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Biomedical subjects

Thomas Heidenreich

Publications and source records attributed to Thomas Heidenreich.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Motoric neurological soft signs and psychopathological symptoms in schizophrenic psychoses.

Motoric neurological soft signs (NSS) were investigated by means of the Brief Motor Scale (BMS) in 82 inpatients with DSM-III-R schizophrenic psychoses. To address potential fluctuations of psychopathological symptoms and extrapyramidal side effects, patients were examined in the subacute state, twice at an interval of 14 days on the average. NSS were significantly correlated with severity of illness, lower social functioning, and negative symptoms. Modest, but significant correlations were found between NSS and extrapyramidal side effects as assessed on the Simpson-Angus Scale. Neither the neuroleptic dose prescribed to the patient, nor scores for tardive dyskinesia and akathisia were significantly correlated with NSS. Moreover, NSS scores did not significantly differ between patients receiving clozapine and conventional neuroleptics. Patients in whom psychopathological symptoms remained stable or improved over the clinical course showed a significant reduction of NSS scores. This finding did not apply to those patients in whom psychopathological symptoms deteriorated. Our findings demonstrate that NSS in schizophrenic psychoses are relatively independent of neuroleptic side effects, but they are associated with the severity and persistence of psychopathological symptoms and with poor social functioning.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Interpersonal problems in social phobia versus unipolar depression.

In this study we compared interpersonal problems in outpatients with social phobia (n=50) to those with unipolar depressive disorders (n=50). All participants completed the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems. Multivariate analyses of variance revealed significant group differences. Individuals with social phobia had significantly lower scores on the primary dimension of Control and significantly higher values on the Social Avoidance subscale than did individuals with depression. Our results support findings from former analogue studies. They indicate that social phobia is associated with severe social relationship problems that should be considered in treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Treatment of social phobia in childhood and adolescence].

OBJECTIVES: The following article investigates the extent to which the current status of cognitive behavioral research on the treatment of socially phobic children and adolescents is reflected by the currently used guidelines for psychotherapy. METHODS: The current literature on research in psychotherapy was systematically reviewed. RESULTS: The results show the significance of single-setting treatment, of cognitive interventions, and of parental participation in the therapy. The results also show the limitations encountered if the treatment consists only of training social competence skills. CONCLUSIONS: The current treatment recommendations for socially phobic children must be supplemented and modified.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2005

Depersonalization and social anxiety.

Although the literature on depersonalization (DP) indicates links between DP and anxiety disorders, there has been no systematic investigation of the association of DP with social anxiety. The present study explores a hypothesized connection between DP and social anxiety by using correlative and regression analyses in a sample of 116 psychotherapy inpatients, 54 outpatients with epilepsy, and 31 nonpatients. Corresponding to our hypothesis, we found a connection of medium to large effect size between DP and social fears exceeding the impact of general psychopathologic symptom severity both for the psychotherapy patients and the nonpatients. The association of social anxiety with DP merits further research. A general consideration of DP in clinical and neurobiological trials on anxiety disorders like social phobia is warranted.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Depersonalization, social phobia and shame].

Associations between depersonalization (DP) and social phobia (SP) were described in the early scientific literature. This connection, however, has not yet been considered in the recent empirical literature and clinical trials on SP. The aim of this study is to examine these associations. In a sample of 100 consecutive inpatients we compare 45 patients with pathological DP to 55 patients without pathological DP with respect to comorbidity and the degree of social anxieties assessed with the SOCIAL INTERACTION ANXIETY SCALE (SIAS) and with the SOCIAL PHOBIA SCALE (SPS) and the extent of shame assessed with the INTERNALIZED SHAME SCALE (ISS). Social phobia was significantly more prevalent in the patients with pathological DP. Furthermore, the patients with pathological DP showed a significantly larger extent of social anxieties (SIAS, SPS) and shame (ISS). The results may be considered as a preliminary empirical support of the assumed associations and thus warrant an enhanced consideration of DP in therapy and research of social anxiety disorders.

Depersonalization↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of monitoring and blunting coping styles in primary insomnia.

OBJECTIVE: Primary insomnia is one of the most prevalent sleep disorders and assumed to be initiated and maintained, among other factors, by psychological variables such as coping strategies, sleep hygiene techniques, and arousability. Althouugh the number and kind of stressors seem to be important initiators of insomnia, individual coping dispositions appear to play a larger role in maintaining it. This study explores the relationship between different coping dispositions (monitoring/blunting) and insomnia. Monitoring refers to information-seeking behavior under threat; blunting pertains to distractive strategies utilized in situations implying threat or danger. METHODS: The study compares 37 primary insomniacs (DSM IV criteria) and 47 good sleepers. Dependent measures included self-rating scales concerning sleep quality (Schlaffragebogen part B, Frankfurter Schlaffragebogen), coping styles (Frankfurt Monitoring Blunting Scales), and psychopathology (Neo Five Factors Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory). All measures had documented psychometric properties. RESULTS: Primary insomniacs were significantly more likely to rigidly resort to monitoring strategies in controllable as well as uncontrollable situations. Further, 73% of all rigid monitors identified in the sample were rated as primary insomniacs, whereas 86% of all rigid Blunters were good sleepers. Insomniacs showed higher levels of anxiety than good sleepers, coping style groups differed in anxiety and neuroticism scores. CONCLUSION: The study further supports the hypothesis that a monitoring coping style is related to primary insomnia. Blunting appears to be a good predictor of high sleep quality. The results are discussed with regard to improving treatment for patients suffering from primary insomnia.

Adaptation, Psychological↗