The effect of online group based acceptance and commitment therapy on psychotic symptoms and functioning levels of individuals with early psychosis

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the effect of online group-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) applied to individuals with early psychosis on psychotic symptoms and functionality levels.

METHODS

This randomized controlled study population consisted of 77 individuals who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders according to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria at most three years ago. The study sample consisted of 53 individuals who met the inclusion criteria and were assigned to the intervention (n = 26) and control (n = 27) groups by simple randomization method. The intervention group received an eight-session ACT program as online group therapy, while the control group received no application made by the researchers. Data were obtained using the "Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)" and the "Social Functioning Assessment Scale (SFAS)" at pre-test, post-test and 3-month follow-up.

RESULTS

While it was found that the post-test and 3-month follow-up test PANSS mean scores of the individuals in the intervention group were lower than the mean score of the individuals in the control group; it was determined that the mean score of SFAS was higher than the mean score of the individuals in the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, while no hospitalization was observed in the intervention group during the follow-up period, 14.8 % (n = 4) of the individuals in the control group were hospitalized.

DISCUSSION

It was found that online group-based ACT applied to individuals with early psychosis reduced psychotic symptoms and increased their functionality levels. It was also found that hospitalizations were less in the intervention group.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov ID: NCT05210816.

Evaluation of Renal Functions of Inpatients With Mental Disorders

The current study aimed to investigate the renal functions of inpatients with mental disorders. Data for this retrospective and descriptive study were collected from January 2021 to April 2021 from the records of patients who were hospitalized in the psychiatry clinic of a training and research hospital between 2018 and 2020. The study sample comprised hospital records of 376 patients. A significant negative relationship was determined between patients' glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and glucose level, duration of mental disorder, number of hospitalizations, and duration of medication use (p < 0.05). According to the analysis of patients' renal functions, mean GFR was statistically significantly lower in women with physical chronic diseases and diagnosed with personality disorders. Psychiatric-mental health nurses should evaluate and monitor renal functions of individuals with mental disorders and take precautions before kidney diseases develop. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 62(2), 47-55.].

Investigation of the Relationship Between Internalized Stigma and Happiness Levels of Individuals Diagnosed with Schizophrenia

AIM

This study aimed to examine the relationship between internalized stigma and happiness levels of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and June 2021 with 100 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia conducted in a Community Mental Health Centre in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. Data were collected using Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire.

RESULTS

A negative statistically significant relationship was determined between the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. In addition, there was a positive correlation between the stigma resistance subdimension of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. The internalized stigma levels of the participating patients accounted for 35.1% of their happiness levels. The stigma resistance subdimension of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale affected the patients' happiness levels.

CONCLUSION

There was a negative significant relationship between the individuals' internalized stigma and happiness levels. More comprehensive interventions are needed to combat the stigma of mental disorders in Türkiye so that individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia can lead a happy life in society.

Protocol Registration and Reporting of Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses Published in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Journals: A Descriptive Study

Although it is not mandatory for systematic review and meta-analysis studies, protocol registration is essential in the prevention of biases. This study aims to investigate the protocol registration status and reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in psychiatric nursing journals. This descriptive study's data were obtained by scanning the 10 mental health and psychiatric nursing journals in which the studies of psychiatric nurses were most frequently published and by examining the systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between 2012-2022. A total of 177 completed studies have been reviewed. It was determined that 18.6% of the examined systematic reviews and meta-analyses had a protocol registration. Almost all (96.9%) of the registered studies were registered with PROSPERO, and 72.7% were registered prospectively. It was determined that the registration status of the studies changed statistically according to the country where the studies' authors were located. When the published studies were examined, it was determined that approximately one out of every five studies were registered. With the prospective registration of systematic reviews, biases could be prevented, and evidence-based interventions can be made based on the knowledge obtained.

Evaluation of the relationship between values and psychological resilience of individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder: A cross-sectional study

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between values and psychological resilience in individuals with substance use disorder. This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 70 individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder who had applied to the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment and Research Center between February and April 2022 and volunteered to participate in the study. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Values Scale, and Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). All participants were male, the average age of substance use onset was 17.67 ± 5.95 years, and they had been receiving addiction treatment for 1.97 ± 2.30 years on average. The average total score of the individuals on the BRS scale was 17.18 ± 1.45. A significant positive correlation was found between the social values, intellectual values, spiritual values, materialistic values, human dignity, and freedom sub-dimensions of the Values Scale and psychological resilience (p < .001). Additionally, spiritual values were found to have the highest positive effect on the psychological resilience levels of individuals (B = 0.185; p < .05). Individuals with higher levels of social values, intellectual values, spiritual values, materialistic values, human dignity, and freedom were found to have higher psychological resilience. Nursing care provided by taking into account the values of the individual and strengthening their values may contribute to the psychological resilience of the patient.

Investigation of the relationship between internet addiction, communication skills and difficulties in emotion regulation in nursing students

This study investigates the relationships between nursing students' internet addiction levels, communication skills and difficulties in emotion regulation. This cross-sectional study included 463 nursing students who completed the Internet Addiction Scale (IAS), Communication Skills Scale (CSS) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16). Approximately half of the nursing students were risky internet users. A negative statistically significant was determined between from IAS and CSS; a positive statistically significant was determined between from IAS and DERS-16. It was found that internet addiction had an effect of 18.6 % (R² = 0.186) on difficulty in emotion regulation and 0.27 % on communication skills (R² = 0.027). The students who were in risky group in internet addiction had worse communication skills and higher levels of difficulties in emotion regulation.

Investigation of the Relationship Between the Spiritual Orientation and Psychological Well-Being Levels of Inpatients with a Diagnosis of COVID-19 In Turkey: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study was carried out to determine the relationship between the spiritual orientation and psychological well-being levels of inpatients diagnosed with COVID-19 and the factors affecting the psychological well-being of patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 136 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were hospitalized in the COVID-19 clinics of a state hospital between May and July 2021 and volunteered to participate in the study. To collect the study data, the Personal Information Form, Spiritual Orientation Scale (SOS) and Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS) were used. There was a positive correlation between the mean scores obtained from the overall SOS and PWBS (r = .335, p < .001). Of the participants, those who were women, who were over 65-year-old patients, who were hospitalized for 8-14 days and who had chronic diseases had lower levels of psychological well-being. The inpatients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 had high levels of spirituality and psychological well-being. It was found that there is a relationship between the spiritual orientation and psychological well-being of inpatients hospitalized with the diagnosis of COVID-19. The fact that nurses take spirituality into account while providing care to patients diagnosed with COVID-19 may be effective in protecting their patients' mental health.

Investigation of the relationship between the negative automatic thoughts of patients with schizophrenia and their levels of social functionality

AIM

This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between the negative automatic thoughts of patients with schizophrenia and their levels of social functionality.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted 142 patients with schizophrenia. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Negative Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (NATQ) and Social Functioning Assessment Scale (SFAS).

FINDINGS

There was a strong negative correlation between the mean scores obtained from the overall NATQ and SFAS. In addition, negative automatic thoughts of the patients with schizophrenia had a negative effect of 47.2% on their social functionality.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

It was found that the patients had moderate levels negative automatic thoughts and social functionality; and that their negative automatic thoughts affected their social functionality negatively.

The relationship between stress, anxiety, and depression levels and pseudobulbar affect in patients with Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) has recently been added to the list of mental disorders commonly observed in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The emotional changes experienced by MS patients may be associated with other mental problems and adversely affect disease prognosis. However, there are limited studies in the international and national literature on this subject.

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between PBA and stress, anxiety, and depression levels in patients with MS.

DESIGN

This is a descriptive, relational, and cross-sectional study.

METHODS

A total of 442 MS patients followed in the neurology outpatient clinic of a hospital and registered with the MS Society in Turkey participated in this study. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Turkish version of the Center for Neurologic Study-Lability Scale (CNS-LS), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS).

RESULTS

In this study, 63.3% of the patients had PBA, 21% had extremely severe depression, 41.6% had extremely severe anxiety, and 24.9% had severe stress. Correlation analysis revealed weak positive correlations between CNS-LS total score and DASS subscale and total scores. Depression, anxiety, and stress levels accounted for 22.5% of the variation in CNS-LS total score.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that a majority of MS patients in Turkey experience PBA, depression, anxiety, and stress, and that PBA is positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress.

IMPACT STATEMENT

This study, indicates that should be increased consultation-liaison psychiatry services in Turkey, and MS patients should benefit from comprehensive psychiatric services.

Greater occipital and supraorbital nerve blockade for the preventive treatment of migraine: a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study

OBJECTIVE

Nerve injections have been used for the acute and preventive treatment of migraine in recent decades. Most of these injections focused on greater occipital nerve (GON) blockade. However, few studies were placebo controlled, and only a few of them investigated GON and supraorbital nerve (SON) blockade together. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of GON and SON blockade with local anesthetics for the preventive treatment of migraine without aura.

METHODS

Eighty-seven patients diagnosed with migraine without aura were included in the study. Patients were divided randomly. One group was injected with 1% lidocaine, the other group was injected with 0.9% saline. GON and SON injections were done bilaterally. The injections were repeated weekly for 3 weeks. Patients were followed up for 2 months to assess clinical response.

RESULTS

Seventy-one patients completed the study. After 2 months, the number of headache days decreased significantly from 12.8 ± 10.9 to 5.3 ± 7.4, and VAS decreased from 8.3 ± 1.0 to 5.5 ± 1.9 in the blockade group. The number of headache days decreased from 12.4 ± 10.3 to 7.5 ± 7.2 and VAS decreased from 8.2 ± 1.1 to 7.4 ± 1.3 in the placebo group. Response was seen in 65.1% of the patients in the blockade group (65.4% for episodic migraine, 64.7% for chronic migraine) and 28.6% of the patients in the placebo group. The difference was significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that GON and SON blockade with lidocaine was more effective than the placebo in the prophylactic treatment of both episodic and chronic migraine.

Effect of Inulin and Lactulose on Survival of Lactobacillus AcidophilusLA-5 and Bifidobacterium Bifidum BB-02 in Acidophilus-Bifidus Yoghurt

The effect of supplementation of lactulose and inulin as prebiotics on the growth of L. acidophilusLA-5 and B. bifidumBB-02 in Acidophilus-Bifidus (AB) yoghurt and some quality parameters of the resulting products were studied. Yoghurts produced from milks with added inulin at levels of 0.5% and 1.0%, or with lactulose at levels of 0.25% and 2.5% were compared with classical yoghurt and AB yoghurt (without added prebiotics). The results showed that inulin and lactulose did not affect the growth of yoghurt starter bacteria, but stimulated the growth of B. bifidumBB-02 to a great extent. Lactulose was found to be more effective on the growth of both probiotic strains than inulin. Inulin did not stimulate the growth of L. acidophilusLA-5. The cell counts of B. bifidumBB-02 and L. acidophilusLA-5 were dependent upon concentrations of lactulose and inulin used. No significant (p< 0.05) difference between the samples were observed with regard to the pH and lactic acid values. However, lactulose or inulin added samples had lower acetaldehyde and tyrosine contents than the untreated samples.

Effects of a Special Olympics Unified Sports soccer program on psycho-social attributes of youth with and without intellectual disability

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of a Special Olympics (SO) Unified Sports (UNS) soccer program on psycho-social attributes of youth with and without intellectual disabilities (ID). Participants were 76 male youth with (n=38) and without (n=38) ID. Participants with ID were randomly allocated into a SO athletes group (n=23, mean age=14.5; SD=1.2 years) and a control group (CG) (n=15, mean age=14.5; SD=.8 years). Twenty-three randomly selected youth without ID formed the partner group (mean age=14.1; SD=.9 years) and 15 youth without ID (mean age=13.8; SD=.5 years) formed the CG. Instruments included the Friendship Activity Scale (FAS) (Siperstein, 1980), the Adjective Checklist (Siperstein, 1980), and the Children Behavior Checklist (Achenbach, 1991). The soccer training program lasted eight weeks, 1.5h per session, three times per week, in addition to school physical education (PE). The CG did not participate in any sports in addition to PE. The findings showed that the UNS program was effective in decreasing the problem behaviors of youth with ID and increasing their social competence and FAS scores. In addition, the program was found to be effective in improving the attitude of youth without disabilities toward participants with disabilities. In conclusion, the present findings demonstrate the utility of a UNS program for both youth with and without disabilities.