Implementation of an electronic patient portal in routine mental health care of hospitals in Germany - evaluation of attitudes of healthcare providers.

Background: The use of digital tools such as electronic patient portals in different health care disciplines and settings has been increasing, but the rate of implementation in clinical practice still lags behind expectations. While studies have linked the use of electronic patient portals to positive health outcomes for patients, studies addressing the viewpoints of healthcare providers are rare.

Methods: We performed an online survey of attitudes of healthcare providers towards an electronic patient portal for mental health hospitals.

Involuntary psychiatric hospitalisation - differences and similarities between patients detained under the mental health act and according to the legal guardianship legislation.

Background: Involuntary psychiatric hospitalisation occurs under different legal premises. According to German law, detention under the Mental Health Act (MHA) is possible in cases of imminent danger of self-harm or harm to others, while detention according to the legal guardianship legislation (LGL) serves to prevent self-harm if there is considerable but not necessarily imminent danger. This study aims to compare clinical, sociodemographic and environmental socioeconomic differences and similarities between patients hospitalised under either the MHA or LGL.

[Effects of a Motivational Intervention on the Effectiveness and Sustainability of Sports and Exercise Therapy in Inpatient Psychiatric Care].

Objective: Reinforcement and sustainability of sports and exercise therapy in inpatient depression treatment.

Methods: Randomized controlled study with 3 measurement times: t admission to the study, t after four weeks, t two months after discharge. 96 inpatients with depressive disorders (ICD-10 F32, F33) were randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG) or a control group (KG).

[Advance directives and mental disorders: a practice recommendation of the Commission for Ethics and Law of the German Association for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics].

Background: Since the creation of legal requirements for advance directives by the legislator in 2009, special aspects of their application in the treatment of people with mental illnesses have been discussed.

Goal Of The Paper: Important questions on dealing with advance directives in everyday life will be answered in a practice-oriented manner.

Results: Among other things, this document answers the question of the conditions under which a patient can refuse or consent to hospitalization and treatment in advance, and in particular how to deal with advance directives whose implementation would also affect the rights of third parties.

[Social Determinants of Mental Health among Refugees in Germany - The Influence of Postmigratory Social Isolation and Resources on Psychopathology and Utilization Behavior].

The mental health of refugees is influenced by a variety of pre-, peri- and postmigratory factors. It remains largely unclear how social determinants influence the utilization of psychiatric-psychotherapeutic treatment. We applied a questionnaire survey to 189 refugees from a clinical sample in a psychiatric hospital and from a control sample, which was not in treatment.

[Professionals' Views On Forensic-Psychiatric Patients With Intellectual Disability: Impact Of Structural, Systemic And Diagnosis-Related Aspects On Treatment And Release].

In forensic psychiatric clinics, patients who have committed a criminal offense on the basis of intellectual disability are also treated in according to Sect. 63 of the German Criminal Code. This group of patients has above-average lengths of stay and specific difficulties in treatment and in transition to aftercare systems are reported from practice.

Internet-based transdiagnostic treatment for emotional disorders in Arabic- and Farsi-speaking refugees: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Refugee populations have an increased risk for mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorders. Comorbidity is common. At the same time, refugees face multiple barriers to accessing mental health treatment.

[Care trajectories of homeless or precariously housed mentally ill patients from two psychiatric-psychotherapeutic hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia].

Objectives: Mental illness and homelessness are often associated with each other. The study aim was to describe the care trajectories of psychiatric inpatients admitted from precarious housing or homelessness.

Methods: An anonymized data collection was performed at two psychiatric hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Blended-ALMAMAR app for inpatient mental health care for refugees: study protocol for a multicenter implementation study within the I-REACH consortium (Internet based REfugee mentAl healtH Care).

Background: Refugees are at high risk for developing mental illnesses. Due to language and cultural barriers, there is need for specifically adapted therapeutic procedures for refugees in inpatient mental health care settings. Internet-based applications in refugee mother tongues have the potential to improve the outcomes of mental health care for this vulnerable population.

Development and implementation of quality indicators in a group of nine psychiatric hospitals.

Quality indicators (QI) are becoming increasingly important in mental healthcare in Germany. QI can be used for various purposes, such as for creating transparency as well as for benchmarking between hospitals. QI themselves are subject to high quality standards.

The somatic care of patients with comorbid mental disorders: protocol of a mixed-methods study aiming to identify barriers to and enablers of utilization of somatic healthcare (SoKo).

Background: Healthcare for people with somatic and comorbid mental diseases can pose a challenge to the healthcare system. The aim of the SoKo study (the Somatic care of patients with mental Comorbidity) is to assess the current state of care and the facilitators and barriers of somatic care of people with somatic disorders and comorbidity of a mental disorder.

Methods: The study is conducted as a mixed-methods approach and will include (a) descriptive and inferential analysis of secondary claims data of persons insured by a German statutory health insurance company in North Rhine-Westphalia (Techniker Krankenkasse, TK-NRW), (b) qualitative individual interviews and group discussions, and (c) based on (a) and (b), quantitative surveys of both patients and physicians.

Analysis of the utilization, processes, and outcomes of inpatient mental healthcare during the first three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Background: During the first phase of the Coronavirus-19 disorder (COVID-19) pandemic in the spring of 2020, utilization of inpatient mental healthcare was significantly reduced. We now report on a long-term observational study of inpatient mental healthcare in a large psychiatric hospital association in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, covering the second and third pandemic waves of autumn and winter 2020 followed up until June 2021.

Objectives: Analysis of the changes of inpatient and day patient mental healthcare utilization in an association of psychiatric hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic from January 2020 until June 2021.

[Joint crisis plans in mental health hospitals-Real practice in an association of psychiatric hospitals].

Background: Joint crisis plans (JCPs) are offered in many psychiatric hospitals, but patients only rarely make use of them.

Objective: To assess the rates of JCPs among inpatients of mental health hospitals and to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients who make use of a JCP.

Material And Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of routine data from the statistical database/basis documentation of the LVR hospital association, which consists of nine psychiatric hospitals.

[Oncologic Care of Breast Cancer Patients with Preexisting Disabilities: Results of a Qualitative Study on Perceived Barriers, Communication Difficulties, and Needs].

Up to now, people with disabilities have received little consideration in health care with regard to their individual needs. This study gathers information on the internal perspective of breast cancer patients with a pre-existing disability with regard to needs and barriers in oncological care. For this purpose, qualitative, guideline-based interviews were conducted and analysed using qualitative content analysis.

From Formative Research to Cultural Adaptation of a Face-to-Face and Internet-Based Cognitive-Behavioural Intervention for Arabic-Speaking Refugees in Germany.

Background: This study aims to provide a transparent and replicable documentation approach for the cultural adaptation of a cognitive-behavioural transdiagnostic intervention (Common Elements Treatment Approach, CETA) for Arabic-speaking refugees with common mental disorders in Germany.

Method: A mixed-methods approach was used, including literature review, interviews, expert decisions and questionnaires, in order to adapt the original CETA as well as an internet-based guided version (eCETA). The process of cultural adaptation was based on a conceptual framework and was facilitated by an adaptation monitoring form as well as guidelines which facilitate the reporting of cultural adaptation in psychological trials (RECAPT).

Determinants of compulsory hospitalisation at admission and in the course of inpatient treatment in people with mental disorders-a retrospective analysis of health records of the four psychiatric hospitals of the city of Cologne.

Background: We aimed to identify differences in predictors of involuntary psychiatric hospitalisation depending on whether the inpatient stay was involuntary right from the beginning since admission or changed from voluntary to involuntary in the course of in-patient treatment.

Methods: We conducted an analysis of 1,773 mental health records of all cases treated under the Mental Health Act in the city of Cologne in the year 2011. 79.

Adapting and Implementing Apps for Mental Healthcare.

Purpose Of Review: To describe examples of adapting apps for use in mental healthcare and to formulate recommendations for successful adaptation in mental healthcare settings.

Recent Findings: International examples are given to explore implementation procedures to address this multitude of challenges. There are only few published examples of adapting apps for use in mental healthcare.

Amisulpride and olanzapine combination treatment versus each monotherapy in acutely ill patients with schizophrenia in Germany (COMBINE): a double-blind randomised controlled trial.

Background: Combining antipsychotics is common in schizophrenia treatment, despite evidence-based guidelines generally not recommending such practice. Otherwise, evidence remains inconclusive, especially regarding specific combinations. The trial aimed to test whether a combination of amisulpride plus olanzapine is more effective than either intervention as a monotherapy.

Homelessness among psychiatric inpatients in North Rhine-Westphalia: a retrospective routine data analysis.

Background: Within the last five years the number of homeless persons in Germany has more than doubled, with many suffering from mental illnesses that require treatment. Whether the mental illness itself led to losing shelter or whether the state of being homeless increased the likelihood of developing symptoms of a mental disorder remains unclear. The current study assessed the interaction of homelessness and mental illness from a care provider perspective.

[Person-Centered Psychosocial Complex Care for People with Severe Mental Illness: Implementation and Evaluation of a Cross-Sectoral Care Model at a Psychiatric Hospital].

Aim Of The Study: Implementation and evaluation of a cross-sectoral complex care model for persons with severe mental illness (SMI).

Methods: The care model was implemented at a psychiatric-psychotherapeutic specialized clinic. Within this patient-centered and needs-oriented complex care model, intensive case management was applied to transition persons with SMI between inpatient and outpatient mental health care.

[Cologne Questionnaire on Attitudes Towards Coercive Measures (KEZ)].

Objective: To develop a psychometric instrument for the assessment of the attitude of psychiatric staff towards the use of coercion.

Methods: Based on a literature search, interviews (37 open questions) were carried out by representatives each of doctors and nurses. A first version was developed, all doctors and nurses in a psychiatric clinic were asked to answer the questionnaire anonymously.

[DNVF-Discussion paper - Specificities, Challenges and Aims of Mental Health Service Research in Germany].

Research in mental health services in Germany is of increasing relevance. To this end, the recently founded "Mental Health Working Group" as part of the German Network of Health Services Research (DNVF) has written a discussion paper presenting key specifics, challenges, and goals of health service research in the field of mental health. Some research-relevant specifics in the area of mental health care, pragmatic challenges of research organization, ethical problems, and particular research topics in this field are presented and discussed critically.

Utilization of Inpatient Mental Health Care in the Rhineland During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, considerable changes occurred in the utilization of mental health care. We conducted an analysis of the changes of inpatient and day patient mental health care utilization in an association of psychiatric hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used the statistics database of the association of nine psychiatric hospitals of the Rhineland Regional Council (Landschaftsverband Rheinland, LVR).

A prospective longitudinal study shows putamen volume is associated with moderate amphetamine use and resultant cognitive impairments.

Background: Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) have become a critical public health issue. Animal models have indicated a clear neurotoxic potential of ATSs. In humans, chronic use has been associated with cognitive deficits and structural brain abnormalities.

[Antipsychotic Polypharmacy in the Treatment of Patients with Schizophrenia in Nine Psychiatric Hospitals of the Landschaftsverband Rheinland, Germany].

Background: Antipsychotics are the cornerstone in the treatment of schizophrenia and are primarily recommended as monotherapy by evidence-based guidelines. Nevertheless, antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) is prevalent in routine practice and APP is also used as a quality indicator since 2016 in quality management programs.

Objective: Based on routine data of nine psychiatric hospitals of the Landschaftsverband Rheinland (LVR)/Germany the prevalence of APP was determined and correlated with factors of routine healthcare in order to monitor the adoption of APP and to discuss its feasibility as a quality indicator.