T Burns

..Despite equivocal results, in the UK and Europe, this approach is becoming accepted policy. We assessed the effect of smaller case loads...

..They also examined reasons for the differing foci of case management studies across the different cultures. The authors summarize the symposium's findings...

..This study aims to identify features which predict help-seeking behaviour in symptomatic individuals and to explore failure of help seeking in those who did not...

..Amisulpride caused fewer neurological side-effects than conventional anti-psychotics and less weight gain than risperidone, both of which are crucial factors for long-term compliance...

..A total of 62% of patients received amisulpride doses in the range 400-800 mg/day and most (72%) required no dose adjustment. The great majority of patients (87%) switched to amisulpride without problems...

..The study aimed to develop and test a simple, brief and meaningful index of social outcomes that can be used across a broad range of mental health studies and is potentially obtainable from routine documentation...

..The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence and predictors of violent victimization amongst a community-dwelling sample of individuals with psychosis...

..We aimed to test whether care delivery changes over time, and to describe any changes at the individual patient and team levels...

..CONCLUSIONS: North American studies demonstrate greater differences in days in hospital but patients in their experimental services seem to spend no fewer days in hospital, implying a disparity in control services...

..We aimed to operationalize a multi-axial model of continuity of care and to use factor analysis to determine its validity for severe mental illness...

..It is no longer recommended that home treatment be tested against inpatient care, or that small, localised studies replicate existing, more highly powered studies...

..In contrast to others, this measure has been generated from the perspectives of service users. As continuity of care is a concern particularly for those with severe mental illness, we have confined our work to this population group...

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..We investigated the influence of demographic, social and clinical characteristics on relatives' experience when conceptualised using a stress-appraisal-coping paradigm...

..To examine the association between co-morbid personality disorder (PD) and suicidal behaviour over a 2-year period in a sample of patients with psychosis...

..The purpose of these guidelines is to outline the consensus reached by the Schizophrenia Innovation Working Group on best practice in prescribing and appropriate use of aripiprazole in the UK...

..Both groups in this study were receiving standard community psychiatric care...

..OBJECTIVe: Deficits in social functioning are a core feature of schizophrenia...

..Alcohol misuse in psychotic patients is common and leads to poor treatment outcome. This study examines the relationship between alcohol consumption and cost of care in patients with a severe psychotic illness...

..7% had never been previously diagnosed with a STI. Sexual health programmes in prisons should include screening as well as education about STI risk reduction and drug prevention...

..A centrally coordinated research strategy is recommended, with attention to study design. Experimental and control service components should be prospectively recorded and reported to enable meaningful analysis...

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..Newer antipsychotics are increasingly used in schizophrenia maintenance. The UK change has been slow with little known on switching patterns. We aimed to investigate antipsychotic prescribing patterns in schizophrenia patients...

..Measuring their experiences has become a priority, but there is no consensus on appropriate instruments. We aimed to review instruments carers consider relevant to their needs and assess evidence for their use...

..To examine the cardiovascular and respiratory health of people with severe mental illness (SMI) and compare findings with the Health Surveys for England...

..Recent work has focussed on schizophrenia as a 'deficit' state but little attention has been paid to defining illness plasticity in terms of symptomatic remission...

..It is important to maintain liaison between the four services as patients presenting to one clinic may have presented previously to another local clinic...

..To examine the dental health of community dwelling people with schizophrenia and to compare results with those in the general population...