Metformin for the Prevention of Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain: Guideline Development and Consensus Validation.

Background: Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent in people with severe mental illness (SMI). Antipsychotic-induced weight gain (AIWG) is one of the most commonly reported and distressing side effects of treatment and people living with SMI place a high value on the avoidance of this side effect. Metformin is the most effective pharmacological intervention studied for the prevention of AIWG yet clear guidelines are lacking and evidence has not translated into practice.

Implementing culturally appropriate recovery approaches in mental health services: perspectives from the Irish Traveller community.

Objectives: This study explores the perspectives of Irish Travellers, an ethnic minority group in Ireland, on the service improvements needed to implement culturally appropriate recovery approaches in mental health services.

Methods: A community-based participatory research approach was employed. Seventeen Traveller peer researchers conducted thirteen qualitative participatory workshops and five individual interviews across Ireland.

The impact of electronic and self-rostering systems on healthcare organisations and healthcare workers: A mixed-method systematic review.

Aim: To synthesise evidence from studies that explored the impact of electronic and self-rostering systems to schedule staff on healthcare organisations and healthcare workers.

Design: Mixed-method systematic review.

Methods: Studies were screened by two independent reviewers and data were extracted using standardised data extraction tables.

Cognitive behavioural therapy added to standard care for first-episode and recent-onset psychosis.

Background: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be effective in the general population of people with schizophrenia. It is still unclear whether CBT can be effectively used in the population of people with a first-episode or recent-onset psychosis.

Objectives: To assess the effects of adding cognitive behavioural therapy to standard care for people with a first-episode or recent-onset psychosis.

High flow nasal cannula versus noninvasive ventilation in the treatment of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can lead to acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF), often treated using noninvasive ventilation (NIV). Emerging research suggests the potential utility of high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) for AHRF. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effect of HFNC versus NIV on AHRF management.

Perspectives of psychiatric trainees and examiners on the assessment of communication skills during an online clinical examination: a qualitative study.

Background: Effective doctor-patient communication is a core competency for healthcare professionals. With the pivot to online clinical education and assessment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a need to explore the views of psychiatric trainees and examiners on assessment of communication skills during online high stakes postgraduate examinations.

Methods: The study was designed as descriptive qualitative research.

Perinatal mental health in Malaysia: understanding the treatment gap and recommendations for the future.

Maternal mental health problems are widespread worldwide, especially against the backdrop of population growth. There is an increasing prevalence of perinatal mental illness in low- and middle-income countries, and Malaysia is no exception. Despite significant improvements in the Malaysian mental health system over the past decade, there are substantial gaps in the delivery of perinatal health services in Malaysia.

Holistic assessment of patients with chronic mental disorders who attend a metabolic clinic in Sligo Town catchment area.

Background: People with serious mental illness exhibit higher morbidity and mortality rates of chronic diseases than the general population.

Aims: The aim of this study was to establish a dedicated clinic for patients with chronic mental illness to monitor physical health and quality of life in accordance with best practice guidelines.

Methods: Patients were invited to attend the clinic.

Peer support working: a question of ontology and epistemology?

Mental health services are currently undergoing immense cultural, philosophical, and organisational change. One such mechanism involved in this change has been the recognition of lived experience as a knowledge subset in its own right. Within five Community Health Care Organisations [CHOs] in the Irish mental health services, 2017 marked a new era as the traditional statutory mental health service hired a total of 30 Peer Support Workers.

Coproduction and mental health service provision: a protocol for a scoping review.

Introduction: Since the turn of the millennium, recovery has become mainstream in mental health services across much of the Western world. Resulting from this, many jurisdictions, including Ireland, have created frameworks and policies to support its integration into traditionally, statutory mental health services. Coproduction is a cornerstone of recovery.

The Evidence Base for Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP): A Protocol for a Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) is a structured recovery education program used internationally for anyone who wishes to create a positive change in their life. It was developed by Mary Ellen Copeland and Jane Winterling in the late 90s, resulting from a search of programs or initiatives that could support their wellness. Since then, many studies have been conducted into the efficacy of the program for those with a mental health/addiction challenge.

Co-Production within Child and Adolescent Mental Health: A Systematic Review.

Mental health services are currently experiencing much systemic and organisational change. Many countries have adopted a recovery approach to service provision through the development of national policies and frameworks. Within an Irish context, co-production has been identified as one of the four pillars required for services to become recovery orientated.

Family Recovery Interventions with Families of Mental Health Service Users: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Recovery has become a catalyst for much organisational and cultural change within mental health services. Recovery involves the service user living the best life of their choice despite the presence of mental health challenges. In contrast, recovery of families remains under-developed with minimal attention given to the unique support families may require in their own recovery journeys.

Compulsory admissions of patients with mental disorders: State of the art on ethical and legislative aspects in 40 European countries.

Background: Compulsory admission procedures of patients with mental disorders vary between countries in Europe. The Ethics Committee of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) launched a survey on involuntary admission procedures of patients with mental disorders in 40 countries to gather information from all National Psychiatric Associations that are members of the EPA to develop recommendations for improving involuntary admission processes and promote voluntary care.

Methods: The survey focused on legislation of involuntary admissions and key actors involved in the admission procedure as well as most common reasons for involuntary admissions.

Outcome in depression (I): why symptomatic remission is not good enough.

Background: The Leuven Affect and Pleasure Scale (LAPS) is a depression outcome measure aiming to better reflect patient treatment expectations. We investigated the evolution of the LAPS and some comparator scales during antidepressant treatment and compared scores of remitters with scores of healthy controls.

Methods: A total of 109 outpatients with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) major depressive disorder were assessed over 8 weeks of antidepressant treatment.

Outcome in depression (II): beyond the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.

Background: The Leuven Affect and Pleasure Scale (LAPS) was developed as an outcome measure in major depressive disorder (MDD) tha treflects patient treatment expectations. The present report investigates whether the LAPS negative affect, the LAPS positive affect, and the LAPS hedonic tone have added value on top of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) in explaining generic as well as patient-centered outcomes.

Methods: A total of 109 outpatients with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, criteria for MDD were assessed over 8 weeks of antidepressant treatment.

Randomised study demonstrates sustained benefits of a pre-school intervention designed to improve nutrition and physical activity practices.

Background: Health-promoting programmes must demonstrate sustained efficacy in order to make a true impact on public health. This study aimed to determine the effect of the Healthy Incentive for Pre-schools project on health-promoting practices in full-day-care pre-schools 18 months after a training intervention.

Methods: Thirty-seven pre-schools completed the initial study and were included in this follow-up study.

Outcomes of a Community-Based Paediatric Weight Management Programme in an Irish Midlands Setting.

Ongoing investigation is needed into feasible approaches which reduce excess weight in childhood. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an adapted version of the Scottish Childhood Overweight Treatment Trial (SCOTT) in an Irish primary care setting. Families were offered monthly dietitian-led sessions for six months.

Healthy incentive scheme in the Irish full-day-care pre-school setting.

A pre-school offering a full-day-care service provides for children aged 0-5 years for more than 4 h/d. Researchers have called for studies that will provide an understanding of nutrition and physical activity practices in this setting. Obesity prevention in pre-schools, through the development of healthy associations with food and health-related practices, has been advocated.

Pre-school manager training: a cost-effective tool to promote nutrition- and health-related practice improvements in the Irish full-day-care pre-school setting.

Objective: To evaluate the impact on nutrition- and health-related practice of two methods of delivery of a nutrition and health intervention in Irish full-day-care pre-schools: training of pre-school managers only or training of managers and their staff.

Design: A simple randomised study with pre-schools divided into two training groups: 'manager trained' and 'manager and staff trained'. Direct observational data--food and fluid provision, physical activity, outdoor time, staff practices and availability of nutrition and health resources--were recorded during one full day spent in each pre-school both pre- and post-intervention, using a specifically developed and validated Pre-school Health Promotion Activity Scored Evaluation Form.

Caffeine and clinical change in a patient with schizophrenia on a long-stay ward.

We report a case of a 33-year-old male patient with schizophrenia, who showed significant and persistent changes in psychotic and mood symptoms relating to his caffeine intake.