scholarly journals Availability and acceptability of home treatment for acute psychiatric disorders

2000 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 169-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Owen ◽  
S. P. Sashidharan ◽  
Lyse J. Edwards

Aims and MethodsTo ascertain current levels of access to home treatment for those with acute mental illness and future plans of trusts and purchasing authorities to provide such services. Also, to assess the attitudes of these organisations towards this form of treatment. A postal survey of all mental health trusts and purchasing authorities within the UK was carried out.ResultsOne hundred and seventy-two trusts and 82 health authorities returned questionnaires, representing a response rate of 75% and 67% respectively. Only 27 (16%) of trusts provided home treatment but 58 (40%) had plans to do so. All health authorities and 97% of trusts were in favour of the principle of providing home treatment.Clinical ImplicationsDespite the low levels of provision of home treatment trusts and health authorities were strongly in favourof it. There is likely to be a large increase in its availability over the next 12 months.

1996 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip J. Vaughan

A postal survey was conducted within four regional Health Authorities to ascertain how widely the supervision register had been applied in its first year of operation in adult mental health. A 72% response rate was achieved. The results showed that the register has been absorbed organisationally but is less accepted professionally. One hundred and nineteen of the 367 consultants in the sample (32%) had no entries on the register at 31st March 1995. The provision of training on its use had a significant effect on compliance, although London-based services had marginally less registrations per consultant than their colleagues elsewhere. Very few outside agencies had required access to the register.


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 370-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Luty ◽  
Joby Maducolil Easow ◽  
Vania Mendes

Aims and methodTackling discrimination, stigma and inequalities in mental health is a major objective of the UK government. The project aimed to determine the effect of presenting a person with a mental illness as having either a biological illness or a disorder that arose from psychosocial stress to a randomised representative panel of members of the general public. The 20-point Attitude to Mental Illness Questionnaire (AMIQ) was used to assess stigmatised attitudes.ResultsOverall, 187 individuals returned their questionnaires (74% response rate). The mean AMIQ stigma score for the ‘ill’ group was 1.4 (s.e. = 0.3; n = 94). The mean AMIQ score for the ‘stress’ group was 0.5 (s.e. = 0.3; median n = 106; P = 0.0837, median difference = 1; power (for 5% significance) 81%).Clinical implicationsThere was no difference in the stigmatised attitudes towards a person with mental illness regardless of whether they were presented as biologically ill or as having an illness that was a response to psychosocial stress.


2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 364-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. O'Keane ◽  
A. Jeffers ◽  
E. Moloney ◽  
S. Barry

Aims and MethodThe Irish Psychiatric Association conducted a national survey of psychiatric services in Ireland to examine clinical resources in relation to the relative affluence of catchment areas. A consultant psychiatrist from each catchment area was sent a postal survey form (August 2002) and the data received were cross-referenced with measures of relative affluence.ResultsThere was a 72% response rate. A negative relationship emerged between indices of need and both the number of acute beds and the number of consultant psychiatrists per head of the population.Clinical ImplicationsThe results of this survey indicate that clinical resources in mental health in Ireland are not concentrated in areas of greatest need, but paradoxically have been best developed in areas of greatest affluence.


2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 381-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Cormac ◽  
Drew Lindon ◽  
Hannah Jones ◽  
Trevor Gedeon ◽  
Michael Ferriter

Aims and methodA postal survey of forensic psychiatric facilities in England and Wales was undertaken to obtain information about the services provided for carers of in-patients within these services.ResultsForensic psychiatric services vary in the support and facilities provided for carers. Many do not comply with current legislation for carers. Most units informed carers of their rights to have an assessment, but only a minority provided facilities for carers from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds.Clinical implicationsForensic psychiatric services should meet standards for the involvement and support of carers in mental health settings, and comply with legislation for carers.


2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 130-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Mears ◽  
Tim Kendall ◽  
Cornelius Katona ◽  
Carole Pashley ◽  
Sarah Pajak

Aims and MethodThis survey gathered data on the retirement intentions of consultant psychiatrists over the age of 50 years, in order to address retention issues. A questionnaire was sent to all 1438 consultants over this age in the UK.ResultsA total of 848 questionnaires were returned, an adjusted response rate of 59%. The mean age at which consultants intended to retire in this sample was 60 years (s.d. 4.16), suggesting a potential loss of 5725 consultant years. Reasons for early retirement are complex: factors encouraging retirement include too much bureaucracy, lack of free time and heavy case-loads; those discouraging retirement include enjoyment of work, having a good team and money. Mental Health Officer status is an important determinant in the decision to retire early.Clinical ImplicationsWith numerous vacancies in consultant psychiatrist posts throughout the UK, premature retirement is a cause for concern, possibly contributing to an overall reduction in consultant numbers of 5%. Addressing factors that influence consultants' decisions to leave the health service early should form an important part of an overall strategy to increase consultant numbers.


2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (39) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Bernier ◽  
C Le Goaster ◽  
H Peigue-Lafeuille ◽  
D Floret

In France, almost 23,000 cases of measles and 10 deaths have been reported between January 2008 and August 2012. French health authorities recommend delivery of human polyvalent immunoglobulins in the event of exposure to a measles case for some categories of unvaccinated persons (children under the age of 12 months, immunocompromised persons and pregnant women), within six days after exposure and following laboratory confirmation of the contact case. We carried out a postal survey among 368 French hospital pharmacies to evaluate the number of persons affected by this measure between 1 January 2010 and 31 August 2011, to describe the characteristics of these patients and to evaluate the application of the recommendations in terms of delay between exposure and immunoglobulin delivery, and confirmation of the contact case. The response rate to the survey was 73%. In total, 400 immunoglobulin deliveries were listed, most of them for children under the age of one year, and 84% of the 250 administrations with available information occurred within six days after exposure, as recommended. However, only 48% of the 209 treated contacts with available information were laboratory-confirmed when the immunoglobulins were delivered. This survey is the first evaluation of this recommendation since its introduction in 2005 and suggests that the recommendations may need to be updated.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 156-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuwan Galappathie ◽  
Sobia Tamim Khan ◽  
Amina Hussain

Aims and methodTo evaluate differences between male patients in secure psychiatric settings in the UK based on whether they are detained under civil or forensic sections of the Mental Health Act 1983. A cohort of patients discharged from a secure psychiatric hospital were evaluated for length of stay and frequency of risk-related incidents.ResultsOverall, 84 patients were included in the study: 52 in the forensic group and 32 in the civil group. Civil patients had more frequent incidents of aggression, sex offending, fire-setting and vulnerability, whereas forensic patients had more frequent episodes of self-harm.Clinical implicationsSecure hospitals should ensure treatment programmes are tailored to each patient's needs. Civil patients require greater emphasis on treatment of their mental illness, whereas forensic patients have additional offence-related treatment needs. Regular liaison between forensic and general adult services is essential to help ensure patients can return to appropriate settings at the earliest opportunity in their recovery.


1998 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
David N Cox ◽  
Annie S Anderson ◽  
Michael EJ Lean ◽  
David J Mela

AbstractObjective:To assess attitudes, predictors of intention, and identify perceived barriers to increasing fruit and vegetable (F&V) intakes.Design:UK nationwide postal survey utilizing the theory of planned behaviour.Subjects:Stratified (by social class and region) random sample of 2020 UK adults providing a modest response rate of 37% (n = 741).Results:Belief measures (e.g. health, cost, taste, etc.) were strongly associated with overall attitudes which were reported as being largely favourable towards fruit, vegetables and, to a lesser extent, vegetable dishes, and were strongly associated with reported intention to increase consumption. Subjects reported they could increase their consumption, but this was only weakly associated with intention to do so. Approximately 50% of respondents reported an intention to increase intakes. Social pressure was strongly associated with reported intention to increase; however, scores indicated low perceived social pressure to change. Evidence of unrealistic optimism concerning perceived intakes and the perceived high cost of fruit may also act as barriers.Conclusions:Results from this study suggest a lack of perceived social pressure to increase F&V intakes and suggests that public health efforts require stronger and broader health messages that incorporate consumer awareness of low present consumption.


2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Littlewood ◽  
P. Case ◽  
R. Gater ◽  
C. Lindsey

Aims and MethodA postal survey was sent to all consultant child and adolescent psychiatrists in the UK and Eire examining recruitment, retention, job satisfaction and job stress.ResultsA response was received from 333 (60%) child and adolescent psychiatrists. Sixty-one per cent indicated their service was inadequately resourced and 89% reported that their service failed to meet the College's minimum staffing requirements. Safe access to in-patient beds was not available to 71%. One hundred and thirty vacant posts were identified. Rates of psychological distress and burnout were high. Adequate services and the presence of a close, supportive colleague were associated with higher rates of satisfaction and lower rates of psychological distress and emotional exhaustion.Clinical ImplicationsA multi-faceted approach is suggested and recommendations are described under the headings of self-management, training, recruitment and commissioning.


2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Law-Min ◽  
John Patrick Stephens

Aims and MethodThe aim of this study was to seek the views of consultant psychiatrists on the legal framework they would use when considering treatment with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). A questionnaire, consisting of three clinical vignettes, was sent to 70 consultants in the Wessex rotation (East Dorset/Hampshire region).ResultsA total of 56 questionnaires were returned; a response rate of 80%. Most consultant psychiatrists agree when giving ECT to capacitated and non-consenting patients. However, there was a lack of consensus when dealing with seemingly incapacitated but compliant patients.Clinical ImplicationsMore clarification in this area is needed. Trusts can assist clinicians by devising their own policies based on nationally agreed standards of best practice. The treatment of mentally incapacitated but compliant patients is an area of practice where uncertainty exists. If proceeding under common law in such cases, it is good practice to discuss with relatives/carers and obtain a second opinion from a consultant colleague. The most recent Bournewood judgement and the new Mental Health Bill will have further implications for clinical practice.


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