Results of neurophysiologic studies in ophthalmic migraine

The influence in 8 of our patients with ophthalmic migraine of photic driving with sine-like flashing lights on EEG background activity was checked and the visually evoked potentials following the application of diffused simple light stimuli were analyzed using the recovery cycle technique. The results indicate a slightly increased tonic activity of the structures of the mesencephalic formatio reticularis, such as may be produced by slight functional disturbances. Some vegetative secondary symptoms of migraine attacks and some of the changes in EEG observed in patients with ophthalmic migraine are explicable by such an abnormality.     

Chronification of neuroses--on the critical phase of the inpatient-ambulatory care transition

The contribution deals with the critical transition from ward treatment and follow-up care as an outpatient. Patients with primary psychic maldevelopment are compared with those of a secondary psychic development. Changes in symptoms and personality were measured with a battery of tests during a pre-post follow-up study (intervals of eight weeks between tests). Special attention is paid to changes after discharge from hospital and deterioration, which was common among the patients with secondary psychic maldevelopment, is discussed.     

Subjective factor in EEG evaluation exemplified by the nonspecific hyperventilation effect

Subjective differences in EEG evaluation are demonstrated by means of a seven step scale for grading the unspecific hyperventilation effect in 3263 EEG of children. Intermediate steps of this scale allow to minimize such unavoidable differences.     

Treatment of atypical and neurotic depression

Hitherto it has not been usual to talk in the German language about the therapy-oriented concept of two forms of the progress of atypical depression (Type A and Type V). The characteristic symptom of Type A is angst, together with phobias, physical complaints, etc. In Type V there are vegetative symptoms, often towards evening (Hypersomnia, difficulty in getting to sleep, increased appetite, increased weight, increased libido), accompanied by hysterical extrovert personality traits, and of intermittent occurrence. These clinical pictures are amenable to psychopharmalogical therapy. In conformity with the assumption of "somatic accommodation" treatment with antidepressives is recommended in the case neurotic depression, too, at least in the initial stages of treatment.     

Countertransference, empathy, and the analytic ideal: the impact of life stresses on analytic capability

Analysts' emotional attitudes toward countertransference issues are influenced by unduly perfectionistic ideals that are partly derived from the early period of psychoanalytic theory. Analysts' unconscious receptivity, whether of the beneficially empathic kind or the disadvantageous countertransference variety, is a reflection of a dynamic internal state. This fundamental relationship between empathy and countertransference is illustrated with examples. Important events that occur in the life of the analyst, by virtue of their impact on his own central compromise formations, cannot but affect his analytic functioning. Minor disturbances in analytic capability are commonplace and do not significantly handicap effective work.