[Quality of life and impact of incontinence in male patients with prostate carcinoma after radical retropubic prostatectomy]. / Die Lebensqualität und die Bedeutung der Inkontinenz bei Männern mit Prostatakarzinom nach radikaler retropubischer Prostatektomie.

BACKGROUND: To explore the effect of an interdisciplinary training programme on quality of life and impact of incontinence in male patients with urinary incontinence after radical retropubic prostatectomy for cancer of the prostate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a controlled trial with two intervention groups. Both groups received an interdisciplinary training programme, with the first group (n=87) receiving the standard version, and the second group (n=72) receiving an additional tool 'BBS-trainer' to improve the perception of the pelvic floor muscles. Primary outcomes were quality of life (EORTC questionnaires) and impact of incontinence (modified questionnaire) evaluated up to six months after the treatment. The relationship between certain parameters such as incontinence was investigated. RESULTS: Mean age was 64 years; most of the participants were married and pensioned. Both groups improved significantly and to a relevant extent in most of the quality of life and incontinence variables during the three weeks of treatment, after six months they further improved significantly. Quality of life improved first, continence and impact on daily life followed. Some differences found between both groups refer to the time course. CONCLUSIONS: There is strong interaction between quality of life, incontinence and impact of incontinence. The interdisciplinary training programme shows quickly strong effects on quality of life and impact factors. It therefore is advisable that men with incontinence symptoms after prostatectomy should be offered such a treatment in a specialized rehabilitation clinic.

[Predictors of the effectiveness of psychological sleep management in cancer patients during inpatient rehabilitation]. / Prädiktoren für die Effektivität eines psychologischen Schlaftrainings für onkologische Patienten während der stationären Rehabilitation.

Insomnia is a common phenomenon in cancer patients; nevertheless, there are only a few intervention results published covering this topic. In a former study we examined the effects of a psychological sleep management programme with two intervention groups (n=80, n=71) and one control group (n=78) and showed significant improvements over time, indicating that 50% to 80% of the intervention group participants benefited with moderate or large scale effects on several sleep variables. Now we reanalysed data to look for predictors for those patients who improved best. Almost no demographic, cancer-related or quality of life variables predicted treatment response and persons with greater sleep disturbances at the beginning do benefit the same as persons with less problems. Additionally, better acceptance of the chosen intervention form (cognitive-behavioural programme with autogenic training or with muscle relaxation technique) positively predicted good outcome. Explained variance associated with different outcome variables varied between 9% and 18%. Therefore training should be offered for all cancer patients with sleep problems, and they should have a choice between different relaxation techniques.

[Results of studies with the Meyer-Probst Encephalopathy Questionnaire in children with normal behavior]. / Ergebnisse von Erhebungen mit dem Enzephalopathie-Fragebogen nach Meyer-Probst bei nicht-verhaltensauffalligen Kindern.

To diagnose encephalitis the 'Encephalitis-Fragebogen (E-F)' by Meyer-Probst is a valid instrument. The authors tested a large number of children without unadaptive or neurotic behaviour (4.5 to 11.9 years) with this instrument to define new standards. Parts of the results are presented. There are very significant differences between boys and girls. Considering the age, different standards are necessary only for boys. Using these new standards it is possible to avoid misinterpretation.

[Differential evaluation of a study of children with normal behavior with the Meyer-Probst Encephalopathy Questionnaire]. / Differenzierte Auswertung einer Untersuchung an nicht-verhaltensauffälligen Kindern mit dem Enzephalopathie-Fragebogen von Meyer-Probst.

To define new standards for the 'Enzephalopathie-Fragebogen' by Meyer-Probst the authors tested a large number of children (n = 2841) without unadaptive or neurotic behaviour (4.5 to 11.9 years). The results of the total scale were published in an earlier article. The findings of the specific scales prove significant differences between boys and girls with respect to the scales hyperactivity, social adaption, emotional instability and educability. Considering the age, different standards are necessary for boys only. The results published here differ from those of Meyer-Probst.