A hidden pandemic? An umbrella review of global evidence on mental health in the time of COVID-19.

Background: The mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic remain a public health concern. High quality synthesis of extensive global literature is needed to quantify this impact and identify factors associated with adverse outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a rigorous umbrella review with meta-review and present (a) pooled prevalence of probable depression, anxiety, stress, psychological distress, and post-traumatic stress, (b) standardised mean difference in probable depression and anxiety pre-versus-during the pandemic period, and (c) comprehensive narrative synthesis of factors associated with poorer outcomes.

Enhanced supported living for people with severe and persistent mental health problems: A qualitative investigation.

Supported living has been shown to improve functioning and social inclusion in people with severe and persistent mental health problems, reduce hospitalisation and provide secure accommodation in a population where housing needs are often unmet. Conversely, living in supported accommodation has been depicted by some as depersonalising, marginalising and an ordeal to survive. Discussions regarding housing and support often lack a thorough consideration of individual experiences, with a reliance on quantitative surveys.

Do we all experience loneliness the same way? Lessons from a pilot study measuring loneliness among people with lived experience of homelessness.

Loneliness research has tended to focus on mainstream and older populations despite evidence that non-mainstream groups, like those experiencing homelessness, may experience loneliness differently. Limited existing research indicates that (a) people who have been homeless experience loneliness as multidimensional (as a pluralistic, non-unidimensional emotion, experienced specific to lacked relationships) and (b) mainstream loneliness scales may be inappropriate for this group. The current study piloted and appraised the feasibility the short version of the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA-S) among 129 Australian adults with a lived experience of homelessness.

Mental health nursing and physical health care: a cross-sectional study of nurses' attitudes, practice, and perceived training needs for the physical health care of people with severe mental illness.

Mental health nurses have a key role in improving the physical health of people with a serious mental illness, however, there have been few studies of their attitudes or the extent of their involvement in this work. The aim of this study was to examine mental health nurses' attitudes to physical health care and explore associations with their practice and training. A postal questionnaire survey including the Physical Health Attitude Scale for mental health nurses (PHASe) was used within a UK mental health trust.

Comparing the outcomes of the application of C&R (general service) and SCIP in the management of disturbed behaviour in mental health care.

Background: Violence and aggression is common in mental health care and physical restraint is used frequently. Control and restraint (general services) (C&R (GS)) and Strategies in Crisis Intervention and Prevention (SCIP) are often used. There had not been any study evaluating the outcomes of the different approaches of restraint method.

Results of a thematic analysis to explore the experiences of patients with schizophrenia taking antipsychotic medication.

Background: Approximately 50% of patients with schizophrenia do not adhere to their antipsychotic medication regimens, partly because of their concerns about medication.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of patients with schizophrenia during treatment with antipsychotic medication.

Methods: As part of the SWAM (Satisfaction With Antipsychotic Medication) Scale (registered to Diana Rofail, Cheshire, United Kingdom) validation study, a convenience sample of patients with schizophrenia responded to an open-ended question regarding their treatment experiences with antipsychotic medication.

Life-changing research.

Landmark nursing research has inspired nurse leaders to take their own pioneering steps.

Integrated care for co-occurring disorders: psychiatric symptoms, social functioning, and service costs at 18 months.

Objective: Persons with severe mental illness have high rates of comorbid substance use disorders. These co-occurring disorders present a significant challenge to community mental health services, and few clinical trials are available to guide the development of effective services for this population. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a program for case managers that trained them to manage substance use disorders among persons with severe mental illness.

Training in dual diagnosis interventions (the COMO Study): randomised controlled trial.

Background: Despite the high prevalence of co-morbid substance use among mental health service users (dual diagnosis), very few mental health workers in the UK have had training and/or clinical experience to equip them to deliver targeted interventions to this client group.

Method: In a randomised controlled trial of training for dual diagnosis interventions, 79 case managers from 12 community mental health teams in South London were randomly allocated to either receive training and follow-up supervision (experimental group) or no training and supervision (control group). Baseline measures of attitude, self-efficacy and knowledge were collected prior to randomisation, and were repeated at 18 months post-training.

An RCT of adherence therapy for people with schizophrenia in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Aim: The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effectiveness of adherence therapy-a brief intervention based on compliance therapy and motivational interviewing techniques-in a sample of people with schizophrenia in Thailand.

Background: Poor adherence is problematic, but knowledge about how to improve medication adherence is limited. Studies focusing on the effects of interventions used to improve adherence have produced inconsistent outcomes and have been mainly conducted in western countries.

Adherence therapy for people with schizophrenia. European multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Background: There is equivocal evidence of the effectiveness of adherence therapy in improving treatment adherence and clinical outcomes for people with schizophrenia.

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of adherence therapy in improving quality of life for people with schizophrenia.

Method: A 52-week, single-blind, multicentre randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of adherence therapy.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for patients with anxiety and depression.

This article describes and explains the theoretical background of cognitive behavioural therapy. The evidence base for the cognitive behavioural treatment of a number of mental health problems is reported and the principles of effective treatment described.

A systematic review of the safety and effectiveness of restraint and seclusion as interventions for the short-term management of violence in adult psychiatric inpatient settings and emergency departments.

Aims: The aim of this review was to assess whether restraint and seclusion are safe and effective interventions for the short-term management of disturbed/violent behaviour. Staff and service user perspectives on the use of these interventions were also considered. The review was undertaken as part of the development process for a national guideline on the short-term management of disturbed/violent behaviour in adult psychiatric inpatient settings and emergency departments in the United Kingdom.

Assessment and management of obsessive compulsive disorder.

This article outlines the nature of obsessive compulsive disorder and sets out an evidence-based approach to assessment and treatment. The article also examines the key elements of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2005) guideline on this condition.

The development and internal consistency of the satisfaction with Antipsychotic Medication Scale.

Background: Satisfaction with antipsychotic medication is an important outcome variable. To date, there is a lack of a well-established measure to quantify patient satisfaction with psychiatric medication. This paper describes the development, dimensionality, reliability and validity of the Satisfaction with Antipsychotic Medication (SWAM) scale.

Effect of a medication management training package for nurses on clinical outcomes for patients with schizophrenia: cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: Non-compliance attenuates the efficacy of treatments for physical and mental disorders.

Aims: To assess the effectiveness of a medication management training package for community mental health nurses (CMHNs) in improving compliance and clinical outcomes in patients with schizophrenia.

Method: Pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

Views of nursing staff on the use of physical restraint.

A postal questionnaire survey was employed in regional secure and psychiatric intensive care units in England and Wales, in respect of mental health nurses' training in the use of physical restraint. The nurses' views were sought relating to their last experience of implementing the procedure. Whilst most nurses (n = 259, 96.

The effect of medication management training on community mental health nurse's clinical skills.

Background. There is evidence that compliance therapy improves treatment adherence and clinical outcomes in patients with schizophrenia. Community Mental Health Nurses (CMHNs) are ideally placed to deliver compliance therapy but require training to develop the necessary clinical skills.