Empowerment of individuals with enduring mental health problems: results from concept analyses and qualitative investigations.

Empowerment has been proposed to enhance the well-being of individuals with enduring mental health problems. Despite this apparent endorsement, critics charge that the concept of empowerment is poorly defined, and its actualization within mental health care is rare. Concept analyses and findings from qualitative research offer helpful insights into the process of empowerment and ways to promote it among individuals with long-term mental health problems.

Serotonin syndrome and the use of SSRIs.

Nurses need to become more aware of serotonin syndrome to avoid its development and to ensure a therapeutic response when early symptoms emerge. While polypharmacy tends to put individuals at greatest risk for the syndrome, use of a single serotonergic agent may also provoke an adverse response. Because the onset and progression of serotonin syndrome are rapid, prompt action may be needed to avoid potentially life-threatening consequences.

Metasynthesis: the state of the art--so far.

To make qualitative results more accessible to clinicians, researchers, and policy makers, individuals are urged to synthesize findings from related studies. Since 1994, several types of metasynthesis have been conducted, resulting in theory building, theory explication, and substantive descriptions of phenomena. A variety of methodologies have been used to complete these projects, as no firm metasynthesis guidelines exist.

Health belief model and reversal theory: a comparative analysis.

Background: In recent years, an increasing number of nurses have demonstrated interest in health behaviour change interventions and research. Despite this heightened enthusiasm, there appears to have been less interest in exploring new and emerging health behaviour change theories.

Aim: The goal of this work is to assist clinicians and researchers to make more informed choices about the use of the Health Belief Model and Reversal Theory in their practice settings and research projects.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Discontinuation syndrome.

Based on emerging research findings, nurses are urged to become more aware of SSRI discontinuation syndrome. To ameliorate or avoid the associated symptoms, client education is recommended, and dosage tapering is encouraged whenever possible. Although the symptoms associated with discontinuation syndrome usually are mild, they may pose particular safety concerns for clients with co-occurring conditions.

Anorexia nervosa: analysis of long-term outcomes and clinical implications.

Recovery from anorexia nervosa is a lengthy process and involves overcoming physical as well as psychosocial problems. Factors such as weight at referral, laboratory values, and psychosocial variables tend to predict long-term outcomes and help guide clinical interventions. Non-weight restored as well as some weight restored individuals experience chronic problems.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Topic: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) has reentered the spotlight following the FDA's recent approval of fluoxetine hydrochloride to treat its symptoms. Although the diagnosis and treatment of PMDD has long been a source of contention, the FDA move has heightened the debate over this diagnostic category and the most appropriate treatment.

Purpose: To explore several diagnoses related to PMDD and review recent research findings pertaining to the effectiveness of SSRIs to treat PMDD.

Feminist spirituality and alcohol treatment.

Although there is some evidence that spirituality may play a role in successful resolution of alcohol problems, there are those who assert that traditional androcentric theologies may be detrimental to the healing process among women. Within conventional religious traditions, women have been relegated to positions of diminished status and power and may be subject to expectations of self-abnegation. For these reasons, asserting powerlessness and abdicating control to a male-defined deity may be nontherapeutic.

Self-resolution of alcohol problems in young adulthood: a process of securing solid ground.

Quantitative research findings suggest that young adults resolve alcohol problems without participating in support groups or formal treatment programs. However, researchers have failed to fully explain the self-resolution process among this age group. Thus, the authors used grounded theory to better explicate why and how young adults self-resolve alcohol problems.