Cost-effectiveness of health promotion targeting physical activity and healthy eating in mental health care.

Background: There is a higher prevalence of obesity in individuals with mental disorders compared to the general population. The results of several studies suggested that weight reduction in this population is possible following psycho-educational and/or behavioural weight management interventions. Evidence of the effectiveness alone is however inadequate for policy making.

Health promotion in individuals with mental disorders: a cluster preference randomized controlled trial.

Background: The existing literature on weight management interventions targeting physical activity and healthy eating in mental health care appears to provide only limited evidence. The aim of the study was to examine the effectiveness of a 10-week health promotion intervention, followed by a 6-month follow-up period in individuals with mental disorders living in sheltered housing in the Flanders region (Belgium).

Methods: The study had a cluster preference randomized controlled design.

Do restrictive and bingeing/purging subtypes of anorexia nervosa differ on central coherence and set shifting?

Objective: Anorexia nervosa (AN) has been associated with weak central coherence (CC) and weak set shifting (SS). The main aim of this study was to examine possible differences between restrictive AN (AN-R) and bingeing/purging AN (AN-BP) on these features.

Methods: A total of 31 patients with AN-R, 20 patients with AN-BP and 26 healthy controls (HC) completed five neuropsychological tests (Block Design, Object Assembly, an adapted task-switching paradigm, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Trail Making Test).

Health promotion in mental health care: perceptions from patients and mental health nurses.

Aims And Objectives: To gain insight into the factors influencing the integration of physical activity and healthy eating into the daily care of individuals with mental disorders (MD) living in sheltered housing and to increase the understanding of the relationships between and complexities of these factors.

Background: Growing attention is given to the implementation of health promotion activities in mental health care. By improving the understanding of perceptions of patients and mental health nurses, health promotion programmes targeting physical activity and healthy eating can be developed that better meet the patients' needs.

Health promotion intervention in mental health care: design and baseline findings of a cluster preference randomized controlled trial.

Background: Growing attention is given to the effects of health promotion programs targeting physical activity and healthy eating in individuals with mental disorders. The design of evaluation studies of public health interventions poses several problems and the current literature appears to provide only limited evidence on the effectiveness of such programs. The aim of the study is to examine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a health promotion intervention targeting physical activity and healthy eating in individuals with mental disorders living in sheltered housing.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of lifestyle interventions on physical activity and eating habits in persons with severe mental disorders: a systematic review.

Background: There is a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in persons with severe mental disorders and this has serious implications on the short and long term health outcomes of these patients. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions targeting physical activity and eating habits in persons with severe mental disorders. Special attention was given if any of the included studies in the review also examined the cost-effectiveness of these health promotion interventions.

Concurrent use of lamotrigine and electroconvulsive therapy.

Objective: : To evaluate the effect of lamotrigine (LMT) on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-induced seizures.

Methods: : Charts of all patients receiving LMT while undergoing an ECT course from July 2001 through May 2009 were reviewed. Apart from demographic variables, data collection consisted of diagnosis, indication for ECT, index or continuation ECT, electrode placement, stimulus dose, motor and electroencephalographic seizure duration, LMT dose, and number of restimulations.

Quetiapine treatment and improved cognitive functioning in borderline personality disorder.

Objective: We aimed to assess whether executive functioning improved over time in a sample of borderline personality disorder (BPD) subjects that took part in a quetiapine treatment trial.

Methods: Performance on the following neurocognitive tasks was assessed at enrolment and at the end of the 12 weeks quetiapine treatment: Trail Making Task, Word Fluency Task and Tower of London Task. Forty-one BPD patients were recruited, of whom 32 completed the trial.

Efficacy of quetiapine for impulsivity and affective symptoms in borderline personality disorder.

Data on the efficacy of quetiapine in borderline personality disorder (BPD) are still scarce. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of quetiapine for impulsivity and a broad range of affective symptoms in BPD. In this 12-week open-label study, we included individuals with BPD who presented to psychiatric in- and outpatient services.

Euthanasia: the role of the psychiatrist.

Belgium has become one of the few countries in the world where euthanasia is legally allowed within a specific juridical framework. Even more unique is the inclusion of grounds for requesting euthanasia on the basis of mental suffering. Further refinement of the legal, medical and psychiatric approach to the issue is required in order to clear up essential practical and ethical matters.

Effects of aging on brain perfusion and serotonin-2A receptor binding in the normal canine brain measured with single photon emission tomography.

Normal aging is associated with a decrease in number and size of neurons, loss of synapses and neuronal branching and with a reduced functioning neurotransmitter systems, such as the serotonergic system. These structural and functional alterations have important impact on the behavioural, cognitive and affective status of the individual. With the introduction of functional brain imaging in veterinary medicine, the canine brain can be examined in vivo, evaluating changes in perfusion, metabolism and neurotransmitter systems.