Meningeal melanocytoma: a rare lesion of the central nervous system.

Two cases of meningeal melanocytoma, both localized in the cerebellopontine angle, were studied. The patients underwent surgical excision, and in one case there was a recurrence. All the pathologic criteria of melanocytoma were fulfilled by the 2 reported cases. Immunohistochemical stainings were very important ancillary tools in the differential diagnosis with other pigmented meningeal tumors.

The reflexive loop of past, present, and future in systemic therapy and consultation.

Time is one of the most basic social constructions. There are several different "times" (individual, social, cultural). This article deals with the time variable in systemic therapy--a most important variable, but often underestimated by therapists--and seeks to illustrate, with clinical examples, the peculiar interplay of past, present, and future in the therapy session. The co-creation of the past and future in the therapeutic system is also considered, together with the different temporal horizons of the family therapist and the observation team. In our view, time is one of the key issues in successful therapy: consideration of time can open new perspectives in both therapy and research.

Hypothesizing--circularity--neutrality: three guidelines for the conductor of the session.

This paper presents the results of our research focused on individuating and elaborating principles and methods that we have found highly productive in interviewing the family. We have synthesized these principles under the headings Hypothesizing, Circularity, and Neutrality, giving conceptual definitions, descriptions, and practical examples of their application. Our purpose is to aid the therapist in stimulating the family to produce meaningful information, which is indispensable to the therapist in making a therapeutic choice.

Family rituals a powerful tool in family therapy.

The use of systemic models in family therapy obliged our team to devise therapeutic tasks involving the entire family. Among these, one was found to be extremely effective: the prescribing of a family ritual. This article gives details of on such example aimed at the destruction of a myth that had been created by three generations of a family. In order that the reader may have a adequate understanding of this ritual, were shall fully describe the story of the family and of the transgenerational evolution of this myth. In the description of the treatment of the family, certain errors were made by the therapists that will come to light-errors that, as usual, were far more instructive than the actual successes. Eventually, it was the very understanding of these errors and their repercussions that led us to the successful prescription of the ritual. Finally, detailed analysis of the substance and aim of the ritual will illustrate and explain exactly what we mean by the term ritual.