Nature against nurture: calcification in the right thalamus in a young man with anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

This report describes the case of a young man with a large calcification in the right thalamus that was first diagnosed at 9 years of age. Case history reveals specific eating rituals and other obsessive-compulsive personality traits during the patient's childhood and adolescence, fulfilling diagnostic criteria of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. After a critical life event the patient develops anorexia nervosa. We suggest that our case and further literature provide evidence for an involvement of specific thalamic structures, such as the dorsomedial nucleus, in the development of anorexia nervosa. Furthermore, the treatment of the patient by a combined psychotherapeutic and pharmacotherapeutic approach is described. We focus on the beneficial effect of the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine, which can induce weight gain by an increase of leptin levels.     

Gegenübertragungsdiagnostik in der Psychotherapie suizidaler Männer

The diagnosis of suicidality is an important challenge in psychotherapy: The threat of life has to be determined, decisions in differential therapy must be made and the therapeutical relationship must be established. The psychoanalytical contribution to the diagnostics of suicidality is the analysis of transference and countertransference phenomena, of "scenic" actions and of enactments between patient and therapist. By a systematic qualitative research method ("forming ideal types by understanding") 5 prototypical transference-/countertransference situations at the beginning of outpatient psychodynamic psychotherapy of suicidal men are identified and out of them 3 ideal types are constructed. The object-alienated ideal type with an avoidant transference and "weak", e.g. unemotional complementary countertransference appears to be a special problem. If aggression and strong attachment wishes toward the object come into the therapeutic relationship, this often is an indicator for the contacts’strength and can lead to deactualisation of suicidality. The results are discussed with and supported by methodically different publications on object relations orientated aspects of suicidality.     

Bewältigung des unerfüllten Kinderwunsches

The article reviews current research in relation to two aspects of involuntary childlessness; firstly, the extent to which involuntary childlessness can be considered a critical life-event and secondly, the short-term effects of childlessness on life-satisfaction and well-being. A study is reported in which 68 middle-aged women (45 to 65 years) who are long term childless because of infertility, are investigated. The study focuses on the extent to which unfilled desire for a child has long term effects on well-being and life-satisfaction. The control group comprised 68 women who did not suffer from fertility problems and became pregnant spontaneously. Life-satisfaction and well-being were assessed using the life-satisfaction questionaire (FLZ; Fahrenberg et al. 2000) and the SCL-90-R (Symptome-Checklist, Derogatis, the German version of Franke 1995). The study shows clearly that psychological well-being is significantly lower in childless middle-aged women compared to women of the same mean age, who have a child. No significant differences were found in social well-being and health. The results support the view that unwanted childlessness may become a chronic stressor. Unintentionally childless middle-aged women do not constitute a clinical group whose need for psychotherapy is urgent. However, the development of specific counselling for women who fail to conceive and those who remain childless in the long term is recommended.     

The Effects of Gender,Dysphoria, and Performance Feedback on the Accuracy of Self-Evaluations

Two experiments tested hypotheses derived from previous research by Beyer (1990, 1998, 1999a; Beyer & Bowden, 1997) and research on depressive realism. It was predicted that gender differences in the accuracy of self-evaluations of performance will be found on a mathematics test (masculine task), but not on an English test (feminine task) or on history and geography tests (neutral tasks). Furthermore, it was hypothesized that dysphorics are not more accurate self-evaluators than are nondysphorics and that the effect of gender on the accuracy of self-evaluations is moderated by dysphoria. Finally, it was predicted that the provision of performance feedback does not moderate the effect of gender on the accuracy of self-evaluations. These hypotheses were supported. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

Bidirektionale Optimalitätstheorie

Bidirectional Optimality Theory Summary. Optimality Theory as developed by Prince, Smolensky and others has been fruitfully applied to phonology, morphology, and syntax. The attempt to apply the ideas developed in these fields to the semantics/pragmatics interface necessitates the conception of a bidirectional OT. The main reason for assuming the idea of bidirectionality (combining expressive and interpretive optimization) derives from a number of phenomena which, on the one hand, demand the treatment of preferred interpretations, and, on the other hand, suggest to take into account the existence of blocking effects. In this article, some general motivation for the idea of bidirectionality is presented, the importance of this idea for the field of pragmatics (conversational implicature) is investigated, and some potential applications of bidirectional OT are outlined. Zusammenfassung. Die von Prince, Smolensky und anderen entwickelte Optimalitätstheorie (OT) hat ihre Fruchtbarkeit in den Bereichen Phonologie, Morphologie und Syntax zulänglich bewiesen. Der Versuch, die auf diesen Gebieten erarbeiteten Grundideen auf die Semantik/Pragmatik-Schnittstelle anzuwenden, führt zwingend auf das Konzept einer bidirektionalen OT. Der Hauptgrund für die Annahme von Bidirektionalität (Kombination von interpretativer und expressiver Optimierung) ergibt sich vor allem daraus, dass im genannten Bereich eine Reihe von Phänomenen existieren, die einerseits die Behandlung von vorgezogenen Interpretationen verlangen und andererseits zur Berücksichtigung von Blockierungseffekten auffordern. Die vorliegende Arbeit gibt eine allgemeine Motivation für Bidirektionalität, untersucht die Wirkungsweise von Bidirektionalität im Bereich der Pragmatik (konversationelle Implikaturen) und gibt eine Übersicht über potenzielle Anwendungen.     

How need for cognition affects the formation of performance expectancies at school

Individuals with low Need for Cognition (NFC) have been found to process information using a peripheral route compared to individuals higher in NFC. These differences affect the formation of performance expectancies. Based on previous work demonstrating that the formation of performance expectancies can be understood as an information processing event and that inferring expectancies from the specific self-concept requires cognitive motivation, we tested whether students with higher NFC had performance expectancies in a specific subject that more strongly depended on specific self-concept. The participants (554 tenth grade students) reported their NFC, performance expectancies, general self-concept, and specific self-concepts in mathematics and English. Actual performance was assessed for mathematics. Multiple linear regressions supported the interaction-hypothesis concerning performance expectancies in mathematics and English. In addition, the higher the students’ NFC, the stronger actual performance in mathematics related to the specific self-concept. The results suggested that performance expectancies mediated the effect of self-concept on performance. NFC is an important variable influencing motivational processes, and should be included in models describing the relation between self-concepts and individuals beliefs or behaviors.     

Exercise psychology: A view from Europe

ObjectiveTo provide a review and commentary on developments and key issues in the psychology of health-related physical activity (‘exercise psychology’).Design and MethodNarrative review and commentary.ResultsA view from Europe is provided, with an emphasis on European influence and research. Summary commentaries are provided using the behavioural epidemiological framework as an organisational tool. The role of psychology is discussed in the study of physical activity correlates, theory, and interventions.ConclusionsThe European influence in exercise and health psychology has been significant. However, more needs to be known about pre-intentional motivation processes and post-intentional volition, as well as clarifying and extending theories (e.g., translating intentions into behaviour). There is also a need to do more intervention work, and to improve how we conduct, evaluate and report interventions. New issues are emerging, including the study of sedentary behaviour.     

The semantic red effect: Processing the word red undermines intellectual performance

Recent research has shown that a two second glimpse of color can have an important influence on affect, cognition, and behavior. The present research examined whether perceiving color is necessary to produce an effect on psychological functioning or whether the mere act of processing a color word might be sufficient. Specifically, four experiments tested the hypothesis that processing the word red undermines intellectual performance, much like actually perceiving the color red. Supportive data were obtained with three different types of subtle manipulation, with three different types of control words, and on two different types of IQ test performance. Worry, but not mood or general arousal, was shown to mediate the semantic red effect, which appears to take place outside of individuals’ awareness. The theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.