Wolfram Keup – författare

Hallucinations, a natural phenomenon as old as mankind, have a surprisingly wide range. They appear under the most diversified conditions, in the "normal" psyche as well as in severe chronic mental derangement. As a symptom, hallucinations are a potential part of a variety of pathological conditions in almost all kinds of psychotic behavior. In addition, lately, various psychological and sociological circumstances seem to favor widespread use and abuse of hallucinogens, substances able to produce hallucinations in the normal brain. They not rarely lead to serious psychopatho­ logy such as toxic, and mobilized or aggravated endogenous psycho­ ses. While such development adds to our scientific knowledge, it also contributes to our current social troubles. Neurologists and neuro-surgeons, psychiatrists, psychologists and other specialized researchers constantly have been dealing with the phenomenon, its roots and branches, and yet, its primary mechanisms are largely un­ known. However, investigators of hallucinations now seem to enter common ground on which meaningful discussions and joint approaches become feasible and more promising. We have come a long way from the Latin term "hallucinari", meaning to talk nonsense, to be absent-minded, to the modern con­ cept of "hallucinations". While the Latin word was descriptive of what may be due to hallucinations, the modern concept defines hal­ lucinations as subjective experiences that are consequences of men­ tal processes, sometimes fulfilling a purpose in the individual''s mental life.

Hallucinations, a natural phenomenon as old as mankind, have a surprisingly wide range. They appear under the most diversified conditions, in the "normal" psyche as well as in severe chronic mental derangement. As a symptom, hallucinations are a potential part of a variety of pathological conditions in almost all kinds of psychotic behavior. In addition, lately, various psychological and sociological circumstances seem to favor widespread use and abuse of hallucinogens, substances able to produce hallucinations in the normal brain. They not rarely lead to serious psychopatho­ logy such as toxic, and mobilized or aggravated endogenous psycho­ ses. While such development adds to our scientific knowledge, it also contributes to our current social troubles. Neurologists and neuro-surgeons, psychiatrists, psychologists and other specialized researchers constantly have been dealing with the phenomenon, its roots and branches, and yet, its primary mechanisms are largely un­ known. However, investigators of hallucinations now seem to enter common ground on which meaningful discussions and joint approaches become feasible and more promising. We have come a long way from the Latin term "hallucinari", meaning to talk nonsense, to be absent-minded, to the modern con­ cept of "hallucinations". While the Latin word was descriptive of what may be due to hallucinations, the modern concept defines hal­ lucinations as subjective experiences that are consequences of men­ tal processes, sometimes fulfilling a purpose in the individual's mental life.

Besonders in den beiden letzten Jahrzehnten haben sich Wissen- schaftler verstiirkt mit biologischen Abliiufen bei den typischen Suchterkrankungen beschiiftigt. Da dariiber kaum eine zusammen- fassende Darstellung bestand, wurde dies ZUlU Thema des 5. Wis- senschaftlichen Symposiums der Deutschen Rauptstelle gegen die Suchtgefahren (DRS) im April 1983 in Tutzing. Die "Biologie der Sucht" umgreift biochemische, physikalische, elektrophysiolo- gische, pharmakologische Vorgiinge des K6rpers, die mit der Ent- stehung und Entwicklung nicht nur der k6rperlichen, sondem auch der psychischen Abhangigkeit vergesellschaftet sind, und die zunehmend in der Therapie der Sucht Beriicksichtigung tinden. Darum interessieren hier nicht nur Phiinomene wie die Ausbildung einer Toleranz und Dosissteigerung, Vorgiinge an Synapsen, Eingriffe der bekannten Suchtstoffe in Stoffwechselvorgiinge usw., sondem auch solche Phiinomene wie Entzugssymptome bei nicht stoffbezogenen Suchtformen, wie etwa bei der Spielsucht. Ohne ersch6pfend sein zu k6nnen, gibt der vorliegende Band einen Uberblick iiber den derzeitigen Stand des Wissens zu diesen Fragen.In 28 Beitriigen aus der Feder von rund 40 Fachleuten entsteht ein BUd zur Genetik der Suchtdisposition, den mutagenen wie karzinogenen Wirkungen von Suchtstoffen, der Einfliisse einzelner Suchtsubstanzen auf Stoffwechselvorgiinge, Signal- Ubertragungsmechanismen im Gehim usw., mit dem Bestreben, der Atiologie des Abhiingigkeitsgeschehens niiherzukommen. Aus grundlegenden Erkenntnissen hieriiber, wie iiber die inneren Zu- sammenhiinge zwischen ganz unterschiedlichen Suchtstoffen, wer- den Konsequenzen fUr die Behandlung Suchtkranker abgeleitet. Sie betreffen viele Aspekte, von der Minderung der Entzugs- VII symptomatik wiihrend der Entgiftung bis hin zur Diskussion von "Niichtemheitshilfen" und "Opiatblockem" wiihrend der psychi- schen Entwohnung.