Compulsory admissions of patients with mental disorders: State of the art on ethical and legislative aspects in 40 European countries.

Background: Compulsory admission procedures of patients with mental disorders vary between countries in Europe. The Ethics Committee of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) launched a survey on involuntary admission procedures of patients with mental disorders in 40 countries to gather information from all National Psychiatric Associations that are members of the EPA to develop recommendations for improving involuntary admission processes and promote voluntary care.

Methods: The survey focused on legislation of involuntary admissions and key actors involved in the admission procedure as well as most common reasons for involuntary admissions.

EPA guidance on how to improve the image of psychiatry and of the psychiatrist.

Stigma against mental illness and the mentally ill is well known. However, stigma against psychiatrists and mental health professionals is known but not discussed widely. Public attitudes and also those of other professionals affect recruitment into psychiatry and mental health services.

[Disintegration of kidney calculi by piezoelectrically generated high-energy sound waves. Physical principles and experimental studies].

The recently developed equipment for extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy (EPL) represents an improvement concerning the shock-wave-induced disintegration of urinary calculi. While the usual spark gap transmitter needs a focusing reflector, the piezoelectric lithotriptor is based on a self-focusing spherical bowl transmitter. The stone is detected exclusively by ultrasound.

[Disintegration of kidney calculi with a piezoelectric instrument system. Initial clinical experiences].

Since December 1985 extracorporeal piezoelectric renal lithotripsy has been tested in humans. Up to now 50 patients with renal calculi have been treated. The lithotriptor consists of a special mobile table with an opening in the surface to apply shock waves.