Open access. Severe mental illness is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The elevated risk of blood-borne viruses (BBVs) in people with severe mental illness is of concern, but the full extent of this problem is unclear. We aimed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for BBVs in people with severe mental illness.
Open access. HIV, hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV) are preventable serious blood-borne infections. Early detection and accessible and user-friendly treatments improve prognosis, cure (for HCV), and prevent further transmission. 30 years of previous studies in a range of population samples have suggested that severe mental illness is a risk factor for contracting blood-borne viruses (BBVs).1 In The Lancet Psychiatry, Clarissa Bauer-Staeb and colleagues2 confirm the elevated risk for BBVs experienced by individuals with severe mental illness in a Swedish population.
Users of antipsychotics (APs) have a risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Sudden cardiac death in such patients is thought to be largely due to drug-induced QT prolongation. It has been reported that many subjects with drug-induced torsades de pointes (TdP) have risk alleles associated with subclinical congenital long QT syndrome. SSSFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Treatment with antipsychotic (AP) agents is associated with incident thromboembolic events. However, the underpinnings of this association remain unknown. We sought to evaluate the effect of AP agents—categorized by their metabolic/sedative and hyperprolactinemia adverse effect profile—on the risk of venous thromboembolic disease during long-term follow-up. SSSFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
People with severe mental ill health are more likely to smoke than those in the general population. It is therefore important that effective smoking cessation strategies are used to help people with severe mental ill health to stop smoking. This study aims to assess the effectiveness and cost –effectiveness of smoking cessation and reduction strategies in adults with severe mental ill health in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
To determine the effects of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist liraglutide added to clozapine or olanzapine treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust empowering teams through training and transforming physical health checks for people with mental health needs
Hyperprolactinaemia is a common endocrine disorder that can be associated with significant morbidity. Antipsychotic medications are frequently linked to hyperprolactinaemia. This disorder usually presents as menstrual problems in women and sexual problems in men, which affect the patients’ quality of life and adherence to antipsychotic treatment. In the past, treatment for hyperprolactinaemia was recommended only for symptomatic patients. However, it has become clear that persistent asymptomatic hyperprolactinaemia can be associated with long-term physical morbidities such as osteoporosis and possibly breast cancer. Hence, it is imperative that hyperprolactinaemia is managed even if asymptomatic when initially detected. This article discusses the various management options, such as reducing the dose of antipsychotic medication, switching to a prolactin-sparing antipsychotic and adding aripiprazole to the treatment regimen. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Hospital-acquired infections are the most common adverse event for inpatients worldwide. Efforts to prevent microbial cross-contamination currently focus on hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment (PPE), with variable success. Better understanding is needed of infection prevention and control (IPC) in routine clinical practice. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Meaning Depression and some psychotropic medications are associated with an increased risk of fracture that is not fully captured by FRAX scores. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Prescription opioid overdose is a leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality in the US. We aimed to identify characteristics associated with clinical severity in emergency department patients with prescription opioid overdose. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
We’ve just heard that SSOTP will not be renewing their agreement with SSSFT LKS for library services for this financial year. Because of this we will be reviewing our Be Aware bulletins. Sadly we won’t be accepting any new sign-ups from SSOTP staff and will be withdrawing some of the physical healthcare bulletins that we…
This guideline covers the general principles for managing intravenous (IV) fluid therapy in hospital inpatients aged 16 and over with a range of conditions. It aims to help prescribers understand the optimal amount and composition of IV fluids to be administered and the best rate at which to give them, to improve fluid prescribing and outcomes among people in hospital. It does not cover pregnant women, and those with severe liver or renal disease, diabetes or burns.
The Safety Thermometer App, built by the NHS Quality Observatory and supported by Haelo, has been introduced to Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust to revolutionise the monthly audit of data.
The audit, a national requirement, aims to monitor harm-free care across the nation.
It is estimated that, in the acute setting, the new process will save on average 58 hours per month– that’s 696 hours per year!
Open access. The STEPWISE trial (STructured lifestyle Education for People WIth SchizophrEnia, schizoaffective disorder and first episode psychosis) is currently evaluating a lifestyle education programme in addition to usual care. However, it is difficult to define what constitutes ‘usual care’. We aimed to define ‘usual care’ for lifestyle management in people with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and first-episode psychosis in STEPWISE study sites. Ten National Health Service (NHS) mental health trusts participated in a bespoke survey based on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.
Open access. To review the current clinical practice and guidelines for testing and treating vitamin D deficiency in adolescents admitted to a tier 4 adolescent psychiatric unit in north London. The blood test results of 56 patients admitted between 2012 and 2014 were examined to determine whether vitamin D levels had been tested. For those individuals who were tested for vitamin D, results were analysed by gender and ethnicity.
Life expectancy of people with severe mental illness is considerably shortened and their risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders is increased. They spend more time in solitary and less time in structured activities than the general population. SSSFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
But the study only compared two products, and also only looked at one organism, which doesn't cause infection in humans.
Examining the effectiveness of a wider range of products against other types of infectious organisms, such as viruses and fungi, as well as other strains of bacteria, would be required before we can safely say whether cold water is just as effective as hot.
Vitamin D has an integral role in maintaining calcium homeostasis in the blood. It is well established that prolonged and severe vitamin D deficiency leads to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Increasing evidence indicates that deficiency has associations with a number of other physical and mental health conditions. Doctors should ensure that their patients have information so that they can make informed decisions about their health, be it their physical or mental health. Recent NICE guidelines on vitamin D recommend that health care professionals have a role in informing patients about vitamin D supplements. This is especially relevant for forensic psychiatrists, as their patients often fall into recognised at risk groups for lowered vitamin D levels. One could argue that patients who have long admissions in secure wards are a specific at risk group and that supplementation should be routine. Login using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens for full text. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.