Cross-agency working when conducting a pragmatic RCT for older victims of crime: our experiences and lessons learned.

Background: With the population ageing, more victims of community crime are likely to be older adults. The psychological impact of crime on older victims is significant and sustained, but only feasibility trials have been published regarding potential interventions. The integration of public health and care services and cross-agency working is recommended, but there is little information on how this should be undertaken.

Identifying predictors of adverse outcomes after termination of seclusion in psychiatric intensive care units.

Background: Seclusion is a restrictive practice that many healthcare services are trying to reduce. Previous studies have sought to identify predictors of seclusion initiation, but few have investigated factors associated with adverse outcomes after seclusion termination.

Aims: To assess the factors that predict an adverse outcome within 24 h of seclusion termination.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy plus usual care for improving quality of life in people with motor neuron disease (COMMEND): a multicentre, parallel, randomised controlled trial in the UK.

Background: Motor neuron disease is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease for which there is no cure. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a psychological therapy incorporating acceptance, mindfulness, and behaviour change techniques. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ACT plus usual care, compared with usual care alone, for improving quality of life in people with motor neuron disease.

Cost-effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy for people living with motor neuron disease, and their health-related quality of life.

Background: Given the degenerative nature of the condition, people living with motor neuron disease (MND) experience high levels of psychological distress. The purpose of this research was to investigate the cost-effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), adapted for the specific needs of this population, for improving quality of life.

Methods: A trial-based cost-utility analysis over a 9-month period was conducted comparing ACT plus usual care (n = 97) versus usual care alone (n = 94) from the perspective of the National Health Service.

Antidepressants Trial in Parkinson's Disease (ADepT-PD): protocol for a randomised placebo-controlled trial on the effectiveness of escitalopram and nortriptyline on depressive symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Depressive symptoms are common in patients with Parkinson's disease and depression is a significant predictor of functional impairment, reduced quality of life and general well-being in Parkinson's disease. Despite the high prevalence of depression, evidence on the effectiveness and tolerability of antidepressants in this population is limited. The primary aim of this trial is to establish the clinical and cost effectiveness of escitalopram and nortriptyline for the treatment of depression in Parkinson's disease.

A randomised controlled trial of acceptance and commitment therapy plus usual care compared to usual care alone for improving psychological health in people with motor neuron disease (COMMEND): study protocol.

Background: Motor neuron disease (MND) is a rapidly progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease that predominantly affects motor neurons from the motor cortex to the spinal cord and causes progressive wasting and weakening of bulbar, limb, abdominal and thoracic muscles. Prognosis is poor and median survival is 2-3 years following symptom onset. Psychological distress is relatively common in people living with MND.

Acceptance and commitment therapy for late-life treatment-resistant generalised anxiety disorder: a feasibility study.

Background: Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common anxiety disorder in older people. First-line management includes pharmacological and psychological therapies, but many do not find these effective or acceptable. Little is known about how to manage treatment-resistant generalised anxiety disorder (TR-GAD) in older people.

The clinical and cost-effectiveness of a Victim Improvement Package (VIP) for the reduction of chronic symptoms of depression or anxiety in older victims of common crime (the VIP trial): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Older people are vulnerable to sustained high levels of psychosocial distress following a crime. A cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)-informed psychological therapy, the Victim Improvement Package (VIP) may aid recovery. The VIP trial aims to test the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the VIP for alleviating depressive and anxiety symptoms in older victims of crime.

Chronotherapy for the rapid treatment of depression: A meta-analysis.

Background: Chronotherapy (sleep deprivation, sleep phase shifting and/or the use of bright light) combines non-invasive and non-pharmacological interventions that may act rapidly against depressive symptoms. However, to date no meta-analysis has been conducted to examine their effectiveness.

Methods: We carried out meta-analysis of 16 studies (four randomised controlled trials and 12 open-label case series) with between-subject comparisons between experimental and control conditions for RCTs and within-subject comparisons between baseline and follow-up for all studies.

Needs and preferences for psychological interventions of people with motor neuron disease.

There is a lack of knowledge about what factors may impede or facilitate engagement in psychological interventions in people with motor neuron disease (pwMND) and how such interventions can be adapted to best meet the needs of this population. To explore the needs and preferences of pwMND with respect to psychological interventions, and how best to adapt such interventions for pwMND. A series of semi-structured interviews ( = 22) and workshops ( = 3) were conducted with pwMND ( = 15), informal caregivers of pwMND ( = 10), and MND healthcare professionals ( = 12).

Manualised cognitive-behavioural therapy in treating depression in advanced cancer: the CanTalk RCT.

Background: With a prevalence of up to 16.5%, depression is one of the commonest mental disorders in people with advanced cancer. Depression reduces the quality of life (QoL) of patients and those close to them.

Delivering cognitive behavioural therapy to advanced cancer patients: A qualitative exploration into therapists' experiences within a UK psychological service.

Background: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is commonly used to treat cancer patients with psychological disorders such as depression. There has been little qualitative research exploring the experience of therapists delivering CBT to patients with advanced cancer and long-term health conditions generally. Therapists' views may help identify difficulties in delivering therapy and how these may be overcome.

Pilot of a randomised controlled trial of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor sertraline versus cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety symptoms in people with generalised anxiety disorder who have failed to respond to low-intensity psychological treatments as defined by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

Background: Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is common, causing unpleasant symptoms and impaired functioning. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines have established good evidence for low-intensity psychological interventions, but a significant number of patients will not respond and require more intensive step 3 interventions, recommended as either high-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or a pharmacological treatment such as sertraline. However, there are no head-to-head comparisons evaluating which is more clinically effective and cost-effective, and current guidelines suggest that treatment choice at step 3 is based mainly on patient preference.

Evaluation of Body Image and Sexual Satisfaction in Women Undergoing Female Genital Plastic/Cosmetic Surgery.

Background: Little prospective data exists regarding the procedures constituting female genital plastic/cosmetic surgery (FGPS).

Objectives: To evaluate whether the procedures of labiaplasty and vaginoperineoplasty improve genital self image, and evaluate effects on sexual satisfaction.

Methods: Prospective cohort case-controlled study of 120 subjects evaluated at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperative, paired with a demographically similar control group.

Prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder on a psychiatric inpatient ward and the value of a screening question.

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) on an inpatient ward in the UK with a larger sample than previously studied and to investigate the value of a simple screening question during an assessment interview. Four hundred and thirty two consecutive admissions were screened for BDD on an adult psychiatric ward over a period of 13 months. Those who screened positive had a structured diagnostic interview for BDD.

Helping Aged Victims of Crime (the HAVoC Study): Common Crime, Older People and Mental Illness.

Backgound: Limited data suggest that crime may have a devastating impact on older people. Although identification and treatment may be beneficial, no well-designed studies have investigated the prevalence of mental disorder and the potential benefits of individual manualized CBT in older victims of crime.

Aims: To identify mental health problems in older victims of common crime, provide preliminary data on its prevalence, and conduct a feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT) using mixed methods.

Development of a functional analytical nurse observation chart (FANOC).

Background: There has been little evaluation or development of nurse observation charts on psychiatric in-patient units since they were first introduced.

Aim: We aimed to develop a new nursing chart that adds a functional and contextual assessment of the observed behaviour. We describe its initial evaluation in an in-patient setting.

A critical review of major mortality risk factors for all-cause mortality in first-episode schizophrenia: clinical and research implications.

A bibliographical search was performed to identify and evaluate the impact in first-episode schizophrenia of the major mortality risk factors as described by the World Health Organisation (2009). We found that at first diagnosis rates of diabetes were only slightly increased, although lipid abnormalities, mild hypertension and being overweight were commonly reported. Levels of drug and alcohol abuse were high, as were pre-diagnosis rates of smoking, physical inactivity and poor cardiorespiratory fitness.

The ToT study: helping with Touch or Talk (ToT): a pilot randomised controlled trial to examine the clinical effectiveness of aromatherapy massage versus cognitive behaviour therapy for emotional distress in patients in cancer/palliative care.

Unlabelled: Distress associated with cancer often presents with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective psychological treatments. Complementary therapies, especially aromatherapy massage (AM), are also popular and alleviate anxiety.

The importance of aesthetics in body dysmorphic disorder.

It is hypothesized that body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) patients are firstly more "aesthetical," an attribute much like being musical, which varies between different individuals. This results in a greater emotional response to more attractive individuals and placing greater value on the importance of appearance in their identity compared with healthy individuals. Some BDD patients may have greater aesthetic perceptual skills.