Bernd Hanewald

Reward: From Basic Reinforcers to Anticipation of Social Cues

Reward processing plays a major role in goal-directed behavior and motivation. On the neural level, it is mediated by a complex network of brain structures called the dopaminergic reward system. In the last decade, neuroscientific researchers have become increasingly interested in aspects of social interaction that are experienced as rewarding. Recent neuroimaging studies have provided evidence that the reward system mediates the processing of social stimuli in a manner analogous to nonsocial rewards and thus motivates social behavior. In this context, the neuropeptide oxytocin is assumed to play a key role by activating dopaminergic reward pathways in response to social cues, inducing the rewarding quality of social interactions. Alterations in the dopaminergic reward system have been found in several psychiatric disorders that are accompanied by social interaction and motivation problems, for example autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, addiction disorders, and schizophrenia.

Validation of the German Version of the Social Functioning Scale (SFS) for Schizophrenia

Deficits in social functioning are a core symptom of schizophrenia and an important criterion for evaluating the success of treatment. However, there is little agreement regarding its measurement. A common, often cited instrument for assessing self-reported social functioning is the Social Functioning Scale (SFS). The study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the German translation. 101 patients suffering from schizophrenia (SZ) and 101 matched controls (C) (60 male / 41 female, 35.8 years in both groups) completed the German version. In addition, demographic, clinical, and functional data were collected. Internal consistency was investigated calculating Cronbach’s alpha for SFS full scale (α: .81) and all subscales (α: .59-.88). Significant bivariate correlation coefficients were found between all subscales as well as between all subscales and full scale (p <.01). For the total sample, principal component analysis gave evidence to prefer a single-factor solution (eigenvalue ≥ 1) accounting for 48.5 % of the variance. For the subsamples, a two-component solution (SZ; 57.0 %) and a three-component solution (C; 65.6 %) fitted best, respectively. For SZ and C, significant associations were found between SFS and external criteria. The main factor “group” emerged as being significant. C showed higher values on both subscales and full scale. The sensitivity of the SFS was examined using discriminant analysis. 86.5% of the participants could be categorized correctly to their actual group. The German translation of the SFS turned out to be a reliable and valid questionnaire comparable to the original English version. This is in line with Spanish and Norwegian translations of the SFS. Concluding, the German version of the SFS is well suited to become a useful and practicable instrument for the assessment of social functioning in both clinical practice and research. It accomplishes commonly used external assessment scales.

A Concept of Clinical Care for Refugees on a General Psychiatric Ward

Refugees and asylums seekers can present as a highly vulnerable group with an increased risk for the development of mental disorders. We developed and established a concept of clinical psychiatric care for refugees on a general psychiatric ward that systematically takes into account the social, cultural and legal dimensions relevant for mental health of refugees. This concept presents a framework for treatment, which not only offers security and orientation for the patients but also for the treatment team. The present treatment guide should provide structured working in apparently hopeless situations, which due to language difficulties, trans-cultural features and serious diseases at least in the short term seem to be unchangeable. Due to the implementation of the treatment concept, from the perspective of the team, there is a noticeable relief and significant improvement concerning the interaction with refugees on the ward. We have experienced that handling patients according to this treatment concept has mutually influenced both, the treatment outcome of refugees as well as the clinical setting. It became possible not only to integrate refugees on a common psychiatric ward but opens the way for reciprocal exchange between treatment team, refugees and other patients in terms of acculturation. We expect that in the future the number of asylum seekers will remain high because of wars across the globe. Therefore, it can be assumed that there will be a need for differentiated and flexible treatment concepts for the inpatient treatment of refugees also in the future.

Assessing the special need for protection of vulnerable refugees: testing the applicability of a screening method (RHS-15) to detect traumatic disorders in a refugee sample in Germany

ABSTRACT Objectives: Although EU member states are obligated to take special account of the situation of particularly vulnerable refugees, appropriate and specific measures to detect affected asylum seekers are not yet available. This study tries to pave the way for the implementation of an adequate instrument which at the same time assesses these needs of suffering people whilst responding to the need for mental health assessments specifically designed for refugees. This was done by testing the implementation of a screening method (Refugee Health Screener RHS-15) for trauma related mental health problems in refugees. Design: Two refugee samples in Germany (differing in arrival time: 126 applicants for asylum residing in the initial reception center and 116 living in long term communal accommodations) were assessed with the culturally sensitive Refugee Health Screener (RHS-15) to detect the incidence of mental health problems amongst them. Test fairness, reasonableness, susceptibility, transparency, acceptance, external design, utility and economy of the instrument were examined to check the applicability of the RHS-15 standardization test. Results: The RHS-15 indicates a good practical feasibility as the examination of the focused psychometric characteristics suggests. It became apparent, that implementing a screening procedure depends on political, legal and medical context factors that need to be considered. 2/3 of the participants had a positive screening result, which needs further diagnostic clarification in a second step. Conclusion: The RHS-15 seems to be practicable, economical, and rapidly deployable for the widespread detection of traumatic disorders in refugees living in Europe. The tool proved useful to aid diagnostic assessments and provide treatment to individuals in need, however the time of examination (resp. the duration of staying in the target land) influences the results.

Anticipation of Social and Monetary Rewards in Schizophrenia

Numerous behavioural and neuroimaging studies have explored human cognitive processing of various rewards, such as food, monetary or social stimuli. Previous studies with patients suffering from schizophrenia (SZ) used incentive delay tasks with monetary rewards. Apart from slower reaction times in general in SZ, there were no differences in task performance between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls (HC). Patients with schizophrenia have impaired social functioning and thus may have a disturbed sensitivity to social rewards. 54 schizophrenia patients and 54 matched healthy controls completed a reward paradigm (incentive delay task) with monetary (MID) and social stimuli (SID). Reaction times and hit rates were analysed using a three-way repeated measures ANOVA. Patients demonstrated increased reaction times in both, the MID and the SID tasks compared to health controls. Hit rates for healthy controls significantly increased in the MID task, however these results were not found in the SID task with increasing reward level. In both tasks SZ improved their performance as rewards increased. The present findings suggest that patients with SZ are capable to anticipate monetary or social rewards and use this anticipation to guide their behaviour. Extrapolated to social functioning, the capability to anticipate potential reward could be used in therapeutic interventions.

Migration-Related Stressors and Their Effect on the Severity Level and Symptom Pattern of Depression among Vietnamese in Germany

Objectives Vietnamese in Germany represent a scarcely researched and vulnerable group for mental health problems, especially under exposure to migration-related stressors (MRS). This study analyzes the effect of those MRS on the severity level and symptom pattern of depression. Design We analyzed the data of 137 depressed Vietnamese patients utilizing Germanys first Vietnamese psychiatric outpatient clinic. Hierarchical linear regression models were applied to investigate how the quantity of MRS influenced (1) the overall severity of self-reported depression symptoms; (2) the cognitive, affective, and somatic BDI-II subscale; and (3) the single BDI-II items of these subscales. Results A greater number of MRS were related to a higher severity level of depression in general, as well as to a higher level on the cognitive depression subscale in particular. The BDI-II single items pessimism, past failure, guilt feelings, punishment feelings, and suicidal thoughts were particularly associated with a higher quantity of perceived MRS. Conclusion Among depressed Vietnamese migrants in Germany, a higher number of reported MRS were associated with higher overall depression severity. Within the domains of depression, particularly the cognitive domain was linked to perceived MRS. The association between MRS and suicidal thoughts is clinically highly relevant.