The role of dietician follow-up in the success of bariatric surgery.

Background: A growing number of patients have been undergoing bariatric surgery in recent years. The role of adherence with regular dietician follow-up in successful long-term weight reduction has yet to be determined, and there are no studies characterizing the utilization of nutritional services after bariatric surgery. The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary counseling by a dietician can contribute to weight reduction after surgery in a follow-up of morbidly obese adult patients who underwent bariatric surgery.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for posttraumatic stress disorders].

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presents an important medical and social problem in the Republic of Croatia with prevalence of 10-30% depending on the population. On the basis of our 8-year clinical experience in treating PTSD and detailed analysis of related literature a special team of the Department of Psychological Medicine, Zagreb University Hospital, compiled the proposed guidelines for diagnostics and treatment of PTSD. The established guidelines are independently developed, clinically proven at our Clinic and in terms of custom made procedure world wide unique.

Psychotrauma and reconciliation.

Our goal was to analyze the phenomenon of intergenerational transmission of trauma-related feelings and propose a way to alleviate this process through reconciliation of conflicted groups. The genesis of psychotrauma, with respect to the organism's defensive barrier being pierced by too strong external impulses, is discussed in terms of activation of the death instinct or by reactivation of childhood trauma. Genesis of the group trauma is explained in terms of chosen trauma, ie, activation of ancient national or other large group traumas, leading to the creation of malignant prejudices and hyper-activation of the social unconscious.

Increase of frequency of post-traumatic stress disorder in disabled war veterans during prolonged stay in a rehabilitation hospital.

Aim: To explore possible causative factors in the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in disabled Croatian war veterans.

Method: The sample comprised 42 disabled Croatian war veterans, aged 19 to 44 years, accommodated in the VaraZdinske Toplice Rehabilitation Hospital for the purpose of long-term physical rehabilitation. Manifestation of PTSD symptoms (Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and anxiety levels (Spilberger's State Trait Anxiety Inventory) were tested in 1994 and 1999.

Countertransference and empathic problems in therapists/helpers working with psychotraumatized persons.

Countertransference in therapists working with patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) differs from countertransference in other psychotherapeutical settings. In this article we discuss the specificities of counter- transference in treating PTSD patients and its relation to empathy. The most difficult countertransference problems occur in treating multiply traumatized patients.