scholarly journals Who is watching them? A study of the interpretation of the observation policy in a mental health unit

1993 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 478-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine M. Hodgson ◽  
Joanne Kennedy ◽  
Paloma Ruiz ◽  
Michael Langenbach ◽  
Steve Moorhead ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Clinical Staff ◽  
Formal Structure ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Specific Training ◽  
Acute Psychiatric Wards ◽  
Mental Health Unit

Observation levels are widely used in the management of acutely disturbed psychiatric patients (Shugar & Rehaluk, 1990). Although clinicians are involved in decisions about observation levels, there is rarely any specific training and very little formal structure to the decision making process. We report a survey of the views and knowledge of clinical staff regarding observation levels. Questionnaires were sent to all the nurses of the six acute psychiatric wards in the Nottingham Mental Health Unit, and all the doctors involved in the care of patients on these wards.

PP142 A Mental Health Hospital-based Health Technology Assessment In Quebec, Canada: Structure And Products

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 137-138
Author(s):  
Ionela Gheorghiu ◽  
Alain Lesage ◽  
Adam Mongodin ◽  
Marlène Galdin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Literature Search ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Decision Making Process

INTRODUCTION:Our Hospital-based Health Technology Assessment unit (HB-HTA) was founded in 2011 following the nomination of Louis-H. Lafontaine hospital as the Montreal University Mental Health Institute (IUSMM). From the beginning, the HB-HTA has been supporting and advising the Chief Executive Officer of IUSMM in the decision-making process concerning the implementation of new technologies and practices in mental health. Since 2015, the HB-HTA is part of the East of Montreal Regional Integrated Health and Social Services Centre (CIUSSS de l'Est-de-l’Île de Montréal), continuing to support decisions in mental health. Currently, the HB-HTA unit is nested in the Quality, Performance and Ethics department.METHODS:Formed by a coordinator, a scientific advisor and a manager, the HB-HTA team plans, organizes and sets up the evaluation activities. The unit benefits from the support of a Steering Committee which consists of representatives of clinical, administrative and research directions, as well as of health users and families. This committee determine the strategic orientation of the HB-HTA unit, prioritize the projects, approves the evaluation products and gives indications on the knowledge transfer process.RESULTS:To answer the decision questions, our HB-HTA unit employs two types of products: evaluation reports and informative notes. Based on an exhaustive literature search and consultations with stakeholders, the evaluation reports offer recommendations to support the decision-making process. The informative notes are rapid responses based on a partial literature search. The nature of this type of analysis does not allow the formulation of recommendations, however, a conclusion of the consulted literature is offered.CONCLUSIONS:Based on the work of our HB-HTA unit, some important decisions were made by the IUSMM. As an example, the systematic screening of psychiatric patients for drug and alcohol was not favored by our institution; rather than this, priority was given to staff training, in order to better identify and treat psychiatric patients with substance abuse comorbidity.

Somatic comorbidity of patients attending a mental health unit studying their consultation to an emergency department in the previous year

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 554-554
Author(s):  
P. Martínez Gómez ◽  
L. Vigo Santamariña ◽  
J. Portillo Díez ◽  
J. Brenlla González
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Outpatient Mental Health ◽  
Surgical Services ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Somatic Comorbidity ◽  
Psychiatric Units ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions ◽  
Mental Health Unit

IntroductionIt is interesting to note somatic comorbidity of psychiatric patients that attend an outpatient Mental Health Unit (MHU). In medical literature there are few studies that reflect which diseases make these patients go to an Emergency Room (ER).ObjectivesTo determine the percentage of patients presenting to an ER in the year prior to psychiatric consultation in a MHU, noting which is the most common assitance and the differences regarding sex, age and marital status.MethodsRetrospective and descriptive study of ER assistances at the Hospital Clínico de Santiago in the previous year of patients attending our MHU. Time period: from February 1st 2010 to August 31th 2010. Once collected the data, these are analyzed using the Excel 2008 Statistical Package for Mac.ResultsFrom 577 patients studied (68.3% women), 224 had gone at least once to the ER in the last year (72.3% women): 19.6% consulted for psychiatric conditions and 80.4% for somatic causes. Among the predominant somatic complaints we found musculoskeletal causes (24.4%), cardiovascular (8.8%), respiratory (9.4%) and gynecological (2.7%). 3% of them were hospitalized in medical or surgical services and 3% in psychiatric units. There was not statistically significant differences regarding their age. Married and divorced patients went to the ER more than bachelors or widowers.ConclusionsProfile of the studied patient: “Woman, 53 years old, married, user of an outpatient MHU and that has consulted at least once in the last year to an ER due to musculoeskeletal cause.”

Descriptive Study of Adjustment Disorders in a Mental Health Unit.

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S607-S607
Author(s):  
L. González ◽  
B. Pecino ◽  
C. Gomez ◽  
M. Anibarro ◽  
C. Ortigosa
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Care Physician ◽  
Psychiatric Evaluation ◽  
Adjustment Disorders ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Social Difficulties ◽  
Current Employment Status ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Mental Health Unit

IntroductionAdjustment disorders are a common psychiatric disorder in primary care and mental health units, with point prevalence estimates ranging from 0.9% to 2.3%. These disorders have been recently defined as a stress response syndrome in the fifth edition of the DSM, causing emotional and social difficulties and also a large economic burden on society.ObjectivesThe aim of this descriptional study was to analyse the socio-demographic characteristics and treatment of the patients diagnosed with adjustment disorders in the first visit in a mental health unit.MethodsThe study sample consisted of 128 patients admitted for a psychiatric consultation in a mental health unit in Alicante (Spain) from their primary care physician, between February and July 2016. Variables of gender, age, current employment status, diagnosis and treatment were measured. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software.ResultsThe data from 31 patients who were diagnosed with adjustment disorders meant a 24% of the sample. The median age was 47 years old in the adjustment disorders group. Among those with adjustment disorders, 61% were women, and 52% of them were unemployed. Almost 60% of them had at least one pychotropic prescription and only 22% were derived to psychology.ConclusionsAdjustment disorders are considered as an intermediate category between no mental disorder and affective disorders. Most authors recommend to start with a psychotherapeutic intervention. Despite starting with medication has not proved effectiveness in the studies, most of the patients had at least one psychotropic prescription before the psychiatric evaluation.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Prevalence of housing needs among inpatients: a 1 year audit of housing needs in the acute mental health unit in Tallaght Hospital

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Cowman ◽  
P. Whitty
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychiatric Hospitals ◽  
Numerical Data ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Psychiatric Unit ◽  
Nursing Managers ◽  
Housing Needs ◽  
Delayed Discharges ◽  
Number Of Discharges ◽  
Mental Health Unit

ObjectiveThere is a dearth of information relating to the prevalence of housing needs among psychiatric in-patients in Ireland. Most of the information we have to date emerged as a result of attempts to plan for the closure of old psychiatric hospitals and inappropriate community residences. This study sought to identify the prevalence of housing needs among in-patients in the acute psychiatric unit in Tallaght Hospital.MethodsEach week, over a 12-month period, nursing managers and/or key nurses who knew the patients well were asked for numerical data. Information was collected on the numbers of in-patients with accommodation needs, number of delayed discharges due to accommodation needs and number of discharges to homeless accommodation in the previous week.ResultsOn average, 38% of in-patients had accommodation related needs at any one time. Most (98%) of delayed discharges had accommodation related needs. Delayed discharge in-patients with accommodation needs accounted for 28% of all inpatients and for 72% of all inpatients with accommodation related needs.ConclusionsAccommodation need among psychiatric in-patients is underreported. Housing need data should be routinely collected and effective interagency strategies developed to address housing needs.

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