8-Hydroxyisoquinolines

Petaline, an alkaloid from Leontice leontopetalum, Linn, has been shown by synthetic and degradative experiments to be a 2,2-dimethyl-8-hydroxy-7-methoxy-1-(p-methoxybenzyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinium salt and is the first benzyl-isoquinoline alkaloid reported with this oxygenation pattern

PETALS: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE OUTCOMES OF A SERVICE FOR BEREAVEMENT DURING CHILDBIRTH

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of Petals: a charitable organisation in Cambridgeshire. Petals provides counselling for women and couples who have suffered perinatal bereavement, or trauma during pregnancy or birth. This paper attempts to evaluate the effect of counseling interventions at this difficult time. Methods: Outcomes were recorded in 42 patients using the CORE (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation) system. CORE was developed to assess the effectiveness of psychological therapies. CORE-OM (CORE Outcome Measure) involves a questionnaire that assesses subjective well-being, symptoms / problems, function, and risk to self and others. The CORE-OM questionnaire was completed before and after the counselling sessions. Results: The CORE-OM scores were summated into a global representation of severity. Severity decreased in all patients. Symptoms of psychological pathology were also decreased in all cases. Conclusion: A review of the available literature indicates that little is known about the efficacy of therapy for perinatal bereavement and trauma. These original data suggest convincing efficacy and benefits, but the numbers involved are small.Further trials with greater sample sizes are required

EVALUATION OF A SPECIALISED COUNSELLING SERVICE FOR PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of Petals: a charitable organisation in Cambridgeshire. Petals provides counselling for women and couples who have suffered perinatal bereavement, or trauma during pregnancy or birth. This paper attempts to evaluate the effect of counseling interventions at this difficult time. Methods: Outcomes were recorded in 107 patients using the CORE (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation) system. CORE was developed to assess the effectiveness of psychological therapies. CORE-OM (CORE Outcome Measure) involves a questionnaire that assesses subjective well-being, symptoms/problems, function, and risk to self and others. The CORE-OM questionnaire was completed before and after the counselling sessions. Results: The CORE-OM scores were summated into a global representation of severity. Severity decreased in all patients. Symptoms of psychological pathology were also decreased in all cases. Conclusion: Offering a free specialised counselling for parents suffering perinatal loss seems to be associated with an improvement in psychological outcomes. It is possible that it is more effective among a clinical population. However, we are uncertain of the natural history of the psychological problems this group of clients are experiencing. Having a control group would show how much of any natural improvement is due to the therapy; conversely, it is possible that without intervention these problems worsen with time, so a control group could actually amplify the effect

Collection Development in College Libraries (Book Review)

published or submitted for publicatio

Planning for the future: Exploring the experiences of older carers of adult children with a learning disability

Background: There are a significant number of adults with a learning disability who live with and are cared for by their parents. There is a pressing need for interventions to support older parent carers with their role and to plan for a time when they can no longer continue caring. This article reports on the experiences of older parent carers who have been in receipt of an intervention to support future planning, in a rural part of England, delivered to older carers of their adult children with learning disabilities. Methods: Semi‐structured carer interviews (n = 12) were conducted and analysed thematically. Results: Four themes were identified (a) emotional needs of carer, (b) future planning, (c) accessing other services and resources and (d) links to adult care services. Carers welcomed the flexibility of the intervention and its focus on support for them, relieving their sense of isolation. Conclusions: The research highlights the unmet needs of older family carers and shows the value of tailored support from a carer perspective. The findings have im- plications for national social care provision delivered to carers of adult children with learning disabilities in rural areas

Evaluation by Type of Library

published or submitted for publicatio

Publishing of Research in Librarianship

published or submitted for publicatio