Sex differences in cognitive functioning in at-risk mental state for psychosis, first episode psychosis and healthy control subjects.

Background: Several sex differences in schizophrenia have been reported including differences in cognitive functioning. Studies with schizophrenia patients and healthy controls (HC) indicate that the sex advantage for women in verbal domains is also present in schizophrenia patients. However, findings have been inconsistent.

Domestic violence against women: Definitions, epidemiology, risk factors and consequences.

Domestic violence is considered one of the most common forms of gender-related violence, and various studies estimate that between 10 and 35% of women experience domestic violence at some point in their lives. Nevertheless, it is a frequently neglected problem in crisis intervention centres, emergency wards, and obstetrics and gynaecological emergency rooms. This paper contributes to clarifying the definition, epidemiology, risk factors and consequences of domestic violence against women as well as the psychopathological profile of victims with a focus on Central European countries.

Hyperprolactinaemia in early psychosis-not only due to antipsychotics.

Hyperprolactinaemia is often found in patients with schizophrenia and usually considered a consequence of antipsychotics. Prolactin levels were measured in 43 At-Risk Mental State individuals (ARMS) and 26 patients with First Episode Psychosis (FEP). Hyperprolactinaemia was found in 25.

Complementary individual and group analytic training for future psychotherapists.

Whereas individual training analysis offers the candidate the possibility of thoroughly working through unconscious tendencies, desires, and anxieties that come to the foreground, a dyadic setting group analysis permits one to observe and to analyze all the many narcissistic, power, and rivalry problems that are activated in a group setting, and to undergo a social learning process. The author describes the value of training for the (later) activity as individual or especially as group analyst. This training includes participation in an analytic self-experience group (psychodynamic group process), supervision by an experienced group analyst of the work done in an analytic group, and comoderating of an analytic group by two psychotherapists.

L-5-hydroxytryptophan alone and in combination with a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor in the treatment of depression.

In an open study 25 depressed patients were treated with L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5-HTP) either alone or in combination with a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor. The therapeutic efficacy of L-5-HTP was considered as equal to that of traditional antidepressants. There was no difference in efficacy between the two treatments.