Local-global policy in the context of an environmental crisis: proposition of a systemic analyse of environmental management.

Combining local and global policy on a cross bordered territory demands the building of a procedure. This is even more required in the case of environmental issues involving various actors who have to accept a common system of reference which guides the management of common natural ressource respecting ecological-friendly rules of the uses. Considering the environmental ethics as an emerging quality of an anthropo-ecological system, this article aims to interpret the reorganization of what the autors named as ' rhine river system' in the context of an ecological crisis (Liu J., et AL., 2007). It acts thus as a mediation between the riverside States to guide the actions in the sense of water protection,. It also reinforces the cooperation of the different states involved in its management (global level) as well as the riverside regions (local level). The main purpose of this procedure is the acceptance by the actors of a systemic perception of the Rhine. This acceptance is conditioned by the ability of every use to open to that perception. According to us, this procedure can be analysed as the emergence of a common ecological ethics implemented in a cross bordered region. In this way, we suggest three hypothesis : Confronted to a crisis, the environmental ethics appears as an emergent quality of the Rhine river's system. The Rhine anthropo-ecological system is composed of sub-systems; each one communicates and exchanges informations only in the context of risk. Ethics plays a role of metasystem, transcending the self referential systems. Through the meeting of two disciplines (sociology and conception), is suggested in order to explain the organization of communication and information's process between the various and self-referential systems. The main purpose of this communication is to focus on the action of each system in conditioning at last the dessimination and the acceptance of an unique environmental ethics, understood as the recognition of the intrinsic properties of the Rhine river ecosystem, and adapted to the references of each system involved

Du problème à son processus de résolution : entre positivisme et constructivisme. Application à la conception de systèmes techniques.

L'article proposé s'attache à définir un cadre épistémologique pour la résolution des problèmes en conception de systèmes techniques. L'objectif du positionnement épistémologique de la résolution de problèmes en conception est de permettre une meilleure compréhension, et donc une utilisation plus efficiente, des méthodes de résolution de problèmes en conception. La résolution de problèmes est abordée au travers d'un triptyque problème – formulation du problème – synthèse d'une solution. Le premier point abordé est la définition du concept de problème. Cette clarification pose le problème comme étant issu d'une situation problématique qui soit jugée préoccupante, et pour laquelle existent des moyens d'agir pour faire évoluer cette situation. Dans ce cas, le problème existe si l'évolution de la situation problématique nécessite de mettre en oeuvre une réflexion. Les questions épistémologiques peuvent alors être abordées. Tout d'abord, nous rappelons la différence entre une vue objective et une vue subjective des connaissances. Ce distinguo permet d'introduire les fondements épistémologiques, notamment les épistémologies positivistes et constructivistes, au travers des questions gnoséologique et méthodologique. Le concept de problème est alors décliné au regard de trois vues épistémologiques: la vue objectiviste, la vue subjectiviste et, enfin, la vue constructiviste. Cette partie amène à la conclusion que le paradigme épistémologique dans lequel s'inscrit un problème influe fortement sur la manière de le résoudre. Il est donc nécessaire de mettre en adéquation la méthode qui permet de manipuler les connaissances, i.e. le processus de résolution de problèmes, avec le paradigme. L'importance de la formulation du problème est alors révélée au travers de l'analyse des caractéristiques et des vues de la formulation des problèmes. Ce paragraphe insiste sur le lien entre méthode de formulation et contexte épistémologique. Le passage du problème formulé à la synthèse de la solution pose la question de la nature d'un problème dit formulé. Cette notion peut être rapprochée de celle de problème structuré. Les problèmes structurés vérifient un ensemble de six critères et permettent de guider la manière de passer d'une situation problématique à un problème formulé, de façon telle qu'on puisse le résoudre. L'article s'attache alors à spécifier ces questions au domaine de la conception de systèmes techniques. Pour cela sont présentées les spécificités de la conception, et des problèmes en conception, notamment le fait que les problèmes, en conception, soient ouverts et mal définis. Différentes approches de la conception sont rappelées, afin de montrer le flou existant quant aux fondements épistémologiques de la résolution de problèmes en conception. La vision de la résolution de problèmes en conception, au regard du triptyque problème – formulation du problème – synthèse d'une solution permet de montrer que les paradigmes épistémologiques positivistes et constructivistes sont pertinents pour aborder certaines dimensions de la résolution des problèmes mais ne permettent pas d'appréhender celle-ci dans sa globalité. Il est donc nécessaire de définir une nouvelle voie épistémologique, que nous appelons épistémologie "partagée", entre positivisme et constructivisme. Cette épistémologie "partagée" permet de voir la conception comme une démarche de compréhension et donc de formulation d'une réalité objective et comme la synthèse d'une solution modifiant cette réalité selon un certain nombre d'interprétations de cette réalité, fruits de l'interaction entre, d'une part, le résolveur et les différentes parties concernées par le problème et, d'autre part, le problème lui-même. Afin d'illustrer, à la fois la pertinence des épistémologies positivistes et constructivistes sur certaines dimensions de la résolution de problèmes en conception, et la nécessité d'une épistémologie "partagée" pour en aborder la globalité, une approche particulière de la conception, la TRIZ, est présentée au travers du type de connaissances qu'elle manipule. Cette présentation est une ébauche de validation, qui devra être étendue, dans des travaux ultérieurs, à l'étude d'autres approches de la conception.Conception; épistémologie; résolution de problèmes; formulation de problèmes

L'impact du concept de problème sur son processus de résolution. Application à la conception de systèmes techniques

La résolution de problèmes est un enjeu majeur de la conception. Afin de mener à bien cette résolution de problèmes, il est nécessaire de comprendre la nature des connaissances manipulées. Pour cela cet article propose de positionner épistémologiquement la résolution de problèmes, en conception de systèmes techniques. L'analyse des fondements épistémologiques présents dans la littérature montre qu'ils sont pertinents pour certains aspects de la résolution de problèmes en conception, mais qu'ils ne permettent pas d'appréhender ce processus dans sa globalité. Pour palier ce fait, il est proposé ici une description de la résolution de problèmes, en conception de systèmes techniques, selon un triptyque problème – formulation du problème – synthèse d'une solution. Le positionnement épistémologique au regard de ce triptyque amène à la définition d'une épistémologie partagée, entre positivisme et constructivisme. L'analyse des axiomes de la TRIZ, une approche particulière de la conception, justifie la nécessité de l'épistémologie partagée. Cette analyse est ainsi l'ébauche d'une validation du cadre épistémologique proposé.Conception des produits; épistémologie; problèmes

Processus multi-acteurs de construction d’une éthique environnementale : Le cas du système fluvial rhénan

Partant de l'hypothèse que l'éthique environnementale est une qualité émergente propre à un système, cette contribution se propose de rendre compte de la réorganisation du système fluvial rhénan dans le contexte d'une crise écologique. Au travers du croisement de deux regards disciplinaires, se dégage un cadre d'interprétation sur l'organisation de l'information et de la communication entre les différents sous-systèmes autoréférentiels en tant que conditionnement d'une diffusion et d'une adhésion en faveur d'une éthique environnementale, reconnaissant les propriétés intrinsèques de l'écosystème fluvial.Considering the environmental ethics as an emerging quality of an anthropo-ecological system, this article aims to interpret the reorganization of what the authors named as « Rhine river system » in the context of an ecological crisis. Through the meeting of two disciplines (sociology and engineering design), an interpretative framework is suggested in order to explain the organization of communication and information process between the various self-referential systems. The main purpose of this article is to focus on the action of each system in conditioning at last the dissemination and the acceptance of an unique environmental ethics, understood as the recognition of the intrinsic properties of the Rhine river ecosystem, and adapted to the referents of each system involved

‘Of populists, chauvinists and welfare states’ - Populist Radical Right Parties’ social policy stance and its attitudinal and value base

Angesichts ihrer wachsenden Bedeutung für die Europäische Politik sind rechtspopulistische Parteien aktiv an der Politikformulierung beteiligt. Somit rücken auch ihre wirtschafts- und sozialpolitischen Vorstellungen in den Vordergrund, obwohl diese oft unter ihre soziokulturellen Vorstellungen subsumiert werden. In Bezug auf die Sozialpolitik drückt sich das in einem ausgeprägten "Wohlfahrtschauvinismus" dieser Parteien aus. Allerdings unterscheiden sich die Parteien untereinander in der Deutlichkeit mit der dieser vertreten und vorangetrieben wird. Diese Unterschiede werden unter anderem auf die divergierenden Wohlfahrtsregime innerhalb Europas zurückgeführt, welche die Einstellungen und Werte der Bevölkerungen und Parteien hinsichtlich der Rechtmäßigkeit und Notwendigkeit sozialpolitischer Maßnahmen maßgeblich prägen.The growing importance of Populist Radical Right Parties (PRRP) for European politics is mirrored by their increasing participation in government. Therefore, their notions on economics and social policies become progressively more important despite often being subsumed under their sociocultural ideas. This is prominently expressed in a marked "welfare chauvinism" that determines their attitude to social policy. Yet the parties differ with regards to the intensity in which these attitudes are being advocated. These differences can be traced back to the influence of diverging welfare regimes in Europe an the way in which they influence public attitudes and values towards notions of deservingness and necessity of social provisions

ACTIGRAPHY IN AFFECTIVE DISORDERS

Norsk sammendrag - Norsk tittel: Aktigrafi ved stemningslidelser Det er i dag ingen objektive mål på symptomene ved psykiske lidelser. I dette doktorgradsarbeidet er det vist at mennesker med ulike former for depresjoner og manier har bevegelsesmønstre som skiller seg fra hverandre. Akuttinnlagte pasienter med stemningslidelser (bipolar lidelse og depresjon) har gått med en bevegelsesmåler (aktigraf) i 24 timer under innleggelse ved avdeling Østmarka, St Olavs Hospital. Ved bruk av avanserte matematiske metoder ble mengde bevegelse, grad av variasjon og stabilitet av aktivitet beregnet. Ved alle depresjonstyper var det lav gjennomsnittsaktivitet og høy variasjon av aktivitet sammenlignet med hos friske personer. Det var også objektive forskjeller i aktivitetsmønstre mellom de pasientene med depresjon som etter legenes vurdering hadde langsomme kroppsbevegelser (såkalt psykomotorisk retardasjon) og deprimerte som var motorisk urolige. De deprimerte pasientene som var mer urolige, hadde et uorganisert bevegelsesmønster som lignet mønsteret for pasienter med mani. I en annen studie av pasienter som var i stabil fase av bipolar lidelse og som samtidig hadde søvnvansker, fant vi at de som ikke hadde stabil døgnrytme, var yngre, og en større andel hadde forsinket søvnfase og hyppige dag-til-dag-forandringer i stemningsleie. Det var også forskjeller i bevegelsesmønstrene mellom gruppene. Analyser av bevegelsesmønstre målt ved hjelp av instrumenter på størrelse med et armbåndsur, kan trolig utvikles til å skille undergrupper med stemningslidelser fra hverandre og få betydning for klassifisering og behandling av depresjoner og manier både ved tilbakevendende depresjoner og ved bipolar lidelse.Summary - Introduction and aims: Affective disorders, characterized by recurrent episodes of low and/or elevated mood, are among the most costly and burdensome chronic diseases. Diagnostic categories and episodespecific symptoms overlap, and prevention of illness progression is hampered by an inability to detect early signs of new episodes in due time. Psychiatry as a medical discipline is uniquely dependent on clinical observation of signs and symptoms with few objective markers of disease. In all states of affective disorders, there are variations in mood symptoms, sleep, circadian rhythms and motor activity. While mood is an ambiguous and subjective symptom, circadian rhythms and motor activity patterns are objectively assessable via the use of actigraphy. Actigraphs are convenient and non-invasive devices for monitoring wrist movement, and they are increasingly employed in psychiatric settings to record sleep-wake and motor activity rhythms. To date, analytical methods have focused on mean levels and simple variability measures. This thesis aimed to analyze motor activity patterns in inpatients and outpatients with affective disorders, using linear and non-linear mathematical methods, in order to compare groups of patients defined by phenotypes. Methods: In two studies, 24-hour actigraphically recorded motor activity patterns in acutely admitted inpatients with affective disorders and recordings from healthy controls were included. In the first study, 52 patients with unipolar depression were divided into groups with and without clinically assessed motor retardation. The second study included 30 patients with mania or bipolar depression. In a third study, 1-week actigraphy recordings in 43 outpatients with euthymic bipolar disorder and subjective sleep disturbance were compared between groups with actigraphically determined stable and unstable rest-activity cycles. Actigraphy recordings were compared to concurrent reports of mood and sleep. In all studies, motor activity patterns were analyzed by measures of variability (standard deviation (SD), root mean square successive difference (RMSSD), RMSSD/SD ratio). Studies I and II additionally employed other measures of variability (autocorrelation lag 1, Fourier analysis) and complexity (sample entropy, symbolic dynamics) and other non-linear methods for studying the distribution of active and inactive periods. Results: Within the unipolar depression sample, patients with motor retardation had reduced activity levels and higher intra-individual variability in activity compared to patients without motor retardation. Motor retardation implied being active in shorter bursts with fewer long bursts of activity. Patients without motor retardation displayed increased complexity in activity during an active morning sequence of approximately one hour. Bipolar depression was characterized by significantly lower mean activity and higher variability compared to healthy controls, similar to all depression groups relative to controls. Patients with mania showed higher minute-to-minute variability (higher RMSSD values) during 24 hours compared to healthy controls, and increased complexity (higher sample entropy) during the active morning sequence compared to patients with bipolar depression. In euthymic bipolar disorder and sleep disturbance, a subgroup of patients demonstrated unstable rest-activity cycles in combination with variability in mood and motor activity patterns. The unstable subgroup was younger and showed delayed sleep phases compared to the group with stable rest-activity cycles. Discussion: Patients with unipolar depression with and without motor retardation differed in 24-hour activity patterns, and the two phenotypes could be distinguished by complementary methods. Findings in unipolar depression without motor retardation resembled findings in the manic state, which further resembled findings from previous studies of schizophrenia and glutamate antagonism. Results from the euthymic bipolar group with unstable rest-activity cycles resembled variability findings in activity during affective episodes. Here, the activity findings could be associated to mood variability and/or circadian instability. In conclusion, activity characteristics are potentially important clinical signatures of affective disorders, and it may be possible to distinguish phenotypically different subgroups based on activity levels and patterns. Actigraphy recordings combined with a set of advanced analytical methods from linear and non-linear dynamics could provide a future diagnostic and prognostic tool in affective disorders, of importance to the accuracy of diagnostics, treatment response, prevention and classification of disease

Efficiency and practicability of risk mitigation measures for biocidal products with focus on disinfectants

EFFICIENCY AND PRACTICABILITY OF RISK MITIGATION MEASURES FOR BIOCIDAL PRODUCTS WITH FOCUS ON DISINFECTANTS Efficiency and practicability of risk mitigation measures for biocidal products with focus on disinfectants / Gartiser, Stefan (Rights reserved) ( -

An agent model for business relationships

Relationships are fundamental to all but the most impersonal forms of interaction in business. An agent aims to secure projected needs by attempting to build a set of (business) relationships with other agents. A relationship is built by exchanging private information, and is characterised by its intimacy — degree of closeness — and balance — degree of fairness. Each argumentative interaction between two agents then has two goals: to satisfy some immediate need, and to do so in a way that develops the relationship in a desired direction. An agent’s desire to develop each relationship in a particular way then places constraints on the argumentative utterances. This paper describes argumentative interaction constrained by a desire to develop such relationships.Peer Reviewe

Abbaubarkeit und Elimination industrieller Abwässer im Kontext von "Whole effluent assessment"

The focus of this thesis is on the assessment of the degradability of indirectly discharged wastewater in municipal treatment plants and on assessing indirectly discharged effluents by coupling the Zahn-Wellens test with effect-based bioassays. With this approach persistent toxicity of an indirectly discharged effluent can be detected and attributed to the respective emission source. In the first study 8 wastewater samples from different industrial sectors were analysed according to the “Whole-Effluent Assessment“ (WEA) approach developed by OSPAR. In another study this concept has been applied with 20 wastewater samples each from paper manufacturing and metal surface treating industry. In the first study generally low to moderate ecotoxic effects of wastewater samples have been determined. One textile wastewater sample was mutagenic in the Ames test and genotoxic in the umu test. The source of these effects could not be identified. After treatment in the Zahn-Wellens test the mutagenicity in the Ames test was eliminated completely while in the umu test genotoxicity could still be observed. Another wastewater sample from chemical industry was mutagenic in the Ames test. The mutagenicity with this wastewater sample was investigated by additional chemical analysis and backtracking. A nitro-aromatic compound (2-methoxy-4-nitroaniline) used for batchwise azo dye synthesis and its transformation products are the probable cause for the mutagenic effects analysed. Testing the mother liquor from dye production confirmed that this partial wastewater stream was mutagenic in the Ames test. The wasteweater samples from paper manufacturing industry of the second study were not toxic or genotoxic in the acute Daphnia test, fish egg test and umu test. In the luminescent bacteria test, moderate toxicity was observed. Wastewater of four paper mills demonstrated elevated or high algae toxicity, which was in line with the results of the Lemna test, which mostly was less sensitive than the algae test. The colouration of the wastewater samples in the visible band did not correlate with algae toxicity and thus is not considered as its primary origin. The algae toxicity in wastewater of the respective paper factory could also not be explained with the thermomechanically produced groundwood pulp (TMP) partial stream. Presumably other raw materials such as biocides might be the source of algae toxicity. In the algae test, often flat dose–response relationships and growth promotion at higher dilution factors have been observed, indicating that several effects are overlapping. The wastewater samples from the printed circuit board and electroplating industries (all indirectly discharged) were biologically pre-treated for 7 days in the Zahn–Wellens test before ecotoxicity testing. Thus, persistent toxicity could be discriminated from non-persistent toxicity caused, e.g. by ammonium or readily biodegradable compounds. With respect to the metal concentrations, all samples were not heavily polluted. The maximum conductivity of the samples was 43,700 micro S cm -1 and indicates that salts might contribute to the overall toxicity. Half of the wastewater samples proved to be biologically well treatable in the Zahn–Wellens test with COD elimination above 80%, whilst the others were insufficiently biodegraded (COD elimination 28–74%). After the pre-treatment in the Zahn–Wellens test, wastewater samples from four companies were extremely ecotoxic especially to algae. Three wastewater samples were genotoxic in the umu test. Applying the rules for salt correction to the test results following the German Wastewater Ordinance, only a small part of toxicity could be attributed to salts. In one factory, the origin of ecotoxicity has been attributed to the organosulphide dimethyldithiocarbamate (DMDTC) used as a water treatment chemical for metal precipitation. The assumption, based on rough calculation of input of the organosulphide into the wastewater, was confirmed in practice by testing its ecotoxicity at the corresponding dilution ratio after pre-treatment in the Zahn–Wellens test. The results show that bioassays are a suitable tool for assessing the ecotoxicological relevance of these complex organic mixtures. The combination of the Zahn–Wellens test followed by the performance of ecotoxicity tests turned out to be a cost-efficient suitable instrument for the evaluation of indirect dischargers and considers the requirements of the IPPC Directive.Der Schwerpunkt der publikationsbasierten Dissertation liegt in der Bewertung der Abbaubarkeit indirekt über kommunale Abwasserreinigungsanlagen eingeleiteter industrieller Abwasserproben. Hierzu wurde der Zahn-Wellens-Test als Standardtest zur Bestimmung der Elimination in Kläranlagen mit wirkungsbasierten Biotests gekoppelt. Mit diesem Ansatz lässt sich die persistente Toxizität indirekt eingeleiteter Abwässer bestimmen. In der ersten Studie wurden 8 Abwasserproben aus verschiedenen Industriesektoren entsprechend dem von OSPAR entwickelten „Whole-Effluent Assessment“ (WEA)-Konzept untersucht. In einer weiteren Studie wurde das Konzept am Beispiel von je 20 Abwasserproben aus der Papier- und Metallindustrie (Galvanik, Leiterplattenherstellung) angewandt. In der ersten Studie wurden insgesamt geringe Ökotoxizitäten bestimmt. Eine Textilabwasserprobe war im Ames-Test mutagen und im umu-Test gentoxisch, ohne dass die Quelle zugeordnet werden konnte. Nach der Behandlung im Zahn-Wellens-Test war die Mutagenität im Ames-Test vollständig eliminiert, während im umu-Test weiterhin Gentoxizität beobachtet wurde. Eine andere direkt eingeleitete Abwasserprobe aus der chemischen Industrie war im Ames-Test mutagen. Der mutagene Effekt wurde durch zusätzliche chemische Analyse und Zurückverfolgung („backtracking“) auf eine nitroaromatische Verbindung (2-Methoxy-4-nitroanilin) zurückgeführt, die für die chargenweise Synthese von Azofarbstoffen verwendet wird. Durch Testung der Mutterlauge aus der Farbstoffherstellung wurde bestätigt, dass dieser Abwasserteilstrom Ursache der Mutagenität im Gesamtabwasser war. Die Papierabwasserproben aus der 2. Studie waren im akuten Daphnien- und im Fischeitest sowie im umu-Test nicht toxisch bzw. gentoxisch. Im Leuchtbakterientest wurden moderate Toxizitäten beobachtet. Die Abwässer von vier Papierfabriken zeigten eine erhöhte bis hohe Algentoxizität, die mit den Ergebnissen des Lemna-Tests übereinstimmte. Dieser war aber meist weniger sensitiv als der Algentest. Die Färbung der Abwasserproben im sichtbaren Wellenlängenbereich korrelierte nicht mit der gefundenen Algentoxizität und wird daher nicht als deren ursächliche Quelle angesehen. Die Algentoxizität im Abwasser einer Papierfabrik konnte auch nicht mit einem Abwasserteilstrom aus der thermomechanischen Herstellung von Zellstoff aus Holzschliff erklärt werden. Vermutlich sind andere Hilfsstoffe wie Biozide als Quelle für die Algentoxizität verantwortlich. Im Algentest wurden oftmals flache Dosis-Wirkungskurven und eine Förderung des Algenwachstums bei höheren Verdünnungsstufen beobachtet. Dies deutet darauf hin, dass sich hier verschiedene Effekte überlagern. Die Abwasserproben aus der Herstellung von Leiterplatten und aus der galvanischen Industrie (alles Indirekteinleiter), wurden biologisch für 7 Tage im Zahn–Wellens-Test vorbehandelt und anschließend die Ökotoxizität bestimmt. So konnte die persistente Toxizität von nicht-persistenter Toxizität, die beispielsweise durch Ammonium oder leicht abbaubare Inhaltsstoffe verursacht wird, unterschieden werden. Die Schwermetallbelastung war in allen Abwasserproben gering. Die maximale Leitfähigkeit der Proben lag bei 43.700 mikro S cm -1 und weist darauf hin, dass Salze zur Gesamttoxizität beitragen könnten. Die Hälfte der Abwasserproben war im Zahn-Wellens-Test mit CSB-Eliminationen über 80% gut biologisch behandelbar, während die anderen Proben nur unzureichend biologisch abgebaut wurden (CSB-Elimination 28%–74%). Nach der Vorbehandlung im Zahn–Wellens-Test wurden im Abwasser von vier Betrieben extrem hohe Ökotoxizitäten, insbesondere gegenüber Algen bestimmt. Drei Abwasserproben erwiesen sich im umu-Test auch als gentoxisch. Bei Anwendung der in der Abwasserverordnung vorgesehenen Salzkorrektur der Ergebnisse konnte nur ein kleiner Anteil der Toxizität mit einem Salzeinfluss erklärt werden. In einer Fabrik wurde das im Abwasser als Wasserbehandlungsmittel zur Metallfällung eingesetzte Organosulfid Dimethyldithiocarbamat (DMDTC) als ursächliche Quelle der Ökotoxizität erkannt. Diese Annahme wurde durch eine überschlägige Kalkulation der Organosulfideinträge in das Abwasser sowie durch direkte Testung der Ökotoxizität des Organosulfids in einer entsprechenden Verdünnung nach Behandlung im Zahn-Wellens-Test in der Praxis bestätigt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Biotests geeignete Werkzeuge sind, um die ökotoxikologische Relevanz dieser komplexen organischen Mischungen zu beurteilen. Die Kombination des Zahn–Wellens-Tests mit der nachfolgenden Bestimmung der Ökotoxizität erwies sich als geeignetes und kosteneffizientes Instrument zur Beurteilung von Indirekteinleitern und berücksichtigt die Anforderungen der IVU-Richtlinie

Motor activity patterns in acute schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders can be differentiated from bipolar mania and unipolar depression

Under embargo until: 02.10.2019The purpose of this study was to compare 24-h motor activity patterns between and within three groups of acutely admitted inpatients with schizophrenia and psychotic disorders (n = 28), bipolar mania (n = 18) and motor-retarded unipolar depression (n = 25) and one group of non-hospitalized healthy individuals (n = 28). Motor activity was measured by wrist actigraphy, and analytical approaches using linear and non-linear variability and irregularity measures were undertaken. In between-group comparisons, the schizophrenia group showed more irregular activity patterns than depression cases and healthy individuals. The schizophrenia and mania cases were clinically similar with respect to high prevalence of psychotic symptoms. Although they could not be separated by a formal statistical test, the schizophrenia cases showed more normal amplitudes in morning to evening mean activity and activity variability. Schizophrenia constituted an independent entity in terms of motor activation that could be distinguished from the other diagnostic groups of psychotic and non-psychotic affective disorders. Despite limitations such as small subgroups, short recordings and confounding effects of medication/hospitalization, these results suggest that detailed temporal analysis of motor activity patterns can identify similarities and differences between prevalent functional psychiatric disorders. For this purpose, irregularity measures seem particularly useful to characterize psychotic symptoms and should be explored in larger samples with longer-term recordings, while searching for underlying mechanisms of motor activity disturbances.acceptedVersio