Patients' and Staff Members' Attitudes About the Rights of Hospitalized Psychiatric Patients

2002 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Roe ◽  
Daniel J. N. Weishut ◽  
Moshe Jaglom ◽  
Jonathan Rabinowitz
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Staff Members

Should severely disturbed psychiatric patients be distributed or concentrated in specialized wards? An empirical study on the effects of hospital organization on ward atmosphere, aggressive behavior, and sexual molestation

1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 291-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.P. Gebhardt ◽  
T. Steinert
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Integration Policy ◽  
Hospital Organization ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Ward Atmosphere ◽  
Sexual Molestation ◽  
The Impact

SummaryThis study examines whether ward atmosphere, aggressive behavior, and sexual molestation will change after severely disturbed patients have been distributed over several wards determined by their place of residence, instead of concentrating them in locked single-sex wards. Four wards for predominantly psychotic patients were investigated with the German version of the Ward Atmosphere Scale (WAS), and some further questions about the observation of aggressive behavior and sexual molestation once before and twice after internal sectorisation, partial ward opening, and mixing the sexes were asked. Questionnaires (345: 162 staff members, 183 patients) were evaluated. After the structural changes, a significant improvement of ward atmosphere and a reduction of aggressive behavior was found on average in all wards, whereas the impact on sexual molestation remained unclear. Internal sectorisation and sex integration policy, resulting in distributing rather than concentrating severely disturbed patients, have beneficial effects on the social climate of acute wards.

scholarly journals Psychiatry during the Covid-19 pandemic: a survey on mental health departments in Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernardo Carpiniello ◽  
◽  
Massimo Tusconi ◽  
Enrico Zanalda ◽  
Guido Di Sciascio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Levels Of Care ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Set Up

Abstract Background To date, very few nationwide studies addressing the way in which mental health services are addressing the current pandemics have been published. The present paper reports data obtained from a survey relating to the Italian mental health system conducted during the first phase of the Covid-19 epidemic. Methods Two online questionnaires regarding Community Mental Health Centres (CMHC) and General Hospital Psychiatric Wards (GHPW), respectively, were sent to the Heads of all Italian Mental Health Departments (MHDs). Statistical analysis was carried out by means of Chi Square test with Yates correction or the Fisher Exact test, as needed. Results Seventy-one (52.9%) of the 134 MHDs and 107 (32.6%) of the 318 GHPWs returned completed questionnaires. Less than 20% of CMHCs were closed and approx. 25% had introduced restricted access hours. A substantial change in the standard mode of operation in CMHCs was reported with only urgent psychiatric interventions, compulsory treatments and consultations for imprisoned people continuing unchanged. All other activities had been reduced to some extent. Remote contacts with users had been set up in about 75% of cases. Cases of COVID positivity were reported for both staff members (approx. 50% of CHMCs) and service users (52% of CHMCs). 20% of CMHCs reported cases of increased aggressiveness or violence among community patients, although only 8.6% relating to severe cases. Significant problems emerged with regard to the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff members. A reduced number of GHPWs (− 12%), beds (approx.-30%) and admissions were registered (87% of GHPWs). An increase in compulsory admissions and the rate of violence towards self or others among inpatients was reported by 8% of GHPWs. Patient swabs were carried out in 50% of GHPWs. 60% of GHPWs registered the admission to general COVID-19 Units of symptomatic COVID+ non-severe psychiatric patients whilst COVID+ severe psychiatric patients who were non-collaborative were admitted to specifically set up “COVID-19” GHPWs or to isolated areas of the wards purposely adapted for the scope. Conclusions The pandemic has led to a drastic reduction in levels of care, which may produce a severe impact on the mental health of the population in relation to the consequences of the expected economic crisis and of the second ongoing wave of the pandemic.

scholarly journals Evaluating patients and healthcare professionals' understanding of voting rights for patients in government elections

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S301-S301
Author(s):  
Mark Winchester ◽  
Madiha Majid ◽  
Ashok Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Voting Rights ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Right To Vote

AimsTo understand whether mental health patients vote in government electionsTo ascertain the barriers that prevent them from doing soTo explore ways in which mental health services can support patients to voteTo determine whether mental health staff are aware of patients’ right to voteBackgroundMembers of Parliament (MPs) can influence decisions regarding the National Health Service (NHS) and mental health legislation. The general election on 12th December 2019 highlighted that many patients were not using their democratic right to vote. It also appeared that many staff members were not aware that patients under the Mental Health Act (MHA) were entitled to vote (except for those under ‘forensic’ sections of the MHA). We therefore conducted a survey to ascertain both patient and staff understanding of their democratic rights and to better understand how we could increase the rate of voting amongst psychiatric patients.MethodTwo questionnaires were produced, one for patients and the other for staff members. This was tested by the clinical governance team before approval was granted. Data were collected at the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust in the form of paper forms or electronically through a survey website. Forty-two patients and twenty-five staff members responded.ResultNo staff members had received formal training with regards to patients’ right to vote. Over half of staff members incorrectly believed that patients under Section 2 or 3 of the MHA and those lacking capacity couldn't vote. More than half of the team members surveyed stated that they had not supported patients in registering or casting a vote. Roughly one third of healthcare professionals felt that it was their responsibility to promote patients’ right to vote, with one third disagreeing and the remaining third unsure.Over 75% of patients did not vote but less than one quarter of all patients surveyed felt support from mental health services would increase the likelihood of them voting. The main barriers to voting were being mentally unwell, hospital admission or a lack of knowledge on the candidates and election process.ConclusionBasic training is required to improve staff knowledge of patients’ voting rights, which should help improve their ability to support patients to vote. Trusts should have a clear protocol in place in the event of future elections, with information on who can vote, how to request a postal vote and the candidates in that area.

Evaluation of Progressive Relaxation Training with Adult Psychiatric Patients

1978 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Schlamp
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Program ◽  
Relaxation Training ◽  
Teaching Method ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Progressive Relaxation ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Progressive Relaxation Training ◽  
The University

This paper describes Progressive Relaxation Training (PRT) which was introduced as part of the treatment program for psychiatric patients at the University of Alberta Hospital. The program was initiated and conducted through the combined efforts of Occupational Therapy and Psychology staff members. This article takes into account indications for treatment and the teaching method used. An evaluation of the program examines the results of evaluation questionnaires completed immediately after the PRT session and the results of a follow-up study which was conducted on the first fifteen patients who completed the training sessions. Six weeks to six months after completing the training session, two-thirds of the patients reported that they continued to receive some benefit in using their PRT skills to control muscular tension and to help them cope with difficulties in daily living. These preliminary results are encouraging and suggest that PRT can be an effective treatment program. Such a program certainly deserves further study and refinements.

scholarly journals QI project: Improving the discharge advice from functional old age psychiatry wards for the monitoring of lithium and antipsychotic medication in the community

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S206-S206
Author(s):  
Amy Mathews ◽  
Nicole Needham
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Antipsychotic Medication ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Medication Monitoring ◽  
Discharge Letter ◽  
Discharged Patients ◽  
Old Age Psychiatry

AimsNICE guidelines and Maudsley prescribing guidelines both stipulate that patients over the age of 65 prescribed lithium or antipsychotic medication should have their bloods and physical parameters monitored regularly. There is currently no provision from the community mental health teams in Edinburgh to provide this monitoring, which falls to the patients GP. Following an initial data collection, it was found that there was no monitoring advice being provided on immediate discharge letters (IDLs) for patients discharged from two functional old age psychiatry inpatient wards at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. This patient group often have comorbid medical conditions and therefore monitoring of their psychotropic medication is especially important. The aim of the QI project was for 100% of patients discharged from thesewards on lithium or antipsychotic medication to have appropriate advice documented on their immediate discharge letter (IDL) with regards to medication monitoring.MethodData were collected monthly by reviewing the notes of all discharged patients to determine the frequency at which medication monitoring advice was documented on IDLs from the two wards. A proposed new template for discharge letters which included advice on medication monitoring was discussed and agreed with the old age psychiatry team in Edinburgh. This was disseminated to the appropriate medical staff members and was included in induction packs for junior doctors. Following this a new “canned text” template was implemented to automatically populate the discharge letter with advice depending on whether they were antipsychotics/lithium/neither.ResultIDLs for 91 patients discharged between May 2020 and February 2021 were reviewed. Baseline data showed that 0% of patients (n = 15) had appropriate monitoring advice documented on their IDL. Following initial introduction of monitoring advice to the induction pack for junior doctors, the mean frequency of completed advice on IDLs was 50.9% across 6 months. Following implementation of the canned text, the frequency of completed advice on discharge letters for February 2021 was 100% (n = 7).ConclusionThis QI project has been successful in improving the rate of appropriate advice for antipsychotic and lithium monitoring being provided on immediate discharge letters. It is hoped that this will help reduce adverse effects associated with antipsychotics and lithium in older psychiatric patients. Further work could be done on determining the frequency that the advised monitoring is being carried out.

scholarly journals Psychiatry during the Covid-19 Pandemic: a survey on Mental Health Departments in Italy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernardo Carpiniello ◽  
Massimo Tusconi ◽  
Enrico Zanalda ◽  
Guido Di Sciascio
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
Mental Health Systems ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background To date, very little knowledge is available with regard to the way in which mental health systems worldwide are facing the current global health emergency. The present paper reports the data emerging from a survey conducted to study the impact of the current emergency on the functioning of the Italian Departments of Mental Health (MHD).Methods Heads of MHDs received a 40-item multiple choice questionnaire relating to Community Mental Health Centres (CMHC) and related facilities, and a 30-item questionnaire focused on General Hospital Psychiatric Wards (GHPW). Statistical analysis was carried out by means of Chi Square test with Yates correction or the Fisher Exact test, as needed.Results: 71 questionnaires returned from the 134 MHDs (52.9%) and 107 of the 318 (32.6%) GHPWs. Less than 20%of CMHCs have been closed; approximately 25% have restricted access hours. The usual mode of operation in CMHCs changed substantially. Urgent psychiatric consultations are continuing as usual, in the same way as interventions for compulsory treatments, and prison consultations. All other activities have been reduced to some extent. Remote contacts with users have been set up in approx. 75% of cases. Cases of COVID positivity were reported amongst both staff members (approx. 50 % of CHMCs), and facility users (52% of CHMCs). 20% of CMHCs reported cases of increased aggressiveness or violence, among community patients, although only 8.6% regarding severe cases. Major issues in the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff members were reported. A reduced number of GHPWs (-12%), beds (approx.-30%) and of admissions was registered (87% of GHPWs). 8% of GHPWs reported an increase in compulsory admissions, and an increased rate of violence toward self or others among inpatients. Patient swabs were carried out in 50% of GHPWs. 60% of GHPWs have reported the admission of symptomatic, COVID+ psychiatric patients to General COVID-19 Units; severely ill and non-collaborative COVID+ patients are generally admitted to specific “COVID-19” GHPWs, or to purpose-adapted isolated areas of the wards. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has heralded a radical change in the mental health system of Italy, and a consequent series of challenging issues.

The consolidation of microscopy technology into a university research support facility: Reflections on the 1980's and projections for the 1990's at the university of iowa

1993 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
pp. 476-477
Author(s):  
Kenneth C. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Freeze Substitution ◽  
Research Support ◽  
University Of Iowa ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
The Past ◽  
Research Grade ◽  
The University ◽  
Support Facility

The University of Iowa Central Electron Microscopy Research Facility(CEMRF) was established in 1981 to support all faculty, staff and students needing this technology. Initially the CEMRF was operated with one TEM, one SEM, three staff members and supported about 30 projects a year. During the past twelve years, the facility has replaced all instrumentation pre-dating 1981, and now includes 2 TEM's, 2 SEM's, 2 EDS systems, cryo-transfer specimen holders for both TEM and SEM, 2 parafin microtomes, 4 ultamicrotomes including cryoultramicrotomy, a Laser Scanning Confocal microscope, a research grade light microscope, an Ion Mill, film and print processing equipment, a rapid cryo-freezer, freeze substitution apparatus, a freeze-fracture/etching system, vacuum evaporators, sputter coaters, a plasma asher, and is currently evaluating scanning probe microscopes for acquisition. The facility presently consists of 10 staff members and supports over 150 projects annually from 44 departments in 5 Colleges and 10 industrial laboratories. One of the unique strengths of the CEMRF is that both Biomedical and Physical scientists use the facility.

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