Catholic University of Applied Sciences Freiburg

Jungian psychotherapy (JP) is an established treatment modality in modern healthcare systems, yet empirical validation remains a key requirement for its continued recognition and insurance coverage. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of JP by evaluating pre- and post-treatment changes in psychological symptoms, personality structure, and quality of life among 104 participants undergoing supervised therapy at a German training institute. Using a pre-post design, participants completed standardized psychometric assessments, including the International Classification of Diseases – 10th Revision (ICD-10) Symptom Rating (ISR), the Fragebogen zur Lebenszufriedenheit (FLZ; Life Satisfaction Questionnaire), and the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis - Structure Questionnaire (OPD-SQ), before and after therapy. Results from paired samples t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests indicated significant improvements across multiple domains. Participants experienced notable reductions in symptom burden, particularly in depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to large (d=0.555 to d=1.174). Improvements were also observed in self-perception, interpersonal contact, and relational experiences. However, eating disorder symptoms did not show significant improvement (p=.275), likely due to the need for specialized interventions. Future research should employ randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and long-term follow-ups to establish the durability of treatment effects.

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund: Bewegung und Aktivität spielen eine zentrale Rolle in Therapie und Rehabilitation, stoßen jedoch auf erhebliche Herausforderungen bei postakuten Infektionssyndromen (PAIS) wie Long COVID und ME/CFS. Bei diesen Patientengruppen führen körperliche und kognitive Aktivität nicht zwangsläufig zu Verbesserungen, sondern können in Form von Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) zu langfristigen Verschlechterungen führen. Die Betroffenen erleben oft nicht nur erhebliche Einschränkungen der gesellschaftlichen Teilhabe, sondern auch Misstrauen sowie eine fehlende therapeutische Orientierung, die im schlimmsten Fall dauerhafte gesundheitliche Schäden und individuelle Notlagen verursachen können. Zusammenfassung: Eine differenzierte Betrachtung von Aktivierungsstrategien und Rehabilitation ist wichtig bei der Frage, welche Bedeutung gängige Therapiestrategien der Aktivierung bei diesen Erkrankungen haben und welche Maßnahmen es geben könnte, um Patienten besser gerecht zu werden. Die Frage von Aktivität und Rehabilitation adressiert allerdings nicht nur eine medizinische, sondern auch eine gesellschaftliche Dimension: Das Leitbild des aktiven Subjekts stellt eine zentrale normative Idee der Moderne dar, die sich auch in Grundprinzipen wohlfahrtsstaatlicher Versorgungslogiken und sozialer Integration widerspiegelt. Kernaussagen: Die aktuelle wissenschaftliche Lage zu Aktivität und Rehabilitation erlaubt nur teilweise Ableitungen für Therapiestrategien. Dies unterstreicht die Notwendigkeit einer differenzierten Betrachtung der Patientengruppen und individueller Krankheitsverläufe. Das Symptom PEM muss sorgfältig beachtet werden, weil es ein Leitsymptom des physiologischen Krankheitsbildes und der daraus resultierenden Belastbarkeit ist. Darüber hinaus sind strukturelle Veränderungen im Medizin- und Versorgungswesen erforderlich, um die Anerkennung und die Versorgung von komplexen unsichtbaren Erkrankungen zu verbessern. Leidensbeschreibungen und Beobachtungen von Betroffenen stellen dabei eine unverzichtbare Erkenntnisquelle dar.

Abstract Particularly for older adults with an increased risk of multimorbidity, digital health technologies can provide added value for health management. Successful use of these technologies requires appropriate skills. Key constructs are eHealth literacy and internet self-efficacy, which become particularly relevant in older age. This study investigated the relationship between these two multifactorial constructs in older adults, with eHealth literacy as a dependent variable, focusing on the mediating effect of digital literacy, and task-specific eHealth self-efficacy (i.e., contacting doctors via video communication and online health information seeking). A cross-sectional dataset with 327 internet-savvy German adults (mean age=71.75±6.06; 41% female) was analyzed using a structural equation model. After controlling for age, sex and subjective health, general internet self-efficacy showed a positive direct association on eHealth self-efficacy (β=.45, p< 0.01). General internet self-efficacy showed no indirect association on eHealth literacy, mediated by digital literacy, but a positive direct association on digital literacy (β=.72, p< 0.001). Digital literacy (β=.30, p< 0.05) was the strongest predictor of eHealth literacy. The model fit the data good (CFI=0.980; RMSEA=0.044) and explained 22.9% of the variance of eHealth literacy and 69.7% of the variance of digital literacy. These results point to the need for programs improving eHealth literacy to also focus on the use of digital devices and the promotion of general and task-specific internet self-efficacy. Implications for public health strategies will be discussed in order to improve eHealth literacy among older adults in a targeted manner and enable the successful use of digital health technologies.

Zusammenfassung Einleitung Diagnose und Behandlung einer Krebserkrankung im Kindesalter gehen mit einer Vielzahl von körperlichen und psychosozialen Anforderungen einher. In der hier vorgestellten Studie wurden soziodemografische, medizinische und biopsychosoziale Einflussfaktoren von Bedürfnissen in den Bereichen körperliche Unterstützung, Unterstützung bei emotionaler Beanspruchung, soziale Teilhabe sowie Sicherheit und Kontrollerleben identifiziert, die für die Prävention psychosozialer Beeinträchtigungen bei jungen Onkologiepatient*innen genutzt werden können. Materialien und Methoden Die Teilnehmenden (N = 117; im Alter von 8–13 Jahren) der Querschnittstudie wurden unter Einsatz eines kindspezifischen Erhebungsinstruments (KiWuF-PädOnk) befragt. Es wurden multiple lineare Regressionen durchgeführt. Ergebnisse Das Bedürfnis nach körperlicher Unterstützung wurde signifikant von der Diagnose, dem zeitlichen Abstand zur Diagnose und der schulischen Lebensqualität beeinflusst. Die Schulform und die psychische Lebensqualität hatten den größten Einfluss auf das Bedürfnis nach Unterstützung bei emotionaler Beanspruchung. Insbesondere die schulische Lebensqualität erwies sich als eine wesentliche Determinante, über die sich Voraussagen zum Bedürfnis nach sozialer Teilhabe sowie zum Bedürfnis nach Sicherheit und Kontrollerleben ableiten ließen. Schlussfolgerung Neben der schulischen Lebensqualität scheint auch die Schulform ein relevanter Faktor zu sein, was darauf hindeutet, dass die sozialen Umstände einen Einfluss auf die Bedürfnisse onkologisch erkrankter Kinder haben. Es ist weitere Forschung in diesem Bereich angezeigt, um die Unterstützung junger Krebspatient*innen zu optimieren.

Purpose: Little is known about employment situations as well as career preferences and aspirations of people who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), especially from the perspective of these individuals themselves. The purpose of this study was therefore to explore 1) employment situations of the persons who use AAC; 2) their satisfaction with the employment situation; and 3) their career preferences. Methods: An online questionnaire was developed for the purpose of this study. Twenty-one persons, aged 16 to 65, participated in this study. Results: Ten participants (47.6%) were employed in disability specific workshops, five (23.8%) attended adult day centres for people with disabilities, two (9.5%) were unemployed, two (9.5%) were students, and two (9.5%) did not specify their employment status. Nine participants (42.9%) were satisfied with their current employment situation to some extent, while another nine were not satisfied (42.9%). Out of 21 participants, 15 (71.4%) desired a change of their situation, of which nine (42.9%) aspired to employment in the general labour market. Conclusions: Future research is needed to address specific barriers and facilitators related to accessing meaningful employment for individuals who rely on AAC and accommodations needed to support such employment.

Correction to: Bedürfnisse onkologisch erkrankter Kinder: Psychometrische Überprüfung des Erhebungsinstruments „KiWuF-PädOnk“ und erste ErgebnisseTumorDiagnostik & Therapie 2022; 43(07): 461-468DOI: 10.1055/a-1892-2633

Previous approaches regarding the topic of silence in music therapy can be characterized as versatile and heterogenous. Explanations and statements are commonly heuristic- based and derived from personal experience. Empirical research on this topic is lacking. The authors conducted a series of five non-clinical studies with healthy students (study 1: n = 60, study 2: n = 64, study 3: n = 84, study 4: n = 46, study 5: n = 12). Each study condition included silence in duration of 6:30 minutes. In some cases, silence was preceded by Depth Relaxation Music Therapy (DRMT)/Hypnomusictherapy (HMT). The studies vary according to setting (outdoors in a natural setting, indoors in university rooms/group or individual setting). Four studies (studies 1 to 4) include a quantitative research design (studies 1, 2, and 4: non-randomized, repeated measure design; study 3: variation of an American study published in the journal Science) and one study (study 5), a qualitative research design (group discussion, qualitative content analysis). Results clearly indicate the effectiveness of silence at different levels, including relaxation, self-awareness, mood, emotion, rumination, perception of space, perception, and sense of time. Considering these findings, further research activities on the effects of silence in the field of music therapy are indicated. Moreover, the status of silence as a topic in music therapy research, practice, and theory needs to be re-evaluated.

Especially in rural areas, access of visually impaired people to ophthalmic care and counselling can be limited. The Eye Van is a project supported by the Ministry for Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection Baden-Württemberg which offers visually impaired people an on-the-spot ophthalmological examination and counselling on low-vision aids and social support services. The aim of this project was to evaluate the quality of care provided to visually impaired people in the rural areas of South Baden. Between 2016 and 2019, 45 villages in South Baden participated in this project. The visits were advertised in the local press. Appointments were assigned and participant eligibility was assessed over the telephone by the local Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted in South Baden. During the on-site visits, a medical history was obtained from participants, who then received a comprehensive ophthalmological examination and counselling on low-vision aids and social support services. Interviews were conducted in order to determine the expectations of the participants and to assess their quality of life. A second interview, focused on the measures that had been implemented and changes in the participants' quality of life, was carried out three months later. In total, 264 participants were examined. Of these, 101 participants fulfilled the criteria of moderate/severe visual impairment or blindness defined by the WHO (World Health Organization). The mean age of the visually impaired participants was 85 years. The median decimal visual acuity was 0.08. The median length of time since the participants' last ophthalmological examination was one year. Among the visually impaired participants, 13% did not have any low-vision aids. Their use was recommended to 62% of the visually impaired participants. The main expectation of participants was counselling on low-vision aids and support services. Among all the participants, 42 did one interview and 28 did two interviews. In the second interview, 72% of the participants claimed to have implemented the recommendations. There was no statistically significant change in their quality of life. The access of visually impaired people to ophthalmic care does not seem to be limited in the rural areas of South Baden. Nevertheless, there was a high demand for counselling on low-vision aids and social support services.