Psychometric properties of the Patient Activation Measure-13 among out-patients waiting for mental health treatment: A validation study in Norway.

Objective: The Patient Activation Measure-13 (PAM-13) has been found useful for assessing patient knowledge, skills and confidence in management of chronic conditions, but the empirical evidence from mental health is sparse. The psychometric properties of PAM in out-patients waiting for treatment in community mental health centers (CMHC) have therefore been examined.

Methods: A total of 290 adults from two CMHC completed PAM.

How do patients with severe mental diagnosis cope in everyday life - a qualitative study comparing patients' experiences of self-referral inpatient treatment with treatment as usual?

Background: Several hospitals in Norway provide short self-referral inpatient treatment to patients with severe mental diagnosis. No studies have compared the experiences of patients who have had the opportunity to self-refer to inpatient treatment with patients who have received treatment as usual. This qualitative study was nested within a randomised controlled trial investigating the effect of self-referral to inpatient treatment.