Applied tension, applied relaxation, and the combination in the treatment of blood phobia

Thirty patients with phobia for blood, wounds and injuries were treated individually with applied tension, applied relaxation, or the combination of these two methods for 5, 9 and 10 sessions, respectively. They were assessed on self-report, behavioral and physiological measures before and after treatment, and at a 6-month follow-up. All groups improved significantly on 11/12 measures, and the improvements were maintained at follow-up. Applying stringent criteria, 73% of the patients were clinically improved at the end of treatment and 77% were so at follow-up. Despite a failure to find between-group differences, on many measures there was a trend favoring applied tension. Since this method is as effective as the other treatments in only half the time, applied tension should clinically be the treatment of choice for blood phobia.     

Aggressive behavior inhibition by serotonin and quipazine injected into the amygdala in the rat

The effects on aggressive behavior, open-field activity, and pain threshold of bilateral microinjections of serotonin (20 micrograms) and quipazine (20 micrograms), the direct serotonergic receptor agonist, into the cortico-medial amygdala were investigated in Wistar rats. Both drugs significantly prolonged the attack latency in isolated killer rats (predatory aggression model), and suppressed the incidence of aggressive postures/attacks in shock-induced fighting test (affective aggression). The only difference in the open-field behavior was the lower number of central square entries in drug-treated compared to saline-injected rats. None of the substances produced any significant change in jump threshold. It is concluded that stimulation of serotonin receptors within the amygdala produces inhibition of affective and muricidal behavior in isolated rats. The effect does not seem to be dependent on changes in general activity and pain sensitivity.     

Frequency of neurologic-psychiatric findings in the late phase following minor and medium severe blunt craniocerebral injuries

The authors present a short review of the pertinent literature and report on their own neuropsychiatric findings following internal craniocerebral injuries, at the same time drawing attention to the necessity of psychological examination. Statistical comparisons with the international literature are complicated owing to the different classifications used for craniocerebral injuries.     

Results of modifying the standard program of insight and relaxation psychotherapy

The inventory of methods used in insight and relaxation psychotherapy were taken as a basis for elaborating three additional psychotherapy programmes with the aim of better satisfying the needs of groups with different indications in respect of outpatient psychotherapy. The results obtained with these programmes were tested statistically, using groups of appropriate control subjects, by means of the pre- and post-test data of the MMPI, PAULI, d2 and a five-point self-estimation scale. The trend shown by the results achieved so far confirms that this differentiated therapeutic approach is correct. Further tests with large samples are necessary.     

Treatment of chronic global aphasia with a nonverbal communication system

Four chronic global aphasics were treated with Blissymbols (C. K. Bliss, 1965, Semantography-Blissymbolics, Sydney: Semantography Pub.). As soon as possible the therapeutic communication was based solely on the use of the symbols. Three patients seemed to benefit from therapy. In one case therapy had to be discontinued because of massive perseveration. In one patient expression of needs relied solely on the use of the symbols. In another, expressive speech could be restored to such an extent that communication by the use of symbols was discontinued.