The alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a common phenomenon in psychiatric hospital care. Not only treatment strategies, but also the evaluation of the syndrome, are discussed controversially. The most widely used instrument is the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment-Alcohol (CIWA-A) and the succeeding CIWA-Ar. We modified the CIWA-A and translated it into German. Validity and reliability of the modified and translated scale were analysed by several psychological tests as well as different somatic measures in 31 patients. The German version appears to be a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome useful for clinical routine as well as treatment trials.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the effect of incontinence surgery and pelvic floor training on quality of life (QOL), anxiety and depression in patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods:In a prospective longitudinal study, females with proven SUI were asked to complete a set of standardized questionnaires (sociodemographic data sheet, FACT-G, I-QOL, HADS) before and eight weeks after treatment. The comparison groups consisted of a surgical treatment group and a conservative group that underwent supervised pelvic floor training for eight weeks.Results: From the 67 female patients included in the study a number of 53 patients completed both assessment time points (mean age 57.4, mean years of SUI 7.6). The surgical treatment group consisted of 32 patients of which 21 patients received a modified Burch colposuspension and 11 patients a tension-free mid-urethral tape suspension. The 21 patients in the conservative group attended eight once-weekly supervised pelvic floor training sessions.After treatment the surgical intervention group showed a significantly higher improvement of QOL (FACT-G and I-QOL) and anxiety (HADS) than the pelvic floor training group. Conclusion:For female patients with SUI surgery yielded a better outcome than pelvic floor training with regard to quality of life and anxiety.

Abstract. This study addresses aspects of body image in blind versus seeing women. Eighty-nine congenitally blinded and 153 sighted women completed questionnaires to demographic, health-relevant data, and body image. The two groups did not differ significantly with regard to demographic and health-relevant data. However, significantly more women have children among the sighted group. All women generally presented as clinically inconspicuous in all factors of the body image. A group comparison does not reveal differences with regard to physical contact, vitality, and self-exaltation. However, a significantly lower sexual fulfillment among the blind persons in comparison to the seeing persons, but a significantly higher self-acceptance, is demonstrated. The results are discussed in the context of the previous scarce findings with regard to body image disorders in blind women and finally questioned whether they could benefit the therapy of body scheme disorders in seeing women.

The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of a relaxation training program (RT), a cognitive training program (CT), and the combination of both on changes in cognitive status, emotional status, and experience of pain in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Fifty care home residents underwent either RT (26 participants) or CT (24 participants) in the first training period, followed by the combined relaxation and cognitive training program in the second. Psychological tests on cognitive performance, mood disturbance/well-being, depression, and experience of pain were implemented at three time points of measurement, before (t1), after (t2) the first training period, and after the second training period (t3). Both RT and CT with the subsequent combined training program in the second training period, respectively, increased cognitive performance and well-being, and reduced mood disturbance, depression, and the experience of pain. The study showed the non-inferiority of RT in respect of cognitive and emotional status in care home residents with MCI compared to the more frequently implemented CT. Both training programs are high in acceptability and positive outcomes on cognitive, emotional, and pain status support the use of a combination of RT and CT.

The literature leads us to assume that people suffering from tinnitus may also have negative feelings about their body concept and body image. This pilot study aimed to investigate patients with chronic tinnitus for the presence of disturbed body concept and body image, taking into account the subjective degree of distress and any depression. Sixty-five patients with chronic tinnitus (members of a support group) were interviewed concerning the subjective distress caused by their tinnitus, their body image and any depression. Overall, the study collective showed significantly less "vitality and body dynamics," "attractiveness/self-confidence" and was less pleased with "emphasis on the appearance of one's own body" than was a predetermined random sample of healthy controls. Comparison of those patients reporting severe tinnitus and those with mild tinnitus showed the former to suffer from significantly greater "uncertainty and concern" with regard to their bodies. In practice, problems involving a person's body image should be given greater consideration during examination and when planning treatment and, for example, therapy should incorporate body-related exercises.