Sedation modality in acute respiratory distress syndrome: does method of sedation affect length of stay, outcomes, or adverse events? A systematic review.

Introduction: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening, diffuse inflammatory pulmonary condition characterised by the Berlin criteria. Incidence of ARDS is estimated at 2.5-19% globally with high mortality and morbidity.

Randomized trial of a brief peer support intervention for individuals with schizophrenia transitioning from hospital to community.

This phase 2 randomized trial examined the outcomes of a brief, transitional, peer support intervention designed to address the poor outcomes that are common for individuals with schizophrenia spectrum illnesses in the period immediately following hospitalization. In the context of treatment-as-usual, participants were provided with a peer support intervention, 'the Welcome Basket,' in which participants received 1-2 sessions of peer support in the two weeks before discharge and met weekly for a month post-discharge. The study also piloted a brief version of this intervention with only one community session post-discharge with the same pre-discharge process.

Sertraline-induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), also known as extrinsic allergic alveolitis, is a granulomatous, non-IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction of the alveoli and distal bronchioles presenting as an acute, subacute or chronic condition. It is most commonly associated with exposure to extrinsic allergens (eg, avian dust, mould and tobacco) and medications including antiarrhythmics (eg, amiodarone), cytotoxics (eg, methotrexate) and antiepileptics (eg, carbamazepine). Individuals diagnosed with this condition can present with severe hypoxia and respiratory failure.

A comparison of compensatory and restorative cognitive interventions in early psychosis.

This randomized trial examined the relative effectiveness of primarily compensatory and primarily restorative cognitive interventions in an early psychosis population. A total of 56 patients were randomized to one of two treatments which were applied for four months with a five month follow up assessment. Comparisons were between (1) Cognitive Adaptation Training (CAT) - a treatment that uses environmental supports and weekly home visits to compensate for cognitive challenges and improve community functioning and (2) Action Based Cognitive Remediation (ABCR) - a treatment involving computerized cognitive drill and practice exercises, simulations, goal setting, and behavioral activation.

Validation of the MUSIC Model of Motivation Inventory for use with cognitive training for schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A multinational study.

Aim: Low motivation is a core symptom of schizophrenia which significantly impacts successful engagement in and benefit from psychosocial treatments. Therefore, it is important for clinicians to design psychosocial treatments to effectively motivate and engage patients during the treatment. The MUSIC® Model of Academic Motivation Inventory (MMI) is an 18-item instrument with five scales that assess students' motivation during academic tasks.

Understanding perceptions of community participation in persons with severe mental illness: A mixed-methods approach.

Objectives: This study aims to measure community participation in persons with severe mental illness (SMI) in Toronto, Ontario and outlines a methodological approach for understanding the dimensions of community participation.

Methods: A mixed methods approach was used to define activity spaces through participatory mapping and a qualitative survey interview for participants (N = 31), selected through a stratified purposeful sampling strategy. Five neighbourhoods in Toronto were sampled in an attempt to obtain an ethnically diverse sample.

The welcome basket revisited: Testing the feasibility of a brief peer support intervention to facilitate transition from hospital to community.

Objective: This paper describes outcome and feasibility findings for a novel, brief intervention to facilitate discharge from lengthy psychiatric hospitalization. The examination of such transitional interventions is important given the suboptimal outcomes for many individuals with severe mental illness at discharge, particularly in the first month.

Method: In this study a mixed methods design was used to examine a 6-week peer support worker-provided transitional intervention called the 'Welcome Basket.

A pilot study of a family cognitive adaptation training guide for individuals with schizophrenia.

Objective: There is a paucity of accessible, evidence-based tools for caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia. This study examines changes in the self-assessed and caregiver-assessed outcomes of people with schizophrenia after exposure to a cognitive adaptation training (CAT) guide that addressed pragmatic, in-home approaches to offset the cognitive impacts of the illness.

Method: This study examined the 4-month, pre-post outcomes of a CAT guide, as compared with a popular, general manual, for families of individuals with schizophrenia.

Mental health reform at a systems level: widening the lens on recovery-oriented care.

This paper is an initial attempt to collate the literature on psychiatric inpatient recovery-based care and, more broadly, to situate the inpatient care sector within a mental health reform dialogue that, to date, has focused almost exclusively on outpatient and community practices. We make the argument that until an evidence base is developed for recovery-oriented practices on hospital wards, the effort to advance recovery-oriented systems will stagnate. Our scoping review was conducted in line with the 2009 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (commonly referred to as PRISMA) guidelines.

Cognitive remediation for individuals with psychosis in a supported education setting: a randomized controlled trial.

Cognitive remediation (CR) has demonstrated good outcomes when paired with supported employment, however little is known about its effectiveness when integrated into a supported education program. This randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of integrating CR within a supported education program compared with supported education without CR. Thirty-seven students with psychosis were recruited into the study in the 2012 academic year.

The role of gender in housing for individuals with severe mental illness: a qualitative study of the Canadian service context.

Objective: This study was undertaken to examine the role of gender as it relates to access to housing among individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) in Canada.

Design: An exploratory, qualitative approach was used to assess the perspectives of Canadian housing experts. The focus of inquiry was on the role of gender and associated intersections (eg, ethnicity) in pathways to housing access and housing needs for individuals with SMI.