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The text deals with the role of criticism in times of crisis and argues that criticism is only possible when people believe that it can have effects. Authoritarianism and fear of punishment can reduce the willingness to criticize and stabilize an authoritarian state. Criticism and crisis are closely connected, as criticism can trigger a crisis and point the way out of it. The text also raises questions about the genesis and legitimacy of criticism and emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in digital times. It points to the increasing anti-intellectualism and advocates for the right to criticize and the examination of the relationship between criticism and ethics. The text deals with the concept of criticism and illuminates the views of Max Horkheimer and Michel Foucault on this matter. Horkheimer criticizes an instrumental reason that remains limited to technological efficiency and economic maximization of benefits. Foucault defines criticism as a practice of disobedience towards authority and power. Criticism aims to question social conditions and create new knowledge and power relations. The text concludes with considerations on the connection between criticism and ethics. The text addresses the topic of criticism of existing norms and laws, as well as the necessity of nonviolent resistance against injustices. Thoreau, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King are mentioned as examples of individuals who were inspired by these ideas. Walter Benjamin examines in his essay "Critique of Violence" the various dimensions and effects of violence on society and emphasizes the need to critically question the law. It is pointed out that criticism as a practice requires self-criticism and that criticism should not only be theoretical but also practical in order to bring about social changes. The text concludes with considerations on the mediation of critical thinking in education and emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning based on individual experiences. The author of the text discusses the importance of critical education in times of radicalization, uncertainty, and political lies. She refers to the views of educators such as Paulo Freire, bell hooks, and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, who emphasize that education should not only convey knowledge but also enable questioning and criticism. The author argues that a pedagogy of questioning and engagement with history and social structures is necessary to promote critical thinking. She also warns of the danger of systematic lies and propaganda in the mass media and emphasizes the importance of truth in politics. The author advocates for preserving the ability to distinguish between truth and lies in order to maintain a democratic society. [Extracted from the article]

Mother‐infant bonding is influenced by several risk and protective factors, and the literature has investigated the relationships between these factors independently. This study aimed to verify the interrelationships of some of these factors and how they influence mother‐infant bonding in Brazil. In this study, 361 mothers participated, and the outcome variable of mother‐infant bonding was assessed using the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ). Multivariate regression analysis was performed using a hierarchical model with three blocks structured according to the influence exerted on mother‐infant bonding. The PBQ's factor scores were estimated and used in the subsequent analyses to decrease measurement error. The variable "violence experienced by mothers" was statistically significant for explaining the second block model but not significant for the third block. Network analysis was performed after multiple regression, showing that the violence experienced by mothers does not directly influence mother‐infant bonding but rather is mediated by postpartum depression. This explains why violence is not significant in the hierarchical multiple regression when maternal depression is added to the model. This study's strengths lie in its utilization of PBQ factor scores and network analysis, enabling the estimation of conditional relationships among variables. This approach provides deeper insights into factors affecting mother‐infant bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Penetrating injuries are a rare but recurring emergency situation in the out-of-hospital and in-hospital emergency settings. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and characteristics of injuries associated with penetrating violence across a German metropolitan region over a 5-year period. Material and methods: In the retrospective study, a database query of the control center of the Düsseldorf rescue service area was used to identify and descriptively analyze all rescue service operations with penetrating violence-associated injuries in the years 2015, 2017, and 2019. For those patients who were transferred to the major trauma center, a further analysis of the in-hospital course was performed. Results: In the 3 years 2015, 2017 and 2019 a total of 266 patients (age: 33 ± 14 years, male: 79%) could be recorded (2015 vs. 2017 vs. 2019: n = 81 vs. n = 93 vs. n = 92, respectively). The most common age group involved had an age range of 15–34 years. A particularly higher frequency of emergency calls was found for the areas of Old Town, City Center, and one other district (Oberbilk). A high frequency of rescue missions was found in the nights from Saturday to Sunday between 20.00 p.m. and 04.00 a.m. Rescue missions with emergency physicians on board increased over the years (2015 vs. 2019: 27 vs. 42%, p = 0.04). The primary weapons used were knives (56%), broken glass bottles (18%) and broken glasses (6%). Out of all patients 71 (27%, injury severity score 11 ± 14) were admitted to the major trauma center. Among these patients, the proportion of immediate surgical care (2015 vs. 2019: 20% vs. 35%, p < 0.05) and positive alcohol detection increased over the years (2015 vs. 2019: 10% vs. 43%, p < 0.05). The 30-day mortality in the 3 years studied was 1.1% (n = 3). Conclusion: Penetrating injuries associated with violence are relevant but rare rescue missions. Future care strategies should focus on deployment of rescue resources close to the scene of the incident ("old town guard", central station), and prevention strategies should focus on weapon prohibition zones. A control of alcohol consumption should be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the beginning of the Russian Federation's attack on Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union put up massive resistance, but due to its sudden overload, it was unable to deal with the situation adequately. It was in a state of paralysis for some time. Therefore, five explanatory models for the Russian actions are presented: an offensive, a defensive, a situational, a sociocultural, and an ideological-historical one. It is then shown that the German term Gewalt, which combines the English terms violence, power, and force ontologically, is best suited to summarize and describe all these models. It is also shown that Gewalt is a neutral, fundamental human concept that can be described as one of the basic driving forces of man. By piercing society, Gewalt constitutes an impulse, a motivation that stimulates and fuels the individual and society in toto. This leads to what we call Progressus, which depends on four variables - group desire, potential means of violence and force, group aims and objectives, as well as group comparison and evaluation. Progressus is inherent in all persons and in all societies. It can be analyzed and managed in a variety of different ways. Combined with the foundation of Gewalt, seen as neutral agent in varying levels of intensity, Progressus forms a matrix for efficient analysis to describe positive and frictional interaction, establishes social relations from friendship up to war; and this between individuals, groups and/or states. How this is possibly implemented in practice is described at the end using an example from the previously presented explanatory models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crisis-like developments in recent years in disability services – consequences of the pandemic on the one hand and the revelation of violent assaults against people with disabilities on the other – have brought the topic of power and violence to the forefront. Michel Foucault’s analyses of power lead to exploring the question of which forms of power are evident here and how they affect those involved. The reflections are fed into the question of what precautions institutions and services should take so that in future crises people’s fundamental rights are not restricted in the same way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines a study of the Prešov doctor and pharmacist, diplomat and mayor Johannes Weber as a virtuous ruler. The study, bearing the title Janus Bifrons. Seu Speculum Physico-Politicum. Das ist Natürlicher Regenten-Spiegel (durch Johannem Weber bey Ablegung seines Richter-Ampts des 1661 Jahres in Eperies für gestellet), is a type of "physiological-political mirror" and was published in 1662 by the Brewer printery in Levoča. It is written in German, supplemented by Latin and forms the first part of a political trilogy. In it Weber describes the qualities a ruler should possess and compares them to the various parts of the human body. The analyzed text presents numerous parallels with modern times. The aim of this article is to show how Weber describes violence, peace and neutrality, how he argues and connects them with moral values, and which means of expression are used in characterizing politics, violence, war and peace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite all declarations of inclusion and claims to participation, the living and care situation in large institutions for people with disabilities is still little in the public eye, especially in so-called closed areas with custodial measures. The article takes the reports and investigations on custodial measures and serious assaults in a curative education intensive area, which began in 2020, as an opportunity to take a more fundamental look at institutional structures, violence and protection against violence in institutions for people with disabilities. The focus is on support systems for people with intellectual disabilities and significantly challenging behaviour. Above all, the still high degree of institutionalization and the lack of self-determined forms of living represent a considerable systemic risk for violence and a lack of protection against violence. Especially in the implementation of the German Law on Participation (BTHG), considerable strategic, legal, financial and practical efforts are needed to transform institutionalized disability care in Germany, especially in the case of complex support needs. What is needed are highly individualized living and support arrangements with intensive multi-professional assistance and concepts for violence prevention and crisis intervention, as well as concrete measures to avoid or shorten closed accommodation, such as better networking of service structures, participation plan conferences, housing associations, consultant work, crisis services, crisis intervention teams and individual case assistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abuse of power, which appears to be symptomatic in the fields of special education, and which only refers to individual cases and is deplored with regret from the outside, »de-legitimizes« the law (Agamben) and disregards the dignity of people living, learning, working and living in these fields. The focus on the individual case cleverly distracts from the realization that the power relations expressed in domination-like relations of personal and institutional violence towards those for whom the subject and the institutions would have to assume a recognition-based caring, protective and also advocatory function are not only constitutive components of the system as such, but their very own ideological subsoil and superstructure at the same time. In them, the dominant social ideas, which are reflected in the »spirit of the state« (Bourdieu), interlock, just as they are created by it and become the intrinsically effective habitus of the individual and the cement of social agreements. This results in »fog formations in the brain« that constitute curative and special education as a science and institutionalize its fields of action without becoming aware of the dialectics of the processes of exclusion and inclusion as inherent power relations and structures of domination. The discipline itself is an artifact of these relations, whose central task seems to be the euphemistic trivialization of the tragedy of their social reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to reflect on the unconscious dynamics that sustain the shocking increase in feminicide in the world. It is observed that psychological and physical violence by the intimate partner has numerous facets, especially when the woman gains more or has more professional success than her partner. This violence can take a subtle form as rejection and betrayal in order to hurt the woman and destroy her self-esteem and success. Based on numerous studies and bibliography it is demonstrated that the main cause of violence by the intimate partner is the fear of the power of the feminine that has been present throughout history. Despite the evolution of women, historical violence reverberates in the 21st century as an intergenerational trauma causing great suffering in families and disturbances in interpersonal relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gewalt ist ein häufiges Phänomen in Beziehungen von Heranwachsenden. Daten aus Erhebungen, die vor der COVID-19-Pandemie durchgeführt wurden, haben erwiesen, dass in wenigstens einer von zehn Teenagerbeziehungen Mädchen Formen von psychologischer, physischer oder sexueller Gewalt erlebten. Diese Erfahrungen wirken sich zumeist deutlich auf deren Gesundheit aus. Gewalt kann sowohl im persönlichen Kontakt als auch online stattfinden; während der Lockdown-Phasen aufgrund des gesundheitlichen Notstands scheint sich gerade die zweite Art der Gewalt weiter verbreitet zu haben. Die Mädchen bzw. generell die Opfer dieser Gewalt bitten nur in den seltensten Fällen um Hilfe. Die Schliessung von Schulen und Diensten während der Pandemie hat die Suche nach Hilfe möglicherweise noch schwieriger gestaltet. Umso wichtiger ist es, dass man den Heranwachsenden zeigt, dass man ihnen glaubt, sie respektiert und unterstützt, wenn sie sich entschliessen, von ihren Erfahrungen zu berichten. Nur so kann aus diesem Moment der Mitteilung wirklich die Chance entstehen, persönlich an diesen Ereignissen zu wachsen und der Gewaltspirale zu entkommen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Will digital transformation and artificial intelligence intensify the destructive effects of latemodern societies on the planet, or can they help to bring about the changes and corrections needed to sustain life in the Anthropocene? On the one hand there are indications that digitalization and artificial intelligence will continue to move in the direction which marked their emergence. In that case, there would be little or no reduction in our violation of nature and fellow human beings, and individuals would continue acting in a way that is harmful to themselves. On the other hand, it is suggested that the digital transformation of society and artificial intelligence could help to reduce such violations and make a real contribution to sustainable development. At present, it is difficult to be sure of a clear answer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on the developmental process, significance and scope of clinical practice guidelines and presents changes to the former S2 guidelines on therapeutic interventions for aggressive behavior (2010). Aggressive behavior is understood both in the context of risk characteristics on the patient side and as a result of escalating conflicts between patients and staff. If coercive measures are unavoidable, they must be carried out in the most bearable and humane way possible for all participants. For the first time these guidelines provide clear evidence-based and consensus-based recommendations for these issues. In addition to prevention, de-escalation, rapid tranquilization and pharmacotherapy of acute states of agitation and of recurrent aggressive behavior, technical, legal and ethical aspects of coercive measures and therapeutic support during coercive measures are covered. Further recommendations concern measures of tertiary prophylaxis, such as debriefing, joint crisis plans and external monitoring by visiting commissions and political committees. Implementation recommendations have been formulated from the guidelines. They are currently being tested in a pilot study funded by the German Association for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (DGPPN). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Terrorism belongs to the extreme forms of violence that have so far received little attention in psychiatric research and are rarely mentioned in textbooks of psychiatry. After terror attacks, however, the question regularly arises whether terrorists suffer from mental disorders. Objective and methods: The aim of this review is to summarize the multidimensional causes of terrorism with special emphasis on psychopathological aspects of the perpetrators. In addition to a brief summary of the historical background and recent developments in terrorism, a literature search was performed using PubMed, SCOPUS, PsychInfo and PsychARTICLES. Results: From a psychiatric point of view, a differentiation between lone terrorists and group terrorists is essential. Lone terrorists have a much higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders, such as psychotic, paranoid and affective symptoms. The majority of terrorists acting in groups rarely suffer from such mental disorders. For these perpetrators biographic aspects and socialization, group dynamics and ideological personality profiles with narcissistic, histrionic, fanatic and antisocial components are more relevant. The phenomenon of terrorism predominantly being a male domain is discussed. Conclusion: The manifold manifestations of terrorism are caused by complex patterns of interacting biographic, sociological, ideological and psychopathological components that differ between lone acting and group terrorists. The real causes for acts of terrorism are not various ideologies permitting violence but consist more of a pre-existing violence-oriented mentality of the perpetrators looking for such ideologies to justify their acts. The possibilities of psychiatry in prevention and early recognition are limited. Some recently developed scales for risk assessment of extreme violence are mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is one of the leading diseases worldwide. Its symptoms are of great importance for a variety of areas within internal medicine, as patients often pay a visit to their general practitioners first. Although symptoms of depression are observed in both genders, existing peculiarities of the symptoms in men are only insufficiently known or acknowledged. Therefore, we dedicate this article to the concept of male depression, which can be characterized by social withdrawal, irritability or substance abuse. Here, we present practice-related associations between depression and violent behavior, which will be illustrated by two case studies. Of particular relevance is the so-called suicidal-homicidal syndrome, which should make further psychiatric, if not forensic-psychiatric evaluation mandatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional image of the Rome-friendly, politically apologetic Luke is increasingly questioned today. In order to be able to recognize a political attitude of Luke within the narratives of Luke-Acts, an evaluation of different textual complexes is necessary. The article first elaborates on Rome-critical features of the Lukan Birth narrative against the backdrop of the conception of the aurea aetas supporting the early Roman Principate, before considering the implications of the idea of Christ's reign for the evaluation of imperial rule. It also addresses the dark sides of Roman rule in Luke and then discusses the political ambivalence in the tax question in Luke 20,20–26. The sword episodes in the Passion narrative do not allow any violent resistance. The Roman governors as representatives of Rome in the provinces appear in Luke as factors of uncertainty for the first Christians, while the hope for a good living with the Roman military rests on the centurions. The real political challenge, however, is the ethos of the Christian communities itself. The synopsis of the texts gives a differentiated picture of the attitude Luke takes towards the Roman Empire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses current migration policies and the status quo of refugees by circumscribing some specificities of its subjective configuration. Traumatic elements and expressive hiatuses belonging to the representational capacity show to be contingencies, a corollary of repeated exposure to precariousness and violence. Based on some metapsychological tools and the interlocution between psychoanalysis, culture and literature, the most relevant and idiosyncratic aspects of the clinic of refuge are developed. To achieve that, the strongly autobiographical narrative "Why the Child is Cooking in the Polenta" by Romanian writer Aglaja Veteranyi is used as an illustrative resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although rates of violent crime have been on the decline in the United States for the past two decades, young people—and particularly young men—continue to commit and fall victim to alarmingly high rates of violence. Effective prevention requires data on what the determinants of violence are and when in the life course they emerge. The goal of this review was to identify early‐in‐life risk factors for violence and to describe (a) who is most affected and (b) effect mechanisms. I focus on abuse and neglect and exposure to lead as risk factors for violence that disproportionately affect young children and that are likely to have causal effects on development. I conclude with future directions for research and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research is increasingly documenting a neurobiological basis to violence. This review takes a neurodevelopmental perspective on the very small group of males who grow up to become persistent violent offenders. After outlining six criteria for what constitutes a neurodevelopmental disorder, the extent to which chronic violence meets these definitional criteria is examined, covering the fields of genetics, structural and functional brain imaging, and neuropsychology. Early health risk factors for violence are then outlined, including birth complications, minor physical anomalies, prenatal smoking and alcohol exposure, poor nutrition, lead exposure, and traumatic brain injury. Persistent adult violence is argued to originate in aberrant temperamental behavior in early childhood, to have a stable developmental trajectory, and to be associated with impaired education, social, and occupational functioning. Taken together, it is argued that chronic adult violence meets criterion for being conceptualized as having neurodevelopmental origins and that an important, but not sole, source of neural maldevelopment lies in prenatal and early postnatal risk factors. This review concludes with a recognition of the sociopolitical context within which a neurodevelopmental perspective on chronic violence sits, together with directions for future research, including whether a neurodevelopmental hypothesis is best applied to reactive as opposed to proactive aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with prenatal substance exposure are at increased risk for externalizing behavior problems and violence. However, the contribution of early life experiences for placing these individuals at risk is not well understood. Utilizing a sample of 1,388 children with prenatal substance exposure from the Maternal Lifestyle Study, we attempt to shed light on these contributing factors by examining the impact of infant temperament, maternal sensitivity, and early life stress on the expression of violent behavior at ages 12 through 14 years. Males may be more at risk for increases in violent behavior in early adolescence through a number of early life experiences, such as variability in responses to maternal flexibility and engagement related to individual differences in temperament, as well as exposure to early adversity. Comparing two prevailing developmental theoretical frameworks, deficit models and differential susceptibility, we aim to understand the developmental origins of violent behavior in males by identifying children who may be most susceptible to early caregiving experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hintergrund: Ein Massenanfall von Verletzten (MANV) stellt stets eine besondere Herausforderung für die medizinische Versorgung und die Einsatzkräfte am Ereignisort dar, genauso aber auch für die im Nachgang zuständigen Kliniken. Wesentliche Besonderheiten und eine nochmals ganz spezielle Situation und damit Herausforderung liegt vor, wenn das Schadensereignis auf einen Terroranschlag (TerrorMANV) zurückzuführen ist.Ziel der Arbeit: Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit werden die besonderen Aspekte nach einem TerrorMANV im Hinblick auf die innerklinischen Besonderheiten, insbesondere die dann notwendigen chirurgischen Versorgungen, vorgestellt und erläutert.Material und Methoden: Auf Basis des spezifisch erarbeiteten Wissens aus der Entwicklung des Kurses Terror and Disaster Surgical Care® (TDSC®) sowie einer entsprechenden Literaturaufarbeitung wurden spezielle konzeptionelle Empfehlungen erarbeitet und abgeleitet.Ergebnisse: Im Rahmen der innerklinischen Versorgung von Patienten eines TerrorMANV gibt es zahlreiche Besonderheiten zu beachten. Dies betrifft v. a. das Patientenaufkommen und den Patientenzustrom auf die versorgenden Kliniken, die vorliegenden Verletzungsmuster, die infrastrukturellen Besonderheiten und die personellen Ressourcen. Ein ganz besonderer Fokus liegt zudem auf den unter Berücksichtigung des Vorgehens entsprechend den Konzepten des „early total care“, „damage control“ oder „tactical abbreviated surgical care“ anzuwendenden chirurgischen Versorgungsmaßnahmen.Diskussion: Der TerrorMANV ist in vielerlei Hinsicht different zum normalen MANV und bedarf der Beachtung verschiedenster Aspekte. Dabei sind insbesondere eine angepasste Vorbereitung und Ausbildung der klinikeninternen Strukturen essenzieller Baustein im Rahmen einer entsprechenden Daseinsvorsorge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hintergrund: Millionen von Menschen teilen das Bett mit einem Partner. Schlaf und Beziehung können sich also potenziell gegenseitig beeinflussen.Fragestellung: Identifikation, Reflexion und kritische Diskussion von Zusammenhängen zwischen Beziehungs- und Schlafqualität.Methoden: Literaturrecherche in elektronischen Datenbanken.Ergebnisse: Konflikte und Gewalt in der Beziehung zeigen negative Effekte auf die Schlafqualität beider Partner. Konstruktive Konfliktlösung und guter Schlaf bedingen sich gegenseitig. Frauen wünschen sich Partner mit ähnlichen Schlaf-Wach-Rhythmen und sind zufriedener mit der Beziehung, je kompatibler die Chronotypen sind.Schlussfolgerungen: Schlaf und zirkadiane Rhythmik spielen in Paarbeziehungen eine wichtige Rolle. Bei Insomniebehandlungen sollten stets auch die Beziehung und der Schlaf des Partners berücksichtigt werden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the effects of violence on the subjective processes of historization and on social ties. To achieve that goal, a theoretical study was conducted that included psychoanalytical reflections, as well as clinical and philosophical hypotheses on violence in contemporary societies. We conclude that processing effects of violence depends on the construction of symbolic mediations that allow the inscription and singularization of subjective history in social ties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the effects of violence on the subjective processes of historization and on social ties. To achieve that goal, a theoretical study was conducted that included psychoanalytical reflections, as well as clinical and philosophical hypotheses on violence in contemporary societies. We conclude that processing effects of violence depends on the construction of symbolic mediations that allow the inscription and singularization of subjective history in social ties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses far-right takes on sexualized violence and analyzes this topic's functions for the extreme right. Using the example of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), it is demonstrated that the far right's treatment of the topic can be characterized as instrumental and paternalistic. Sexualized violence is being fit into a cross-cutting politics of ethnicizing social ills in order to, on one hand, substantiate the claim of non-integratability of certain migrant communities. On the other hand, the problem is externalized in order to promote the apologia of autochthonous masculinity, which is being construed as the supposed negation of migrant (marginalized) masculinities. Both manoeuvers are aimed at retaining privilege: at the preservation of one ethnicity's hegemony over others and of patriarchal dominance of autochthonous men over »their« women, who are portrayed as vulnerable and in need of protection. The ostentatious advocacy for women is meant to obscure the claim to control over their bodies and reproductive capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses a case in which a man under security measures – due to attempted murder – was referred to assessment of dangerousness by expert psychiatrists. The conclusion was that his dangerousness had not ceased, diverging from the opinion of his health care team. Relevant factors were identified that implied greater risk of violence and criminal recidivism, both stated in the report. The result shows that careful and independent assessment is crucial to a good psychiatric report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some mental and neurobiological disorders are associated with an increased risk for violence against others. The stigmatization of people with mental illnesses essentially emerges from a distorted perception of this condition. This review article summarizes the available literature on the determinants, prevention, therapy and tools for prediction of serious interpersonal aggression in the context of people with mental disorders. The risks for violence against other people show substantial variation between the various diagnoses. Schizophrenia and mania carry a clearly increased risk particularly at the onset of the disorder but disease-specific pharmacological therapy can reduce these risks. The highest risk factors are in particular previous violence, misuse of alcohol and drugs, male gender and young age. Probabilistic predictions of subsequent aggression against others on an individual-specific basis are only feasible in enriched populations (especially persons with mental illnesses and a previous history of assaults). Valid individual-specific predictions of future violence in the general population or on the basis of diagnoses of mental illness are, however, currently not feasible with sufficient accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The findings of international studies suggest high rates of interpersonal violence and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Only few studies, however, have so far been conducted in the German-speaking countries. Objectives: The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of lifetime experiences of interpersonal violence and comorbid PTSD among inpatients in a German university hospital. Method: In N = 145 consecutively admitted patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (67 % male) the structured trauma interview (STI) was used to assess experiences of interpersonal violence and the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV (SCID) to assess comorbid PTSD. Results: Sexual violence under the age of 16 years was reported by 17 % of the patients (women 27 %, men 12 %). Approximately one third (32 %) reported physical violence by parental figures (women 38 %, men 29 %). At least one form of early violence (sexual or physical) was reported by half of the women (48 %) and one third of the men (34 %). Negative sexual experiences later in life were reported by 17 %, physical violence by 38 % and at least one of these forms by 48 % of the patients. In total two thirds of all patients (66 %) reported experiences of violence during their lifetime. The prevalence of acute PTSD was 12 %. Another 9 % of patients had a subsyndromal PTSD. Conclusion: The present study confirmed the high rates of experiences of interpersonal violence and comorbid PTSD in a German sample of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Violence and it's consequences should therefore be routinely assessed and the full spectrum of trauma-specific therapies should be integrated into the treatment of this group of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violent behaviour associated with alcohol consumption is frequently reported by different media. Clinical data analyzing the correlation between alcohol intoxication, age, gender and violence are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of age, gender and blood alcohol content on violent behaviour under the influence of alcohol under central European conditions. Three hundred patients admitted to the emergency department were included into this study in the time period from January 01. to December 31. 2009. The inclusion criteria were a blood alcohol content (BAC) of >10mmol/l, any traumatic injury and an age >16 years. Violence was defined as an evitable act committed by others leading to patient's hospitalisation. The data were compared with Wilcoxon and y2-test for proportions. The data were considered as significant if p<0,05. Predictive quality was evaluated by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Independent predictors were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. The average age was 36,9±16,9 years (range:16-84 years), 259 (86%) males and 41 (24%) females. There was a significant difference in gender (odds ratio forgender male 2,88; Cl 95%: 1,24-6,67; p<0,001) and age dependent (odds ratio for each year of age 0,94; Cl 95%:0,93-0,96; p<0,0001) violence with no correlation to blood alcohol content found. Logistic regression analysis revealed male gender and young age as an independent predictor for violence. These results clarify the relationship between alcohol, age, gender and violence and have important implications for municipal-level alcohol policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many missions in the preclinical emergency services seem to be triggered by false indications as defined by the Federal State Rescue Act. These emergency calls are often a result of or associated with social issues. Emergency rescue personnel are confronted with social problems and as a result often feel left alone with the problem. Aim: This article promotes the understanding of emergency service personnel for the associations between social problems and health. Solution strategies for frequent social emergencies are described. Material and methods: This article demonstrates the associations between socioeconomic status, health and disease. Typical indications for missions in which social aspects play an important role are presented and solution strategies for the approach are suggested. A discussion is presented on how to deal with cases of child abuse and domestic violence. Three classical psychiatric problem areas with common social components are explained: psychomotor state of excitation, suicide and alcohol-associated incidents and special attention is paid to danger to third parties and aggressive patients. In addition to the treatment of medical conditions, social problems play an important role particularly for the elderly and chronically ill patients. Results and conclusion: Emergency personnel have only limited options for dealing with such problems; however, it is important to be aware of regional structures and non-medical organizations, which might be of help in such situations. These include social services, youth welfare services, crisis interventions teams and social psychiatric services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interpersonal violence represents a widespread phenomenon with a high prevalence. Consequences of these acts of violence are serious and extensive to the victims and from a socio-economic point of view. Physical examination of the victims is a key aspect in the medic- legal expertise. This article describes the basic principles and the standard procedures in conjunction with the examination of violent crime victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is now robust evidence that schizophrenia is associated with an increased risk of violence. Across Europe, the numbers of forensic hospital beds have dramatically increased largely due to admissions of men with schizophrenia. Objective: This article critically reviews the extant literature on schizophrenia and violence. Material and methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out. Results: People with schizophrenia are at increased risk, as compared to the general population, to be convicted for violent crimes because they are more likely to engage in aggressive behaviour towards others. While psychotic symptoms explain aggressive behaviour during acute episodes, they do not explain such behaviour at other stages of the illness or prior to onset of illness. Three distinct phenotypes of offenders with schizophrenia have been identified: individuals with a childhood onset of conduct disorder who display antisocial and aggressive behaviour both before and after schizophrenia onset, individuals with no history of conduct problems who begin engaging in aggressive behaviour at the onset of illness, and individuals who engage in a severe physical assault after many years of illness. Little is known about the aetiology of the three types of offenders and about the neural mechanisms that initiate and maintain these forms of behaviour. Conclusion: Mental health services need to assess the risk of violence among patients with schizophrenia and provide treatments that directly target antisocial and aggressive behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the previous part of the issue we argued that opening the doors of acute psychiatric inpatient wards is actually one of the anchor points on the way to an innovative psychiatry. It focuses on the patient's personality in a sense that this is taken as seriously as the psychiatric disorder itself. Patients and relatives should be enabled to participate in treatment decisions as they should experience that treatment teams are concerned about reliance, liability and security in therapeutic relationships in an empathetic way. The second part of the issue contributes to the therapeutic measures, the different skills and modifications of treatment frameworks in acute psychiatry (e.g. prevention of crowding in acute psychiatric inpatient units, education of staff, assessment of the risks of violence, de-escalation strategies and coping with suicidality). They might be helpful in implementing the outlined confidence about the essence of therapeutic relationships, autonomy and codetermination of patients in treatment. These suggestions might enhance a professional approach particularly with respect to prevention and also concerning acute interventions in situations of endangerment to self and others and of aggression and violence in the units. In this way they help to achieve the goal of open doors in psychiatry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As compared to the general population schizophrenic patients are at increased risk of becoming delinquent. The majority of schizophrenic patients do not commit any crime, and the risk of the general population to be a target of a violent act by a person with schizophrenia is low. The causes of delinquency in schizophrenia are complex, but certain risk characteristics (e.g. an accompanying substance abuse) have been identified. The treatability and legal prognosis of schizophrenic offenders are good, which suggests that establishing a suitable helpers network could also be used for violence prevention in patients at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence is a growing problem worldwide. In Switzerland, interpersonal violence seems to be an increasing problem as well. The aim of the current study was to describe a comprehensive picture of violence in a swiss city with regard to medical and social aspects. A total of 1740 patients injured by violent crimes between April 2004 and January 2011 were enrolled into this study. Most of them were male. There were no relevant changes regarding the number of within the observation period. However, the proportion of affected females increased. Especially at the weekend, there is a need for preventive measures to reduce the high number of affected patients and the associated costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Individual and collective acts of violence are mainly a male phenomenon caused by complex interactions of neurobiological and psychosocial factors. Amazingly this topic has not yet played a major role in the clinical psychiatric literature although the disastrous consequences are clearly visible everywhere and although aggression also belongs to the archaic human emotions, such as anxiety, depression and euphoria. The article gives an integrative overview on epidemiological, neurobiological, genetic, neuropathological, neurochemical/hormonal, developmental and psychosocial theories on aggression and violence, including sociocognitive models, hedonistic aspects of violence, effects of violence in the media and processes of childhood socialization. Better knowledge of the broad spectrum of these intensively interacting biological and psychosocial components resulting in violence not only improves our understanding of this calamitous psychosyndrome but can also lead to more effective preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historians have developed different theories on the persecution of the Jews on the "Romanian territory". A closer look at the summer of 1941, however, shows that the Romanian witch-hunt against the Jews cannot be explained by a singular impulse. At least five different motifs of the persecution of Jews and four semi-autonomous lines of action (politics, military, administration, population), each with its own "language of violence", must be distinguished. The discrepancy in explaining the Romanian Holocaust is not at least reflecting this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Democratization has been a central topic in studies of recent German history, but what have democracy and democratic citizenship meant to Germans? Studying demonstrations can be illuminating here because choices about whether and how to demonstrate rest on demonstrators’ conceptions of appropriate democratic behaviour, while opponents’ and bystanders’ reactions reveal their conceptions as well. Looking at 1960s student demonstrations and reactions to them reveals that many West Germans rejected demonstrations because they believed that democracy meant electing one’s leaders and then staying quiet, simply allowing those leaders to lead. Most West Germans could accept demonstrations to the extent they contributed to reasoned discourse about public issues. Some West Germans could accept arational forms of demonstration (for example, ‘provocation’), though most found them too reminiscent of Nazi demagogy. A minority of West Germans accepted the right of demonstrators to ‘pressure’ policymakers through direct actions, as economic elites regularly exercised pressure through petitions, meetings and so on. Most West Germans, though, opposed pressure through demonstrations. A tiny minority argued for ‘force against things or persons’ (Gewalt gegen Sachen oder Personen), either to elicit rational discussion or even to ‘compel’ governments to act as demonstrators demanded. Most West Germans, however, found Gewalt particularly undemocratic, as a reminder of Nazi and Communist 1930s street battles and as a minority’s effort to impose its will on democratic majorities. Quietism, reason, provocation, pressure, compulsion: democracy and democratic citizenship turn out to have meant very different things to different West Germans in the 1960s. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: In order to identify psychiatric patients who have a higher risk of being aggressive towards others, a risk checklist, the 'Bremen Risk Assessment Scale for General Psychiatry' (BRAS-GP) was developed. The results of the first trial are described in this article. Methods: In this prospective study all in-patients who were treated in the last quarter of 2006 were included. The BRAS-GP was applied on discharge to patients who were treated involuntarily. In a 1-year follow-up all patients who had been readmitted were analyzed to assess if any aggressive incident had occurred to confirm or refute the prognoses. Results: On evaluation of the readmissions data, we calculated sensitivity of 0.72 and specificity of 0.71 as well as an 'area under the curve' of 0.74. Especially during the first months after discharge readmissions linked with aggressive behavior were observed. Conclusion: The BRAS-GP is a useful prognostic instrument with high predictive validity. It can be easily applied in general psychiatric wards to help identify risk patients. After detecting risk patients special treatment strategies can then be offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In den Sam- und Kön-Büchern sind drei Arten der Darstellung von Königsmorden zu unterscheiden: 1. der wertfreie Bericht (die Putschnotizen in den „Tagebüchern der Könige" und die Novelle über Jehus Putsch), 2. die Warnung vor der Gewalt gegen Könige (als positives Beispiel das Verhalten Davids gegenüber den Sauliden, als negatives der Aufstand Abschaloms), 3. die Legitimierung solcher Gewalttaten (prophetische Auf-forderungen zum Königsmord und der Bericht von der Ermordung Ataljas). Zwischen dem Gewalttabu gegen Könige und dem Recht auf Widerstand gegen sie entfaltet sich im deuteronomistischen Geschichtswerk, zeitlich gestaffelt, eine regelrechte Diskussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When comparing different studies on prison violence, it must be taken into account that correctional facilities vary considerably among one another. Studies conducted in Switzerland have shown that every one inmate in four is violent at least once during incarceration. These violent acts differ in regard to manifestation and a specific characterization of violence according to type, target, implication and trigger appears to be necessary. Existing criminal prognostic instruments are not suitable for estimating the risk of violent behavior in prisons. Therefore, the development of specific models is essential. International studies have identified various risk factors. However, due to the aforementioned differences in facilities, these predictors can only partly be transferred to a Swiss setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a reflection on Balibar's account of the concept of Gewalt in Marx, Engels and Marxism. The German term contains both the meanings of power and violence. At the centre of the analysis is the structural link between the notion of Gewalt and the capitalist mode of production and state-form. The problem is whether Gewalt can be understood in relation to the actions of the working class. Balibar rightly refuses any sort of counter-politics of power set against the power of the state which would retain the same overall logic as the latter. However, the question is how such a critique of the ahistorical ontology of violence can interact with Marx's idea of capital as a constitutively violent entity which threatens to subordinate to itself any stance of non-violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technical difficulties posed for the child psychotherapist working with children who have themselves experienced violence and abuse are addressed. A distinction is drawn between violence in the service of communicating about such experiences and violence that arises from more perverse aspects of the patient. The therapist's need to pay close attention to his counter-transference is emphasized. From an example of a single session we see the therapist's struggle to receive the communicative aspects of extreme acting-out behaviour at the same time as creating a safe setting in which thinking can take place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]