No abstract

Evaluation of the ‘Fragebogen zum Figurbewusstsein’ (FFB, German version of the Body Shape Questionnaire) Background: The German version of the Body Shape Questionnaire (FFB) is widely used to assess different aspects of body dissatisfaction. In the present study the FFB is evaluated extensively for the first time. Method: Two groups of normal controls (n = 201 and n = 189 women, respectively) were included, as well as 182 women with the diagnosis of bulimia nervosa and 49 women with the diagnosis of binge eating disorder. Results: In each of the four groups a principal component analysis revealed a single factor. The reliability of the FFB was found to be good. Clinical and non-clinical groups were significantly different with respect to their FFB-scores. Specific correlations between the FFB-score and different measures of symptoms of bulimia also supported the validity of the FFB. Finally, preliminary norms were estimated. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that the FFB is suitable for usage in therapy and research.

No abstract

Background: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the impact of a 6-month cognitive-behavioral therapy for infertile couples. Methods: Seventeen idiopathic infertile couples participated in a therapy program comprised of modules to behaviorally optimize the chance of conception, improve sexual functioning and satisfaction, reduce thoughts of helplessness and, if necessary, improve marital communication skills. Pre- to posttreatment changes in the therapy group were compared to changes in two control groups. Results: The therapy group showed an improvement in sperm concentration, a reduction in thoughts of helplessness and a decrease in marital distress. By the end of therapy participants practiced timed intercourse more reliably and reported unchanged sexual pleasure and satisfaction during the nonfertile period of the menstrual cycle. At the 6-month follow-up, problem-focused thoughts had decreased. The live birth rate was higher in the therapy group than in epidemiological samples. Conclusion: Preliminary data suggest that cognitive-behavioral treatment may be an effective approach for the treatment of infertility.

Infertility represents a serious stressor for some patients as well as a risk factor for a decrease in sperm quality. The purpose of the present study was to identify coping strategies that went along with both better emotional and physical adjustment to infertility. The sample consisted of 63 patients who contacted an andrological clinic more than one time. Prior to clinical examination, patients filled out a questionnaire referring to the way in which they coped with their wives' previous menstruation. Participants also completed a scale assessing perceived distress due to infertility. Change in sperm concentration since baseline semen analysis and the level of distress were used to evaluate patient's adjustment. The better-adjusted patients showed less prominent overall coping efforts, and a higher proportion of distancing coping strategies. An improvement in sperm quality also was associated with a low cognitive involvement in infertility. Situational uncontrollability of infertility could be a moderator of the effectiveness of coping employed by the better-adjusted patients. In addition, the coping behaviour related to better adjustment could be due to a dispositional stress resistance factor. For clinical implementation of the findings, the attitudes of a patient and the expectations of his wife have to be taken into consideration.