Psychological medicine
-
Psychological medicine · Mar 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyCognitive self-therapy for chronic depression and anxiety: a multi-centre randomized controlled study.
Non-professional treatment programmes are presumed to relieve the extensive need for care of anxiety and depression disorders. This study investigates the effectiveness of cognitive self- therapy (CST) in the treatment of depression or generalized anxiety disorder. ⋯ Cognitive self-therapy is likely to decrease the need for care of chronic depression and anxiety disorders, but it has not been proven to be more effective than treatment as usual.
-
Psychological medicine · Feb 2007
Historical ArticleShell shock: an outcome study of a First World War 'PIE' unit.
'Forward psychiatry' was introduced by the French Army in 1915 to stem the loss of troops to base hospitals. Also known by the acronym PIE (proximity to the battle, immediacy of treatment and expectancy of recovery, including return to duty), it was subsequently used by the British and Americans in both World Wars. The US Army used PIE techniques in Korea and Vietnam. Although widely accepted as an effective intervention, forward psychiatry is not amenable to random-controlled trials and only one controlled outcome study has been conducted. ⋯ Forward psychiatry was not effective in returning combat troops to fighting units but, by allocating soldiers to support roles, it prevented discharge from the armed forces. Uncertainties remain about relapses, including other routes that servicemen used to escape from a combat zone.
-
Psychological medicine · Feb 2007
The correspondence between persistent self-reported post-traumatic problems and general practitioners' reports after a major disaster.
Little is known about the correspondence between persistent self-reported disaster-related psychological problems and these problems reported by general practitioners (GPs). The aim of this study is to analyse this correspondence and to identify the factors associated with GPs' detection of persistent psychological problems. ⋯ In general, there is a considerable correspondence between GP-reported and persistent self-reported incidences of post-traumatic stress and general psychological distress in disaster-affected victims. However, the correspondence declines in the case of more specific psychological symptoms.
-
Psychological medicine · Jan 2007
Review Meta AnalysisRandomized and non-randomized evidence for the effect of compulsory community and involuntary out-patient treatment on health service use: systematic review and meta-analysis.
There is limited randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence for compulsory community treatment. Other study methods may clarify their effectiveness. We reviewed RCT and non-RCT evidence for the effect of compulsory community treatment on hospital admissions, bed-days, compliance and out-patient contacts. ⋯ The evidence for involuntary out-patient treatment in reducing either admissions or bed-days is very limited. It therefore cannot be seen as a less restrictive alternative to admission. Other effects are uncertain. Evaluation of a wide range of outcomes should be included if this type of legislation is introduced.
-
Psychological medicine · Dec 2006
Childhood adversities and risk for suicidal ideation and attempts: a longitudinal population-based study.
Developmental adversities may be risk factors for adult suicidal behavior, but this relationship has rarely been studied prospectively. The present study examined the association between childhood adversities and new onset suicidal ideation and attempts in an adult population-based sample. ⋯ Childhood abuse and multiple adversities are strongly associated with future suicidal behavior and the mental disorders assessed in the present study do not fully account for this effect. A comprehensive understanding of suicidal behavior must take childhood adversities into account.