Nearly unbiased estimators for the three‐parameter Weibull distribution with greater efficiency than the iterative likelihood method

The maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) method is the most commonly used method to estimate the parameters of the three‐parameter Weibull distribution. However, it returns biased estimates. In this paper, we show how to calculate weights which cancel the biases contained in the MLE equations. The exact weights can be computed when the population parameters are known and the expected weights when they are not. Two of the three weights' expected values are dependent only on the sample size, whereas the third also depends on the population shape parameters. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate the practicability of the weighted MLE method. When compared with the iterative MLE technique, the bias is reduced by a factor of 7 (irrespective of the sample size) and the variability of the parameter estimates is also reduced by a factor of 7 for very small sample sizes, but this gain disappears for large sample sizes.     

Ausbildungs- und Berufserfahrungen älterer Psychoanalytiker

Based on the discussion about the crisis of psychoanalysis and in particular of psychoanalytic training, 145 (female and male) analysts older than 70 years of age were interviewed about their training and professional experiences as well as about their attitudes towards psychoanalysis. This older generation is of great interest because their training generally took place prior to 1967 and preceded the introduction of guideline therapy (cost coverage by the general health insurance) and under much less formalized conditions, which can be seen almost as a contrast to the current circumstances and conditions. This research has shown that especially personal or content and value-based motivations (personal problems, therapeutic experience, interest in the subject, the desire for depth, self-realization and expansion of the situation perceived as restrictive of their former profession) were the main determining factors for the choice of career. The training analyses were, despite some exceptions, of substantial length even then (an average of 544 h), but often had a lower frequency (30% had less than 3 h per week). Since the age limitation for running a psychoanalytic practice within the general health services (formerly 68 years) is no longer compulsory, the results of this study regarding the professional life of older psychoanalysts are of special interest. Of the respondents 45% are still running their own practice and 22% are working as training analysts.     

Medikamentierte Wut

Considering the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHS), the most common disorder of male children and young boys, from the perspective of a psychoanalytic social psychology, one cannot explain its genesis solely in terms of neuroscience. It would be reductionism ignoring the fact, that it is not possible to define a neuronal deficit of self control without conceptualizing self control as a historically and culturally determined requirement profile of affect regulation. Thus, a social characterological analysis of the disorder is required. Every community and society expects their children to learn in the course of their socialization and education to transform external control into self control, in order to want to do, what is to be done. This process is conflict-ridden and aims at an adaptation by which conflicts are more or less defused. Modern societies propagate a sort of self control which is reduced to self-management with integrated spontaneity. Acquiring such self-management requires from children and adolescents to cope with contradictions. They should concentrate in a consum culture which is oriented on distraction. They should cope trouble-free with disappointments in a culture which is oriented on success. But first of all the boys have difficulties to achieve this. They have difficulties in acquiring the emotional competencies needed for the regulation of aggressive excitements due to disappointments appropriately and in socially acceptable form as well. Lacking this competencies they feel themselves at the mercy of fierce rage as if it was a force of nature. This is the self experience of the 60 boys who were questioned about their ADHS medication in the here presented research project. If the treatment is - against all consensus conferences - limited to medication – and this is much more often the case as so far known -, then the aggressive excitement is reduced indeed, but the patients do not obtain insight into the civilizing function of restraining aggression. And without understanding the sense of the own action they remain in the long run strangers to themselves.     

Kasuistik zur Kindeswohlgefährdung bei postpartaler Depression

Postpartum psychiatric disorders adversely affect the relationship between the mother and her baby, frequently in a very serious way. It is common that both objective and subjective aspects of this relationship would be negatively influenced by the maternal pathology. The disturbances that arise from the psychiatric disorders could become a hostile and rejecting quality and could be unfavourable to the long-term development of the child. Obsessional impulses to harm the baby are not rare by mothers in the postpartum period. A large figure of severely depressed and psychotic mothers admited to have had some thoughts of harming or to killing the baby. Some of them have already done harmful things to their babies. Ideations of infanticide or child abuse are not always associated with psychiatric disorders (i.e. depressive symptoms or delusion). They could be a consequence of a severe Bonding disorder.     

Strukturen der Alterskriminalität

The group of the over 60-years-old does only contribute a relatively small part to the registered crime – compared to their continuously growing percentage in the population. Crimes committed by elderly persons are predominantly property offences with shoplifting playing an outstanding role. Elderly persons are also overrepresented concerning offences of insult, (negligent) arson and environmental offences whereas violent crimes are rare. Elderly men are also slightly overrepresented concerning sexual abuse of children, but this is very rare, too. As a whole, the fear that Germany will be overrun by a wave of old-age crime does not seem to be confirmed. Elderly offenders are still very rare and the offences committed are significantly less heavy than those committed by younger offenders.     

Soziales Training im Jugendstrafvollzug: Effekte auf Sozial- und Legalbewährung

Social competence is viewed as a decisive protective factor in avoiding delinquent behaviour. The encouragement of social competence is therefore an essential content of juvenile offender treatment. The central issue this paper addresses is whether the participation in social competence trainings in youth correctional facilities prevents recidivism and is conductive to social reintegration after release. This study uses longitudinal data of 218 males aged 15 to 24 years in youth correctional facilities. A control group was established by Propensity Score Matching which was compared with 109 former participants of social competence training. The results of the analyses put the relevancy of the social competence training for the future life of the juveniles in perspective.     

Forensisch-psychiatrische Versorgungsstrukturen in Deutschland: Ein Vergleich zwischen Alten und Neuen Bundesländern

Differences and similarities of the forensic mental health hospitals in the New Federal States (NFS) (former East Germany) and the Old Federal States (OFS) (former West Germany) were assessed. The focus of the study was set on institutional features of these hospitals as well as on characteristics of the detained patients. Data were based on a survey conducted in 2006. Specifically designed questionnaires were sent to the mental health departments of the State Ministries, and to all forensic mental health hospitals (response rates 100% and 62%). The general finding is that structures of forensic mental health services in NFS and OFS, e.g. the number of beds per million inhabitants and institutional features, have become similar since the German reunification. The health staff-patient relation is equal for some professions, whereas for other professions this relation is even better in NFS. Differences exist regarding the forensic mental health law of the Federal States. Moreover, the proportions of some delicts and diagnoses in the detained clientele differ. In NFS, the need for forensic aftercare facilities is even more urgent than in OFS. In both parts of the country there is a need for the development of some aspects of quality assurance for both forensic mental health hospitals as well as governmental institutions. Generally, the evaluation of quality of structures, processes and results is yet impossible for many fields of forensic mental health care, because there is no sufficient data base.     

Die Kindestötung unter strafrechtlichen Aspekten

It is outlined that infanticide has been assessed in many different ways in the history of criminal law. Special emphasis is put on the former § 217 StGB of the German Penal Code. Then a presentation of the relevant provisions of the current German penal law and their application in individual cases is given.     

Psychiatrischer Beitrag

Ohne Zusammenfassung