[Schema therapy for personality disorders. A critical review]

In the 10 years since schema therapy was first recognized in Germany it has become widespread among practitioners and has taken a place among the so-called third wave therapies. The overall goal of schema therapy is conceptualizing and treating personality disorders or traits reinforcing axis I disorders. Early maladaptive schemas result from a child's unmet emotional core needs. In a limited reparenting therapy relationship these interpersonal situations are re-experienced and rescripted under the therapist's control. Schema therapy integrates elements of existing models and techniques into a consistent case conceptualization as the bedrock for understanding and changing maladaptive coping behavior. This review article gives a comprehensive overview about the model, the therapy relationship and the application of the experiential techniques in relation to already developed approaches (including the current evidence). The strengths and weaknesses are briefly discussed.

[Tumors of the cerebral hemispheres in children and adolescents. Results of treatment, residual syndromes and focal epilepsy]

Tumors of the cerebral hemispheres comprise a big variety of histologic tumor types. Therefore, in the literature usually only specific subgroups such as benign gliomas and temporal lobe tumors are reported. In this study we report on 44 tumors of the cerebral hemispheres, including 9 angiomas. Apart from the treatment results concerning event free survival, the neurological and neuropsychological outcome of the patients were assessed. A peculiarity in the hemispheric tumors is their association with focal epilepsies. In 94% of our patient series, epileptic seizures had been the first tumor associated symptom and approximately 62% developed focal epilepsy. Seizure types, their association with tumor location and histology, the success of tumor therapy in concern of the epilepsy and the significance of the electroencephalogram in the follow up care of these patients were assessed separately.

[Quality of life and symptoms of residual damage in cerebellar tumors in children and adolescents]

At the departments of neurosurgery and pediatrics of the University Hospital of Hamburg 21 patients after neurosurgery and radiation of cerebellar tumors have been examined as to neuropsychological, neurological and ophtalmological disabilities. A standardized questionairy for the parents concerning different aspects of their children's quality of life (physical, mental, social health and functional limitations) was performed. 16 children showed minor neurological signs with no or mild disability, in 5 children severe disability was found. In 4 patients morphological changes in the eyeground, in 2 patients amblyopia was detected. 19 patients underwent a neuropsychological examination. The group of patients with medulloblastoma or ependymoma (n = 10) scored in nearly all tests below the group with astrocytoma (n = 9). 3 out of 7 patients in the medulloblastoma or ependymoma group had to abandon school, one patient needs special education. All patients with astrocytoma performed fairly well at school. Parents of patients with medulloblastoma or ependymoma classified their children's quality of life not as good as did parents of children with astrocytoma. The amount of objective disability had no influence on the parents estimation of their children's quality of life. Besides the neurological examination the neuropsychological and quality of life assessment proved to be an essential part of follow up. For a more comprehensive understanding of quality of life, qualitative assessment strategies should be included in further research.

[Prognosis and quality of life following tumors in the pineal region in childhood]

At the department of neurosurgery and pediatrics of the University Hospital of Hamburg 18 children with pineal region tumors were treated by surgical removal and craniospinal axis radiation. Total or nearly total removal was achieved in 13 cases. In case of astrocytoma and pineocytoma no further treatment was performed. Children with germinoma, pinealoblastoma and teratoma underwent craniospinal axis radiation postoperatively. All children thus treated, except one with a highly malignant pinealoblastoma, are so far relapse-free. Two patients with germinoma and two patients with malignant mixed teratoma, which showed extensive growth and/or primary metastases already at admission died. Subject of this report is an assessment of quality of live and a comprehensive follow-up of neurological, endocrinological and psychointellectual conditions of the surviving children. Parent assessment of quality of life indicate for all but two children life quality as excellent or reasonable. One child was disabled by severe motor dysfunction, visual defects and convulsions. In two children minor neurological handicap was found. Minor oculomotor dysfunction was the most frequent neurological finding. Four children showed endocrinopathies. In three cases tumor associated panhypopituitarism persisted after treatment. Only one child developed growth hormone and ADH deficit succeeding surgery and craniospinal axis radiation. The children were examined with a neuropsychological test-battery. In four children severe neuropsychological deterioration was found. Three children showed no remarkable deterioration, five only minor or moderate psychological deficits. Generally verbal intelligence seemed to be on average, non-verbal intelligence and ability for concentration showed decreased scores.