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Background: In the German healthcare system benefits include inpatient and day clinic psychotherapy of trauma-related disorders, which are often provided in gender specific groups. Despite this widespread practice, the actual impact and potential outcome have been studied relatively scarcely and are still open to debate. The present study therefore examines whether the therapeutic relationships in the group vary depending on the group composition and whether this has an effect on therapy outcome. Methods: 66 patients (N = 55 women) were treated in our multimodal, day clinic groupbased treatment program and filled out symptom questionnaires (ETI, BDI-II, PHQ-15, Questionnaire on social support) at admission and discharge and the Group Questionnaire (GQ; including subscales positive bonding, positive working and negative relationships) at the end of each of the eight weeks of treatment. Patients took part in five women-only and six mixed-gender groups and underwent therapy in a closed group format, so that they began and ended therapy within the same group. All patients were diagnosed with trauma-related disorders, which included PTSD, cPTSD, depression, somatoform disorders and further mental diseases. Outcome data were examined using functional regression analysis and linear mixed models. Results: In women-only groups, positive bonding and positive working relationship were significantly higher than in mixed-gender groups. Negative relationship ratings were significantly lower in women-only groups, especially in the middle phase of treatment. However, no effect of an exclusively female group composition on treatment outcome was found, except for the higher increase of perceived social support for patients treated in women-only groups. Conclusions: Group relationships were considered more pleasant in women-only groups than in mixed-gender groups, but this had no effect on the symptom-based therapy outcome. To enhance feelings of safety and comfort, traumatized women should have the possibility to choose whether to be treated in a women-only or a mixed-gender group.

Mental Health Screening of Syrian Refugees in Germany: The Refugee Health Screener Objectives: This study investigated the psychometric properties of the time-efficient Refugee Health Screener (RHS-13 and RHS-15) for assessing mental disorders among Syrian refugees in Germany. Methods: The RHS-15 was compared with benchmark screeners on psychological distress such as depression, anxiety, somatisation and post-traumatic stress symptoms and its diagnostic quality was assessed using appropriate methods (e. g. ROC-analyses). Results: Participants were 116 Syrian refugees (age: M = 37), 69 % of them men. The RHS-13 screened 57 % and the RHS-15 screened 66 % of participants as positive for psychological distress. Both RHS versions had very good reliability and validity and reliably identified clinically relevant psychological problems related to depression, anxiety, somatisation or PTSD. The RHS-13 proved to be more economical and slightly more valid. Conclusions: Consistent with previous findings, our results suggest that the RHS is an efficient and valid screening tool for common mental health disorders among Syrian refugees in Germany.

egePan-VOICE study on the psychosocial burden of the Covid-19 pandemic among - medical technical assistants Objectives: The Covid-19 pandemic is associated with increased demands on healthcare workers. A previously neglected occupational group is medical technical assistants (MTA). The aim is therefore to identify stress factors among MTA in Germany during the pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of medical staff was conducted in spring 2020 (N = 8088). Results: N = 1483 records of MTA were analyzed. Retrospectively, the stress increased under the pandemic, and 60.1 % of MTA suffered from work stress (ERI). Staff shortages and extra work were associated with an increase in work stress. Problems of work-life balance and contact with contaminated material/infected persons favored stressful experiences. Conclusions: Some working conditions in the pandemic pose a potential health risk to MTA. It seems necessary to create improvements in the general conditions that enable healthily and effective work.

Objectives: Intercultural opening of the health care system is supposed to optimize health services for migrants. It is part of the National Integration Plan and promoted by medical societies in Germany. This study examines its state of implementation at hospitals and rehabilitation centres for psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy in Bavaria. Methods: A written survey was conducted using a modified version of the questionnaire for the implementation of intercultural opening in the mental health care system IKÖ-P (Penka et al. 2012a). Results: Altogether 18 institutions responded. Migrants were underrepresented among patients and employees excluding physicians. Specialized psychotherapeutic interventions for migrants were rarely available, but frequently used when offered. Conclusions: Intercultural opening was poorly implemented in a structural level. Due to the low response-rate of 21.7 % the survey is not representative. Participation of institutions interested in intercultural opening could have led to biased results. To provide adequate psychosomatic medical care for migrants, intercultural opening should be further developed.

Development and validation of a questionnaire for patient competence in coping with cancer (PCQ) Objectives: The aim of the study was the development and evaluation of the psychometric properties of a self-assessment questionnaire for resource-orientated coping with cancer (Patient Competence Questionnaire, PCQ). Methods: In 420 patients and members of cancer support-groups item selection and evaluation of item properties, reliability (Cronbach's Alpha), validity (convergent and divergent) and factorial structure were performed in two studies. Results: The final version of the PCQ (18 items) demonstrated a Cronbach's Alpha between 0.71 and 0.91 for five subscales identified with exploratory factor analysis (religious/spiritual coping, coping competence, healthy lifestyle, information seeking, adaptability) and 0.85 for the total score. The PCQ shows a high convergent validity (r = 0.46) with the Freiburg Questionnaire on Coping with Illness (FKV) and significant correlations with depression (r = -0.23), posttraumatic growth (r = 0.65) and religiosity (r = 0.59). Conclusions: First analyses underline that the PCQ can be regarded as a valid and reliable instrument for assessing patients' resources in dealing with cancer.

Objectives: The present review investigates the prevalence and medical causes of food-related gastrointestinal symptoms in eating disorder (ED) patients and recommends a diagnostic algorithm based on the current literature., Methods: A literature search was conducted, which included publications from January 2000 until January 2017 Results: Over 90% of ED patients suffer from food-related symptoms. There is no evidence for a higher prevalence of immunological or structural gastrointestinal disorders in ED patients compared to the healthy population. Most food-related symptoms in ED patients are likely to be functional., Conclusions: Diagnostic work-up of food-related symptoms in ED patients needs to be based on clinical history. Only if timing and quality of symptoms point towards a disorder independent from the ED is a comprehensive diagnostic work-up necessary.

Objectives: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevalence and the modifiable determinants of non-adherence in adult kidney transplant patients in follow-up care., Methods: In 74 patients at least six months post-transplant, self-reported adherence (Basel Assessment of Adherence to ImmunosuppressiveMedications Scale, BAASIS©), subjective experience and attitudes after transplantation (Medication Experience Scale for Immunosuppressants, MESI), and depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale,HADSD) were assessed., Results: Non-adherence to any of the four BAASIS© items was 24.3%. For the sub-dimensions: dose taking, drug holidays, timing deviation more than two hours from prescribed time, and dose reduction, the non-adherence levelswere 9.5%, 0%,17.6% and 2.7%, respectively. Marital status, negative beliefs towards immunosuppressants, and prominent anxiety and depression were associated with non-adherence., Conclusions: Screening for adherence and its indicators is of substantial importance in communication with renal transplant recipients. After detecting non-adherence, supportive interventions can be offered to the patients.

Objectives: This survey examines the mental health of immigrants of Polish origin compared to samples from the Polish and German populations., Methods: In a sample of 513 subjects (261 persons with Polish migration background and 252 autochthone Poles) depression (BDI), anxiety (BAI), and somatic complaints (GBB-24) were measured., Results: Immigrants of Polish origin showed a significantly higher level of anxiety as well as somatic complaints but only a tendency toward higher depressiveness than the German normvalue, but not than that of the native Poles. Female immigrants showed an overall higher number of symptoms in the three domains in question compared to German women and - except for depressiveness - also compared to male immigrants., Conclusions: Persons with a Polish migration background present levels of mental distress higher than the general German population, but similar to the population of their country of origin. Further research is needed to clarify the special structure of the mental morbidity in Polish immigrants.

Objectives: In the context of an intensification of efforts to ensure sufficient psychooncological care for breast-cancer patients, the discussion concerning valid psychometric screening instruments gains a special relevance., Methods: The discriminant and diagnostic validity of HADS-D and PO-Bado were investigated in a sample of 123 women with breast cancer diagnosed for the first time., Results: An ROC analysis revealed a cut-off score of greater than 9 for the subscale anxiety (sensitivity: 50%; specificity: 90%) for the use of HADS-D among breast cancer patients, whereas the recommended cut-off value was greater than 7 (sensitivity: 56%; specificity: 80%) for the subscale depression. Based on the anxiety and depression scores measured by HADS-D, 74% of the clinical cases could be classified correctly. Scores for physical and mental distress measured with PO-Bado were significantly lower in the investigated sample than in the control sample., Conclusions: HADS-D has only a moderate sensitivity for the group at hand. PO-Bado is a comprehensive basic documentation for specific psychooncological distress, though without cut-off values it is not useful as a screening instrument.

Objectives: Patient compliance after transplantation is of key importance since even moderate deviations from the prescribed therapy regime may cause organ rejection. Patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis require special therapeutic preparation before the liver transplantation., Methods: A manualised group therapy with the aim of maintaining alcohol abstinence, increasing coping skills and therapy adherence is presented and illustrated with a case history. The manual is based on the elements of psychoeducation and problem-solving training. In a second article the results of the clinical evaluation are described.

Background: A manualised six-month psychoeducational intervention was conducted in patients with alcoholic liver disease and abstinence problems who were waiting for a transplantation., Objectives: In a naturalistic design it was investigated whether the intervention could improve patients' alcohol abstinence., Methods: Between January 2002 and November 2003, 72 patients were enrolled in the therapeutic intervention, 48 of whom participated in group therapy. Health-related quality of life (SF-12), anxiety and depression (HADS-D), symptom strain (BSI) and social support (F-SOZU) were measured. Alcohol abstinence was examined in each group session by measuring the alcohol concentration in breath., Results: At the beginning and end of the group therapy patients showed subsyndromal measures of anxiety and depression and minor symptoms of psychopathology. Physical quality of life was reduced (t = -8.694; df = 44; p < .001). Mental quality of life was in the range of the normative sample and was correlated with depression (r = -0.400; p = .009). Patients perceived high social support (t = 8.213; df = 45; p < .001). During the course of therapy four patients had relapses but the remaining patients stayed abstinent. Physical quality of life improved (t = -2.275; df = 27; p = .031), mental quality of life and symptom strain remained stable., Conclusions: The therapy presented here facilitated a stabilisation of mental well-being in patients with alcoholic liver disease who were waiting for organ transplantation. The relapse rate measured by alcohol concentration in breath remained low.