vigilance, stress) were evaluated and left/right log power ratios formed to ascertain possible hemispheric preponderance, a total of 201600 ratios being evaluated. Blood levels, performance and self estimated mood modalities were obtained. Significant effects (1) of different types of treatment, (2) of a shift in type of treatment and (3) of shifts in activation level on frequency dependent hemispheric preponderance were ascertained and a relation to changes in clinical course of mood modalities was established.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1986

Activation levels, EEG, and behavioural responses.

Fifteen male alcoholic patients, who were divided into 3 different groups and treated for 3 weeks with placebo, phenobarbital or diazepam, were examined once a week in 3 different states of activation, varying from relaxation to moderate and high demand attention. Frequency-analyzed EEG recording, pulse rate, drug plasma levels, mood and performance were evaluated. The aim of this paper was to find an explanation in the EEG for responding correctly or in a non-adequate way to stimuli. Based on the activation theory of vigilant behaviour, the EEG recordings of the first examination were analyzed before, during and after the presentation of specific stimuli and related to 4 types of responses (hit, miss, false response, correct rejection) to ascertain whether prestimulus patterns were connected with different types of behavioural poststimulus responses. The EEG patterns were found to be dependent on the type of drug administered as well as on the complexity of the task performed. In all 3 treatment groups, low EEG changes before stimulus onset seemed to be the necessary condition for adequate behavioural responses. A high variability between time-points seemed to indicate a subvigilant state which led to non-adequate responses and possibly to internally induced stimuli in the vigilance test to overcome this state. In the stress phase, however, the missed responses were possibly due to selective attention to the simultaneously appearing non-relevant stimuli. The conclusion must be drawn that, at least in alcoholic patients in the acute withdrawal phase, the EEG prior to and during the stimulus presentation plays a decisive role in determining the type of emerging behavioural response: the differential high variability of the EEG is response-specific, whereas the actual power values depend on the medication given and the task performed.

Adult↗