Long-term effects of antipsychotics [Editorials]
Antipsychotics are useful at reducing acute symptoms, but recent evidence calls into question their long-term efficacy and raises concern about adverse effects on the brain. (Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment)
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - March 2, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Moncrieff, J. Tags: Editorials Source Type: research
Physical monitoring and advice: absence of evidence is not evidence of absence: COMMENTARY ON... COCHRANE CORNER [Round the corner]
Individuals with severe mental illness have increased rates of physical health problems and reduced life expectancy. As a vulnerable population, they have been identified as needing increased physical health monitoring and treatment. The first of two Cochrane reviews considered here assessed the evidence for the benefit of monitoring but found no studies that could be included. The second reviewed the evidence for provision of general physical healthcare advice. Although the results were suggestive of benefit, the evidence, where available, was of poor quality. These reviews highlight an important area for future research ...
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - March 2, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Smith, K. Tags: Round the corner Source Type: research
General physical health advice for people with serious mental illness [Cochrane corner]
(Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment)
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - March 2, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tosh, G., Clifton, A. V., Xia, J., White, M. M. Tags: Cochrane corner Source Type: research
Physical health care monitoring for people with serious mental illness [Cochrane corner]
(Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment)
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - March 2, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tosh, G., Clifton, A. V., Xia, J., White, M. M. Tags: Cochrane corner Source Type: research
New from CPD Online [CPD Online]
(Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment)
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - March 2, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Tags: CPD Online Source Type: research
Hong Kong: recent development of mental health services [Reflection]
From a very deprived baseline, mental health services in Hong Kong have undergone some growth over the past decade. The number of inpatient beds for psychiatric treatment dropped by one-third, but the community mental health service expanded significantly. A number of low-resource phase-specific and age-specific treatment programmes were introduced, with promising initial results. However, there remain many challenges, including a serious shortage of well-trained mental health professionals. Much more investment in mental health workforce development is required to meet the service needs not only of today, but also of tomo...
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - January 5, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Chan, W.-c., Lam, L. C.-w., Chen, E. Y.-h. Tags: Reflection Source Type: research
Relieving in-patient boredom in general hospitals: the evidence for intervention and practical ideas [Articles]
Boredom is highly prevalent among general hospital in-patients. Self-help strategies suit some patients, but for others hospitals need to stimulate opportunities for them to experience meaningful relationships and roles and a sense of control. In-patients’ well-being and levels of boredom may be affected by no-smoking policies, hospital design, access to natural light, nature scenes and indoor or outdoor gardens. Alleviating boredom in elderly patients with reduced cognitive function may be particularly challenging. Healthcare professionals may face the wider challenge of fully engaging with patients’ psychosoc...
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - January 5, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Steele, R., Linsley, K. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Human rights in psychiatric practice: an overview for clinicians [Articles]
Matters relating to human rights arise in almost every area of psychiatric practice. Although some statements of rights are non-binding declarations (e.g. the United Nations’ Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and the Improvement of Mental Health Care), others are legally binding (e.g. the European Convention on Human Rights) and actively shape national laws. Persons with mental illness commonly experience violations of rights, including their economic and social rights. Psychiatrists can promote human rights through high-quality, evidence-based clinical practice; patient-centred service man...
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - January 5, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Kelly, B. D. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
The art of Edvard Munch: a window onto a mind [Mindreading]
The psychological state of an individual affects the way in which they express themselves. Art has long been an outlet for self-expression, and painting is just one art form that individuals use to articulate their ideas and emotions. Edvard Munch (1863–1944) was an influential Norwegian artist who led a tortured life; his greatest artworks reflect the struggles he faced. This piece narrates the story of his life, exploring the ways in which his mental illnesses were related to his art, and how his art evolved as a result of this. (Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment)
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - January 5, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Azeem, H. Tags: Mindreading Source Type: research
Religion and spirituality in clinical practice [Articles]
Spirituality and religion have assumed importance in psychiatric practice in recent years because of both a growing evidence base and the desire of patients that such matters should be better addressed as an aspect of their care. However, there has been controversy regarding interpretation of the evidence base and issues of good practice, notably about defining appropriate professional boundaries. A sensitive and patient-focused clinical enquiry is therefore needed to discover whether and how spiritual/religious concerns are important to patients and, if they are, how they might most appropriately be addressed in treatment...
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - January 5, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Cook, C. C. H. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Drug and alcohol addiction: new pharmacotherapies [Articles]
Over the past decade, important research has been performed into the therapeutic use of dihydrocodeine, injectable opioids (diamorphine) and supervised disulfiram in addiction treatment. There have also been interesting developments regarding baclofen for alcohol problems and use of stimulants in adult Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, evidence for the effectiveness of medication to promote alcohol abstinence remains modest at best. (Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment)
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - January 5, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Luty, J. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
General teams in psychiatry [Refreshment]
The past three decades in the UK have seen a prolonged experiment in community mental healthcare that has attempted to address the problem of the disgorgement of institutional psychiatry into a poorly prepared community service. The effectiveness of new ‘functionalised’ service models is considered, together with a reminder of the fundamental components of community mental healthcare and a statement of the principles that should inform future service models. (Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment)
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - January 5, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Fear, C. F. Tags: Refreshment Source Type: research
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: assessment and treatment [Articles]
This article seeks to elucidate the different components of the assessment and diagnosis of ADHD in comparison with various differential diagnoses that must also be considered. Despite its complexities, ADHD can be effectively managed using a comprehensive approach advocated by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The article discusses the combination of medication, psychoeducation and parental handling that has been shown to be effective in containing the problematic symptoms of ADHD. It also highlights the difficulties that can persist into adulthood and potential strategies to improve prognosis....
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - January 5, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Hill, P. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Parenting and personality disorder: clinical and child protection implications [Articles]
I review some of the evidence that parental personality disorder represents a risk to child development, in terms of both transmission of genetic vulnerability and the environmental stress of living with a parent who has a personality disorder that negatively affects their parenting capacities. I argue that there are two compelling reasons to impose a duty on mental healthcare providers to offer services for adults with personality disorders that specifically focus on their parenting identity: first, because effective therapies for personality disorder are now available; and second, because there is a strong utilitarian an...
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - January 5, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Adshead, G. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Perinatal depression and psychosis: an update [Articles]
About 85% of women experience some type of postpartum mood disturbance. Generally, the symptoms are mild and short-lived, but a minority of women develop depressive illness or sudden psychosis. About half of episodes of apparently postnatal depression start during pregnancy and some seemingly postpartum psychoses start before delivery. Untreated antenatal depression can lead to poor obstetric outcomes, subsequent depression in the mother, and developmental disadvantage and depression later in life in the offspring. In this article we discuss the aetiology of perinatal depression and consider recommended pharmaceutical and ...
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - January 5, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Doyle, M., Carballedo, A., O'Keane, V. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
