THERAPY AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS WITH PSYCHOSIS

The symptoms and the individual experience of psychosis vary from patient to patient. Treatment, medication and cognitive psychotherapy are targeted mostly on positive and lately also on negative symptoms of psychosis. Deficits in metacognition found in patients with psychosis have a profound impact on the recovery process, their quality of life and experience of mental pain. Long term group psychotherapy helps patients to mourn their loss, improve their metacognition, and reduce the stigma and mental pain in patients with psychosis

THERAPY AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS WITH PSYCHOSIS

The symptoms and the individual experience of psychosis vary from patient to patient. Treatment, medication and cognitive psychotherapy are targeted mostly on positive and lately also on negative symptoms of psychosis. Deficits in metacognition found in patients with psychosis have a profound impact on the recovery process, their quality of life and experience of mental pain. Long term group psychotherapy helps patients to mourn their loss, improve their metacognition, and reduce the stigma and mental pain in patients with psychosis

ATTACHMENT AS A PREDICTOR OF THERAPEUTIC OUTCOME A case study of a young patient with psychosis

Therapeutic alliance is one of the predictors of a successful therapy. In the current case study of the 26 year old male student diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia we discuss the possible consequences of a short break in the therapeutic process on the treatment outcome. The client was appointed to an assistant psychologist for study support sessions and to work on his social skills and anxieties. The therapy continued regularly for a month and a half with some visible results in motivation, engagement and mood. After a break in the sessions due to the psychologist’s absence, the client did not attend the sessions regularly. He became more withdrawn, his compliance with medical treatment was diminished and he did not meet his study goals

ATTACHMENT AS A PREDICTOR OF THERAPEUTIC OUTCOME A case study of a young patient with psychosis

Therapeutic alliance is one of the predictors of a successful therapy. In the current case study of the 26 year old male student diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia we discuss the possible consequences of a short break in the therapeutic process on the treatment outcome. The client was appointed to an assistant psychologist for study support sessions and to work on his social skills and anxieties. The therapy continued regularly for a month and a half with some visible results in motivation, engagement and mood. After a break in the sessions due to the psychologist’s absence, the client did not attend the sessions regularly. He became more withdrawn, his compliance with medical treatment was diminished and he did not meet his study goals

LONG TERM GROUPS OF PATIENTS WITH PSYCHOSIS: PHYSICAL ACITIVTY AND MEDICAL TREATMENT

Aim: Long term group work with outpatients with psychosis who attended groups in the last ten years was evaluated regarding their physical acitivity, quality of life and medication treatment. Methods: Outpatients with psychosis who attended long term psychotherapeutic groups were evaluated regarding their medication, quality of life and physical activity. A modified, non-structured, psychoanalytic group technique which includes psycho education, cognitive techniques, non-structural conversation and clarifications was used in group therapy. For evaluation purposes Quality of life Bref and a self-designed physical activity questionnaire along with clinical observation and Drug Attitude Inventory was used. Each patient\u27s medication was noted at the time of the study and the dosage was transformed into chlorpromazine equivalents. Results: Several therapeutic group factors are important for improving attitudes towards physical activity, improving quality of life and attitude towards medication. The physical activity questionnaire gave us some preliminary information on our patients\u27 current physical activity. We explore the patients\u27 Quality of life, medication and attitude towards physical activity. Discussion: The results show that there is a relevant correlation between physical activity, quality of life and medication treatment. Therefore treatment in a team setting and a multidisciplinary approach could lead to the best results in this respect and better physical health of patients with psychosis

LONG TERM GROUPS FOR PATIENTS WITH PSYCHOSIS IN PARTIAL REMISSION - Evaluation of ten years’ work

Outpatients with psychosis who attended long term psychotherapeutic groups were evaluated regarding their quality of life and attitude towards medication with self-report questionnaires. The DAI-10, Quality of life Brief questionnaires and clinical observation were used for evaluation. Most of the patients’ participation in group therapy was rated as satisfactory or very productive by their group therapist. More than half of our patients rated the group therapy’s influence on their life as important; only three of them noticed no importance of the group therapy on their life. The sample may be too small to show a statistically significant correlation between participation in the group and time spent in group therapy and attitude towards medication

LONG TERM GROUPS OF PATIENTS WITH PSYCHOSIS: PHYSICAL ACITIVTY AND MEDICAL TREATMENT

Aim: Long term group work with outpatients with psychosis who attended groups in the last ten years was evaluated regarding their physical acitivity, quality of life and medication treatment. Methods: Outpatients with psychosis who attended long term psychotherapeutic groups were evaluated regarding their medication, quality of life and physical activity. A modified, non-structured, psychoanalytic group technique which includes psycho education, cognitive techniques, non-structural conversation and clarifications was used in group therapy. For evaluation purposes Quality of life Bref and a self-designed physical activity questionnaire along with clinical observation and Drug Attitude Inventory was used. Each patient\u27s medication was noted at the time of the study and the dosage was transformed into chlorpromazine equivalents. Results: Several therapeutic group factors are important for improving attitudes towards physical activity, improving quality of life and attitude towards medication. The physical activity questionnaire gave us some preliminary information on our patients\u27 current physical activity. We explore the patients\u27 Quality of life, medication and attitude towards physical activity. Discussion: The results show that there is a relevant correlation between physical activity, quality of life and medication treatment. Therefore treatment in a team setting and a multidisciplinary approach could lead to the best results in this respect and better physical health of patients with psychosis

Twelve-month prospective, multinational, observational study of factors associated with recovery from mania in bipolar disorder in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics

Objectives. Atypical antipsychotic agents constitute one therapeutic approach for bipolar disorder. Since disease course and outcome are variable, further studies are needed to complement limited data supportive of clinical decisions at treatment initiation. Methods. This 12-month, prospective, observational study investigated factors associated with symptomatic remission (total YMRS score <= 12) and full clinical recovery (sustained reduction in CGI-BP-S overall score) in bipolar disorder during treatment with atypical antipsychotics (predominantly olanzapine, risperidone and quetiapine; alone or in combination with a psychotropic such as lithium or valproate) in actual clinical practice. Results. Amongst 872 enrolled and eligible patients, rates of symptomatic remission and full clinical recovery at 12 months were 93.0 and 78.5%, respectively. Of the baseline factors significantly (P <= 0.05) associated with symptomatic remission, the following categories were positively associated with a higher chance of symptomatic remission: Caucasian ethnicity; higher CGI-BP-S scores; family-dependent living; a previous manic episode; 1, 2 or >= 5 social activities; no work impairment; and being neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with life. Outpatient treatment and historically longer periods of mania were significantly positively associated with full clinical recovery. Conclusions. While clinical status may also be associated with longer-term remission and recovery, factors relating to social functioning and quality of life are easily assessed and potentially modifiable. Such knowledge may aid physicians’ clinical decisions regarding patients with bipolar mania treated with atypical antipsychotics