Short-term functional outcome in psychotic patients: results of the Turku early psychosis study (TEPS).

Background: Functional recovery of patients with clinical and subclinical psychosis is associated with clinical, neuropsychological and developmental factors. Less is known about how these factors predict functional outcomes in the same models. We investigated functional outcomes and their predictors in patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) or a confirmed or nonconfirmed clinical high risk of psychosis (CHR-P vs.

How GPs can Recognize Persistent Frequent Attenders at Finnish Primary Health Care Using Electronic Patient Records.

Introduction: The proportion of patients who are frequent attenders (FAs) varies from few percent to almost 30% of all patients. A small group of patients continued to visit GPs year after year. In previous studies, it has been reported that over 15% of all 1-year FAs were persistent frequent attenders (pFAs).

One-session cognitive behavior treatment for long-term frequent attenders in primary care: randomized controlled trial.

Aim: The aim of the study was to find out, if a single cognitive behavior treatment (CBT) session for long-term frequent attenders in primary care affects the attendance frequency and mental well-being of the patients.

Methods: Out of 193 long-term frequent attenders, 56 participated and were randomized to receive either a one-session CBT intervention or usual care. The groups were compared to each other regarding change in general practitioner visits and change in depressive symptoms, sense of coherence, somatoform symptoms and hypochondriacal anxiety at six months' follow-up.

Childhood physical abuse and emotional neglect are specifically associated with adult mental disorders.

Childhood adversities and trauma (CAT) are associated with adult mental disorders. Nevertheless, although CAT of different domains mostly co-occurs, and co-morbidity is common, the associations between CAT and mental disorders, when taking these interrelations into account, are not well known. We aimed to study differential associations between the five core domains of CAT and current axis-I disorders, taking into consideration their interrelations.

Effect of administrative information on visit rate of frequent attenders in primary health care: ten-year follow-up study.

Background: Frequent attenders (FAs) use a disproportionately large share of the resources of general practitioners (GPs) working in primary healthcare centres. The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of FAs among all patients in the primary health care centres of a medium-sized city in Finland, and to examine whether providing GPs with administrative information about their frequent attenders (names and numbers of visits per year) can reduce the number of FAs and the frequency of their visits.

Methods: Statistic data on all GP visits (n = 1.

Adverse childhood experiences leads to perceived negative attitude of others and the effect of adverse childhood experiences on depression in adulthood is mediated via negative attitude of others.

Background: The attachment theory suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have an effect on how individuals perceive other people's attitude towards them. ACEs have also been associated with adult depression. We hypothesised that ACEs associate with perceived negative attitude of others (AoO) and depressive symptoms (DEPS), and that these associations differ between the genders.

Psychiatric (axis I) and personality (axis II) disorders in patients with burning mouth syndrome or atypical facial pain.

Background and aims Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) and atypical facial pain (AFP) are often persistent idiopathic pain conditions that mainly affect middle-aged and elderly women. They have both been associated with various psychiatric disorders. This study examined current and lifetime prevalence of psychiatric axis I (symptom-based) and II (personality) disorders in patients with chronic idiopathic orofacial pain, and investigated the temporal relationship of psychiatric disorders and the onset of orofacial pain.

Effect of childhood adversities on alcohol problems is mainly mediated by depression.

Background And Objectives: We aimed to study how five childhood adversities and trauma (CAT) core domains: emotional abuse (EmoAb), physical abuse (PhyAb), sexual abuse (SexAb), emotional neglect (EmoNeg), physical neglect (PhyNeg), associate with alcohol problems (APs), and whether there are any gender differences in these associations.

Methods: Altogether, 690 adult participants drawn from the general population completed a mailed questionnaire, including the trauma and distress scale, as an indicator of CAT, and questions concerning sociodemographic background, depressive symptoms, and APs.

Results: In univariate analyses, male gender, middle age, divorced/separated marital status and lower education, frequency of use of alcohol, previous treatment for mental problems, as well as depressive symptoms and CAT domain scores were associated with APs.

Psychometric properties of the Trauma and Distress Scale, TADS, in an adult community sample in Finland.

Background: There is increasing evidence that a history of childhood abuse and neglect is not uncommon among individuals who experience mental disorder and that childhood trauma experiences are associated with adult psychopathology. Although several interview and self-report instruments for retrospective trauma assessment have been developed, many focus on sexual abuse (SexAb) rather than on multiple types of trauma or adversity.

Methods: Within the European Prediction of Psychosis Study, the Trauma and Distress Scale (TADS) was developed as a new self-report assessment of multiple types of childhood trauma and distressing experiences.

Health-related quality of life during adjuvant radiotherapy in breast cancer.

Objective: In this study, health- related quality of life (HRQoL) and its determinants were assessed in breast cancer patients undergoing postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy. The aim was to improve our understanding of patient's situation at the end of adjuvant treatment, as the return to every day life approaches after breast cancer surgery and adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy.

Methods: Health- related quality of life was measured by the 15D instrument.

Childhood trauma and premorbid adjustment among individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis and normal control subjects.

Aim: Traumatic childhood experiences are associated with psychotic illness and are frequently reported in patients at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis. Moreover, deteriorating premorbid functioning from childhood, and through adolescence, is related to greater severity of overall symptomatology and poorer outcomes in patients with psychosis. We studied the prevalence of traumatic childhood experiences and premorbid adjustment and their association with each other in patients at CHR for psychosis and normal control subjects (NCSs).

Psychosocial outcome in patients at clinical high risk of psychosis: a prospective follow-up.

Purpose: In patients at clinical high risk (CHR) of psychosis, transition to psychosis has been the focus of recent studies. Their broader outcome has received less attention. We studied psychosocial state and outcome in CHR patients.

Axis I diagnoses and transition to psychosis in clinical high-risk patients EPOS project: prospective follow-up of 245 clinical high-risk outpatients in four countries.

Background: In selected samples, a considerable number of patients at clinical high risk of psychosis (CHR) are found to meet criteria for co-morbid clinical psychiatric disorders. It is not known how clinical diagnoses correspond to or even predict transitions to psychosis (TTP). Our aim was to examine distributions of life-time and current Axis I diagnoses, and their association with TTP in CHR patients.

Depression-focused interpersonal counseling and the use of healthcare services after myocardial infarction.

Purpose: The purpose for this study was to evaluate the association between depression-focused interpersonal counseling (IPC) and the use of healthcare services in Finland after myocardial infarction (MI).

Design And Methods: The measures were done at 6 and 18 months after MI in the randomized intervention (n= 51) and the control group (n= 52).

Findings: There was less use of somatic specialized healthcare services in the intervention group from 6 to 18 months after hospital discharge, and with intervention patients who had no other long-term disease during 6 months.

The effects of interpersonal counselling on health-related quality of life after myocardial infarction.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of interpersonal counselling on health-related quality of life after myocardial infarction.

Background: Depression is a risk factor for poor health-related quality of life after myocardial infarction. Interpersonal counselling seems to reduce depressive symptoms and distress after myocardial infarction.

Breast cancer patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy: distress, depressive symptoms and unmet needs of psychosocial support.

Background And Purpose: The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer can cause considerable psychological consequences, which may remain unrecognized and untreated. In this study, the prevalence of depressive symptoms and distress, and unmet needs for psychosocial support were assessed among breast cancer patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy.

Material And Methods: Out of 389 consecutive patients, 276 responded and comprised the final study group.

Weak sense of coherence predicts depression: 1-year and 9-year follow-ups of the Finnish Outcomes of Depression International Network (ODIN) sample.

Background: Previous studies show conflicting results on the role of weak sense of coherence (SOC) as a risk factor for depression.

Aims: The aim of this work was to study whether a weak SOC predicts depressive symptoms in a non-depressive population sample in the short or long perspective.

Method: Participants without depressive symptoms (n = 1645) in the Finnish sample of the Outcomes of Depression International Network (ODIN) study were assessed at 1-year and 9-year follow-up.

Alexithymia, human relationships, and mobile phone use.

Alexithymia is a personality trait associated with difficulties in identifying feelings, difficulties in describing feelings to other people, constricted imaginal processes, and an externally oriented cognitive style. It has been found to be associated with personality features that may cause interpersonally avoidant behavior and other interpersonal problems. The present study explored, in a sample of primary care patients (N = 491), whether alexithymia is associated with mobile phone usage, and whether the perceived quality and quantity of human relationships mediate its effect.

The outcomes of interpersonal counselling on depressive symptoms and distress after myocardial infarction.

Aims: Depression is not treated adequately after myocardial infarction (MI). This study evaluates the interpersonal counselling (IPC) implemented by a registered nurse on outcomes for depressive symptoms and distress in MI patients.

Methods: We studied MI patients (n = 103) randomized into intervention group (n = 51) and control group (n = 52) in hospital and at 6 and 18 months after discharge using validated questionnaires, Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Symptom Checklist-25 (SCL-25).

[Psychotherapy of a depressed patient--presentation of treatment modalities].

The article includes a brief introduction to five forms of psychotherapy that are in active use in Finland: psychodynamic, cognitive and group psychotherapy, family therapy of a depressed patient, and resource and solution-oriented working attitude. An advocate of each treatment modality provides a description of the suitability of the particular modality for a depressed patient. Different treatment modalities are not compared as such; the aim is rather to provide clinical thinking tools for the doctor, who considers the patient's suitability for and referral to psychotherapy.

[Update on current care guidelines. Depression, current care guideline].

The treatment of depression is based on careful diagnostic evaluation. In the acute phase of treatment, brief psychotherapies (cognitive, interpersonal, psychodynamic or problem-solving) are effective in cases of mild to moderate depression. Antidepressants are also effective, their importance increasing alongside the level of severity.

Alexithymia and childhood abuse among patients attending primary and psychiatric care: results of the RADEP Study.

Background: Some authors have suggested that the background of alexithymia is related to affective development during early childhood.

Objective: Authors studied the associations between alexithymia and childhood emotional neglect and sexual and physical abuse, also taking into account the significance of concomitant psychopathology.

Method: Associations between childhood difficulties and adulthood alexithymia were studied with samples of primary-care (N=1,033) and mental-health center (N=243) outpatients assessed by The Toronto Alexithymia Scale and questionnaires for depressive, manic, and psychotic symptoms, and childhood difficulties.

Vulnerability to psychosis increases the risk of depression. Results of the RADEP study.

We studied prevalence of depressive symptoms in primary care (PrC) and in psychiatric outpatient care (PsC), and how psychotic and manic symptoms are associated with current depressive symptoms. Altogether 563 patients attending PrC and 163 patients attending PsC filled in a questionnaire including the Depression Scale (DEPS), the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) and questions on psychotic symptoms from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Patients with depressive symptoms (DEPS score > 8) were interviewed by phone using the same checklist 6 months after baseline examination.