Stefan Schmitz – författare

In the past two decades, considerable interest in skin cancer has developed in the public and scientific communities. There may have been several reasons for this: - The rise in the global incidence of cutaneous cancers - New molecular biology techniques resulting in a better understanding of pathogenesis and improved diagnostic procedures - The advent of new pathological entities, e. g. , the endemic form of Kaposi''s sarcoma - A constantly increasing range of therapeutic modalities, providing even more efficacious treatment and manage­ ment of skin cancers As N. E. Fusenig describes in the first chapter of this volume, basic research is only beginning to unravel the complex mechanism involved in cellular dedifferentiation and tumor progression. Progress is dearly needed, especially in dermato­ oncology, where the rise in the incidence of epithelial tumors has inflated the overall skin cancer incidence. The incidence of tumors of the skin exceeds that of all other neoplasias in humans, with recreational sun exposure being a suspected primary cause. Several studies on the effects of UV radiation have been included at the beginning of this volume. Even the role of long wavelength UV (UVA) has become a focus of research activities. The main concern is that the low carcinogenicity of UVA, in comparison to UVB, may be outweighed and exceeded in its effects by increased UV A exposure, e. g.

In the past two decades, considerable interest in skin cancer has developed in the public and scientific communities. There may have been several reasons for this: - The rise in the global incidence of cutaneous cancers - New molecular biology techniques resulting in a better understanding of pathogenesis and improved diagnostic procedures - The advent of new pathological entities, e. g. , the endemic form of Kaposi's sarcoma - A constantly increasing range of therapeutic modalities, providing even more efficacious treatment and manage­ ment of skin cancers As N. E. Fusenig describes in the first chapter of this volume, basic research is only beginning to unravel the complex mechanism involved in cellular dedifferentiation and tumor progression. Progress is dearly needed, especially in dermato­ oncology, where the rise in the incidence of epithelial tumors has inflated the overall skin cancer incidence. The incidence of tumors of the skin exceeds that of all other neoplasias in humans, with recreational sun exposure being a suspected primary cause. Several studies on the effects of UV radiation have been included at the beginning of this volume. Even the role of long wavelength UV (UVA) has become a focus of research activities. The main concern is that the low carcinogenicity of UVA, in comparison to UVB, may be outweighed and exceeded in its effects by increased UV A exposure, e. g.

Die weltweite Entwicklung von Transport und Telekommunikation hat den Globus schrumpfen lassen. Der Band analysiert die Konsequenzen, die die Beschleunigung der Raumüberwindung und die schnellere Erreichbarkeit beliebiger Orte für Gesellschaft, Wirtschaft, Raum, Verkehr und Umwelt hat.

Die Transpersonale Psychologie geht über herkömmliche psychologische und therapeutische Ansätze hinaus und erforscht die spirituelle Dimension der menschlichen Existenz. So befasst sie sich mit mystischen Erfahrungen und höheren Bewusstseinszuständen, mit dem mystischen Kern des Menschen und mit seinen spirituellen Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten, mit Meditation und Erleuchtung, aber auch mit spirituellen Krisen und mit dafür geeigneten Therapieverfahren. Stefan Schmitz erläutert in dieser Einführung gut verständlich die grundlegenden Erkenntnisse und Konzepte der Transpersonalen Psychologie, die insbesondere von Roberto Assagioli, Karlfried Graf Dürckheim, Stanislav Grof und Ken Wilber erarbeitet wurden. Außerdem gibt er einen interessanten Einblick in die Geschichte der Transpersonalen Psychologie. Einen besonderen Schwerpunkt bildet die Darstellung der Transpersonalen Psychotherapien. Hier reicht das Spektrum der vorgestellten Verfahren von der Analytischen Psychologie (Jung) und der Psychosynthese (Assagioli) über die Initiatische Therapie (Dürckheim & Hippius) und die Holotrope Atemarbeit (Grof & Grof) bis hin zur Prozessorientierten Psychologie (Mindell) und zur Transpersonalen Verhaltenstherapie (Piron). Entstanden ist so ein hilfreicher Leitfaden für spirituell Interessierte, professionelle Therapeuten und Menschen auf ihrem spirituellen Weg.