Verena Guenther

Ziel der Studie: „Stigma-Management“ fokussiert auf die Problematik der „Selbststigmatisierung“ von PatientInnen mit Erkrankungen aus dem schizophrenen Formenkreis. Methodik: 17 PatientInnen diskutierten diese Thematik in Fokusgruppen, die nach der rekonstruktiv-dokumentarischen Methode von Bohnsack [1] ausgewertet wurden. Ergebnisse: Zehn Themen konnten extrahiert werden, u. a. Diskriminierung, Reden/Offenheit, individuelle Hilfen, Selbsthilfegruppen und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit. Schlussfolgerung: Ein auf diesen Themen aufbauendes Anti-Stigma-Programm, bestehend aus 6 Modulen, wird derzeit evaluiert. Objective: While lots of projects focus on „stigmatization by others“ in people with mental diseases, the problem of „self-stigmatization“ is rarely considered in their treatment. Thus, the program „Stigma Management“ aims on the conception of a therapeutic manual concerning self-stigmatization. As experts on their own, in phase 1 the patients' experiences and needs are assessed by themselves. Methods: 17 patients with schizophrenia discussed the topic of self-stigmatization in the setting of focus groups. The discussions were analyzed by the documentary method of Bohnsack [1]. Results: Ten topics could be identified, such as prejudice, self-help groups, openness and public relations. Conclusion: Concerning these 10 topics the program „Stigma Management“ was designed (phase 2) and will be evaluated shortly (phase 3).

Pfaffenberger N, Gutweniger S, Kopp M, Seeber B, Stürz K, Berger T, Günther V. Impaired body image in patients with multiple sclerosis.Acta Neurol Scand: 2011: 124: 165–170.© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Objective – Despite the growing research on body image disturbances in chronically ill patients, reports of such disturbances in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of different aspects of body image disturbances in patients with MS, taking into account the disability status as well as depressive symptoms. Materials & methods – Forty patients with MS and 28 healthy controls were investigated with questionnaires assessing attractiveness/self-confidence, accentuation of external appearance, worries about possible physical deficits, sexual problems, vitality and depressive symptoms. In MS patients, medical parameters like the expanded disability status were assessed too. Results – In comparison with healthy controls, the MS patients, being although only mildly disabled and in a quite stable mood, reported significantly higher worries about physical deficits, described a significantly worse body appraisal and significantly more sexual problems. While female MS patients predominantly suffered from worries concerning physical deficits and feelings of being less attractive, sexual problems were of particular concern in male MS patients. Conclusions – Even mildly impaired MS patients who are not markedly depressed have to deal with problems of body image. Improvement of body image perception in MS patients taking gender-specific differences into account represents a promising area of future psychological research.

Physical disabilities generally cause disturbances in a patient's body image. The aim of the present study is to assess the prevalence of different aspects of body image disturbances (attractiveness /self-confidence, negative body judgement, accentuation of external appearance, worry about possible physical deficits, sexual problems and physical vitality) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in the context of the severity of impairment, mood and pain intensity. Fifty-six patients with AS and 48 healthy controls were investigated using a questionnaire for assessing one's body (1) and the body image questionnaire (2). Furthermore, in the AS patients' medical parameters including BASMI and BASFI, pain intensity and state of well-being were assessed. In comparison to the controls, the AS patients reported significantly more worries about possible physical deficits. The mildly impaired patients (including significantly more women) were even more insecure than the severely impaired patients. Furthermore the patients considered themselves as being less attractive. The AS patients reported better physical vitality than the controls. This result might be due to patients carrying out regular physical activity and performing exercises with therapeutic value. There were no differences between the groups concerning sexual problems. The total group of AS patients showed normal scores in the state of well-being and did not report pain intensity as being higher than what is expected in chronic pain patients in general. Rheumatologists should address problems in body image in patients with AS and in severe cases psychological therapy should be initiated.

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.

Chronischer Tinnitus kann Betroffene in ihrer Lebensqualität massiv beeinträchtigen. Ob sich das permanente Ohrgeräusch belastend auf die Partnerschaft auswirkt, wurde bisher nicht ausreichend untersucht.