Papers by Nicholas Paritsis
Manualizing Human Systems Therapy Towards a Few-Sessions Therapy
Handbook of Systemic Approaches to Psychotherapy Manuals, 2021
Einstein (Einstein et al 1930) considered that to understand the cause’s one level of description... more Einstein (Einstein et al 1930) considered that to understand the cause’s one level of description is insufficient. Systemism being holism and individualism (Bunde 1996) makes system science to be at the same line. Paritsis and Stewart (1983) regarding the brain, namely that for the description of the brain processes concluded
Background; The influence of family therapy on the reduction of symptoms of people with schizophr... more Background; The influence of family therapy on the reduction of symptoms of people with schizophrenia is yet not conclusive. However, cognitive therapy has positive results on the reduction of schizophrenic symptoms. Aims; The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of human systems therapy (HST) on the reduction of the psychotic symptoms of people with schizophrenia, acting at the level of both the individuals and their families, after taking into account family studies. Method; The experimental group, which also was under stable medication, consisted of 7 families treated in 7 sessions on average. Some basic principles of HST are presented together with a conceptualization of schizophrenia. The outcome was measured by the Present State Examination (PSE) and the Family Environment Scale (FES). Results; A significant reduction of psychotic symptoms (38.9 %) and of total symptomatology (15.09 %) was found only at the experimental group. There was also a desirable change of ...
Cop There are many methods of psychotherapy and of family therapy. The present method of therapy ... more Cop There are many methods of psychotherapy and of family therapy. The present method of therapy is applied on psychological, family and wider social level, and is based on the same general systems principles. A number of them are the result of further elaboration, development and adaptation of pre-existing general systems principles in order to be applied in therapy. This method was originally named General Systems Therapy but since it is applied on human systems it is now called Human Systems Therapy (HST) in its more developed form. In this work, the foundations of HST on general systems theory (GST) are presented first. Then, the basic principles of HST are described as a consequence of adaptation and elaboration of the previous GST principles. Furthermore, some basic new techniques are presented, which were developed during the application of HST and according to its principles. Finally, HST is briefly discussed in relation to some other methods of therapy. Copyright # 2010 Joh...
Journal of Psychology Research
The aim of this work is to present the central role of interpersonal relations in Human Systems T... more The aim of this work is to present the central role of interpersonal relations in Human Systems Therapy (HST). Psychotherapies can be classified as (a) down-top therapies, such as individual therapies following reductionism, namely influencing the whole (behavior) through the intra-psychic parts, (b) top-down or holistic therapies, such as family therapies influencing the parts (individuals) through the whole family, and (c) the combination of down-top and top-down. Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Multisystemic Therapy (MST) act on two levels that influence each other, namely the individuals and their relations. This is also applied, more or less, on relational and interpersonal therapies. When there is an intervention in two interacting parts or levels, then the result of the intervention is more than additive and more effective. When the levels are more than two, then the effectiveness is expected to be even higher. This is the case of Human Systems Therapy (HST), which is applied intrapsychically, on interpersonal relations and on family and/or larger systems, with interpersonal relations having a central role. HST is based on general systems principles and it constitutes a multilevel approach: (a) a definition of a human system, (b) epistemology, (c) a model of human systems personality/intelligence, (d) an increase in order and variety. Besides, HST includes a large number of techniques. Empirical support of HST effectiveness shows that (a) after seven sessions with schizophrenics, 39% of psychotic symptoms are reduced, (b) after eight sessions with hashish adolescent users, all users stop the use completely, and (c) 9 out of 11 psychiatric non-psychotic cases (81%), after four sessions, become non-psychiatric ones (treated).
Human Learning and its Relation to Evolution and Needs Satisfaction: Implications for the Design of Educational Systems
Comprehensive Systems Design: A New Educational Technology, 1993
The concept of optimal variety and the relation of variety to information and entropy are discuss... more The concept of optimal variety and the relation of variety to information and entropy are discussed together with the contribution of order and variety to evolution and learning. For designing systems learning a motivational system is included, in addition to the cognitive one. This motivation system, viewed as a complex control one, is seeking also an optimal variety and order, in the context of its need for development and hence can influence development learning and evolution. Some properties of variety, order, and motivation (both at the level of education system as a whole and at the individual level) and some specific subsystems related to intelligence and learning (at the level of education systems as a whole) are considered for the design of education systems.
Human systems therapy
Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 2010
There are many methods of psychotherapy and of family therapy. The present method of therapy is a... more There are many methods of psychotherapy and of family therapy. The present method of therapy is applied on psychological, family and wider social level, and is based on the same general systems principles. A number of them are the result of further elaboration, development and adaptation of pre-existing general systems principles in order to be applied in therapy. This method was originally named General Systems Therapy but since it is applied on human systems it is now called Human Systems Therapy (HST) in its more developed form. In this work, the foundations of HST on general systems theory (GST) are presented first. Then, the basic principles of HST are described as a consequence of adaptation and elaboration of the previous GST principles. Furthermore, some basic new techniques are presented, which were developed during the application of HST and according to its principles. Finally, HST is briefly discussed in relation to some other methods of therapy. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Identity of Schizophrenia: A multilevel systems approach
World Futures, 1994
Abstract The position is taken that for the identification of natural systems, the description at... more Abstract The position is taken that for the identification of natural systems, the description at many levels of systems hierarchical organization is essential. Otherwise, the representation of the phenomena is limited and possibly misleading. This position specified the strategy that was followed for the presentation of the identity of schizophrenia. The basic characteristics of schizophrenia are presented at the molecular, anatomical and neuro‐physiological, psychological and phenomenological, at the family, and at the sociocultural levels. Only well established empirical findings are presented. The interpretation of these findings including the various theories on schizophrenia are not mentioned. For the purpose of bringing some order and of reducing the complexity of the multilevel description, an attempt is made to outline a model of the basic components of schizophrenia. A number of interrelated components, that exist at many levels of systems hierarchical organization, are grouped in three dimensio...
Societal evolution: A process without random variation
World Futures, 1993
Abstract It is examined whether it is cybernetically possible that random variation together with... more Abstract It is examined whether it is cybernetically possible that random variation together with natural selection can lead to evolution. It is used for this purpose the law of requisite variety of Ross Ashby. It is discussed that the adaptability and improvement of an organism is based upon not only the components of a system but also the appropriate relations and the compatibility among the components. It is further shown that as a consequence, random variation would lead to randomization of the processes within an organism, to reduction of its adaptability and to devolution and even to extinction of that organism. The application of these concepts are especially discussed for the case of societal evolution.
Evolution learning and progress of science: An increase in variety and order
Systems Research, 2007
The contribution of variety to the adaptation, the survival and development of a system described... more The contribution of variety to the adaptation, the survival and development of a system described by the laws of requisite variety of experience and of optimal variety, respectively is presented. The contribution of order to evolution found in the work of Prigogine is also discussed. It is then concluded that ordered variety is a better marker or measure for evolution than the amount of entropy and of information. The application of these concepts to other forms of Natural Intelligence development such as learning and the progress of science together with methods of their protections and facilitation are discussed. 24 refs.
Man as a hierarchical and purposeful intelligent system
Systems Research, 1987
Man's intelligence is analyzed as a hierarchical system with five levels. The first level (L1... more Man's intelligence is analyzed as a hierarchical system with five levels. The first level (L1) realizes mainly input and output transformations and is placed between the rest of the intelligent system on the one side and (a) the rest of the organism and (b) its environment on the other side. The second level (L2) is the motivational one and the third level (L3) is the cognitive one. Both L2 and L3 have a structure similar to the classical control systems with the difference that, instead of having a comparator, they have an integrator. The fourth level (L4) observes the regularities of the events in L2 and L3 and achieves a model of functioning of these levels and a model of the world as it is perceived by the human intelligent system. The fifth level (L5) is the linguistic and cultural level which communicates with L4, transcribes it into human language terms and communicates it and contrasts it with the description of (a) L4 and (b) other humans, with the function of forming a model of itself, of others and of the world as it is socially and culturally accepted.
Low Psychopathology Scores in the Prognosis of Breast Cancer
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 2002
Research findings regarding the influence of psychopathology on cancer progression are not yet cl... more Research findings regarding the influence of psychopathology on cancer progression are not yet clear. This preliminary report investigates the severity of psychopathology assessed before biopsy in patients with invasive breast carcinoma (IBC) and its association with two follow-up outcomes: disease-free (to first recurrence) and survival periods. The psychiatric assessment of 80 patients under 70 years old was established by means of an interview before biopsy. The DSM-IV criteria were used to establish the past and current psychiatric diagnoses. The Present State Examination (PSE)-Index of Definition (ID)-computer program (CATEGO) was used to define total PSE score, clusters of psychiatric symptoms (psychiatric syndromes) and current clinical severity (ID). The independent influence of biological prognostic factors and psychiatric variables on first recurrence or survival period was tested using Cox's proportional hazards regression model. After biopsy, 38 IBC patients were followed up for 3 to 8-1/3 years. During this period, 8 patients died from IBC and 7 were alive with metastatic disease. Cox's proportional hazards regression analyses showed that tumor diameter and low ID were independent significant predictors of early recurrence, whereas tumor diameter, negative estrogen receptors and low ID were independent significant predictors of survival. A low prebiopsy psychopathology score in IBC is a predictor of early recurrence and short survival.
The Open Forensic Science Journal, 2009
Aims: We investigated the hypothesis, that hashish use among adolescents is strongly related to l... more Aims: We investigated the hypothesis, that hashish use among adolescents is strongly related to low levels of satisfaction at home within the family and high gratification from substance usage. Methods: A survey was conducted among 1406 students whose ages ranged from 15 to 22 years old. More specifically, the students all from 16 different Secondary Schools, located on the island of Crete, Greece, were asked to anonymously complete a questionnaire, which referred to their family relations, family size, and substance usage. Hierarchical analysis was used. Results: It was found that in hashish users, there is 2.5 times less family satisfaction (p=0.002), including the absence of both parents from home (p=0.03) and 9 times more substance satisfaction (smoking p=0.001, and consumption of alcohol p=0.026) compared to non users. Conclusions: There is a low family satisfaction and high satisfaction from smoking and alcohol characterizing hashish's users. The present findings may have implications for the prevention and intervention in hashish use by adolescents.
Core mental state in irritable bowel syndrome
Psychosomatic …, 1999
Psychiatric illness is higher among patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who seek medical... more Psychiatric illness is higher among patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who seek medical care; however, a specific psychopathology that differentiates patients with IBS from patients with other organic gastrointestinal disorders has not been found. In the study described here, we investigated the predominant psychiatric symptoms in women with IBS. The criteria of Manning et al., as modified by Thompson et al., were used to make the diagnoses of IBS. Psychiatric assessment was performed by using a structured interview in 64 women, aged 20 to 70 years, 36 with IBS and 28 with chronic cholelithiasis. Diagnosis of chronic cholelithiasis was made by histopathological examination. The final diagnoses were confirmed by interview after 1 year. The diagnostic system based on the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) was used to make the current diagnoses. The Present State Examination (PSE)-Index of Definition (ID) computer program (CATEGO) was used to define total psychopathology (total PSE score), current clinical severity (ID), and clusters of psychiatric symptoms. No difference in the specific DSM-IV diagnostic categories was found, but there were more total depressive disorders in the IBS group. The ID and total PSE score were high among patients with IBS. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that duration of gastrointestinal pain, and the symptoms of general anxiety, and hypochondriasis significantly predicted a diagnosis of IBS. Female patients with IBS are categorized into the general DSM-IV category of depressive disorder, their current psychiatric severity is high compared with that of women with chronic cholelithiasis, and patients with IBS are characterized by the psychiatric syndromes of general anxiety and hypochondriasis. The implications of these findings and areas for future research are discussed.
Carbamazepine levels in head hair of patients under long-term treatment: a method to evaluate the history of drug use
The Journal of …, 1999
Carbamazepine (CBZ) concentrations were determined in the sections of head hair from 40 patients ... more Carbamazepine (CBZ) concentrations were determined in the sections of head hair from 40 patients (22 males and 18 females), ages 5 to 81, who were receiving this drug systemically. Hair treatment included dissolution, liquid phase extraction procedures, and immunoassay (Abbott TDx) or high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analytical techniques. The mean values of CBZ levels in the hair from the 1st section (close to hair root) to the 5th section for female patients were 26.82, 19.18, 17.28, 15.09, and 14.62 micrograms/g according to HPLC measurements. Immunoassay gave generally slightly higher results. The mean values of CBZ in the hair sections according to the immunoassay technique were 30.53, 21.90, 19.83, 17.45, and 16.99 micrograms/g, respectively, from the 1st to the 5th sections. The corresponding mean values for male patients by HPLC and immunoassay techniques were 21.97, 17.30, 15.03, 13.02, and 11.21 micrograms/g and 25.98, 20.52, 17.15, 14.87, and 12.31 micrograms/g. Generally, a reduction of drug concentrations in hair from the first to the subsequent segments was observed. Higher amounts of CBZ were deposited in black, untreated hair (e.g., not dyed or permed). CBZ concentrations in hair sections were found to be dependent on the dosage (r = 0.979, p < or = 0.001) but not on the gender. The data indicate the possible use of hair section testing as a marker of the dosage history and the compliance of patients under long-term treatment with CBZ.
Low prebiopsy state irritability scores at the clinical onset of invasive breast carcinoma
Journal of …, 2004
The research findings regarding the role of psychiatric illness in breast cancer are not yet clea... more The research findings regarding the role of psychiatric illness in breast cancer are not yet clear. This report investigates the differences between patients with invasive breast carcinoma (IBC) and patients with benign breast disease regarding the psychiatric history and the current prebiopsy psychopathology. The psychiatric history of 124 females, aged 70 or less, was evaluated by interview and the DSM-IV criteria were used to establish the diagnoses. The Present State Examination (PSE)-Index of Definition (ID)-CATEGO computer program was used to define current psychopathology. Known risk factors of breast cancer were included in the analyses. After biopsy, 59 patients had IBC and 65 had benign breast diseases. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that low psychiatric history and low irritability were independent predictors of IBC regarding the DSM-IV and the PSE-ID-CATEGO, respectively. Low psychiatric history and low prebiopsy state irritability differentiates IBC patients from noncancer patients.
Improved statistical classification methods in computerized psychiatric diagnosis
Mainstream psychiatric diagnosis involves mainly sequential, expert-system-derived, logical decis... more Mainstream psychiatric diagnosis involves mainly sequential, expert-system-derived, logical decision rules. Among the few statistical classification methods that have been sporadically evaluated are Bayes, k-nearest neighbor, and discriminant analysis classifiers. A statistical classification method based on artificial neural networks (ANN) with task-specific constrained architectures was applied to a sample of 796 clinical interviews, where the symptom evaluation and the diagnostic judgments were made using the Psychiatric State Examination (PSE) system. The proposed constrained ANN (CANN) method was compared with other statistical classification methods. CANN was found to be superior to all other considered methods, having an overall "correct" classification rate of 80% when applied to test data. Similarly, the concordance coefficients of agreement with the PSE diagnostic categories were all very high. Among the other used methods, discriminant analysis had slightly infe...
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Papers by Nicholas Paritsis