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Biomedical subjects

J Margraf

Publications and source records attributed to J Margraf.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[When can the family physician do?].

Even when a specific psychotherapy is undertaken, the family physician can be of use for the patient by using appropriate medicine. Hints for the communication, consultation, self-help, and the definite information exchange are given for different forms of anxiety diseases. The adequate diagnosis' elucidation of an anxiety disease is of great importance. The correct sequence of the arguments is helpful in reducing the resistance and for the acceptance of explanations. The problem of a patient's referral to a specialist is discussed.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed1994

Memory bias in panic disorder.

We investigated selective memory effects in patients with panic disorder. Thirty patients with panic disorder and 20 normal controls learned panic-related, strongly pleasant, and strongly unpleasant words. During the incidental learning task, Ss imagined scenes combining the referent of a presented word with themselves. After a distractor task, Ss took a free-recall test. Panic Ss showed enhanced memory for panic-related words but not for positive or negative words.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Recommendations for the use of measuring instruments in clinical anxiety research].

The Arbeitskreis Angstforschung (AKA) brings together investigators active in the field of anxiety research and representatives of anxiety disorder outpatient clinics in German speaking countries. During its regular meetings, the decision was made to develop recommendations for the assessment of anxiety disorder patients in clinical studies. A task force of experts in pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments established a consensus of opinion to improve standardisation and comparability of studies originating from different centres. The AKA specifically recommends the following set of variables to be collected in all studies: (1) Demographic data: age, gender, marital status, education, employment, and living situation. (2) DIAGNOSIS: diagnoses should be obtained by clinically experienced personnel with special training in the particular assessment instruments. Structured interviews, according to the current versions of the DSM or ICD classifications are recommended. Published reliability and validity data should be available for the interviews. Examples of specific instruments meeting these criteria are given. (3) Symptoms and course: Data on the course of the disorder should cover onset, type of course, timing of episodes, currently active or in remission, as well as a complete treatment history. In addition, patient self-ratings and observer ratings should be obtained in order to allow comparisons across studies, assess the severity and measure treatment outcome. (4) Disability and restrictions in quality of life: these variables should be assessed by rating scales covering work, social and leisure activities, and family relationships. The AKA expects that these recommendations will be helpful to clinical anxiety researchers. Acceptance of common standards should improve the quality and comparability of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic studies in the complex field of anxiety disorders.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗
PubMed1993

Psychological treatment of panic: work in progress on outcome, active ingredients, and follow-up.

Initial interest in the causes and treatment of panic disorder was triggered by biological theories and investigators. More recently, however, research on newly developed psychological approaches for panic has advanced our understanding of the disorder and has led to the development of specific treatment programs. Typically, these programs consist of a range of treatment components that more or less directly target panic attacks and the fears and behaviors associated with them. The paper reviews four studies evaluating these programs that have recently been completed or are close to completion in different centers in the United States (Albany, New York; Austin, Texas) and Europe (Oxford, England; Marburg, Germany). Conforming to strict methodological standards, these studies report consistently high success rates and temporal stability of the treatment gains. About 80% or more of the patients receiving combined cognitive-behavioral treatments achieved panic free status as well as strong and clinically significant improvement in general anxiety, panic-related cognitions, depression, and phobic avoidance. Furthermore, these gains were maintained at follow-ups of up to 2 years. The success of these psychological treatments compares favorably with the outcome for the established pharmacological treatments. In addition, the studies provide new insights into the active ingredients that may operate in cognitive-behavioral treatments for panic disorder and show the feasibility of group treatments. Together, these studies underscore the fact that cognitive-behavioral treatments rest on firm experimental evidence that justifies their application in everyday practice as well as continued research into their mechanisms of action.

Arousal↗
PubMed1992

Imipramine and alprazolam effects on stress test reactivity in panic disorder.

The reactivity of 40 panic disorder patients on mental arithmetic, cold pressor, and 5% CO2 inhalation stressors was tested before and after 8 weeks of treatment with imipramine, alprazolam, or placebo. Mean levels of subjective and physiological stress measures were compared during a baseline before any stressors were given, and at anticipation, stressor, and recovery periods for each stressor. After treatment, imipramine patients differed from the other two treatment groups on the prestressor baseline in showing higher systolic blood pressure (mean difference about 10 mmHg), higher diastolic blood pressure (10 mm Hg), higher heart rate (15 bpm), less respiratory sinus arrhythmia, shorter pulse transit time, and lower T-wave amplitude. Respiratory measures, electrodermal measures, body movement, and self-reported anxiety and excitement did not distinguish the groups. Reactivity to the stress tests was unaffected by the medications, but tonic differences present in the baseline persisted.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Stress test reactivity in panic disorder.

The psychological and physiological reactivity of 52 patients with panic disorder to mental arithmetic, cold pressor, and 5% carbon dioxide inhalation tests was compared with that of 26 age- and sex-matched normal subjects. In general, patients with panic disorder were neither more physiologically reactive to these stressors than normal subjects nor slower to recover from them, but they were tonically more anxious and much more likely to ask to stop carbon dioxide inhalation or to report panic attacks during this test. Patients who reported panic attacks (46%) had manifested greater anticipatory anxiety before the gas was delivered, accompanied with increased beta-adrenergic cardiac tone. Thus, anticipatory anxiety can be an important factor in panic provocation. Physiological measures varied greatly in their sensitivity to phasic or tonic anxiety. Carbon dioxide stimulated large increases in respiratory minute volume, but these increases were no greater for patients than for normal subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

How "blind" are double-blind studies?

Psychopharmacological studies usually attempt to eliminate "nonspecific" influences on outcome by double-blind designs. In a randomized, double-blind comparison of alprazolam, imipramine, and placebo, the great majority of panic disorder patients (N = 59) and their physicians were able to rate accurately whether active drug or placebo had been given. Moreover, physicians could distinguish between the two types of active drugs. Inasmuch as correct rating was possible halfway through treatment, concerns about the internal validity of the double-blind strategy arise.

Adult↗