BJPsych BulletinPub Date : 2025-08-22DOI: 10.1192/bjb.2025.10137
Alan Levinovitz, Awais Aftab
{"title":"The Rumpelstiltskin effect: therapeutic repercussions of clinical diagnosis.","authors":"Alan Levinovitz, Awais Aftab","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2025.10137","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2025.10137","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Clinicians across medical disciplines are intimately familiar with an unusual feature of descriptive diagnoses. The diagnostic terms, despite their non-aetiological nature, seem to offer an explanatory lens to many patients, at times with profound effects. These experiences highlight a striking, neglected and unchristened medical phenomenon: the therapeutic effect of a clinical diagnosis, independent of any other intervention, where clinical diagnosis refers to situating the person's experiences into a clinical category by either a clinician or the patient. We call this the Rumpelstiltskin effect. This article describes this phenomenon and highlights its importance as a topic of empirical investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"1-5"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144940956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BJPsych BulletinPub Date : 2025-08-19DOI: 10.1192/bjb.2025.10128
David Hayward, Amy Fourie, Donald MacIntyre, Douglas Steele
{"title":"What do general adult psychiatry patients think we should call borderline personality disorder? A cross-sectional study to find the most acceptable diagnostic term.","authors":"David Hayward, Amy Fourie, Donald MacIntyre, Douglas Steele","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2025.10128","DOIUrl":"10.1192/bjb.2025.10128","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and method: </strong>To determine the most acceptable term for borderline personality disorder (BPD). We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients who know what it feels like to be diagnosed with a mental disorder. The main outcome measures were the proportion of participants offended and confused by alternative terms for BPD.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seventy-two people participated in the study. Being diagnosed with a condition was more offensive than being diagnosed with a disorder (<i>χ</i><sup>2</sup> = 41.18, d.f. = 1, <i>P</i> < 0.01). Fluxithymia offended the fewest participants (13%), but was the most confusing term (31%). Emotionally unstable personality disorder was the most offensive term (63%). After fluxithymia, emotional intensity disorder was the least offensive term, and not especially confusing (11%). Changing BPD to emotional intensity disorder would avoid an offensive event every 3.6 diagnostic announcements.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>The diagnostic term BPD should be replaced with emotional intensity disorder, because this term provides a balance of clarity and inoffensiveness.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"1-5"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144871253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BJPsych BulletinPub Date : 2025-08-15DOI: 10.1192/bjb.2025.10129
Valentin Skryabin
{"title":"Gut microbiota and alcohol use disorder: a new frontier in treatment and recovery.","authors":"Valentin Skryabin","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2025.10129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2025.10129","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and method: </strong>Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major global health concern associated with limited treatment efficacy and high relapse rates. Recent research highlights the gut microbiota as a critical modulator of AUD pathophysiology through its influence on the gut-brain axis. Chronic alcohol consumption induces gut dysbiosis, characterised by reduced microbial diversity, impaired gut barrier function and systemic inflammation, which perpetuate neuroinflammation, stress dysregulation and neurotransmitter imbalances. These disruptions exacerbate addiction-related behaviours, contributing to the cycle of dependence and relapse. This critical review synthesises current evidence on the role of gut microbiota in AUD, examining the mechanisms linking dysbiosis to addiction and evaluating therapeutic interventions such as probiotics, prebiotics, faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), psychobiotics and dietary modifications.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The strategies evaluated show significant potential in restoring microbial homeostasis and improving AUD outcomes, but challenges remain, including gaps in mechanistic understanding, variability in methodologies, and barriers to clinical translation.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>There is a need for multi-omics research, personalised medicine approaches and integrated treatment models to advance microbiota-based therapies. Gut microbiota-targeted strategies might then transform AUD management, offering innovative and personalised solutions for addiction recovery.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144854384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Clinical Reach into the Cognitive Space (CRITiCS): outline conceptual framework for safe use of generative artificial intelligence in mental health decision-making.","authors":"Andrew Hider, Lesa Wright, Jacob Needle","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2025.36","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2025.36","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and method: </strong>Advances in generative artificial intelligence, particularly through large language models, like GPT-4, have opened opportunities to develop cognitive agents to enhance clinical productivity, especially in complex secondary and tertiary care settings. However, as artificial intelligence begins to occupy the cognitive space traditionally held by human clinical reasoning, transparency becomes a significant concern. Unlike human decision-making, artificial intelligence-generated outputs may not be traceable to a transparent chain of clinical reasoning, potentially impacting safety if used without adequate 'clinician reach' into the reasoning space of artificial intelligence.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We highlight the need for a consensus framework to guide the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence in mental healthcare, which, it is argued, has cognitive demands and features distinct from physical medicine. We propose such a framework, Clinical Reach into the Cognitive Space (CRITiCS), to support clinician involvement in the deployment of these technologies.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>This paper aims to spark dialogue and interest in both the clinical and artificial intelligence development communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144833894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BJPsych BulletinPub Date : 2025-08-12DOI: 10.1192/bjb.2025.10121
David Morris, Sharifah Shameem Agha, Miriam Cooper, Kate Langley
{"title":"Content of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder psychoeducation packages: scoping review.","authors":"David Morris, Sharifah Shameem Agha, Miriam Cooper, Kate Langley","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2025.10121","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2025.10121","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and method: </strong>To truly understand the efficacy of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) psychoeducation, we need to know what is commonly included in it. This scoping review aims to describe the content of psychoeducation interventions for ADHD in published research. A literature search was conducted to identify relevant papers. Descriptions of psychoeducation aimed at children, parents/carers, adults and teachers were identified and compared narratively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After screening, 57 papers were identified for data extraction and coding. Content themes included 'information about ADHD'; 'practical advice'; 'impact of ADHD'; 'treatment of ADHD'; 'co-occurrence'; and 'self-image/self-esteem'. 'Information about ADHD' and 'practical advice' were the most common themes, with variance on inclusion of other themes. Most of the identified research involved psychoeducation for parents of children with ADHD.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>This review provides greater understanding of the content and delivery of ADHD psychoeducation. Further research could use this understanding to ascertain the efficacy of different content themes in supporting those with ADHD.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144820380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kirstie N Anderson, Rod Bowles, Christine Fyfe, Ron Weddle, Patrick Keown
{"title":"Development and evaluation of a personalised sleep care plan on child and adolescent in-patient mental health wards.","authors":"Kirstie N Anderson, Rod Bowles, Christine Fyfe, Ron Weddle, Patrick Keown","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2024.41","DOIUrl":"10.1192/bjb.2024.41","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and method: </strong>The study evaluated a package of measures to improve sleep on psychiatric wards admitting patients from children and young people's services (CYPS). Sleep disturbance has significant impact on adolescent mental health, and in-patient wards can directly cause sleep disturbance, independent of the problem that led to admission. We developed a CYPS-specific package (TeenSleepWell) that promoted a better sleep environment, enhanced staff education about sleep, screened for sleep disorders, and raised awareness of benefits and side-effects of hypnotics. This included personalised sleep care plans that allowed a protected 8 h sleep period when safe.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Evaluation over 2 years showed enhanced in-patient care: 57% of patients were able to have a protected sleep period. There was no increase in adverse events and there was a decrease in hypnotics issued.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Improving sleep during in-patient CYPS admissions is possible and personalised sleep care plan should be a care standard.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"223-227"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12314403/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141064260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Leonardo Domingos Biagio, Delanjathan Devakumar, Leticia Falcão de Carvalho, Natália Pinheiro de Castro, Rossana Verónica Mendoza López, Liania Alves Luzia, Perla Pizzi Argentato, Patrícia Helen Carvalho Rondó
{"title":"Factors associated with domestic violence in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: Araraquara Cohort study.","authors":"Leonardo Domingos Biagio, Delanjathan Devakumar, Leticia Falcão de Carvalho, Natália Pinheiro de Castro, Rossana Verónica Mendoza López, Liania Alves Luzia, Perla Pizzi Argentato, Patrícia Helen Carvalho Rondó","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2024.43","DOIUrl":"10.1192/bjb.2024.43","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and method: </strong>This cross-sectional study, carried out from 2021 to 2022, investigated the factors associated with domestic violence in 400 Brazilian pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Violence was assessed with the World Health Organization's Violence Against Women questionnaire and the Abuse Assessment Screen. Demographic, socioeconomic, obstetric, lifestyle and mental health data were collected.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Violence at any time in their lives was reported by 52.2% of the women, and psychological violence was the most prevalent type (19.5%). Violence was associated with being single and mental health changes. Pregnant women exposed to any lifetime violence and psychological violence were, respectively, 4.67 and 5.93 times more likely to show mental health changes compared with women with no reported violence.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Training health professionals involved in prenatal care in the early detection of single women and women with mental health changes could be important in preventing domestic violence.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"235-241"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12314416/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140955633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
George Crowther, Rebecca Dunning, Gregor Russell, Emma Wolverson, Benjamin R Underwood
{"title":"Dementia in-patient units in psychiatric hospitals: research priority setting.","authors":"George Crowther, Rebecca Dunning, Gregor Russell, Emma Wolverson, Benjamin R Underwood","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2024.42","DOIUrl":"10.1192/bjb.2024.42","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and method: </strong>Dementia in-patient units (DIU) are mental health wards that care for people living with dementia (PLWD) whose symptoms are causing severe distress or potential risk. DIUs look after some of the most vulnerable and unwell people in society, yet they are environments that are underresearched: a recent systematic review revealed only 36 articles worldwide relating to DIUs. To better understand research priorities in DIUs, we undertook a two-round online Delphi survey of PLWD with experience of DIUs, their carers and professionals who work in DIUs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten research priorities were described and ranked. The top three were how to use non-pharmacological techniques to manage non-cognitive symptoms of dementia, supporting families and better understanding of how to discharge PLWD safely and healthily.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>This is the first Delphi consensus to describe DIU research priorities. This paper will help researchers focus on the areas that matter most to people who use DIUs.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"228-234"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12314415/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141465930","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fiona Duffy, Karri Gillespie-Smith, Helen Sharpe, Kyle Buchan, Emy Nimbley, Ellen Maloney, Michelle Sader, Sarah Kettley, Jess Kerr-Gaffney, Gordon Waiter, Kate Tchanturia
{"title":"Eating Disorder and Autism Collaborative project outline: promoting eating disorder research embedded in a neurodiversity-affirming culture.","authors":"Fiona Duffy, Karri Gillespie-Smith, Helen Sharpe, Kyle Buchan, Emy Nimbley, Ellen Maloney, Michelle Sader, Sarah Kettley, Jess Kerr-Gaffney, Gordon Waiter, Kate Tchanturia","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2024.61","DOIUrl":"10.1192/bjb.2024.61","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>EDAC (Eating Disorders and Autism Collaborative) is an innovative project aiming to increase research capacity by supporting collaboration in the fields of eating disorders and autism. EDAC comprises four integrated workstreams to co-produce interdisciplinary research, directed by Autistic individuals with lived experience of eating disorders. Workstream 1 will outline best collaborative practices, informing the research network. Workstream 2 will use arts-based methodologies to set research priorities, with emphasis on the perspectives of underrepresented groups. Workstream 3 will support interdisciplinary collaborations to develop innovative research. Finally, workstream 4 will maximise knowledge mobilisation with the aim of reducing barriers to rapid incorporation of research into policy and clinical practice. A core aim of EDAC is to embed a neurodiversity-affirming culture within eating disorder research and to support the development of a new generation of researchers conducting innovative and meaningful research with the potential to improve clinical outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"272-277"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12314410/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141900851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}