Mediating role of illness representation among social support, therapeutic alliance, experience of medication side effects, and medication adherence in persons with schizophrenia.

The purpose of this cross-sectional research study was to examine factors affecting medication adherence in Thai individuals with schizophrenia. The Common-Sense Model of Illness Representation was used to guide the study. Two hundred twenty-five subjects met the inclusion criteria and were interviewed.

Dog walking: its association with physical activity guideline adherence and its correlates.

Objective: We examined the prevalence and correlates of dog walking among dog owners, and whether dog walking is associated with meeting the American College of Sports Medicine/American Heart Association physical activity guidelines.

Methods: In March 2008, we mailed a survey to dog-owning clients from two San Diego County veterinary clinics. Useable data were obtained from 984 respondents, and 75 of these completed retest surveys.

A comparison of the practices of psychiatric clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners who are certified to provide mental health care for children and adolescents.

Background: A task force of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and the International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses initiated a survey to identify how advanced practice psychiatric nurses were addressing the mental health needs of children and adolescents.

Objectives: Practice patterns of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses (CACNSs) and Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (FPNPs) were compared.

Design: An electronic survey was completed by 234 CACNSs and 170 FPNPs from a national database.

Psychopharmacologic first-line strategies in the treatment of major depression and psychosis: a survey of advanced practice nurses.

Background: Developments in psychopharmacology have led to a broad range of medication choices for prescribing clinicians. Although there have been advances in drug development, less is known about the prescribing strategies used by psychiatric-mental health advanced practice nurses or the extent to which these practices reflect existing practice guidelines.

Objectives: This study examined the prescribing practices of advanced practice nurses attending a psychopharmacology continuing education program.

Bipolar disorder and weight gain: a multifactorial assessment.

Obesity is highly prevalent in persons with bipolar disorder. This results in increased physical morbidity and poorer psychiatric outcomes. Multiple variables have been identified as potentially responsible for the weight gain in these individuals.

Glucose and cardiac risk factor control in individuals with type 2 diabetes: implications for patients and providers.

Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive study was to describe attainment of glucose and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factor goals and to identify factors that were associated with successful goal achievement.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey enrolled 110 subjects with type 2 diabetes undergoing screening for asymptomatic myocardial ischemia.

Results: Many participants had HbA1c levels > or =7% (45%), and 46% to 79% were not meeting goals for CHD risk reduction.

The impact of screening for asymptomatic myocardial ischemia in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Little is known about factors that contribute to either emotional or behavior outcomes following screening for coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of this prospective study was to explore these outcomes, along with potentially contributing factors in individuals enrolled in a screening trial for asymptomatic CAD. Included were 47 subjects with type 2 diabetes.