Nursing so-called monsters: on the importance of abjection and fear in forensic psychiatric nursing

Nursing so-called monsters: on the importance of abjection and fear in forensic psychiatric nursing, Journal of Forensic Nursing, 2009; 5(3): 153-61 Jacob JD; Gagnon M; Holmes D Abstract: Forensic psychiatric nurses work with individuals who may evoke feelings of empathy as well as feelings of disgust, repulsion, and fear. The main objective of this theoretical paper is [...]

Psychosocial interventions for bipolar disorder

Psychosocial interventions for bipolar disorder , Acta Neuropsychiatrica, Dec 2009, Volume 21 Issue 6, Pages 275 - 284 David J. Castle, Lesley Berk, Sue Lauder, Michael Berk, Greg Murray Abstract: Aim: To provide a selected overview of the literature on psychosocial treatments for bipolar disorder Method: Selective literature review Results: Randomised controlled trials of psychosocial interventions in bipolar disorder fall largely [...]

Psychopathy: Assessment and Forensic Implications

Psychopathy: Assessment and Forensic Implications, Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, Vol 54, No 12, December 2009 Robert D Hare, Craig S Neumann Abstract: Psychopathy is commonly viewed as a personality disorder defined by a cluster of interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, and antisocial traits and behaviours, including grandiosity, egocentricity, deceptiveness, shallow emotions, lack of empathy or remorse, irresponsibility, [...]

Reflective Practice – Uses of a research diary: learning reflectively, developing understanding and establishing transparency

Uses of a research diary: learning reflectively, developing understanding and establishing transparency, Nurse Researcher,  2009; 17(1): 68-76 Abstract: The author of this paper started a research diary to provide transparency to her study and to help her clarify thoughts and feelings – as well as to acknowledge factors that may have influenced her analysis. She [...]

Reflective Writing – The healing power of reflective writing for a student victim of sexual assault

The healing power of reflective writing for a student victim of sexual assault, Journal of Forensic Nursing,  2009; 5(2): 64-9 Abstract: The phenomenon of a caring relationship between a teacher and her student, a victim of sexual assault, is mediated through reflective writing assignments in a baccalaureate nursing program. Increased self-awareness, personal transformation, and healing [...]

NICE – Schizophrenia Update

NICE – Schizophrenia Update  NICE,  December 2009 Click on the above link to be taken directly to the guidance Abstract: The advice in the NICE guideline covers: the care, treatment and support that adults (aged 18 and older) with schizophrenia should be offered. This includes people who develop schizophrenia before they are 60 and continue [...]

PALS in prison: a toolkit and good practice guidance for implementing Patient Advice and Liaison Services in a secure setting

PALS in prison: a toolkit and good practice guidance for implementing Patient Advice and Liaison Services in a secure setting  Department of Health, 31st December 2009 Click on the title to access the toolkit direct Abstract: Toolkit and good practice guidance for commissioners and providers of healthcare in the criminal or youth justice sectors, covering [...]

Promoting health and well-being: reducing inequalities

Promoting health and well-being: reducing inequalities  Royal Society for Public Health, Dec 2009 Click on the title above to access the full-text of this document Abstract: This guide has been developed to assist commissioners to make the most of the best methods of promoting health, using the latest understanding of how they can support people [...]

Person Centred Care – Measures of patients’ experience in hospital – Purpose, methods and uses

Measures of patients’ experience in hospital – Purpose, methods and uses,   August 2o09, Mental Health Foundation Click on the title above to access the full-text of this report Abstract: Ensuring that you are measuring the things that matter most to patients is an essential component of a successful strategy for improving patients’ experience. It is [...]

Windmill 2009 – NHS response to the financial storm

Windmill 2009 – NHS response to the financial storm  December 2009, Mental Health Foundation Click on the title above to gain access to the full-text report Abstract: It is clear that the era of unprecedented investment in health care is over, and prospects for future funding now look bleak. But just how the NHS will [...]

The Chance of a Lifetime – Preventing early conduct problems in childhood to reduce crime

The Chance of a Lifetime  Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, 2009 Click on the title to access the full-text of this report Abstract: A very high proportion of those who have the most serious conduct problems during childhood will go on to become involved in criminal activity. This paper makes the case for greatly increased [...]

Older people’s vision for long term care

Older people’s vision for long term care Joseph Rowntree Foundation, November 2009 Click on the title above to access the full report and summary Abstract: Highlighting what older people in care homes want and need. How can we ensure a ‘better life’ for older people in residential and nursing care homes when their voices are rarely [...]

The Stockholm non-affective psychoses study (snaps): the importance of including out-patient data in incidence studies

The Stockholm non-affective psychoses study (snaps): the importance of including out-patient data in incidence studies, Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 2010 L. Jörgensen Abstract: Objective: To estimate the incidence rate of schizophrenia and non-affective psychoses from registers, to highlight the importance of including data from out-patient care, and to assess the proportion of persons treated in out-patient care [...]

Indicators of pretreatment suicidal ideation in adults with major depressive disorder

Indicators of pretreatment suicidal ideation in adults with major depressive disorder , Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 2010 D. W. Morris Abstract: Objective: In order to evaluate the presence of treatment emergent suicidal ideation (SI), it becomes necessary to identify those patients with SI at the onset of treatment. The purpose of this report is to identify sociodemographic and [...]

Meta-analysis of CSF and MRI biomarkers for detecting preclinical Alzheimer’s disease

Meta-analysis of CSF and MRI biomarkers for detecting preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, Psychological Medicine (2010), 40:135-145 B. Schmand, H. M. Huizenga and W. A. van Gool Abstract: Background Abnormal levels of biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and atrophy of medial temporal lobe (MTL) structures on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are being used increasingly to diagnose early [...]

Mania associated with antidepressant treatment: comprehensive meta-analytic review

Mania associated with antidepressant treatment: comprehensive meta-analytic review, Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 2010 L. Tondo Abstract: Objective: To review available data pertaining to risk of mania–hypomania among bipolar (BPD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) patients with vs. without exposure to antidepressant drugs (ADs) and consider effects of mood stabilizers. Method: Computerized searching yielded 73 reports (109 trials, 114 521 [...]

CBT for major psychiatric disorder: does it really work? A meta-analytical review of well-controlled trials

Cognitive behavioural therapy for major psychiatric disorder: does it really work? A meta-analytical review of well-controlled trials, Psychological Medicine (2010), 40:9-24 D. Lynch, K. R. Laws and P. J. McKenna Abstract: Background Although cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is claimed to be effective in schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorder, there have been negative findings in [...]

RCT of Paroxetine & CBT for late-life Panic disorder

A randomized controlled study of paroxetine and cognitive-behavioural therapy for late-life panic disorder , Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 2010 G.-J. Hendriks et al..  Abstract: Objective: To examine the effectiveness of paroxetine and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) in elderly patients suffering from panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PD(A)). Method: Forty-nine patients aged 60+ years with confirmed PD(A) were randomly assigned [...]

Self-help CBT for depression: opportunities for primary care mental health nurses?

Self-help CBT for depression: opportunities for primary care mental health nurses?  Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 2009, Volume 16 Issue 9, Pages 792 - 803  A. E. WARRILOW rn(mental health) bn(hons) & B. BEECH rmn phd ma certed(fe)    Mental Health Nurse, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, and Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Keele University, Clinical [...]

Case Study – A young woman with visual hallucinations, delusions of persecution and history of arson …

A young woman with visual hallucinations, delusions of persecution and a history of performing arson with possible three-generation Fahr disease ,  Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 2010, Volume 121 Issue 1, Pages 75 - 77 Shirahama, J. Akiyoshi, Y. Ishitobi, Y. Tanaka, J. Tsuru, H. Matsushita, H. Hanada, K. Kodama Abstract: Objective: Fahr disease (FD) is a rare neurological and psychiatric disorder. The [...]

Treatment of schizoaffective disorder – a challenge for evidence-based psychiatry

Treatment of schizoaffective disorder – a challenge for evidence-based psychiatry, Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 2010, Volume 121 Issue 1, Pages 22 - 32 M Jager Abstract: Objective: Schizoaffective disorder is a common diagnosis in mental health services. The aim of the present article was to review treatment studies for schizoaffective disorder and draw conclusions for clinical decision making. Method: We searched MEDLINE and [...]

Preserving memories: using photographic images

Preserving memories: using photographic images, Nursing & Residential Care, 2009 Mar; 11 (3): 155-8 Julia Swann Abstract: Preserving images in alternative formats can offer an activity as well as providing an end product that can add familiarity to a personalized space. Julie Swann introduces some ideas for storing and presenting photographs. Residents living in care [...]

Healing scents: an overview of clinical aromatherapy for emotional distress

Healing scents: an overview of clinical aromatherapy for emotional distress, Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 2008 Oct; 46 (10): 46-52 Butje A; Repede E; Shattell MM Abstract: Individuals in emotional distress are often treated with psychotherapeutic agents, but other treatment options exist. One safe and effective adjunct for the prevention and treatment [...]

Behavioral activation is an evidence-based treatment for depression

Behavioral activation is an evidence-based treatment for depression , Behavior Modification,  2009 Nov; 33(6): 818-29 Abstract: Recent reviews of evidence-based treatment for depression did not identify behavioral activation as an evidence-based practice. Therefore, this article conducted a systematic review of behavioral activation treatment of depression, which identified three meta-analyses, one recent randomized controlled trial and one [...]

The power of Pilates – Elderly

The power of pilates, Nursing & Residential Care, 2009 Oct; 11(10): 520-3 Julia Swann – Abstract: Pilates is a beneficial physical fitness system used to develop core muscle strength and flexibility. It can be adapted for use within the care home setting. This article provides an introduction.  Pilates is a low-impact, complete body workout that [...]

NICE & NHS Evidence – Appropriate prescribing of medication for patients with Alzheimer’s disease

Appropriate prescribing of medication for patients with Alzheimer’s disease , November 2009  National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Click on the title to gain access to the full-text, any problems, see note below Abstract: The NICE technology appraisal makes recommendations for the use of medications in Alzheimer’s disease. Shared care prescribing can improve the implementation [...]

NICE – The productive mental health ward – Toolkit for mental health wards

The productive mental health ward  November 2009, NHS Quality and Productivity Click on the title to access the full-text any problems see note below Abstract: From the success of The Productive Ward programme the NHS Institute has developed a toolkit for mental health wards supported by improvement facilitators. Several NHS Mental Health trusts have improved [...]

NICE – The Productive Ward

The Productive Ward   NHS Evidence – quality and productivity Click on the title above to access the direct full-text any problems see note below Abstract: The NHS Institute has supported ward leaders and nursing teams with methods to innovate and improve the ward environmenment and process. In six trusts this has been shown to improve [...]

Empirically supported psychological treatments for adult acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder: a review

Empirically supported psychological treatments for adult acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder: a review, Depression and Anxiety, Volume 26, Issue 12, Date: December 2009, Pages: 1086-1109 Kathryn Ponniah, Steven D. Hollon Abstract: Background: Acute stress disorder (ASD) predicts the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which in some sufferers can persist for years and lead to significant disability. [...]

Existential well-being in younger and older people with anorexia nervosa – a preliminary investigation

Existential well-being in younger and older people with anorexia nervosa - a preliminary investigation, European Eating Disorders Review, 2009, Volume 17 Issue 1, Pages 24 - 30 Andy P. Fox, Newman Leung 1School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK 2Eating Disorders Service, Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK Abstract:   Previous research suggests that anorexic behaviour may be [...]