Factors associated with adherence to pharmaceutical treatment for rheumatoid arthritis patients: a systematic review.

Objectives: To identify factors associated with adherence to medication for rheumatoid arthritis or undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis using a systematic literature search.

Methods: PubMed, PsycINFO, EMbase and CINAHL databases were systematically searched from inception to February 2011. Articles were included if they addressed medication adherence, used a reproducible definition, determinants and its statistical relationship.

Systematic monitoring and treatment of physical symptoms to alleviate fatigue in patients with advanced cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Several guidelines on the treatment of cancer-related fatigue recommend optimizing treatment of accompanying symptoms. However, evidence for this recommendation from randomized clinical trials is lacking. We investigated whether monitoring and protocolized treatment of physical symptoms alleviates fatigue.

The effect of aortic valve replacement on quality of life in symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Background: Although symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis have a high disease burden and guidelines recommend aortic valve replacement, many are treated conservatively. This study describes to what extent quality of life is changed by aortic valve replacement relative to conservative treatment.

Methods: This observational study followed 132 symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis who were subjected to an SF-36v2TM Health Survey.

Quality of life among patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Background: The disease burden of patients with severe aortic stenosis is not often explored, while the incidence is increasing and many patients who have an indication for aortic valve replacement are not referred for surgery. We studied the quality of life of 191 patients with severe aortic stenosis, hypothesising that symptomatic patients have a far worse quality of life than the general population, which could enforce the indication for surgery.

Methods: The SF-36v2 Health Survey was completed by 191 consecutive patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis.

Measurement properties of the EQ-5D-5L compared to the EQ-5D-3L across eight patient groups: a multi-country study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the measurement properties of the 5-level classification system of the EQ-5D (5L), in comparison with the 3-level EQ-5D (3L).

Methods: Participants (n = 3,919) from six countries, including eight patient groups with chronic conditions (cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, depression, diabetes, liver disease, personality disorders, arthritis, and stroke) and a student cohort, completed the 3L and 5L and, for most participants, also dimension-specific rating scales. The 3L and 5L were compared in terms of feasibility (missing values), redistribution properties, ceiling, discriminatory power, convergent validity, and known-groups validity.

The Prevention Of WEight Regain in diabetes type 2 (POWER) study: the effectiveness of adding a combined psychological intervention to a very low calorie diet, design and pilot data of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Obesity is of major pathogenetic importance to type 2 diabetes, it contributes to poor glycemic control and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Over 80% of patients with diabetes type 2 are overweight. To achieve a more favourable risk profile, changes in diet and lifestyle are needed.

[Can staging and profiling ensure that the costs of quality care are adequately reimbursed?].

Background: The current system for financing effective mental health can improve or reduce the quality of care provided. The system of financing includes reimbursing the care-provider, a risk-adjustment system for the health insurer and personal payments by the patient. Care-providers, patients and health insurers are worried that the current system is detrimental to quality care.

Predicting the outcome of a cognitive-behavioral group training for patients with unexplained physical symptoms: a one-year follow-up study.

Background: Although Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is effective for Unexplained Physical Symptoms (UPS), some therapists in clinical practice seem to believe that CBT outcome will diminish if psychiatric comorbidity is present. The result is that patients with a psychiatric comorbidity are redirected from treatment for UPS into treatment for mental health problems. To explore whether this selection and allocation are appropriate, we explored whether CBT outcomes in UPS could be predicted by variables assessed at baseline and used in routine-practice assessments.

Living donor kidney transplantation among ethnic minorities in the Netherlands: a model for breaking the hurdles.

Objective: Despite living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) being the optimal treatment option for patients with end-stage renal disease, we observed a significant inequality in the number of LDKT performed between patients of Dutch versus non-Dutch descent. We conducted a focus group study to explore modifiable hurdles to LDKT.

Methods: Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted among 50 end-stage renal patients.

Training memory self-efficacy in the chronic stage after stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Stroke patients with a low memory self-efficacy (MSE) report more memory complaints than patients with a high MSE.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a memory-training program on MSE in the chronic phase after stroke and to identify which patients benefit most from the MSE training program.

Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, the effectiveness of the MSE training program (experimental group) was compared with a peer support program (control group) in chronic stroke patients.

Effective group training for patients with unexplained physical symptoms: a randomized controlled trial with a non-randomized one-year follow-up.

Background: Although cognitive-behavioral therapy for Unexplained Physical Symptoms (UPS) is effective in secondary care, studies done in primary care produced implementation problems and conflicting results. We evaluated the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral group training tailored to primary care patients and provided by a secondary community mental-health service reaching out into primary care.

Methodology/principal Findings: The effectiveness of this training was explored in a randomized controlled trial.

Interim scoring for the EQ-5D-5L: mapping the EQ-5D-5L to EQ-5D-3L value sets.

Background: A five-level version of the EuroQol five-dimensional (EQ-5D) descriptive system (EQ-5D-5L) has been developed, but value sets based on preferences directly elicited from representative general population samples are not yet available. The objective of this study was to develop values sets for the EQ-5D-5L by means of a mapping ("crosswalk") approach to the currently available three-level version of the EQ-5D (EQ-5D-3L) values sets.

Methods: The EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L descriptive systems were coadministered to respondents with conditions of varying severity to ensure a broad range of levels of health across EQ-5D questionnaire dimensions.

The burden of disease among adolescents with personality pathology: quality of life and costs.

In adults, personality disorders are associated with a low quality of life and high societal costs. To explore whether these findings also apply to adolescents, 131 adolescent patients were recruited from a mental health care institute in The Netherlands. Axis I and Axis II disorders were diagnosed using semi-structured interviews.

Treatment outcome of 18-month, day hospital mentalization-based treatment (MBT) in patients with severe borderline personality disorder in the Netherlands.

Psychoanalytically oriented day hospital therapy, later manualized and named mentalization-based treatment (MBT), has proven to be a (cost-) effective treatment for patients with severe borderline personality disorder and a high degree of psychiatric comorbidity (BPD) in the United Kingdom (UK). As to yet it has not been shown whether manualized day hospital MBT would yield similar results when conducted by an independent institute outside the UK. We investigated the applicability and treatment outcome of 18-month, manualized day hospital MBT in the Netherlands by means of a prospective cohort study with 45 Dutch patients with severe BPD and a high degree of comorbid Axis I and Axis II disorders.

In search of patient characteristics that may guide empirically based treatment selection for personality disorder patients-a concept map approach.

Using the concept map method, this study aimed to summarize and describe patient characteristics pertinent to treatment selection for patients with personality disorders (PDs). Initial patient characteristics were derived from the research literature and a survey among Dutch expert clinicians. Concept mapping is a formalized conceptualization procedure that describes the underlying cognitive structures people use in complex tasks, such as treatment allocation.

Multisystemic engagement and nephrology based educational intervention: a randomized controlled trial protocol on the KidneyTteam At Home study.

Background: Living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) is the most successful form of renal replacement therapy in terms of wait time and survival rates. However, we observed a significant inequality in the number of LDKT performed between the Dutch and the non-Dutch patients. The objective of this study is to adapt, implement and test an educational home-based intervention to contribute to the reduction of this inequality.

The implementation of mentalization-based treatment for adolescents: a case study from an organizational, team and therapist perspective.

Background: Reports on problems encountered in the implementation of complex interventions are scarce in psychotherapy literature. This is remarkable given the inherent difficulties of such enterprises and the associated safety risks for patients involved.

Case Description: A case study of the problematic implementation process of Mentalization- Based Treatment for Adolescents (MBT-A), a new therapy for 14 to 18 year old youngsters with severe personality disorders, is presented.

Pregnancy and liver adenoma management: PALM-study.

Background: Hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) in pregnant women requires special considerations because of the risk of hormone induced growth and spontaneous rupture, which may threaten the life of both mother and child. Due to scarcity of cases there is no evidence-based algorithm for the evaluation and management of HCA during pregnancy. Most experts advocate that women with HCA should not get pregnant or advise surgical resection before pregnancy.

Impact of secondary cardiovascular events on health status.

Objectives: Estimates regarding the impact of secondary cardiovascular events on health status in patients treated for cardiovascular disease are scarce and of limited accuracy.

Methods: We obtained individual patient data on health status (EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire) and secondary cardiovascular events (death, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accidents, amputation, extracranial bleeding, and reinterventions) observed during 12 to 36 months of follow-up. Data originated from five completed clinical trials on revascularization in coronary heart disease (n = 2593) or peripheral arterial disease (PAD; n = 1379).

Prevalence and comorbidity of axis I and axis II disorders among treatment refractory adolescents admitted for specialized psychotherapy.

Research shows that approximately half of the adolescents in a clinical setting suffer from a personality disorder (PD). This finding has not yet been replicated in Europe. To test whether this finding also applies to Europe, structured diagnostic interviews for both Axis I and Axis II disorders were used in 257 adolescents who were admitted to a highly specialized mental health setting in The Netherlands.

Effectively working on rehabilitation goals: 24-month outcome of a randomized controlled trial of the Boston psychiatric rehabilitation approach.

Objective: To investigate the effect of the Boston Psychiatric Rehabilitation (PR) Approach on attainment of personal rehabilitation goals, social functioning, empowerment, needs for care, and quality of life in people with severe mental illness (SMI) in the Netherlands.

Method: A 24-month, multicentre, randomized controlled trial was used to compare the results of PR to care as usual (CAU). Patients with SMI were randomly assigned by a central randomization centre to PR (n = 80) or CAU (n = 76).

Solution focused therapy: a promising new tool in the management of fatigue in Crohn's disease patients psychological interventions for the management of fatigue in Crohn's disease.

Background: Crohn's disease patients have a decreased Quality of Life (QoL) which is in part due to extreme fatigue. In a pilot study we prospectively assessed the feasibility and effect of psychological interventions in the management of fatigue.

Methods: Patients with quiescent Crohn's disease and a high fatigue score according to the Checklist Individual Strength were randomized to Problem Solving Therapy (PST), Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) or to a control group (treatment as usual, TAU).

[Parents with severe mental illness. Epidemiological data].

Background: It is becoming increasingly clear that people with severe mental illness (SMI) are in need of support with parenting. So far, however, little is known about how many persons fall into this category.

Aim: To estimate how many SMI patients aged 18 to 65 are parents with children and how many need help with parenting.

Psychological factors affecting the outcome of total hip and knee arthroplasty: a systematic review.

Objectives: Recently, numerous studies have reported that psychological factors can influence the outcome of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, a systematic overview is missing. The objective of this study was to examine which psychological factors influence the outcome of TKA and THA and to what extent.

Relationship between patient characteristics and treatment allocation for patients with personality disorders.

Within a large multi-center study in patients with personality disorders, we investigated the relationship between patient characteristics and treatment allocation. Personality pathology, symptom distress, treatment history, motivational factors, and sociodemographics were measured at intake in 923 patients, who subsequently enrolled in short-term or long-term outpatient, day hospital, or inpatient psychotherapy for personality pathology. Logistic regressions were used to examine the predictors of allocation decisions.