Internet-based interventions for eating disorders in adults: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: This systematic review evaluates the efficacy of internet-based interventions for the treatment of different eating disorders in adults. METHOD: A search for peer reviewed journal articles detailing Randomised Control Trials (RCT) and Controlled Trials (CT) addressing participants with eating disorders aged at least 16 was completed in the electronic databases Web of Science, PsycInfo and PubMed. The quality of the included articles was assessed, results were reviewed and effect sizes and corresponding confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: Eight studies, including a total of N = 609 participants, fulfilled the selection criteria and were included. The majority of treatments applied in these studies were based on CBT principles. Six studies described guided self-help interventions that showed significant symptom reduction in terms of primary and secondary outcomes regarding eating behaviour and abstinence rates. These studies produced significant medium to high effect sizes both within and between the groups after utilisation of guided self-help programs or a self-help book backed up with supportive e-mails. The two remaining studies utilised a specific writing task or e-mail therapy that did not follow a structured treatment program. Here, no significant effects could be found. Treatment dropout rates ranged from 9% to 47.2%. Furthermore, reductions in other symptoms, for example depression and anxiety, and an increase in quality of life were found by four studies. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results support the value of internet-based interventions that use guided self-help to tackle eating disorders, but further research is needed due to the heterogeneity of the studies

Schwierige Verhältnisse: Menschenhandelsopfer und Geschlecht in Gerichtsverfahren

"Das deutsche Strafrecht unterscheidet Menschenhandel zum Zweck der Arbeitsausbeutung von Menschenhandel zum Zweck der sexuellen Ausbeutung. Unsere Untersuchungen zeigen, dass das soziale Objekt 'Opfer von Menschenhandel' trotz geschlechtsneutraler Gesetzgebung in popkulturellen Narrativen aber auch in Praktiken der Rechtsprechung stark vergeschlechtlicht ist. An die Zeuginnen bzw. Zeugen werden geschlechtlich codierte Erwartungen herangetragen. Dies ist nicht einfach in einem Sexismus der RichterInnen begründet, sondern ein struktureller Effekt der Logik von Rechtsprechung und institutioneller Pfadabhängigkeiten. So werden Standardnarrative zum weiblichen, unschuldigen Opfer sexueller Ausbeutung in der Prostitution zum Deutungshorizont in Gerichtsverfahren, an dem die realen Personen, die als Geschädigte aussagen, gemessen werden. Zur Arbeitsausbeutung fehlen dagegen verfestigte Narrative, und die Unterstützung von Betroffenen ist weit weniger institutionell verankert. Fälle von Arbeitsausbeutung werden deutlich seltener angeklagt, und die Betroffenen erscheinen vorrangig als ökonomische Subjekte und häufiger als Mitschuldige. In beiden Fällen resultiert dies in einem Verschwinden von Opfern: Im einen Fall aufgrund der Überdeterminierung, im anderen Fall aufgrund von Unterbestimmung." (Autorenreferat)"German criminal law distinguishes between trafficking in human beings for the purpose of forced labour and for sexual exploitation. Though the language of the law is gender neutral, our research shows that 'victim of trafficking' as a social object is strongly gendered, both in standardized narratives about trafficking and in juridical practice. Courts and other institutional actors attending to witnesses in such trials work in accordance with strongly gendered expectations, not because of the sexism of individual judges, but due to the structural logic of German legal practice and institutional path dependency. Standardized narratives featuring feminine, innocent victims of sexual exploitation in prostitution structure the expectations of those who hear actual victim statements in trials, and affect how their statements are evaluated. Victims of labour exploitation reach the courts far less, and the victims are framed as economically interested subjects and often as active participants in their victimization. In both cases victims disappear: the one set of victims is over-, the other underdetermined, by expectation." (author's abstract

Zwischen den Stühlen ist Bewegung: Eindrücke vom Internationalen Symposium und der Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hochschuldidaktik (DGHD) im März 2011 in München

Im Rahmen eines internationalen Symposiums - organisiert von ProLehre - fand in der ersten Märzwoche dieses Jahres die 40. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hochschuldidaktik statt. Runde Jubiläen laden bekanntlich dazu ein, Rückschau zu halten - die Entstehung der Hochschuldidaktik im Kontext der Hochschulreformbestrebungen der 1960er und 70er Jahre bietet hier eine Fülle von Ansatzpunkten, Projektionen und Anekdoten

Memoria 2002

Memorias de CSIC 2002 (Tomo I y II)N

Comparison of face-to-face versus email guided self-help for binge eating: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background Guided self-help is a recommended first-step treatment for bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and atypical variants of these disorders. Further research is needed to compare guided self-help that is delivered face-to-face versus via email. Methods/Design This clinical trial uses a randomised, controlled design to investigate the effectiveness of providing guided self-help either face-to-face or via e-mail, also using a delayed treatment control condition. At least 17 individuals are required per group, giving a minimum N of 51. Discussion Symptom outcomes will be assessed and estimates of cost-effectiveness made. Results are proposed to be disseminated locally and internationally (through submission to conferences and peer-reviewed journals), and will hopefully inform local service provision. The trial has been approved by an ethics review board and was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01832792 on 9 April 2013