Search NEL Online

Journal Article 2007; 28(Suppl 1): 147-159 PubMed PMID: 17262002 Citation  Keywords:  Caregivers, Family, Family Relations, Humans, Patient Compliance, Quality of Life, Schizophrenia:therapy, Schizophrenic Psychology, Socioenvironmental Therapy,.   

: Family represents an important supportive social network for most patients with schizophrenia. In order to provide safe and low-stress environment, necessary for the successful long-term treatment of schizophrenia the family must be helped. Family members suffer both emotionally and financially. Their burden is high and quality of life is low. Relatives change their life values and preferences when a severe mental illness occurs in the family and are ready to cooperate. Family interventions constitute an integral part of complex schizophrenia treatment. To be successful interventions must take into account relatives beliefs, perspectives and issues of concern. The goal of this paper is to 1) overview studies on family burden, 2) provide theoretical background for family interventions, 3) describe a family psychoeducational approach as an optimal treatment modification....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2006; 27(4): 473-481 PubMed PMID: 16891998 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Anxiety:drug therapy, Cognitive Therapy, Combined Modality Therapy, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Moclobemide:therapeutic use, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors:therapeutic use, Patient Dropouts, Phobic Disorders:drug.   

: The aim of the study was to assess the 6-months treatment efficacy and 24-month follow up of three different therapeutic programs (A. moclobemide and supportive guidance, B. group cognitive-behavioral therapy and pill placebo, and C. combination of moclobemide and group cognitive-behavioral therapy) in patients with a generalized form of social phobia. Eighty one patients (38 males and 43 females) were randomly assigned to three different therapeutic programs. Patients were regularly assessed on a monthly basis by an independent rater on the LSAS (Liebowitz Social Anxiety scale), CGI (Clinical Global Impression) for severity and change and BAI (Beck Anxiety Inventory). Altogether, sixty-six patients completed the six month treatment period and 15 patients dropped out. All therapeutic groups showed significant improvement. A combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy yielded the most rapid effect. Moclobemide was superior for the reduction of the subjective general anxiety (BAI) during the first 3 months of treatment, but its influence on avoidant behavior (LSAS avoidance subscale) was less pronounced. Conversely, CBT was the best choice for reduction of avoidant behavior while a reduction of subjective general anxiety appeared later than in moclobemide. After 6 months of treatment there were best results reached in groups treated with CBT and there was no advantage of the combined treatment. The relapse rate during the 24-month follow up was significantly lower in the group treated with CBT in comparison with the group A. formerly treated with moclobemide alone....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Letter 2004; 25(Suppl 1): 137-139 PubMed PMID: 15735597 Citation  Keywords:  Cost of Illness, Family, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Intensive Care Units, Neonatal, Midwifery, Nurses, Patient Care Team, Professional-Family Relations,.   

: This article reflects on twelve years spent on a regional neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The trials and tribulations experienced by parents and staff alike are described together with some of the initiatives developed to mitigate the effects of these. High standards of medical and nursing care, environmental conditions, good communications and a multi-disciplinary approach are all identified as crucial in giving holistic care to the neonate. Finally, the involvement of the professional team is recognised as transient but key in developing in the parents both competence and confidence in their roles for the future....

Read abstract

Case Reports 2004; 25(Suppl 1): 111-116 PubMed PMID: 15735593 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Communication, Female, Gestational Age, Hospitalization, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Mother-Child Relations, Patient Care Team,.   

: The purpose of this study is to consider the intervention possibilities within a multidisciplinary medical team during the hospitalization of extremely preterm infants. In this work, the interventions were carried out with the objective of establishing communication among the various parties involved, mother, infant and multidisciplinary team, by approaching and trying to understand the mother in the diverse moments of hospitalization of preterm infants....

Read abstract

Clinical Trial 2002; 23(2): 109-113 PubMed PMID: 12011795 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic:administration & dosage, Depressive Disorder, Major:drug therapy, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Imipramine:administration & dosage, Inpatients, Male, Middle Aged, Phototherapy, Recurrence, Seasons, Treatment .   

INTRODUCTION: The aim of a double-blind study was to assess the efficacy of bright light therapy and/or imipramine in the treatment of inpatients suffering with recurrent non-seasonal major depressive disorder.

METHOD: 34 in-patients with DSM-III-R diagnosis of major depressive disorder, recurrent type, were randomly allocated into 3 treatment groups. After 4-day washout period with baseline assessment they underwent 3 weeks of different types of treatment: a) Group A: bright light therapy (5000 lux from 6-8 a.m.) and imipramine 150 mg/day. b) Group B: bright light therapy (5000 lux from 6-8 a.m.) and imipramine-like placebo. c) Group C: dim red light (500 lux from 6-8 a.m.) and imipramine 150 mg/day. Outcome measures included weekly Hamilton Psychiatric Rating Scale for Depression, Clinical Global Impression Scale, Montgomery and Asberg Psychiatric Rating Scale for Depression and Beck Depression Inventory.

RESULTS: Patients of all three groups improved significantly. The improvement of the patients of group B treated with bright light therapy plus placebo was superior to the other two groups, but not significantly.

CONCLUSION: Bright light therapy can be effective in the treatment of non-seasonal major depressive disorder....

Read abstract

Journal Article 2018; 39(4): 331-341 PubMed PMID: 30531709 Citation  Keywords:  Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Anxiety Disorders:psychology, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depressive Disorder:psychology, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Disorders:psychology, Middle Aged, Neurotic Disorders:psychology, Outpatients, Psychotic Disorders:psycho.   

BACKGROUND: Much attention has been paid to psychological factors influencing characteristics, severity, and course of mental disorders. The objective of our investigation was to examine the interrelations among quality of life (QoL), self-stigma, and coping strategies, demographics and severity of the disorder in neurotic spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and depressive spectrum disorders. METHODS: A total of 343 clinically stable Czech outpatients with different mental disorders (153 with neurotic spectrum disorders; 81 with depression, and 109 with schizophrenia spectrum disorders) were included. The patients were examined by their outpatient psychiatrists during regular psychiatric checkup and completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Quality of Life Satisfaction and the Enjoyment Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q), the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI), the Stress Coping Style Questionnaire (SVF-78), and the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI). RESULTS: The study demonstrates that the self-stigma and coping strategies are significant factors linked to the QoL in all diagnostic groups of patients. Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders had lower scores in QoL compared to the other two groups. The patients with depression or neurotic spectrum disorders had a lesser degree of self-stigma than the patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The severity of the illness significantly correlated with the QoL, self-stigma, and coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS: The investigation confirmed the connection between the quality of life, self-stigma, coping strategies, and the severity of the illness, in outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, depressive, and neurotic spectrum disorders. A further longitudinal study would be useful to determine the causative relationships of these variables....

Read abstract  Full text PDF