Increased Treatment Complexity for Major Depressive Disorder for Inpatients With Comorbid Personality Disorder.

Objective: The study examined inpatient treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) when it is complicated by comorbid personality disorder.

Methods: In this descriptive analysis of a large data sample from 2013 (German VIPP data set) of 58,913 cases from 75 hospitals, three groups were compared: patients with MDD, patients with MDD and a comorbid personality disorder, and patients with a main diagnosis of personality disorder.

Results: Compared with MDD patients, those with comorbid personality disorder had higher rates of recurrent depression and nearly twice as many readmissions within one year, despite longer mean length of stay.

Major depression treatment in Germany-descriptive analysis of health insurance fund routine data and assessment of guideline-adherence.

Background: Guideline oriented treatment strategies of Major depressive disorder (MDD) improve treatment outcomes and reduce risks of chronicity and recurrence.

Aims: Description of routine treatment reality and analysis of guideline fidelity in first episode MDD in Germany. Indicators: patients with severe or psychotic depression or severe psychiatric comorbidities' treatment by specialists, adequate antidepressant pharmacotherapy, permanent treatment with more than one antidepressant, long-term benzodiazepine treatment and provision of psychotherapy.

[Diagnosis of Metabolic Risk Factors in Psychiatric Inpatients].

Objective: Individuals suffering from mental illness have one to two decades reduced life expectancy. The increased morbidity and mortality is mainly due to cardiometabolic disorders. Despite these numbers, international studies give evidence that diagnoses and treatment of metabolic risk factors in psychiatric patients is insufficient.

[The Quality of Inpatient Treatment of Elderly with Major Depression].

Objective: There are highly effective treatments either in inpatient or day hospital settings available for elderly with major depression. It is important to consider some specific needs of elderly people (e. g.

[Gerontopsychiatry versus general psychiatry in the inpatient treatment in late-life depression].

Objective: Is the integrated treatment of depressed elderly patients on a geriatric psychiatry unit superior to the treatment on a general psychiatry unit?

Method: Retrospective comparison of treatment outcomes of depression in elderly patients on geriatric and general psychiatry units.

Results: The clinical outcome showed comparable results. Somatic examinations turned out to be more comprehensive on a geriatric psychiatry unit, which also showed better results in pharmacotherapeutic safety.

The differentiation between 'lack of insight' and 'dysfunctional health beliefs' in schizophrenia.

Background: 'Lack of insight' into one's own illness is a frequent symptom in schizophrenic disorders. 'Health beliefs' are psychological explanations of one's own health status and are held by all individuals. The question is how they relate to each other.

The acute antipanic activity of aerobic exercise.

Objective: Regular physical activity is anxiolytic for both healthy subjects and patients with panic disorder. However, the acute antipanic activity of exercise has not yet been studied systematically.

Method: The effects of quiet rest or aerobic treadmill exercise (30 minutes at 70% of maximum oxygen consumption) on cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK-4)-induced panic attacks were studied in a crossover design in 15 healthy subjects.

Cognitive function over the treatment course of depression in middle-aged patients: correlation with brain MRI signal hyperintensities.

Introduction: It has been proposed that the often found hyperintensities on MRI representing vascular changes might be correlated with a worse outcome of cognitive malfunction in depression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate neuropsychological status in the acute depressed state and following remission and to investigate the potential relationship between MRI hyperintensities and neuropsychological functioning through the treatment course in a group of middle-aged depressed patients.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-seven depressed patients were assessed by a series of neuropsychological tests at the beginning of the depressive episode and again after an euthymic phase of 6 months following treatment.

Why does vertigo become chronic after neuropathia vestibularis?

Objective: Vertigo is one of the most frequent complaints in general medical practice and is often linked to psychiatric disorders. A longitudinal study of 67 patients with an acute vestibular disorder was undertaken to clarify if, after experiencing acute vestibular vertigo, certain patients have a higher likelihood of developing chronic, debilitating dizziness despite no evidence of a damaged peripheral vestibular system.

Method: The severity of dizziness was determined in 67 patients with vestibular neuronitis, 6 months after their release from hospital, using the Vertigo Symptom Scale from Yardley et al.

Panic disorders and agoraphobia: side effects of treatment with an implantable cardioverter/defibrillator.

Background: Implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) treatment has reduced the mortality of patients with a high risk of sudden cardiac death. However, ICD discharges may cause anxiety with respect to new discharges and lead to preventive, for example, phobic, behavior. This study evaluated the frequency of panic disorders and agoraphobia in patients with ICD and assessed the risk factors in their development.

A prospective study on the course of anxiety after vestibular neuronitis.

Objective: Critical life events trigger intense emotions. Anxiety is one of the most frequent of these emotions. It is unclear which factors determine the intensity and course of anxiety after a critical life event.