The perceptions of adult psychiatric inpatients with major depressive disorder towards occupational therapy activity-based groups

BACKGROUND: Occupational therapists have been using group therapy as their preferred treatment modality in mental healthcare since the origin of the profession. In private mental healthcare units, major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most common psychiatric disease. Occupational therapists use individual and group therapy to treat adult inpatients with MDD. Little is known about the perceptions and experiences of adult inpatients with MDD regarding occupational therapy activity-based groups. AIM: To describe the perceptions and experiences of adult psychiatric inpatients with MDD towards occupational therapy activity-based groups. This article reports on the perceptions of adult psychiatric inpatients with MDD, which formed part of a larger study. SETTING: The study took place at two private general hospitals in Gauteng province, South Africa, each with a psychiatric ward. METHODS: The researcher used a qualitative explorative descriptive design. Accessible participants were selected using convenience sampling. Only consenting participants took part in the study. Data were collected during focus group discussions. Data were thematically analysed. RESULTS: Participants’ perceptions could be placed into one of four themes: (1) experience improved mood, (2) learned coping skills, (3) regained self-esteem and (4) becoming part of the solution to face life challenges. CONCLUSION: Activities that are unique to occupational therapy profession can benefit inpatients with MDD. This supports the profession’s historical beliefs, assumptions and foundations regarding therapeutic use of activities. According to these inpatients, group activities improved their overall mental health.http://www.sajpsychiatry.orgOccupational TherapyPsychiatr

A comparison of two occupational therapy group programs on the functioning of patients with major depressive disorders

BACKGROUND ː Occupational therapists, as part of the multi-disciplinary psychiatric team, regularly include activities and or discussion groups to reduce symptoms of patients with major depressive disorders (MDD), and to improve their functional ability. This study set out to compare two occupational therapy group programs. A Standard Care Plus (SCO) program, which includes tangible activities in each of the nine group sessions, was compared with the usual Standard Care (SCN) program, which excludes tangible activities in four of the nine group sessions. METHODS ː A comparative two-group parallel-study design was employed. One hundred participants, 50 from each occupational therapy group program, were pre- and post-treatment tested by means of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The study took place at the psychiatric wards of two private general hospitals in South Africa. RESULTS ː The SCO had a significant improved total outcome (P<0.0071) compared to the SCN. Five items measured in the SCO, showed a statistically significant improvement. These items were the following: interest or pleasure in doing things (P<0.0145), trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much (P<0.0103), feeling tired or having little energy (P<0.0365), moving or speaking slowly or fidgeting and/or restless (P<0.0114) and thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself (P<0.0123). CONCLUSIONS ː The results indicated that the SCO, which included tangible activities in every occupational therapy group session in the treatment of patients with MDD, was superior to the SCN which excluded tangible activities in four of the nine group sessions.https://www.minervamedica.it/it/riviste/minerva-psichiatrica/index.php2018-09-30hj2018Occupational TherapyPsychiatr

Continuing versus Stopping Prestroke Antihypertensive Therapy in Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Subgroup Analysis of the Efficacy of Nitric Oxide in Stroke Trial

Background and purpose More than 50% of patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are taking antihypertensive drugs before ictus. Although antihypertensive therapy should be given long term for secondary prevention, whether to continue or stop such treatment during the acute phase of ICH remains unclear, a question that was addressed in the Efficacy of Nitric Oxide in Stroke (ENOS) trial. Methods ENOS was an international multicenter, prospective, randomized, blinded endpoint trial. Among 629 patients with ICH and systolic blood pressure between 140 and 220 mmHg, 246 patients who were taking antihypertensive drugs were assigned to continue (n = 119) or to stop (n = 127) taking drugs temporarily for 7 days. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin Score at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included death, length of stay in hospital, discharge destination, activities of daily living, mood, cognition, and quality of life. Results Blood pressure level (baseline 171/92 mmHg) fell in both groups but was significantly lower at 7 days in those patients assigned to continue antihypertensive drugs (difference 9.4/3.5 mmHg, P <.01). At 90 days, the primary outcome did not differ between the groups; the adjusted common odds ratio (OR) for worse outcome with continue versus stop drugs was.92 (95% confidence interval,.45-1.89; P =.83). There was no difference between the treatment groups for any secondary outcome measure, or rates of death or serious adverse events. Conclusions Among patients with acute ICH, immediate continuation of antihypertensive drugs during the first week did not reduce death or major disability in comparison to stopping treatment temporarily. © 2016 The Authors

Interactions of science and technology policies in creating a competitive industry: Korea's electronics industry

This study analyzes the role of science and technology policy in the industrial transformation process. Using the case of South Korea's electronics and telecommunications industries, it examines how active interaction between the private and the public sector can help overcome problems of externalities, risk biases against infant industries and capability constraints often faced by many developing countries. As industry matures and contextual factors change, Korea's “competition policy” will have to adjust dramatically to a new reality.