[Interim results for the Patients' Rights Act and Infection Protection Act].

Background: The Patient Rights Act has converted court rulings into legal paragraphs. Two new aspects have been introduced: the duty to hand over a copy of the signed written consent form to the patient (in which detailed recommendations are offered) and the obligation of a thorough documentation of findings and treatments within patient files. In addition the legislators, through the Joint Federal Committee (Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss, GBA) have made the introduction of clinical risk management mandatory.

Evaluation of a standardized humor group in a clinical setting: a feasibility study for older patients with depression.

Background: Positive effects of humor on older patients with depressive symptoms have been repeatedly reported. Empirical evidence however is rare. We investigated the efficacy of a standardized humor therapy group in a clinical context especially for older depressed patients.

Functional relations of empathy and mentalizing: an fMRI study on the neural basis of cognitive empathy.

This fMRI study was set up to explore how cognitive empathy, i.e. the cognitive inference on another person's affective state, can be characterized as a distinct brain function relating to pre-existing neurofunctional concepts about mentalizing and empathy.

[Humor therapy in the depressed elderly: results of an empirical study].

Background: Positive effects of humor on older patients with depressive symptoms have been repeatedly reported. Empirical evidence, however, is rare. We investigated the effects of a standardized humor therapy group in a clinical context especially for older depressed patients.

Motor imagery in hypnosis: accuracy and duration of motor imagery in waking and hypnotic states.

This study assessed response times and accuracy of motor imagery in waking and hypnotic states and to related responses to hypnotic experiences. The Vividness of Motor Imagery Questionnaire (VMIQ) was administered to 47 participants. A mental walking task was then performed in the waking state.