Therapeutic decisions in ALS patients: cross-cultural differences and clinical implications.

Objective: Quantitative analysis of decision-making on therapeutic options in different sociocultural context in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods: ALS patients (n = 244) were consecutively recruited in Germany (n = 83), Poland (n = 83), and Sweden (n = 78) in a prospective cross-cultural study ( www.NEEDSinALS.

Existential decision-making in a fatal progressive disease: how much do legal and medical frameworks matter?

Background: Healthcare legislation in European countries is similar in many respects. Most importantly, the framework of informed consent determines that physicians have the duty to provide detailed information about available therapeutic options and that patients have the right to refuse measures that contradict their personal values. However, when it comes to end-of-life decision-making a number of differences exist in the more specific regulations of individual countries.

[Dealing with Parenthood among Mental Health Service Users During Inpatient Treatment: Mental Health Professionals' Perspectives to Barriers and Facilitators].

To gain insight into mental health professionals' subjective perceptions of parenthood among psychiatric patients during inpatient treatment. 31 problem-centered semi-structured interviews with psychiatric professionals were conducted and analyzed by content analysis methods. From participants' perspectives, parenthood issues are mainly relevant during hospital admission when child care has to be secured.

[Mental Health Professionals' Perspectives Towards Desire for Children and Family Planning Among Psychiatric Patients - Results of a Qualitative Study].

Analysis of mental health professionals' attitudes to reproductive issues among psychiatric patients. 31 problem-centered semi-structured interviews with psychiatric professionals were conducted and analyzed by content analysis methods. Outside of psychotherapeutic treatment the desire for children is generally assessed as less important in the context of mental health care, it is often limited to effective birth control with regard to drug treatment.

[Sexually transmitted diseases: the impact of stigma and taboo on current medical care].

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are probably the most tabooed diseases we know. The many taboos and the related stigmata shape patients' lives and significantly influence health care policies, medical research, and current problems in medical ethics. To better understand these complex influences, the still powerful taboos and related metaphors associated with illness and disease are analyzed within their cultural and historical background and concerning the actual impact on patient care and research.

The attitudes of mental health professionals towards patients' desire for children.

Background: When a patient with a serious mental illness expresses a desire for children, mental health professionals are faced with an ethical dilemma. To date, little research has been conducted into their strategies for dealing with these issues.

Methods: Seven focus groups with a total of 49 participants from all professional groups active in mental health (nurses, psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists) were conducted in a 330-bed psychiatric hospital.

Sexually transmitted diseases: reflections on metaphors and ethics.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are probably the most tabooed diseases we know. The taboos and the related stigmata shape patients reality and influence significantly health care policies, medical research, and actual problems in medical ethics. To better understand these complex influences of ancient but still powerful taboos, related metaphors associated with illness and disease are analyzed according to their historical development and actual impact on society.