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Objective: This study compares two types of therapeutic model videos: an ideal model and a model that shows mistakes. The idea is that the conscious perception of mistakes is more likely to help build a comprehensive understanding of clinical communication skills than an ideal model., Methods: A total of n1=111 psychology students and n2=57 people from the general population were randomly assigned to one of two training conditions as part of an online study. While one group watched a short but competent conversation of a behavioral therapist in their training with a positive model video, the other group watched a mixed model video in their training that showed a therapist with mediocre competence. In both training videos, the positive or negative behavior was marked with written explanations. Before and after the training, the participants rated the competencies of a therapist in another interview situation using standardized scales. These competence ratings were compared with those of two clinical experts and thus provided an indicator of the participants' conceptual knowledge of competent interviewing., Results: A series of ANCOVA models showed that the group that saw the mixed model video deviated significantly less from the experts after training than the group that saw the positive model video (ηp2=0.03-0.10). However, the group that watched the positive (vs. mixed) model video deviated more strongly from the expert judgments on two of three competence scales after the training than before ( d Pre-Post=0.78-0.82)., Discussion: Overall, the hypothesis that mixed models are advantageous was confirmed. The unexpected results in the group with the positive model video could be explained by the fact that they set an unrealistically high anchor to which the later behavior is compared., Conclusion: Mixed models may offer some advantage over positive models in imparting knowledge about professional communication, especially when the model videos contain behaviorally relevant explanations., Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Our study compared the psychometric properties of two broad scope symptom questionnaires, the Brief Symptom Inventory [7] and the ICD-10 Symptom Rating Scale [8], in a naturalistic data set of 507 patients in outpatient psychotherapeutic treatment. Reliability of total scores and subscale scores were estimated via internal consistency coefficients Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω. Measurement precision was operationalized via the uncertainty interval. Validity of the total scores as measures of symptom load was operationalized via convergence analysis with measures similar and dissimilar to that concept. Validity of the internal structure of each scale was operationalized via confirmatory factor analysis of multiple models established in literature. Reliability and measurement precision were comparable for the two questionnaires. The convergent and discriminant validity of both instruments appear to be similarly sufficient. The ISR clearly showed good factorial validity, whereas the BSI was found to have poor factorial validity. Due to its uncertain factorial structure, interpretation of the BSI subscales is not advised. In sum, the ISR and BSI have comparable reliability and measurement precision, but ISR has superior validity and better time efficiency and therefore can be considered a valid alternative to the BSI., Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

The last decade witnessed a dramatic increase in knowledge concerning regulation of body weight and obesity. According to recent concepts constancy of body weight is a side product of regulatory events which ensure constant glucose fluxes to the brain. Within these control systems glucocorticoids and melanocortins play a fundamental role at several sites. The melanocortin neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus are important mediators of the feedback effects of leptin and insulin. Glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors in hippocampal neurons are crucial, as they define the balance between glucose allocation processes and food intake. Thereby, the hippocampal structures determine the setpoint for body weight regulation. A modulation of these brain structures by intranasal administration of melanocortin and inhisulin has been shown to reduce body weight and body fat mass in humans. So the manipulation of weight-regulating centers in the brain opens a novel approach to a pathogenetically based treatment of obesity.