Mental health admissions to medical wards: 65% increase in a decade for young people

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Mental health admissions to acute medical wards rose 65% for young people in England (2012-2022), with eating disorder admissions up 515% and anxiety admissions doubling in 10 years. Self-harm admissions accounted for more than half of the total. Adolescent girls by far the biggest group affected.

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“Necessary evil” or hidden harm? A scoping review of informal coercion in psychiatry

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Informal coercion – the subtle pressure patients feel in psychiatric care – is common but poorly understood. A new scoping review sheds light on how it’s defined, where it happens, and why it matters for patients and professionals alike.

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Lithium is best at decreasing the risk of depression-related hospitalisation in bipolar disorder, according to new cohort study

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This Swedish cohort study, blogged by Duncan Swiffen, is yet more evidence for lithium as an excellent treatment for people with bipolar disorder. This time it comes out on top in terms of preventing depression-related hospitalisation.

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Updated review of experiences of compulsory treatment builds the case for legal reform to be grounded in lived experiences

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Jill Stavert summarises a recent qualitative meta-synthesis of service users’ and carers’ experiences of assessment and involuntary hospital admissions under mental health legislations.

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When care causes harm: a systematic review of adverse experiences in mental health wards

By addressing the full spectrum of adverse experiences, mental health services can make strides towards environments that not only prevent harm but actively contribute to the wellbeing and recovery of individuals in their care.

Jessica Griffiths and Una Foye explore a recent qualitative review of adverse mental health inpatient experiences, which proposes a strategic approach to improving service design and delivery, advocating for environments that prioritise patient safety, dignity and respect.

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A deep dive into trauma-informed care in crisis, emergency and residential mental health settings

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Magda Skowronska summarises a scoping review that finds significant evidence gaps around the implementation of trauma-informed care in emergency care, crisis teams, crisis houses and acute day hospitals.

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Rising temperatures and poor mental health: new review explores suicidal behaviour and mental health hospital attendance or admission

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Jingni Ma considers a systematic review exploring the impact of rising temperatures and poor mental health, which suggests links to suicide, mental health hospital attendance and hospitalisation, and worse psychological outcomes.

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Mental health problems and admissions to hospital for accidents and injuries in the UK military

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Ana Veic summarises a epidemiological study exploring the mental health problems and admissions to hospital for accidents and injuries in the UK military.

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Intensive home treatment in crisis: a randomised controlled trial from the Netherlands

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Lucy Maconick and Sonia Johnson appraise a recent trial conducted in Amsterdam, which finds that intensive home treatment substantially reduces the use of hospital beds in acute psychiatry, without compromising patient safety.

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Psychiatric Advance Directives: more effective when facilitated by peer workers, according to French RCT

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Rob Allison considers a French randomised controlled trial, which provides support for the use of peer worker–facilitated psychiatric advance directives to prevent compulsory rehospitalisation in people with severe mental illness.

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