Articles: patients.
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Disability is a central aspect in the assessment of chronic pain patients. Disability questionnaires in German (developed or adapted) are examined and selected for different purposes. The "Funktionsfragebogen Hannover" and the "Pain Disability Index" are recommended for both research and clinicalapplication while the "Sickness Impact Profile" is suitable only for research purposes. ⋯ There are some empirical data for three of them. Only the "Inventory of Familial Adaptability and Cohesion" has achieved a certain degree of empirical maturity. Further research and developmental activity in this area of pain assessment are urgently needed.
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Pain therapy with epidural or intrathecal catheters is an invasive method. These techniques have specific indications in both acute and chronic pain therapy. However, complications can occur. ⋯ Monitoring: During treatment with spinal catheters, adequate monitoring increases safety for the patients. Efficacy of the injections, puncture site and the neurological status should be documented daily. Neurological deficits must be diagnosed without losing time and adequate therapy must be initiated.
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The shadow of the father plays an important role in a son's ability to live a creatively meaningful life. The mythological basis for the father's shadow is found in the myth of Cronos and his son Zeus. ⋯ The conclusions reached regarding the importance of the father's shadow are based on research conducted with an ongoing men's group. An early underground phallus dream of Jung is examined, along with the creative work of a patient, both offering evidence of the importance of the body-bond with the father for a son's creative development.
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To describe how medical residents discuss do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders with patients. ⋯ Medical ethicists, professional societies, and the public recommend more frequent discussions about DNR orders. Even when housestaff discuss resuscitation with patients, they may not be accomplishing the goal of increasing patient autonomy. Research and education must focus on improving the quality, as well as the quantity, of these discussions.
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The present paper is one of a series of publications, reviewing German instruments for psychological assessment of pain. Their main focus is on the results of a task force on quality testing for each subject. This paper describes and comments on methods regarding self-reporting of pain cognitions and both cognitive and behavioral strategies for coping with pain. ⋯ A similar procedure was followed with instruments for the assessment of pain-related coping strategies. According to our research there are two subgroups of coping instruments, one more specifically for cognitive coping with pain, and the other combined with behavioral coping strategies. Once again, we elaborated a specific and differential recommendation, giving priority to instruments taking account of both cognitive and behavioral dimensions of coping with pain.