Body, Mind & Spirit Articles and Latest News

Case report of autogynophillia - family, ethical and surgical implications.

Psychiatr Danub. 2009 Jun;21(2):242-5

Authors: Duisin D, Barisić J, Nikolić-Balkoski G

Through the case presentation of a diagnostically and therapeutically interesting gender dysphoric individual, the authors wish to address diagnostic problems associated with this controversial category, illustrate dilemmas and emphasize the importance of diagnostic procedures in differentiating between primary transsexualism and other transgender states. Many questions have been triggered by this case, mainly about whether this patient should be classified as a paraphilia (transvestite, transvestite with transsexual trend), primary transsexualism or autogynephilia and about the most adequate treatment (e.g., sex-reassignment surgery, hormone therapy as a way of partial feminisation or exclusively psychotherapy). The issue of reconstructive surgery, i.e. its justification in the case of this particular condition is specifically discussed. Before any decision is made, both medical but also ethical consequences of the treatment choice need to be considered (e.g., the client is the father of two underage children).

PMID: 19556956 [PubMed - in process]

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The 1993 symposium on psychoanalytic education revisited.

Psychoanal Rev. 2009 Jun;96(3):405-9

Authors: Bergmann MS

PMID: 19527142 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Reliability and validity of a new scale on internal coherence (ICS) of cancer patients.

Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2009 Jun 24;7(1):59

Authors: Kroz M, Bussing A, von Laue HB, Reif M, Feder G, Schad F, Girke M, Matthes H

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Current inventories on quality of life used in oncology mainly focus on functional aspects of patients in the context of disease adaption and treatments (side) effects (EORTC QLQ C30) or generically the status of common functions (Medical Outcome Study SF 36). Beyond circumscribed dimensions of quality of life (i.e., physical, emotional, social, cognitive etc.), there is a lack of inventories which also address other relevant dimensions such as the ;sense of coherence’ (SOC) in cancer patients. SOC is important because of its potential prognostic relevance in cancer patients, but the current SOC scale has mainly been validated for psychiatric and psychosomatic patients. Our two-step validation study addresses the internal coherence (ICS) scale, which is based on expert rating, using specific items for oncological patients, with respect to its reliability, validity and sensitivity to chemotherapy. METHODS: The items were tested on 114 participants (57 cancer patients and a matched control group), alongside questions on autonomic regulation (aR), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), self-regulation (SRQ) and the Karnofsky Performance-Index (KPI). A retest of 65 participants was carried out after a median time span of four weeks. In the second part of the study, the ICS was used to assess internal coherence during chemotherapy in 25 patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and 17 breast cancer patients. ICS was recorded before, during and 4 - 8 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: The 10-item scale of ;internal coherence’ (ICS) shows good to very good reliability: Cronbach-alpha r= 0.91, retest-reliability r= 0.80. The ICS correlates with r= 0.43 - 0.72 to the convergence criteria (all p<0.001). We were able to show decreased ICS values after the third cycle for CRC and breast cancer patients, with a subsequent increase of ICS scores after the end of chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The ICS has good to very good reliability, validity and sensitivity to chemotherapy.

PMID: 19552807 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Is NOS1 a genetic link between RLS and ADHD?

J Psychiatr Res. 2009 Jun 22;

Authors: Reif A

PMID: 19552920 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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This draft guidance is intended for manufacturers who use a pistachio-derived product
as an ingredient in a food product.

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About 47 million Americans have some form of metabolic syndromea group of conditions that increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and related complications. Metabolic syndrome is often characterized by abdominal obesity, impaired fasting glucose (an increase in glucose levels), elevated blood pressure, and high cholesterol and triglycerides. It is also associated with insulin resistance, a condition in which the body cannot use insulin effectively. Previous studies have suggested that chromium picolinate dietary supplements can help people with type 2 diabetes by improving insulin resistance and increasing the bodys sensitivity to insulin. However, its effects on people with a high risk for developing type 2 diabetes, especially those with metabolic syndrome, are largely unknown.

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Ultra-orthodox rabbinic responses to religious obsessive- compulsive disorder.

Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci. 2008;45(3):183-92

Authors: Greenberg D, Shefler G

This presentation deals with the response of rabbis to ultra-orthodox people suffering from religious symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The symptoms are consistent with religious practice and patients justify their compulsive behaviors by the dictates of the codes of law.Will rabbis see their primary role as protection of the codes of law rather than alleviation of the suffering of the faithful? Will they see the person as someone who is meritoriously meticulous or in need of help? The writings of two eminent rabbis, and advice related by contemporary patients in Jerusalem, Israel are presented. The most arresting example of guidance is provided by Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav (1772-1810) who declared that he himself suffered from excessive religious practices typical of religious OCD until he overcame them. The accounts of rabbis and patients have features similar to the cognitive-behavioral treatment of choice for this disorder. The guidance of a rabbi is based on authority, and detailed knowledge of religious law, while a mental health therapist is an expert on OCD. The latter cannot give religious guidance, and has no authority within the ultra-orthodox community, and is only afforded a role with the rabbi’s acquiescence. The role of the patient’s rabbi is likely to be crucial in management. Religious guidance without professional help may often only have short-term benefit in this generally chronic condition, although studies have not been carried out.

PMID: 19398822 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Intensive outpatient treatment for obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders.

Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci. 2008;45(3):193-200

Authors: Ben-Arush O, Wexler JB, Zohar J

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the most effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), yet the intensive treatment schedule often described and recommended is not readily accessible to many populations. In the present article, the authors describe a time-limited, outpatient, intensive treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders in Israel. Working in the client’s natural environment and making use of technology are particularly highlighted.

PMID: 19398823 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Stigma experienced by persons under psychiatric care.

Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci. 2008;45(3):210-8

Authors: Struch N, Levav I, Shereshevsky Y, Baidani-Auerbach A, Lachman M, Daniel N, Zehavi T

Mental health-related stigma causes suffering and interferes with care and social inclusion. This study explored stigma as experienced by mental health service users. Particular attention is given to their use of coping mechanisms. Interviews were held with 167 adults undergoing outpatient psychiatric treatment; two-thirds of them had previously been hospitalized. Examples of frequency of stigma-related situations included the following: Over half of service users expect people to refuse to have a person with a mental disorder as a co-worker or neighbor, or to engage in other types of social contact. A sizeable group acknowledged that they feared or had experienced rejection. A third of respondents reported they feared or had experienced inappropriate treatment by their doctor. Service users utilize several coping mechanisms to deal with stigma, among them: education, withdrawal, secrecy, and positive distinctiveness. Although we studied a convenience sample of service users, our findings provide sufficient basis to suggest different types of intervention, i.e., to address stigma in the course of treatment in the specialist settings, to promote the establishment of mutual support groups, and to raise family physicians’ awareness with regard to the stigma that may be present when caring for persons with mental disorders.

PMID: 19398825 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Does evidence support physiotherapy management of adult Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type One? A systematic review.

Eur J Pain. 2009 Apr;13(4):339-53

Authors: Daly AE, Bialocerkowski AE

OBJECTIVE: To source and critically evaluate the evidence on the effectiveness of Physiotherapy to manage adult CRPS-1. DESIGN: Systematic literature review. METHODS: Electronic databases, conference proceedings, clinical guidelines and text books were searched for quantitative studies on CRPS-1 in adults where Physiotherapy was a sole or significant component of the intervention. Data were extracted according to predefined criteria by two independent reviewers. Methodological quality was assessed using the Critical Review Form. RESULTS: The search strategy identified 1320 potential articles. Of these, 14 articles, representing 11 studies, met inclusion criteria. There were five randomised controlled trials, one comparative study and five case series. Methodological quality was dependent on study type, with randomised controlled trials being higher in quality. Physiotherapy treatments varied between studies and were often provided in combination with medical management. This did not allow for the ’stand-alone’ value of Physiotherapy to be determined. Heterogeneity across the studies, with respect to participants, interventions evaluated and outcome measures used, prevented meta-analysis. Narrative synthesis of the results, based on effect size, found there was good to very good quality level II evidence that graded motor imagery is effective in reducing pain in adults with CRPS-1, irrespective of the outcome measure used. No evidence was found to support treatments frequently recommended in clinical guidelines, such as stress loading. CONCLUSIONS: Graded motor imagery should be used to reduce pain in adult CRPS-1 patients. Further, the results of this review should be used to update CRPS-1 clinical guidelines.

PMID: 18619873 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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