Psychiatrists' attitude towards the use of clozapine in the treatment of refractory schizophrenia: A nationwide survey.

Objectives: Clozapine is the most effective treatment for refractory schizophrenia, yet it remains underused in clinical practice. The current study examined the awareness, familiarity and attitude of a nationwide sample of Israeli psychiatrists regarding the use of clozapine.

Methods: Data were collected using questionnaires, completed by 295 psychiatrists.

Use of information and communication technologies among individuals with and without serious mental illness.

Growing interest surrounds the use ofinformation and communication technologies (ICTs) for mental-health-related purposes, yet little is known about rates of ICT use among the psychiatric population and those with severe mental illness. This study examines ICT accessibility among the psychiatric population, focusing on serious and non-serious mental illness (SMI and non-SMI). Patients (N = 427) from all service branches of the Psychiatry Department at Emek Medical Centerwere recruited orally or through advertisement.

[THE CLINICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS WHO FREQUENT THE PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY ROOM IN A GENERAL HOSPITAL].

Introduction: The recent policy implemented in Israel of reducing psychiatric admissions and the concomitant shifting of treatment to outpatient clinics, together with briefer stays in hospital and a growing number of repeat emergency room (ER) visits have created a "revolving door" phenomenon, whereby a small number of frequent attenders are responsible for a disproportionate fraction of ER visits.

Objectives: To characterize psychiatric ER frequent attenders and understand their special needs by analyzing the "revolving door" phenomenon and defining the at-risk group.

Methods: Psychiatric attenders at the Ha'Emek Medical Center in Afula during a single year were divided retrospectively into three groups according to the number of their visits to the ER.

The Effects of Acupuncture Treatment on Sleep Quality and on Emotional Measures among Individuals Living with Schizophrenia: A Pilot Study.

Purpose. To examine the effects of acupuncture on sleep quality and on emotional measures among patients with schizophrenia. Methods.

The effects of music relaxation and muscle relaxation techniques on sleep quality and emotional measures among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an anxiety disorder with lifetime prevalence of 7.8%, is characterized by symptoms that develop following exposure to traumatic life events and that cause an immediate experience of intense fear, helplessness or horror. PTSD is marked by recurrent nightmares typified by the recall of intrusive experiences and by extended disturbance throughout sleep.