Symbolic control of visual attention: Semantic constraints on the spatial distribution of attention

Humans routinely use spatial language to control the spatial distribution of attention. In so doing, spatial information may be communicated from one individual to another across opposing frames of reference, which in turn can lead to inconsistent mappings between symbols and directions (or locations). These inconsistencies may have important implications for the symbolic control of attention because they can be translated into differences in cue validity, a manipulation that is known to influence the focus of attention. This differential validity hypothesis was tested in Experiment 1 by comparing spatial word cues that were predicted to have high learned spatial validity (“above/below”) and low learned spatial validity (“left/right”). Consistent with this prediction, when two measures of selective attention were used, the results indicated that attention was less focused in response to “left/right” cues than in response to “above/below” cues, even when the actual validity of each of the cues was equal. In addition, Experiment 2 predicted that spatial words such as “left/right” would have lower spatial validity than would other directional symbols that specify direction along the horizontal axis, such as “←/→” cues. The results were also consistent with this hypothesis. Altogether, the present findings demonstrate important semantic-based constraints on the spatial distribution of attention.     

Interkulturelle Aspekte bei der Behandlung somatoformer Störungen

Patients from family-oriented societies have a different perception of pain and different conceptions of healing, which up to now have not been sufficiently appreciated in modern multimodal therapeutic approaches. Inadequate knowledge of anatomy and bodily functions and traditional perceptions of pain (e.g. magic, curses, punishment, etc.) have a substantial influence on diagnostics. The pain experience is regarded holistically in relation to the body, rather than being confined to a particular part of the body. Limited access to psychological complaints often leads to physical complaints. The ailing body is an expression of the social, the economic, the psychological and cultural state of the patient and the history of migration and status in the collective. A multimodal interdisciplinary and culture-sensitive approach is required for effective pain treatment of patients with a tradition-bound background.     

Cannabiskonsum und -missbrauch bei Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen

After a long time of growth current studies on representative samples of adolescents indicate that the number of adolescent cannabis users in Germany is possibly decreasing. However, it may be presumptuous to expect a similar trend concerning the number of clients with cannabis-related disorders. Even if there is in fact a downward trend which is not yet proven, the rapidly growing number of clients presenting with these disorders in recent years cannot be explained by a similar growth in the number of regular cannabis users. Treatment centres should therefore expect a further inreasing number of especially male adolescents and young adults seeking help for problems related to cannabis use. The development, evaluation and implementation of specific treatment options concerning cannabis use disorders will be increasingly needed in the future. Cognitive-behavioral and motivational interventions have been shown to be evidence-based treatments. The paper describes some promising or already successful treatment approaches and related research projects in Germany.     

PALME

Background

Single mothers and their children are exposed to increased psychosocial burdens and risks. Nevertheless, in Germany offers of help especially designed for the needs of this group are lacking.

Method

An emotion-oriented parental training program (PALME, http://www.palme-elterntraining.de) based on the attachment theory was developed particularly for single mothers with preschool children. The training is guided by trained kindergarten nurses. The effectiveness of the parental training program on the measure of maternal psychological impairment, emotional competence and child problem behavior was investigated within a randomized, controlled study with 61 single mothers suffering from medium grade psychosocial impairment.

Results

Analyses of variance revealed significant group×time interaction effects in favor of the intervention group compared to controls. After the training the mothers showed improvement in their psychological impairment, depression and emotional competence. In addition, evidence suggests that behavioral problems of the children were reduced.

Conclusion

In view of the benefits of this parental training and its low costs it should be recommended as a regular offer of support for single mothers within community settings.     

Psychotherapie für Straftäter

The legal and administrative framework for psychotherapy of offenders in prisons and secure forensic hospitals is outlined. Established treatment programs for offenders are presented including different variations of standardized cognitive behavioral approaches, e. g. relapse prevention programs (RP), dialectic behavioral therapy (DBT), transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP), and mentalization-based treatment (MBT). The foci of the individual programs as well as their integrative tendencies are described. In psychodynamic therapies cognitive processes are taken into consideration and, vice versa, cognitive-behavioral therapists discover the significance of the therapeutic relationship.     

Psychoanalytische Überlegungen zur Pädophilie

Following the long psychoanalytic tradition in the treatment of paedophiles, in a first step this article tries to define structural components of sexual delinquency that on the one hand correlate with the psychoanalytic model of psychic structures and on the other hand are consistent with the clinical experience of forensic psychotherapeutic practice. In a second step different levels of severity in the structural psychopathology of sexual delinquents are described by taking advantage of the object relationship theoretical conception of personality organisation. Finally, in a third step the psychodynamic features of these patients are highlighted, which have frequently been found and described in the clinical psychoanalytic literature on paedophilia including traumatising mother relationship, narcissistic object choice, inadequate triangulation, self-permuting drive, simulation and disturbance of identification.     

Zwischen Klinik und Politik

Based on the current debate on the traumatisation of soldiers in Afghanistan, the article traces the historical development of trauma concepts from the 19th century to the present day. Thereby, it is shown that without reflecting on the socio-political context on the part of therapists and experts, medical and psychotherapeutic measures are at risk of being exploited by undetected political interests.