An Exploratory Study on the Central Nervous Correlates of Sexual Excitation and Sexual Inhibition.

The Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales (SIS/SES) measure sexual excitation and sexual inhibition proneness. We used SIS and SES scores of 62 heterosexual teleiophilic men (Mage 34.3, SD = 9.9) to predict brain activation levels during the presentation of male and female visual sexual stimuli in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Statistical analyses revealed significant correlations. SES and SIS1 scores were positively associated with brain activation in various brain regions during the presentation of both male and female stimuli. SIS2 turned out to be a weaker predictor of brain activation, still revealing one significant correlation in the right lateral orbitofrontal cortex. Significant regions for SES and SIS1 were, among others, primary and supplementary motor areas, the caudate nucleus, the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula, and prefrontal areas. Our study can be seen as an exploratory investigation of SIS and SES with means of functional brain imaging. The results provide a promising contribution to the assertion of neurophysiological systems of sexual inhibition and excitation proneness.

Gray matter anomalies in pedophiles with and without a history of child sexual offending.

Pedophilia is a psychiatric disorder that is inter-related with but distinct from child sexual offending (CSO). Neural alterations reportedly contribute to both pedophilia and CSO, but until now, no study has distinguished the brain structural anomalies associated with pedophilia from those specifically associated with CSO in pedophilic men. Using high-resolution T1-weighted brain images and voxel-based morphometry, we analyzed the gray matter (GM) volume of the following 219 men recruited at four acquisition sites in Germany: 58 pedophiles with a history of CSO, 60 pedophiles without any history of CSO and 101 non-pedophilic, non-offending controls to control for the effects of age, education level, verbal IQ, sexual orientation and the acquisition site. Although there were no differences in the relative GM volume of the brain specifically associated with pedophilia, statistical parametric maps revealed a highly significant and CSO-related pattern of above vs below the 'normal' GM volume in the right temporal pole, with non-offending pedophiles exhibiting larger volumes than offending pedophiles. Moreover, regression analysis revealed that the lower GM volume of the dorsomedial prefrontal or anterior cingulate cortex was associated with a higher risk of re-offending in pedophilic child molesters. We believe our data provide the first evidence that CSO in pedophilia rather than pedophilia alone is associated with GM anomalies and thus shed new light on the results of previous studies on this topic. These results indicate the need for new neurobehavioral theories on pedophilia and CSO and may be potentially useful for treatment or prevention approaches that aim to reduce the risk of (re)offending in pedophilia.

[SIMBO: a Screening Instrument for Identification of Work-Related Disabilities--analyses of construct and prognostic validity]. / SIMBO: Ein Screening-Instrument zur Feststellung des Bedarfs an Medizinisch-Beruflich Orientierten Massnahmen in der medizinischen Rehabilitation--Analysen zur Konstruktvalidität und Prognosegüte.

BACKGROUND: For a number of years, work-related interventions in medical rehabilitation (MBO) have been developed. Basically, these interventions concentrate on vocational problems of rehabilitees whose health disorders are strongly associated with contextual factors of the environment as well as personal factors. Previous studies showed a close relationship between the success of an intervention and identification of a specific demand. In fact there are several clinical concepts regarding specific demand. But there still is a lack of appropriate instruments for use in identification of occupational challenges. Therefore SIMBO (Screening Instrument for Identification of a Demand for Medical-Vocational Oriented Rehabilitation) has been developed recently. By using a scale for the intensity of work-related problems as well as a cut-off point, SIMBO is able to identify patients with and without a demand for work-related interventions. METHOD: Analyses relative to construct validity and predictive validity were carried out on two different samples--a multi-clinic sample (patients with musculoskeletal disorders) and a sample from the German statutory pension insurance agency DRV Westfalen (successful applications for medical rehabilitation). In this context the cut-off level discussion is very important. RESULTS: By means of the multi-clinic sample--irrespective of cut-off definition--the SIMBO-decision and the clinical identification of MBO-demand were found to agree in 74-78% of the cases. This corresponds to a maximum adjusted correlation of r=0.59 (phi coefficient). Compared to the external ratings of vocational problems given by DRV staff in handling the applications, however, only little agreement is found (64%, r=0.25). In fact, SIMBO had in 77% (r=0.50) of the cases been able to correctly predict work-related problems to be expected. So the result obtained using this instrument is far better than prediction of these problems in the external ratings by DRV staff (54%, r=0,21). Also, return to work (RTW) in good health after six months can be predicted correctly by SIMBO in 77% of the cases. This means that the probability of RTW in good health is reduced by 90% (Odds Ratio=0.1) if work-related problems had been identified by SIMBO. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Concerning its clinical as well as predictive quality, the validity of SIMBO-based ratings of work-related problems has been proven. Further, it has become obvious that SIMBO is suitable as an easy-to-handle tool for identification of a need for vocationally-focused interventions for use by the social insurance agencies which finance rehabilitation. Further interesting questions arise relative to application in different indications as well as potential uses as an outcome instrument.

[Quality Assurance in Rehabilitation under the German Pension Insurance Scheme]. / Stand der Qualitätssicherung in der Rehabilitation der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung.

Ten years after its introduction, the German Pension Insurance's quality assurance programme is firmly established within the rehabilitation system. Regular, substantive reporting to rehabilitation centres and pension insurance organisations has contributed to improving the quality of rehabilitation. Legal codification of quality assurance stipulations has existed since 2001. The programme is in constant development, e. g. by optimization of patient interviewing and inclusion of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. New programmes, e. g. in inpatient rehabilitation of children and youths or in outpatient rehabilitation, are being developed together with the German health care organizations. In the field of vocational rehabilitation quality assurance had started out with a conceptual study followed by projects concerning client interviewing, evaluation of documentation instruments, and analyses relative to the most important outcome factor, namely the vocational reintegration results achieved. External quality assurance is a mayor input factor for the rehabilitation centres' internal quality management. In future, rehabilitation centres will be asked to demonstrate the appropriate use of this information. It will remain the centres' decision which method of quality management system implementation they choose. Quality assurance results of every centre are planned to be made publicly accessible in the medium term, in particular to the insureds. Moreover, the results of the quality assurance programmes are intended to clearly impact the allocation of patients as well as the remuneration of the rehabilitation centres concerned. Quality assurance and quality management will continue to play a major role in the political discussion of health care.

[Occupational orientation in medical rehabilitation and measures for participation in the professional life]. / Berufliche Orientierung in der medizinischen Rehabilitation und Leistungen zur Teilhabe am Arbeitsleben.

Return-to-work and protection of work-related participation is stated as a primary objective of rehabilitation by the statutory pension insurance institutes. A general continuous management of work-related participation in rehabilitation is a prerequisite for optimal results in view of stay in work and return to work. This means an extended vocational orientation in medical rehabilitation, individualized occupational rehabilitation according to need and capacity in connection with closer linkages between medical and occupational rehabilitation. In the course of the "Rehabilitation Sciences" research funding programme and beyond it, quite a few research projects and scientific activities aimed at development, testing and evaluation of -new screenings and diagnostic instruments with better findings of vocational related needs in medical and occupational rehabilitation, -specific methods of therapy and models for treatment settings with immediate reference to the work related restriction and capacity, as well as -models of the organization and forms of cooperation between medical and occupational rehabilitation. This paper reviews the projects and findings in these research fields in relation to the requirements for an increase of general continuous vocational orientation in rehabilitation.

[Transfer of research findings into the practice of rehabilitation and effects on the development and stabilization of the infrastructure of rehabilitation sciences--the pension insurance perspective]. / Umsetzung von Forschungsergebnissen in die Rehabilitationspraxis und Effekte auf den Ausbau und die Stabilisierung der rehabilitationswissenschaftlichen Infrastruktur aus der Sicht der Rentenversicherung.

The programme for research in rehabilitation has been established by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the German Pension Insurance scheme in 1998 to further develop the methodology in this field. In addition to other effects, the large number of projects has strengthened the research structure in Germany. An important aim of the programme is the transfer of the research findings into the practice of rehabilitation. The initiators also organize this transformation process in terms of a long-term task. The paper describes the transfer of findings in the topics selected by the Pension Insurance scheme: patient education, access to rehabilitation, and vocational orientation in medical rehabilitation. Furthermore, additional activities concerning the transfer are outlined. To improve the practice of rehabilitation by transferring research findings is of great importance for the Pension Insurance scheme.

[The "rehabilitation sciences" research funding programme: research findings -- implementation -- impact and perspectives]. / Förderschwerpunkt "Rehabilitationswissenschaften": Ergebnisse -- Umsetzung -- Erfolge und Perspektiven.

In 1998, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the German pension insurance scheme established a funding programme for research in rehabilitation. This "Rehabilitation Sciences" research funding programme comprises eight regional research networks for eight years in two periods (1998-2002, 2001-2005). In our paper we review the findings of the first funding period in five of the research fields: patient education, need for and access to rehabilitation, vocational training in medical rehabilitation to enhance return to work, comorbid mental disorders in patients with somatic diseases, and gender differences. Several activities aimed at transferring research findings into practice are outlined. Finally, the impact of the funding programme is summarized and perspectives for further funding are given.

[The quality assurance program of mandatory social security in the realm of medical rehabilitation. Concept, status of implementation and prospects]. / Das Qualitätssicherungsprogramm der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung für den Bereich der medizinischen Rehabilitation. Konzept, Stand der Umsetzung und Perspektiven.

The quality improvement programme aims at the comparison of clinics in charge of the statutory pension insurance. The programme has been implemented successively in 1994, supported by researchers and teams of experts on specific subjects. Instruments and procedures have been developed to all programme items including a clinic comparing and information system, thus permitting routine use in practice. Performing regular clinic-comparisons analysing structural quality (equipment, staff, clinical concept, management), procedural quality (recording of rehabilitation process), and outcome quality (success of the rehabilitation estimated by physician and patient) of rehabilitation facilities shall initiate quality competition and stimulate a constant improvement of quality. significant basis, therefore, is a clinic-comparing information and reporting system. The developed instruments and procedures are available for all institutes providing rehabilitation.

[The "rehabilitation sciences" promotional emphasis--a promotional program and its implementation]. / Der Förderschwerpunkt "Rehabilitationswissenschaften"--ein Förderprogramm und seine Umsetzung.

The German Federal Research Ministry and the German pension insurance have set up a special funding programme for medical rehabilitation research. Eight regional research networks with about 70 projects receive funds for a first three year period. Rehabilitation experts from several countries selected the promising networks and studies from more than 100 proposals. In these networks medical and social scientists from universities and other research units cooperate with rehabilitation centers and pension insurance institutes in order to combine forces for the development of German rehabilitation science. The programme aims at improving the research structures and at tackling the major challenges of medical rehabilitation research. The following subjects represent the main fields of the ongoing research: a) etiology, course and prognosis of chronic diseases and their consequences to rehabilitation, b) diagnostics in rehabilitation, c) evaluation and improvement of rehabilitation therapy, d) the patient's perspective in rehabilitation and e) rehabilitation system research. As yet funding is limited to the year 2001. Further support of the networks will depend on the results of a thorough evaluation of the progress of their research and their structural perspective.