Assessing functionality in Schizophrenia: The psychosocial remission in Schizophrenia scale (PSRS)

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 2072-2072
Author(s):  
Y. Barak
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Community Services ◽  
Psychiatric Nurses ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Rater Reliability ◽  
Achievable Goal ◽  
Symptomatic Remission ◽  
Item Scale

BackgroundRemission, both symptomatic and psychosocial, is now an achievable goal in a substantial proportion of schizophrenia patients.Objectiveto develop a brief, clinician rated scale for the assessment of psychosocial remission in schizophrenia (the PSRS). The scale is to match the quantification of symptomatic remission as delineated by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) task force.Methoda “bank” of 124 questions pertaining to psychosocial remission was derived from published scales reflecting two domains: quality of life (QoL) and activities of daily living (ADL). Psychiatrists, residents, psychiatric nurses and community nurses were presented with the questions. All were asked to choose the 8 items they considered as reflecting the essence of psychosocial remission. Inter-rater reliability of the final scale version was assessed amongst psychiatrists.Resultsthe questions' “bank” was reviewed by 429 mental health professionals. The four items found to be most frequently sanctioned in the QoL domain were: a. familial relations (endorsed by 78% of participants), b. understanding and self-awareness (46%), c. energy (58%) and d. interest in every-day life (38%). The four items sanctioned in the I-ADL domain were: a. self-care (86%), b. activism (65%), c. responsibility for medications (54%) and d. use of community services (32%). Inter-rater reliability amongst 70 psychiatrists ranged from 0.67 to 0.83.Conclusionthe PSRS is an 8-item scale quantifying psychosocial remission in schizophrenia in a manner that complements symptomatic assessment of remission. The PSRS may be useful for both research and clinical evaluation.

Preventing Suicide in Prisons, Part II

Crisis ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 122-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc S. Daigle ◽  
Anasseril E. Daniel ◽  
Greg E. Dear ◽  
Patrick Frottier ◽  
Lindsay M. Hayes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Task Force ◽  
International Association ◽  
Correctional Officers ◽  
Community Services ◽  
Correctional Systems ◽  
Prevention Activities ◽  
Prison Systems

Abstract. The International Association for Suicide Prevention created a Task Force on Suicide in Prisons to better disseminate the information in this domain. One of its objectives was to summarize suicide-prevention activities in the prison systems. This study of the Task Force uncovered many differences between countries, although mental health professionals remain central in all suicide prevention activities. Inmate peer-support and correctional officers also play critical roles in suicide prevention but there is great variation in the involvement of outside community workers. These differences could be explained by the availability of resources, by the structure of the correctional and community services, but mainly by the different paradigms about suicide prevention. While there is a common and traditional paradigm that suicide prevention services are mainly offered to individuals by mental health services, correctional systems differ in the way they include (or not) other partners of suicide prevention: correctional officers, other employees, peer inmates, chaplains/priests, and community workers. Circumstances, history, and national cultures may explain such diversity but they might also depend on the basic way we think about suicide prevention at both individual and environmental levels.

scholarly journals Implementation of the goal-setting components in popular physical activity apps: Review and content analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 205520761986270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Baretta ◽  
Paulina Bondaronek ◽  
Artur Direito ◽  
Patrizia Steca
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Goal Setting ◽  
Action Planning ◽  
Rater Reliability ◽  
Scale Item ◽  
Goal Difficulty ◽  
Goal Specificity ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Item Scale

Objective Goal setting is an effective strategy to promote physical activity. Commercial apps that tackle physical activity often include goal setting; however, it is unknown whether the implementation of the goal-setting components is congruent with the theory. This study evaluated the quality of goal setting in popular free and paid physical activity apps by assessing the presence of effective goal-setting components. Methods A six-item scale was developed based on the goal-setting literature and used for coding each app for the presence/absence of goal-setting components (i.e. specificity, difficulty, action planning, timeframe, goal evaluation and goal re-evaluation). Cohen’s Kappa was used to evaluate inter-rater reliability for each scale item. The number of goal-setting components included in the 40 apps was calculated and the difference between free and paid apps was assessed. Results All scale items achieved satisfactory inter-rater reliability except ‘goal evaluation’. The most frequently included goal-setting components in popular physical activity apps were ‘goal specificity’ (95% of the apps) and ‘goal timeframe’ (67.5%). Conversely, only 47.5% and 25% of the apps implemented ‘action planning’ and ‘goal difficulty’, respectively, and none included ‘goal re-evaluation’. No differences emerged between free and paid apps. Conclusions The quality of the goal-setting strategy in popular physical activity apps could be improved by introducing components scarcely implemented to date. In particular, tailoring the goal difficulty to the users’ ability level and re-evaluating the goals based on achievements should be implemented to increase the quality of goal setting.

scholarly journals Measuring What Matters for Children: A Systematic Review of Frequently Used Pediatric Generic PRO Instruments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tasneem Arsiwala ◽  
Nuzhat Afroz ◽  
Kattayoun Kordy ◽  
Christel Naujoks ◽  
Francesco Patalano
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Research Practices ◽  
European Collaboration ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Good Research

Abstract Objective To provide an assessment of the quality of the most frequently used self-reported, generic patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) that measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children against the good research practices recommended by ISPOR task force for the pediatric population. Method Literature search was conducted on OvidSP database to identify the generic pediatric PROMs used in published clinical studies. The quality of PROMs used in more than ten clinical studies were descriptively evaluated against the ISPOR task force’s good research practices. Results Six PROMs were evaluated, namely Pediatric Quality-of-Life inventory 4.0 (PedsQL), Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ), KIDSCREEN, KINDL, DISABKIDS and Child Health and Illness Profile (CHIP). All PROMs, except KIDSCREEN, had versions for different age ranges. Domains of physical, social, emotional health and school activities were common across all the instruments, while domains of family activities, parent relations, independence, and self-esteem were not present in all. Children’s input was sought during the development process of PROMs. Likert scales were used in all the instruments, supplemented with faces (smileys) in instruments for children under 8 years. KIDSCREEN and DISABKIDS were developed in a European collaboration project considering the cross-cultural impact during development. Conclusion The comparison of the instruments highlights differences in the versions for different pediatric age groups. None of the PROMs fulfill all the good research practices recommended by the ISPOR task force. Further research is needed to define which age-appropriate domains are important for older children and adolescents.

Impacts on Quality of Life with Escitalopram Monotherapy and Aripiprazole Augmentation in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: A CAN-BIND Report

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Morton ◽  
Venkat Bhat ◽  
Peter Giacobbe ◽  
Wendy Lou ◽  
Erin E. Michalak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Treatment Phase ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Symptomatic Remission ◽  
Substantial Degree

Abstract Introduction Many individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) do not respond to initial antidepressant monotherapy. Adjunctive aripiprazole is recommended for treatment non-response; however, the impacts on quality of life (QoL) for individuals who receive this second-line treatment strategy have not been described. Methods We evaluated secondary QoL outcomes in patients with MDD (n=179). After 8 weeks of escitalopram, non-responders (<50% decrease in clinician-rated depression) were treated with adjunctive aripiprazole for 8 weeks (n=97); responders continued escitalopram (n=82). A repeated-measures ANOVA evaluated change in Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Short Form scores. QoL was described relative to normative benchmarks. Results Escitalopram responders experienced the most QoL improvements in the first treatment phase. For non-responders, QoL improved with a large effect during adjunctive aripiprazole treatment. At the endpoint, 47% of patients achieving symptomatic remission still had impaired QoL. Discussion Individuals who were treated with adjunctive aripiprazole after non-response to escitalopram experienced improved QoL, but a substantial degree of QoL impairment persisted. Since QoL deficits may predict MDD recurrence, attention to ways to support this outcome is required.

scholarly journals Understanding factors relevant to poor sleep and coping methods in people with schizophrenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yen-Ching Chang ◽  
Megan C. Chang ◽  
Yun-Jou Chang ◽  
Ming-De Chen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Coping Methods

Abstract Background Sleep disruption is pervasive in people with schizophrenia, but few studies have explored their sleep experiences. This study aims to identify factors relevant to sleep problems and explore coping methods used by community-dwelling people with schizophrenia. Methods Eighteen participants with schizophrenia were recruited from three mental health centers in Taiwan. They completed a semi-structured interview and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) assessment. The Person-Environment-Occupation model offered a framework to assess factors related to sleep. Thematic analysis was used for the qualitative data analysis. Results Factors related to sleep were classified under person, environment, and occupation domains. The person domain included three subthemes: psychiatric symptoms, unpleasant emotions, and frustration about sleep. The environment domain included three subthemes: sensory intrusions from the environment, quality of bedding, and roommates. The occupation domain included sleep interruption and sleep preparation. There were notable discrepancies in sleep quality between the participants’ narratives and their PSQI global scores. Regarding coping methods for poor sleep, sleep medication was the primary strategy while some participants also used other strategies, such as modifying the environment, adjusting routines, or engaging in activities that improve sleep quality. Conclusions Psychiatric symptoms and nightmares were identified as unique sleep disruptions in people with schizophrenia, and poor economic status was also found to impact their sleep. The sleep quality of people with schizophrenia tends to be poor, as identified by the PSQI, even though they may have positive perceptions of their sleep quality. Our participants appeared to prefer to take hypnotics to address their sleep problems, which may be due to limited knowledge about alternatives. Mental health professionals are encouraged to receive training in the application of non-pharmacological approaches to support their clients’ issues related to sleep.

scholarly journals A preliminary psychometric evaluation of Music in Dementia Assessment Scales (MiDAS)

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1011-1019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orii McDermott ◽  
Vasiliki Orgeta ◽  
Hanne Mette Ridder ◽  
Martin Orrell
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Music Therapy ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Psychometric Evaluation ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Rater Reliability ◽  
Assessment Scales

ABSTRACTBackground:Music in Dementia Assessment Scales (MiDAS), an observational outcome measure for music therapy with people with moderate to severe dementia, was developed from qualitative data of focus groups and interviews. Expert and peer consultations were conducted at each stage of the scale development to maximize its content validity. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of MiDAS.Methods:Care home residents with dementia attended weekly group music therapy for up to ten sessions. Music therapists and care home staff were requested to complete weekly MiDAS ratings. The Quality of Life Scale (QoL-AD) was completed at three time-points.Results:A total of 629 (staff = 306, therapist = 323) MiDAS forms were completed. The statistical analysis revealed that MiDAS has high therapist inter-rater reliability, low staff inter-rater reliability, adequate staff test-retest reliability, adequate concurrent validity, and good construct validity. High factor loadings between the five MiDAS Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) items, levels of Interest, Response, Initiation, Involvement, and Enjoyment, were found.Conclusions:This study indicates that MiDAS has good psychometric properties despite the small sample size. Future research with a larger sample size could provide a more in-depth psychometric evaluation, including further exploration of the underlying factors. MiDAS provides a measure of engagement with musical experience and offers insight into who is likely to benefit on other outcomes such as quality of life or reduction in psychiatric symptoms.

scholarly journals A RED modified weighted moving average for soft real-time application

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 697-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Domanśka ◽  
Adam Domański ◽  
Dariusz R. Augustyn ◽  
Jerzy Klamka
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Optimization Problem ◽  
Optimality Criterion ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Moving Average ◽  
Timing Constraints ◽  
Real Time Traffic ◽  
Real Time Application ◽  
Weighted Moving Average

Abstract The popularity of TCP/IP has resulted in an increase in usage of best-effort networks for real-time communication. Much effort has been spent to ensure quality of service for soft real-time traffic over IP networks. The Internet Engineering Task Force has proposed some architecture components, such as Active Queue Management (AQM). The paper investigates the influence of the weighted moving average on packet waiting time reduction for an AQM mechanism: the RED algorithm. The proposed method for computing the average queue length is based on a difference equation (a recursive equation). Depending on a particular optimality criterion, proper parameters of the modified weighted moving average function can be chosen. This change will allow reducing the number of violations of timing constraints and better use of this mechanism for soft real-time transmissions. The optimization problem is solved through simulations performed in OMNeT++ and later verified experimentally on a Linux implementation

A critical approach to trade-based money laundering

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 230-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melvin R.J. Soudijn
Keyword(s):  
Money Laundering ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Critical Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Traded Goods ◽  
True Value ◽  
Police Investigations ◽  
Financial Action Task

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to broaden the discussion on trade-based money laundering (TBML). The literature is too narrowly focused on the misrepresentation of the value, quantity or quality of the traded goods. This focus leads to the analysis of price anomalies as a signal of over- or under-invoicing. However, TBML can also occur without manipulation of these factors. Design/methodology/approach – A review of the literature and case study of police investigations. Findings – Financial action task force (FATF) definitions are seriously flawed. The question of whether detecting TBML on the basis of statistical trade data is effective should be much more open to debate. Police investigations show that goods are shipped at their true value within the context of TBML. Research limitations/implications – Using outliers to identify and act on cases of TBML has often been propagated, but scarcely been used to actually show TBML. Real findings are needed. Practical implications – Goods intended for TBML can also be paid for in cash. These cash payments are often out of character with the normal clientele. This should alert companies and compliance sections of banks alike. Originality/value – The critique on the FATF definition opens the field for a more fitting definition. The description of actual TBML cases makes it possible to better understand this method of money laundering.

Quality of service and commitment to tobacco dependence treatment for individuals living with mental disorders in France: A pilot study

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110429
Author(s):  
João M Castaldelli-Maia ◽  
Priscila D Gonçalves ◽  
Danielle R Lima ◽  
Helena F Moura ◽  
Gisèle Apter
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Quality Of Service ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Tobacco Dependence ◽  
Treatment Quality ◽  
Tobacco Treatment

Background: There are remarkably high smoking rates in patients living with mental disorders (PLWMD), and the absence of a specific treatment policy for smoking cessation for these patients worldwide. The present study aimed to (i) investigate the quality of service and commitment to tobacco dependence treatment, and (ii) produce high-quality French versions of the Index of Tobacco Treatment Quality (ITTQ) and Tobacco Treatment Commitment Scale (TTCS). Methods: ITTQ and TTCS were used to assess French mental health professionals ( n = 80). Both scales were translated from their original language following standard procedures (i.e. forward translation). Descriptive analysis for total score, each factor and item were calculated for the entire sample, followed by subgroup analysis by gender, and role of the practitioner. Results: Nurses presented higher levels of both treatment commitment and treatment quality in their mental health care units, compared to psychiatrists, and residents. Overall, counseling offering was low and there was a perception that it is unfair to take tobacco away from PLWMD. In the other hand, there were high levels of smoking assessment and perceptions that nicotine dependence should be included in drug treatment programs. Conclusions: There is a gap in tobacco treatment implementation for French PLWMD. The present pilot study alerts about the problem, and should stimulate larger studies validating such measures for wide use with French-speaking mental health professionals. French nurses presented higher levels of both treatment commitment and quality, and could be in a leadership position for such implementation. Encouraging the implementation of tobacco counseling within conventional mental health treatment is critical to improve cessation rates among this population. There is a potential for the sustainability of tobacco treatment interventions since the levels of commitment observed here were higher than in previous studies conducted abroad.

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