Demonstrating the learning and impact of embedding participant involvement in a pandemic research study: the experience of the SARS-CoV-2 immunity & reinfection evaluation (SIREN) study UK, 2020-2023.

Background: Participant involvement in research studies is not a new concept, yet barriers to implementation remain and application varies. This is particularly true for pandemic response research studies, where timeframes are condensed, pressure is high and the value and inclusion of participant involvement can be overlooked. The SIREN Participant Involvement Panel (PIP) provides a case study for participant involvement in pandemic research, working in partnership with people who the research is for and about.

Assessment and treatment of depression associated with dementia.

Depression is a frequent diagnosis for people with dementia, with between 25% and 42% of such patients receiving antidepressants. The diagnosis can be challenging to make, and this patient group is more vulnerable to side effects of commonly used medications. This article outlines the diagnostic considerations and therapeutic approaches for managing depression in people with dementia.

Cost-effectiveness of donepezil and memantine in moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease (the DOMINO-AD trial).

Objective: Most investigations of pharmacotherapy for treating Alzheimer's disease focus on patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms, with little evidence to guide clinical decisions when symptoms become severe. We examined whether continuing donepezil, or commencing memantine, is cost-effective for community-dwelling, moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease patients.

Methods: Cost-effectiveness analysis was based on a 52-week, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, factorial clinical trial.

Effectiveness of Positive Youth Development Interventions: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Positive youth development is thought to be essential to the prevention of adolescent risk behavior and the promotion of thriving. This meta-analysis examined the effects of positive youth development interventions in promoting positive outcomes and reducing risk behavior. Ten databases and grey literature were scanned using a predefined search strategy.

Parents with mental illness - a qualitative study of identities and experiences with support services.

Unlabelled: WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: According to estimates more than half of adult mental health service users are parents, but their experiences are largely lacking from research literature. Parental mental illness can often be viewed from a risk perspective. Parents with mental illness and their families have unmet support needs.

A new model of autism spectrum disorder assessment and diagnosis by multiagency community-based teams in primary schools.

Background: National guidelines stress the importance of early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This pilot investigated the feasibility and acceptability of assessing children in their community.

Method: The pilot study was carried out from August 2007 to January 2009, and the roll-out of the programme started in 2010 and is currently underway.

A longitudinal examination of neuropsychological and clinical functioning in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): improvements in executive functioning do not explain clinical improvement.

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often, but not always, persists into adulthood. Investigations of the associations between clinical and biological markers of persistence can shed light on causal pathways. It has been proposed that compensatory improvements in executive neuropsychological functioning are associated with clinical improvements.

Feeling like me again: a grounded theory of the role of breast reconstruction surgery in self-image.

The present study aimed to develop a theoretical understanding of the role of breast reconstruction in women's self-image. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 women from breast cancer support groups who had undergone breast reconstruction surgery. A grounded theory methodology was used to explore their experiences.

Talking openly: using '6D cards' to facilitate holistic, patient-led communication.

Objective: The study investigates the effectiveness and acceptability of a communication tool (the '6D Cards') in facilitating holistic, patient-led communication in medical consultations.

Design: A between-subjects design was employed, whereby patients were randomly allocated to either use the '6D Cards' to initiate conversation or engage in the usual discussion processes.

Setting: The study was carried out in an outpatient gynaecology clinic at a National Health Service (NHS) public hospital in a small town.

Is knowledge of famous people compromised in mild cognitive impairment?

Objective: : This study addressed the issue of whether person naming deficits in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) occurred with deficits in person semantic knowledge and whether person knowledge was more impaired than general semantics.

Background: : Recent definitions of MCI are beginning to encompass cognitive impairments outside the domain of episodic memory. Increasing evidence suggests that semantic memory may also be compromised in this patient group, including tasks of person naming and identification.

Detentions of older adults under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

This study prospectively examined all initial emergency and short-term detention orders of older adults under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 in a Scottish health region in 2008 to determine differences in characteristics and outcomes by patients' age, gender and those detained by consultant compared with non-consultant clinicians. Detention order papers were scrutinized, the detaining practitioners were interviewed and case records were examined. Appropriate statistical analyses were performed.

Civil detentions of older adults under successive Scottish mental health legislation: a comparative analysis.

Background: Many countries have adopted new mental health legislation, with the detention of adults for treatment of mental disorders remaining an integral part of such policies. However, there are relatively few publications on the use of mental health legislation in the detention of older adults. This paper examines the civil detention of older adults in one Scottish region under successive mental health legislation.

The Effectiveness of a Community Intensive Therapy Team on Young People's Mental Health Outcomes.

Background:   UK-wide concerns about availability, cost, efficacy and inappropriate use of psychiatric inpatient provision for adolescents have led to the development of new models of intensive community based care.

Method:   This paper describes the Fife Intensive Therapy Team (FITT) model and provides an analysis of HoNOSCA (Health of the Nation Outcomes Scale for Children and Adolescents) data for 57 patients to evaluate the effectiveness of the service.

Results:   Following intervention by the FITT, a substantial and significant reduction in HoNOSCA scores was recorded.

The perceived sexual health needs of looked after young people: findings from a qualitative study led through a partnership between public health and health psychology.

Background: Looked after young people (LAYP) have poorer sexual health outcomes than their peers. However, research seldom examines the health needs of, or intervenes with, this group. The aim of the current study was to identify LAYP's perceived sexual health needs and explore sources of sexual health information, knowledge levels, concerns and service preferences.

A mental health assessment and support team for community elders in Fife (EAST).

Background: The aging population combined with the increased recognition of the need to assess elderly patients with mental health difficulties in their own environment encouraged service redesign in Fife with the focus on community assessment of older people with mental health needs.

Aims: To establish and assess the functioning of a joint Health and Social Services enhanced assessment and support team (EAST) for community-dwelling elders with significant mental health needs living in a Scottish health region, and to determine the impact of this team on the requirement for acute psychogeriatric hospital services.

Methods: Prospective three-year data collection of service activity involving EAST and the local psychogeriatric acute inpatient and day hospital facilities.

A psychiatric intensive care unit for older adults: an interval comparison of admissions.

Background: Published information on psychiatric intensive care provision and requirements of older adults is limited. This audit aims to describe and compare demographic data, clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted to a Scottish regional psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) for older adults during two 18-month periods five years apart.

Method: Data on all patients admitted to the PICU for older adults during the two sample periods, commencing 2001 and 2006 respectively, were collected prospectively by the clinical care team, and included information on previous psychiatric contact and detentions under mental health legislation, diagnoses, cognitive ratings, reasons for transfer to the PICU, treatments and outcomes.

Principles, patient welfare and the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.

The law surrounding decision-making for adults who lose their capacity varies considerably internationally. In many cases legislation has taken a protective and consequently restrictive role for adults with incapacity and often the issue of capacity assessment within the appropriate legal framework is circumvented. In Scotland, the introduction of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 modernised that nation's approach to incapable adults.

Prognostic indices with brief and standard CBT for panic disorder: II. Moderators of outcome.

Background: Despite the growth of reduced therapist-contact cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programmes, there have been few systematic attempts to determine prescriptive indicators for such programmes vis-à-vis more standard forms of CBT delivery. The present study aimed to address this in relation to brief (6-week) and standard (12-week) therapist-directed CBT for panic disorder (PD) with and without agoraphobia. Higher baseline levels of severity and associated disability/co-morbidity were hypothesized to moderate treatment effects, in favour of the 12-week programme.

Prognostic indices with brief and standard CBT for panic disorder: I. Predictors of outcome.

Background: Although the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in the management of panic disorder (PD) is now well established, there have been few studies of predictors of outcome with this patient group using clinical effectiveness trial data, a hypothesis-testing model, and a dependent measure of clinically significant change.

Method: The data for this study came from a randomized controlled trial of three forms of CBT delivery for PD with and without agoraphobia (two 6-week CBT programmes, one of which was computer assisted, and one therapist-directed 12-week CBT programme), comprising a total of 186 patients across two sites. Based on previous related research, five hypothesized predictors of post-treatment and follow-up outcome were identified and examined, using a series of bivariate and multivariate analyses.

Huntington's disease: seldom seen--seldom heard?

Objective: To ascertain the needs of people with Huntington's Disease (HD). HD is a complex disease which does not fit neatly into either physical or psychiatric service provision.

Design & Methodology: Structured questionnaire interview of both affected individuals and carers.