Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Battegay

Publications and source records attributed to R Battegay.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

[The drinking patterns of professionally working women of an industrial enterprise in an urban agglomeration of the north-western part of Switzerland, and its relationship to socioeconomic variables, a pilot study (author's transl)].

In the frame of a pilot-study, a statistically non-representative group of 436 women, employed in an industrial enterprise of north-western Switzerland, were questioned on normal drinking habits with regard to alcoholic beverages. The extent of the consumption and the preferences of different types of alcoholic beverages were correlated with socioeconomic variables. The authors point out that, due to the lower average weight by women and to a possibly different distributive factor and therefore a differing blood-alcohol-concentration, the extent of alcohol consumption has to be scaled differently than by men. Women older than 35 years indicate significantly more often a considerable consumption (p less than 0,02). Significant correlation is given between a higher social status of these women and high consumption, be it in connection with the level of professional training (p less than 0,05), the income (p less than 0,001), or the social class of their fathers. No relationships could be found between consumption and marital status or consumption and place of origin. When high consumption is in evidence, there is a significant correlation with the preference for wine (p less than 0,02), beer (p less than 0,005) or aperitifs (p less than 0,05). The different age-groups show only tendencies to prefer the different types of alcoholic beverages. Although wine is the most popular beverage for all the women examined, it is significantly more often mentioned by women over 35 years, followed by aperitifs, beer and hard liquors. Younger women prefer hard liquors (p less than 0,05), older ones more often choose medicated wine (p less than 0,05). There are also correlations to be found between the preference for an alcoholic beverage and professional status as well as the levels of social status of the fathers and income. Wine is preferred by women with a higher income (p less than 0,01), hard liquors by those from a higher social level of origin (p less than 0,05). These results differ from those out of other inquiries in men and women insofar, as the women in this pilot-study drink less and not as often as men. The correlations with regard to the level of professional training, professional status and income are the same as those described with regard to men. Differences however exist when the beverages preferred by women are examined, since the latter more often prefer wine and less often hard liquors than described when men and women are questioned together.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[Aggression in its communicative and destructive dimension (author's transl)].

Aggression in the sense of a grasping interest belongs to man so intimately that he wouldn't have reached these performances, these accomplishments and this power he has reached today on the vivid and unvivid nature. If the individual would not interest himself "aggressively" for the human beings surrounding himself, if he would not be "hungry" for human contact he would not associate himself for pairing and groups. He would not look for individuals who are of the same mind. This existential hunger, which is laid down in his nervous system seeking for stimuli, contains always an "aggressive" interest and leads man also towards searching scientifically his own psychosomatic conditions and the whole world. But this hunger can lead in certain men and under favouring conditions in whole groups and peoples to dimensions which endanger individuality and the human pride. This aggression then does not any longer serve communication but further incorporation and power. It is the beginning of the way leading to destruction of human values and human life. The responsibilities of our society should keep in mind that the human readiness for aggression does not drive further in the direction of violence and should rather be developed in the sense originally inherent to her: of an interest in the surrounding human beings and in nature.

Aggression↗
PubMed1980

[Comparative socio-economic follow-up study of patients with psychogenic depressions and alcohol- and drug dependencies with and without suicide attempts (author's transl)].

A catamnestic examination in the sense of a pilot study concerning 104 patients having been treated between 1972 and 1976 in the Basle Psychiatric University outpatient clinic was centered on preponderately the following items "former psychiatric treatment", "suicidal attempts", "socioeconomic conditions", childhood" and "conditions of habitations". The collective of patients was presented by 52 psychogenic depressives and 52 alcohol- respectively drug-dependants. Of each group half of the patients had one or more suicidal attempts behind them. The comparison of the 2 diagnostic groups and of the patients with suicidal attempts with those who had never attempted suicide showed, among other significant findings, that the patients with suicidal attempts lived in the childhood and in the actual situations in worse conditions of habitation than those having never attempted suicide. This correlation was interpreted as a consequence of direct confinement by a narrow space and indirect confinement by pathological interactions and disturbances in the self development.

Achievement↗
PubMed1979

[Transsexualism and its therapy].

After a review of the historical development of ideas about transsexualiam and the discussion of possible somatic and psychological causes of this condition, the results of explorations of 12 male and 6 female transsexuals who desired a hormonal and surgical approximation to the opposite sex are reported. Two of the nine patients whose chromosomes were examined were found to suffer from Klinefelter's Syndrome. From the personal history it was apparent that 8 of the 12 male transsexuals had difficulty in identifying with an absent, alcoholic or brutal father. The wish to be a member of the opposite sex could be traced in 10 of the 12 male and all 6 female transsexuals to the first five years of life. 7 of the 12 male transsexuals and 3 of the 6 female transsexuals were found to have attempted suicide or to have had suicidal tendencies in the past. In 9/12 male transsexuals and 5/6 female transsexuals the "change of sex" operation was considered to be indicated. The average age at operation was 28 for the male transsexuals and 26 for the female transsexuals. The follow-up studies were done 2 months to 3 years after operation for the male transsexuals (average 1, 7 years) and 2 to 3 3/4 years post operatively (average 2, 9 years) for the female transsexuals. 7/8 of the male transsexuals from whom we have katamneses and both female transsexuals reported that they felt subjectively better than before the operation. The present legal situation concerning the registration of change of name and sex in various countries is described.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

[Comparative catamnestic investigations concerning the psychological effects of sterilisation (author's transl)].

In a comparative catamnestic study the emotional working-through of sterilisation in 3 groups of 33 women was examined (duration of catamnesis: 10-12, 5, 2 years). Whereas in all the 3 collectives the upper lower class (according to Bolte) is represented the most frequently (58% in the 1st and the 2nd, 52% in the 3rd), as far as the lower middle class is concerned there is a higher fraction in the 3rd collective (p less than 0,05) and of the middle class there is a higher fraction in the collectives 1 and 2 (p less than 0,05). Women with a higher income (p less than 0,01) and with a better school and professional (p less than 0,05) training are overrepresented in the 2nd and 3rd collective. In the 3rd group only 6% indicated a religious bond, in comparison to 55% in the 1st and 49% in the 2nd group (p less than 0,01). Women of the 2nd and the 3rd collective were in comparison to those of the 1st group older (p less than 0,01) when they were sterilised, and had less children (p less than 0,05-0,01). In the 3rd group there were more divorced women (18%) in comparison to 3% in the 2nd and 0% in the 1st group (p less than 0,01). Concerning the indication for sterilisation medical-psychiatric causes were preponderant with 42% in the 1st group in comparison to 24% in the 2nd and 18% in the 3rd group (p less than 0,01), whereas in the 2nd group (61%) the social indications were predominant. The immediate cause for sterilisation was represented in the 2nd and the 3rd collective preponderantly by the desire to replace the hormonal contraceptives (p less than 0,01). The 1st collective mainly used insecure contraceptive methods before the operation, the 2nd and 3rd principally hormonal methods (p less than 0,01). In the 1st group it was mainly the insecurity of the method, in the 2nd and the 3rd there were more frequent side effects or contraindications (p less than 0,01), which caused the dissatisfaction with the anticonceptive method. The 3 groups differed significantly concerning the catamnestic evaluation of sterilisation. 100% of the last, 94% each of the 2nd and 3rd were satisfied concerning the sterilisation. To the question of working-through of sterilisation concerning psychic, somatic and especially sexual effects, most of the women in all the 3 groups responded favourably.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Group models, group dynamics, sociological and psychological aspects of group formation and evaluation.

Several group models are defined: a mechanistic model, a model of conflicts, a cybernetic model, a field-theoretical model, an organismic model, an interactionistic model. In all these models the group is a dynamic entity which is based on a mutual dependence of the members. From this sociological-horizontal-interactional point of view the group is therefore an entity. From a psychological-vertical aspect the group is rather a common situation in which the individual members remain in their experience separated from each other. To understand the group therapeutic dynamics it is necessary to keep in mind these two levels. From the sociological aspect, e.g. the frequency and kinds of interactions, the relationship of the inside-distances between the members to the distances of the members to the outside is decisive for group cohesion. The more the total interaction in a group augments, the more the emotionally loaded interactions increase. The significance of group cohesion in the therapeutic process is documented also by means of standardized rating scales. The normative effect of the group, the different roles in it, the group structure have to be considered if the group is to be used as a therapeutic mean. From the psychological point of view five phases of group development can be differentiated: 1) explorative contact, 2) regression, 3) catharsis, 4) insight, 5) social learning. By a factor analysis Lieberman et al. have found out that independent of the method used, the following types of group leaders were successful: the "provider", the "social engineer", the "energizer".

Group Processes↗
PubMed1977

The different kinds of group psychotherapy with patients with different diagnoses.

Group psychotherapy is a treatment method in which in addition to the therapist(s) the participating individuals are, autocentrically, active in attaining a therapeutic effect. The different kinds of group psychotherapy are described: 1) activity group psychotherapy, 2) analytic group psychotherapy, 3) directive-suggestive-group psychotherapy, 4) psychodrama, 5) accelerating/focal methods of group psychotherapy. Group psychotherapeutic techniques with patients of different diagnoses are discussed, e.g. group psychotherapy with drug dependants and alcoholics, in which it is not possible to use a pure analytic method of group psychotherapy. Their oral tendencies and narcissistic desires of undergoing a fusion with the therapist have to a certain degree to be fulfilled. Schizophrenics should encounter is group psychotherapy an unconditioned emotional response from the therapist. These patients on the one hand expect to be understood in their psychotic experience, but on the other hand they seem to be glad when the measures of the outside reality are maintained in the group. The relatives of schizoprenics wanting to co-operate are taken in a parallel group. Depressives, especially endogenous depressives, need a longer time to be integrated in a therapeutic group than other patients, but if they can be integrated, it helps them to tolerate their sufferings. To the neurotics, group psychotherapy offers insight and a chance to "translate" this insight into a new social behaviour. Analytic self-experience groups with staff members give them an opportunity to recognise from their own experience the conflicts and the behaviour patterns from which their patients suffer.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1977

[Possibilities and dangers of group psychotherapy].

The author points out that in every group - also in groups put together for psychotherapeutic purposes - attention must be paid to the inherent sociodynamics. The knowledge of the sociological aspect connected with it is on this account important, because the individual is entangled in generally groupdynamic processes (e. g. the normative effect of the group, the emotionally relevant interactions that increase overproportionally with the growing density of interactions and simultaneous decrease of the emotionally neutral interactions, the amplifying effect of the group, etc.). Besides, the knowledge of the psychological aspect is important, e. g. the consideration of the development of a narcissistic group-self in the individual or in several persons, the mutual identification processes, etc. To comprehend the therapeutic process the knowledge of the usual movement of the group events is above all important. The differentiation of the five following phases may, however, only be taken as a scheme: (1) explorative contact, (2) regression, (3) catharsis, (4) insight, (5) social learning.

Emotions↗
PubMed1976

[Group psychotherapy in psychiatry].

Psychiatry has learned to regard the human being not only as an individual but as a social being. Accordingly, group psychotherapy has come increasingly to the fore in recent years and decades. In general the term "group psychotherapy" means simultaneous psychotherapy of a number of patients by one or two therapists. Sociological-interactional-horizontal and deep psychological-motivational-vertical components combine in the therapeutic group to produce a resultant. Insight into unconscious motivations and social learning are stimulated in the therapeutic group. Through group psychotherapy, which can be administered as a treatment method alone or in combination with other therapies, inpatients and outpatients experience a framework which activates former experiences of collective life situations, e.g. in the family, and social valencies. Irrespective of the method of group psychotherapy (activity group psychotherapy, directive-suggestive group psychotherapy, group analysis, psychodrame or one of the accelerating methods) the group should always be group- and not leader-centered. Hitherto published results of group psychotherapy show that the treatment depends much more on the therapeutic commitment of the therapist (moderator, facilitator) than on the psychotherapeutic school to which the belongs.

Humans↗
PubMed1976

[How alcohol and drug consumers see themselves: a personal and social self-assessment (author's transl)].

In a representative inquiry we found significant differences in the self-assessment of 4082 20-year-old Swiss men, as to whether their consumption of alcohol and drugs is high, low, or zero. The heavy users of alcohol and drugs describe themselves as men with frequent personal difficulties and psychosomatic disturbances. They tend to separate earlier from their family and prefer a less conventional, more consume-orientated, and passive way of life than the remainder.

Adult↗