The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme which was established to treat people with mild to moderate depression and anxiety. Positive Practice Guidance was published in 2009, but there are currently no areas listed as having a special interest in psychological therapies to people with learning disabilities. You can download the Positive Practice Guidance [read the full story…]
For critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a life threatening condition. Incidence rates varies and mortality rates can be as high as 50% . The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects brushing teeth twice daily with purified water on VAP rates and oral health or hygiene in postneurosurgical, [read the full story…]
This systematic literature review and meta-analysis conducted by researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, will be of interest to all clinicians who treat paediatric bipolar disorder. Treatment decisions for young people have previously been based on extrapolation from adult trials, case reports, open label trials or expert opinion. This new study provides a [read the full story…]
Last week we posted about a study in the Netherlands which called for more cross sector collaboration to tackle the issue of substance misuse , but there is little in the literature about possible links between the prevalence of substance abuse and links to offending behaviour among people with learning disabilities. The authors of this [read the full story…]
A report into the care received by patients with anxiety and depression across more than 350 NHS-funded psychological therapy services in England and Wales has revealed good overall standards of care, but substantial variation in quality. The National Audit of Psychological Therapies (NAPT), commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) and carried out by [read the full story…]
This new guideline published today suggests that psychological interventions should be offered to people who self-harm to help them overcome their behavioural problems. Specifically it recommends that healthcare professionals should offer 3-12 sessions of a psychological intervention that is specifically structured for people who self-harm. The intervention should aim to reduce self-harm and should be [read the full story…]
An international group of eminent clinicians have produced an executive report for the World Psychiatric Association, which looks at how well antidepressants work in the acute treatment of depression. The study is described as a ‘scholarly narrative review’ and the authors have considered guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and randomised controlled trials from a very wide [read the full story…]
The purpose of this brief review was to look at the conclusions of reviews published in the last ten years into the effectiveness of psychotherapy with people with learning disabilities. The authors conclude that from the findings of those reviews, there is evidence that psychotherapy with people with learning disabilities can be moderately effective, in [read the full story…]
Mindfulness as described in modern psychology relates to a way of people bringing complete attention to their present experience and involves responding to that experience with a non-judgmental attitude.The authors of this study wanted to review the adaptation and application of mindfulness-based psychotherapeutic practices for people with learning disabilities. They provide an overview of the [read the full story…]
Cognitive reframing is a technique used to reduce unrealistic or irrational thoughts and think in a more constructive way instead. It’s used as part of cognitive behavioural therapy. Carers of people with dementia sometimes respond inappropriately to the behaviour of the person with dementia. The stress and pressure of caring for their loved one may [read the full story…]
