Fault zone structure and lithology affect permeability of Triassic Muschelkalk limestonemarl-alternations in Southwest Germany, a region characterized by a complex tectonic history. Field studies of eight fault zones provide insights into fracture system parameters (orientation, density, aperture, connectivity, vertical extension) within fault zone units (fault core, damage zone). Results show decreasing fracture lengths with distances to the fault cores in well-developed damage zones. Fracture connectivity at fracture tips is enhanced in proximity to the slip surfaces, particularly caused by shorter fractures. Different mechanical properties of limestone and marl layers obviously affect fracture propagation and thus fracture system connectivity and permeability. Fracture apertures are largest parallel and subparallel to fault zones and prominent regional structures (e.g., Upper Rhine Graben) leading to enhanced fracture-induced permeabilities. Mineralized fractures and mineralizations in fault cores indicate past fluid flow. Permeability is increased by the development of hydraulically active pathways across several beds (non-stratabound fractures) to a higher degree than by the
In addition to specific therapeutic effects, cognitivebehavioural
treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in a
group setting may offer considerable economic advantages. This
explorative study evaluates the effectiveness of a standardized cognitive-
behavioural short-term group therapy. In order to provide criteria
for a differentiated assignment to different treatments and to
adjust treatment programmes for patients at risk for treatment failure,
predictors for therapy outcome were investigated. Patients and
Methods: 45 OCD patients who completed a 10-session (150 min
each) symptom-focused outpatient cognitive-behavioural group
therapy were examined before and after treatment. Results: The
group therapy significantly improved average ratings of obsessivecompulsive
symptoms and general psychological distress. Defining
therapy response as a 35% decline of the Yale-Brown Obsessive
Compulsive Scale total score, 31% of the patients could benefit
from treatment. ‘Clinically significant’ symptom reduction was
achieved by only 16% of the patients. The predictor analysis suggests
that even patients with complex disorders reduce their symptoms
significantly during group treatment. Treatment response was
neither influenced by initial symptom severity, duration of illness
and depressive symptoms nor by level of education. Only dependent
personality traits were identified as risk factors for negative
treatment outcome. Conclusions: The group programme has
proven to be as effective for a broad spectrum of OCD patients as
other group concepts described in the literature. The rather low response
rates suggest that a short group intervention may not be
equivalent to long-term individual cognitive-behavioural therapy.
Short-term group therapy could possibly rather be used as a specific
preparation for individual cognitive-behavioural therapy.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.