{"title":"Improving blood and ECG monitoring among patients prescribed regular antipsychotic medications.","authors":"Parashar Pravin Ramanuj","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aims and methods It is now well established that antipsychotic medications are associated with adverse effects such as metabolic dysfunction, hyperprolactinaemia and cardiac arrhythmias. We completed an audit cycle between 2008 and 2010 to assess whether the implementation of a high-visibility prompt and an educational programme would improve monitoring rates among patients prescribed regular antipsychotics admitted to a 59-bedded psychiatric hospital in West Sussex. Results There was an improvement in monitoring rates for most audit standards. The greatest improvement was seen in measurement of random plasma glucose and cholesterol levels. Rates improved irrespective of the risk of metabolic dysfunction. However, prolactin measurement remained static and the ECG recording deteriorated. Clinical implications There appears to be a growing awareness of the need to screen for metabolic dysfunction among patients prescribed regular antipsychotic medication. A high-visibility prompt and educational programme helps to increase monitoring rates. However, more needs to be done to improve the mortality and morbidity rates among this patient subpopulation. </p>","PeriodicalId":89603,"journal":{"name":"Mental health in family medicine","volume":"10 1","pages":"29-36"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3822670/pdf/MHFM-10-029.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31993154","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}
Jelena Jankovic, Liz McDonald, Charlotte Johnston-Webber
{"title":"Vitamin D and the perinatal period in women suffering from schizophrenia.","authors":"Jelena Jankovic, Liz McDonald, Charlotte Johnston-Webber","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":89603,"journal":{"name":"Mental health in family medicine","volume":"9 4","pages":"215-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3721914/pdf/MHFM-09-215.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31917506","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}
{"title":"The Northampton Physical Health and Wellbeing Project: the views of patients with severe mental illness about their physical health check.","authors":"Sheila Hardy, Katherine Deane, Richard Gray","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background Annual health checks are recommended for people with severe mental illness, as they are at high risk of cardiovascular disease. We trained practice nurses from six primary care centres in Northampton, in the UK, how to deliver health checks for this population. Aims The purpose of this study was to examine patients' views about the physical health check delivered by a nurse trained in the Northampton Physical Health and Wellbeing (PhyHWell) project. Method We interviewed five patients from three primary care centres using a topic guide. Results From a total of 29 patients who were invited, five attended. They had a good understanding of the importance of a healthy diet and taking regular exercise, but did not appear to be aware of the risk of cardiovascular disease. Being treated consistently by the same healthcare professional and/or by a nurse was cited as a helpful factor in managing their physical health. Most of the patients were glad to be invited for a health check and thought that it was worthwhile. They would have liked more information about blood tests and medication. All of the patients reported that they had started to make changes to their lifestyle since the health check. Recommendations Training for practice nurses to provide physical health checks for people with severe mental illness should emphasise the patients' views of what will make them effective. </p>","PeriodicalId":89603,"journal":{"name":"Mental health in family medicine","volume":"9 4","pages":"233-40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3721917/pdf/MHFM-09-233.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31916891","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}
Festus Abasiubong, Sunday B Udoh, Alphonsus U Idung, Aniefiok J Umoiyoho
{"title":"Attitudes and sexual behaviours of unmarried people with HIV/AIDS living in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.","authors":"Festus Abasiubong, Sunday B Udoh, Alphonsus U Idung, Aniefiok J Umoiyoho","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background Increasing morbidity and mortality associated with HIV/AIDS may be attributable to the lifestyle of individuals. Appropriate sexual behaviour and lifestyle modification may be helpful strategies for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in many countries. Aim The study was designed to assess the impact of attitudes and sexual behaviour on control of HIV/AIDS among unmarried people living with HIV/AIDS in Uyo, a community in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Method A total of 365 unmarried individuals living with HIV/AIDS were assessed at the HIV clinic of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. Attitudes and sexual behaviour were evaluated using the Attitude and Sexual Behaviour Questionnaire adapted from previous studies. Results Of the 365 individuals living with HIV/AIDS, 142 (38.9%) were male and 223 (61.1%) were female. The majority of the subjects were below 50 years of age. The mean ages (± SD) of men and women were 36.8 ± 3.9 and 29.2 ± 1.7 years, respectively. Sexual attitudes and behaviours were variable. There was no change in the partner's reaction to sex for 28.9% of men and 27.8% of women, abstinence in 7.7% of men and 8.1% of women, and breakdown of the relationship with the partner for 4.9% of men and 7.2% of women. More women than men agreed to undergo testing after their partners had tested positive for HIV. Sexual activity was higher in women than men, with 4.9% of men and 10.3% of women reporting daily sexual intercourse, 16.2% of men and 15.7% of women reporting weekly intercourse, and occasional sexual intercourse being reported by 44.4% of both men and women. After testing positive, 58.4% of male partners and 56.9% of female partners were persuaded to use condoms during sexual intercourse. Conclusion This study has demonstrated unhealthy attitudes and sexual behaviour among individuals living with HIV/AIDS in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This can potentially limit efforts and investment in controlling HIV/AIDS in this region. Therefore there is a need to initiate concrete policies and programmes that would encourage people living with HIV/AIDS in the Niger Delta region to adopt a healthy lifestyle. </p>","PeriodicalId":89603,"journal":{"name":"Mental health in family medicine","volume":"9 4","pages":"225-32"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3721916/pdf/MHFM-09-225.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31917508","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}
{"title":"Mental and physical health parity: not a luxury but a necessity.","authors":"Gabriel Ivbijaro","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":89603,"journal":{"name":"Mental health in family medicine","volume":"9 4","pages":"213-4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3721913/pdf/MHFM-09-213.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31917503","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}
{"title":"Does consanguinity increase the risk of schizophrenia? Study based on primary health care centre visits.","authors":"Abdulbari Bener, Elnour E Dafeeah, Nancy Samson","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background Consanguinity has been suggested as a risk factor for the development of schizophrenia in offspring in some Middle Eastern countries. Aim The purpose of this study was to review the frequency, pattern of parental consanguinity, and family history of schizophrenia among schizophrenia patients in Qatar, and to determine their impact on the associated risk factors. Design This is a cross-sectional study which was conducted between January 2009 and December 2010, in the setting of primary health care (PHC) centres of the Supreme Council of Health, State of Qatar. Subjects A total of 1491 patients aged 18-55 years were approached, of whom 1184 individuals agreed to participate in the study, giving a response rate of 79.4%. Methods The study was based on face-to-face interviews using a specially designed questionnaire that covered sociodemographic characteristics and genetic and other biological factors (e.g. obstetric complications), and a diagnostic screening questionnaire which consisted of six questions about the symptoms of schizophrenia. The diagnostic screening questionnaire was reviewed and used to calculate the final score, which determined a provisional diagnosis. The psychiatrists discussed the psychiatric diagnosis and confirmed it using DSM-IV criteria. The degree of consanguinity between the patient's parents was recorded. Consanguinity was evaluated based on the coefficient of inbreeding (F), which is the probability of homozygosity. Results More than half of the schizophrenia patients were female (57.1%) and over 45 years of age (62.5%). A family history of schizophrenia was significantly more common in parents of schizophrenia patients than in the Arab population without schizophrenia (24.6% vs. 17.1%; P = 0.038). Parental consanguinity was elevated among the patients with schizophrenia (41.3%) with a higher mean coefficient of inbreeding (0.04356 ± 0.028) than in non-schizophrenic subjects (28.7%) with a lower mean coefficient of inbreeding (0.0298 ± 0.035). Schizophrenia diagnoses were more frequent among the offspring of consanguineous parents than among the offspring of non-consanguineous parents. Conclusion The substantial risk observed in the present study reveals that consanguinity is an important risk factor for schizophrenia in Qatar. In addition, the study confirms that the higher familial risks provide strong genetic epidemiological evidence for the overall heritable effects in the aetiology of schizophrenia. </p>","PeriodicalId":89603,"journal":{"name":"Mental health in family medicine","volume":"9 4","pages":"241-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3721918/pdf/MHFM-09-241.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31916892","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}
{"title":"Factors associated with maternal depressive symptoms among low-income, African American smokers enrolled in a secondhand smoke reduction programme.","authors":"M Shwarz, B N Collins, U S Nair","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Introduction Maternal depressive symptoms increase the risk of poor maternal and child health outcomes, and are a primary barrier to health behaviour change. Social cognitive theory can guide our understanding of risk factors that may have an impact on maternal depressive symptoms. The aim of this paper was to understand the correlates of maternal depressive symptoms among low-income African American smokers completing a 16-week intervention trial to reduce young children's second-hand smoke exposure (SHSe). Methods This study presents a secondary analysis of depression symptoms among 227 maternal smokers completing the SHSe-reduction trial. The end-of-treatment Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score was used to assess depressive symptoms (dichotomised as 0 = score of < 16 and 1 = score of ≥ 16). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to test the one-way hypothesis that odds of significant depressive symptoms would be associated with greater total number of household smokers, greater number of paediatric sick visits, greater daily exposure of child to cigarette smoke by their mother, greater life-event stress, and lower social support, marital status, employment status and level of educational attainment. Results Number of household smokers (OR = 1.57, P = 0.049), social support (OR = 0.88, P < 0.001) and life-event stress (OR = 1.04, P = 0.001) predicted significant maternal depressive symptoms; all other variables were not significant predictors in the model. Conclusion Number of household smokers is a novel risk factor for understanding significant maternal depressive symptoms in the context of a childhood SHSe-reduction trial. Improving our understanding of the household-level social milieu in the context of SHSe-reduction interventions will assist in reducing the risk of maternal depressive symptoms. </p>","PeriodicalId":89603,"journal":{"name":"Mental health in family medicine","volume":"9 4","pages":"275-87"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3721921/pdf/MHFM-09-275.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31916895","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}
Jane McCusker, Martin Cole, Mark Yaffe, Tamara Sussman, Kim L Lavoie, Erin Strumpf, Maida Sewitch, Deniz Sahin, Manon de Raad
{"title":"A feasibility study of a telephone-supported self-care intervention for depression among adults with a comorbid chronic physical illness in primary care.","authors":"Jane McCusker, Martin Cole, Mark Yaffe, Tamara Sussman, Kim L Lavoie, Erin Strumpf, Maida Sewitch, Deniz Sahin, Manon de Raad","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objective We assessed the feasibility and acceptability to patients of a telephone-supported self-care intervention for depression among adults aged 40 years or over with one of six targeted chronic physical illnesses and comorbid depressive symptoms in family practice settings. Methods An open, uncontrolled trial (feasibility study) was conducted among patients treated in Montreal family practices. Eligible patients were aged 40 years or over, had one or more of the targeted chronic physical illnesses for at least 6 months (arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and were evaluated as having at least mild depressive symptoms (a score of ≥ 5 on the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9). Participants received a package of six self-care tools (information booklet, video, Internet programme, action plan, workbook and mood-monitoring tool) with telephone support by a lay coach for up to 6 months. Results In total, 63 eligible patients provided written consent and completed the baseline interview; 57 (90%) and 55 (87%) patients completed 2-month and 6-month follow-up interviews, respectively. The mean number of telephone calls made by coaches to participants was 10.5 (SD 4.0), and the average length of these calls was 10.6 minutes. At the 6-month follow-up, 83.6% of the participants reported that one or more of the tools were helpful. Clinically significant improvements were seen in depressive symptoms (as assessed by the PHQ-9) at 6 months, with an effect size of 0.88 (95% CI, 0.55, 1.14). Conclusion A telephone-supported self-care intervention for depression was feasible, was acceptable to patients, and was associated with a significant 6-month improvement in depressive symptoms. A randomised trial of this intervention is justified. </p>","PeriodicalId":89603,"journal":{"name":"Mental health in family medicine","volume":"9 4","pages":"257-73"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3721920/pdf/MHFM-09-257.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31916894","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}
D P Goldberg, L Gask, A Zakroyeva, E Proselkova, N Ryzhkova, P Williams
{"title":"Training teachers to teach mental health skills to staff in primary care settings in a vast, under-populated area.","authors":"D P Goldberg, L Gask, A Zakroyeva, E Proselkova, N Ryzhkova, P Williams","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background The Arkhangelsk Oblast is an area the size of France with a sparsely distributed population. The existing primary care staff have had very little training in the management of mental health disorders, despite the frequency of these disorders in the population. They requested special teaching on depression, suicide, somatisation and alcohol problems. Methods An educational intervention was developed in partnership with mental health and primary care staff in Russia, to develop mental health skills using established, evidence-based methods. After a preliminary demonstration of teaching methods to be employed, a 5-day full-time teaching course was offered to trainers of general practitioners and feldshers. Results The findings are presented by providing details of improvements that occurred over a 3-month period in four areas, namely depression in primary care, somatic presentations of distress, dealing with suicidal patients, and alcohol problems. We present preliminary data on how the training has generalised since our visits to Archangelsk. Conclusions Teachers who are used to teaching by didactic lectures can be taught the value of short introductory talks that invite discussion, and mental health skills can be taught using role play. The content of such training should be driven by perceived local needs, and developed in conjunction with local leaders and teachers within primary care services. Further research will be needed to establish the impact on clinical outcomes. </p>","PeriodicalId":89603,"journal":{"name":"Mental health in family medicine","volume":"9 4","pages":"219-24"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3721915/pdf/MHFM-09-219.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31917507","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}
Zohreh Shahhosseini, Masumeh Simbar, Ali Ramezankhani, Hamid Alavi Majd
{"title":"Supportive family relationships and adolescent health in the socio-cultural context of Iran: a qualitative study.","authors":"Zohreh Shahhosseini, Masumeh Simbar, Ali Ramezankhani, Hamid Alavi Majd","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parents have a critical role in adolescent health. The association of adolescents' perceptions of family relationships with adolescent health was investigated using a sample of 67 female adolescents who participated in eight focus group discussions, utilising a purposeful sampling method. All tape-recorded data were fully transcribed and content analysis was performed. Three themes were identified, namely emotional support, responsible parents and well-informed parents. With regard to some of the challenges in Iranian adolescents' relationships with their parents, it is necessary to educate parents to be alert to their role in adolescent health. </p>","PeriodicalId":89603,"journal":{"name":"Mental health in family medicine","volume":"9 4","pages":"251-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3721919/pdf/MHFM-09-251.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31916893","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}