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Biomedical subjects

Marko Sorvaniemi

Publications and source records attributed to Marko Sorvaniemi.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Improved detection and pharmacotherapy of major depression from 1989 to 2001 in psychiatric outpatient care in Finland.

There have been several reports of non-detection and undertreatment of major depression during the past decades. In this study, we investigated how accurately major depression was assessed, diagnosed and treated according to gold standards, and whether any trend could be found from 1989 to 2001 in Finland. In total, documents of 4447 patients were retrospectively checked at most four times to find the patients fulfilling the study criteria. Finally, 531 patients were included in the study. The major finding of the study was the improved diagnostic assessment of patients with major depression seen in psychiatric settings. However, a systematic and comprehensive approach in asking about and recording subtyping, severity and comorbidity of depression was insufficient. Another major finding of the study was the improved pharmacotherapy of patients with major depression. It seems to be relevant that problems in the quality of care for depression in psychiatric settings are now more likely to be related to suboptimal intensity and monitoring of treatment than to mere lack of treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Recorded psychiatric comorbidity with bipolar disorder--a Finnish hospital discharge register study.

Bipolar disorder is frequently connected to other psychiatric disorders. On the basis of The National Hospital Discharge Register in Finland, we studied the recorded prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity among bipolar inpatients by clinicians, and the factors that were associated with it. Of the 2687 hospital stays in 1998, 82% had no other recorded psychiatric diagnosis except an episode of bipolar disorder. Psychiatric comorbidity was recorded in 18% of hospital stays, of which 20% had two comorbid psychiatric diagnoses. Substance-related disorders (11%) were the most commonly recorded comorbid disorders. Personality disorders were recorded in 6%, and anxiety disorder in 1% of the hospital stays. These figures should be considered far below the expected ones. Recorded comorbidity was associated with the type of episode. Comorbidity in bipolar disorder in psychiatric hospitals in Finland seems to go greatly undetected and may have a deteriorating impact on the course of the illness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Telepsychiatry in emergency consultations: a follow-up study of sixty patients.

The objective was to investigate how telepsychiatry works in the assessment of psychiatric emergency patients. Sixty consecutive patients referred to the acute open ward having their first psychiatric contact through the videolink with the psychiatrist on duty. Only minor technical problems occurred. The results suggest both acceptance and satisfaction on the part of patients and staff with new technology, instead of waiting for a consultation or traveling to see a psychiatrist in face-to-face meeting. Telepsychiatry seems to be suitable for the assessment of psychiatric emergency patients, and satisfactory for patients and staff alike.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Sick-leave certificates granted to psychiatric outpatients with major depression.

We investigated to what extent and for what reasons depressive outpatients are given certificates for sick-leaves and whether there are particular factors associated with the given sick-leaves. Our retrospective case note study was based on 213 adult psychiatric outpatients with first-time documented DSM-III-R major depression. Several sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics were detected during the follow-up of 3 months' medical care. This information was related to official registers of granted sick-leave certificates with a follow-up time of 30 months for the study patients. Sick-leave certificates were granted to 61% of patients. The mean duration of time off work due to documented illness was 142 days. Eighty-seven percent of the total sum of sick-leave days was for depressive disorders. Living with someone else, being employed, and early recognition of the illness were associated with the granted sick-leaves.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Factors associated with being granted a pension among psychiatric outpatients with major depression.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about factors associated with early retirement due to major depression in naturalistic settings. We examined to what extent major depression leads to disability pension and whether there are any associated factors with being granted a pension. METHODS: In our retrospective document-based cohort study of 213 adult psychiatric outpatients with first-time documented DSM-III-R major depression, several sociodemographic, clinical and treatment characteristics were detected during the follow-up time of 3 months of medical care in Finland. This information was related to official registers of granted pensions with a follow-up time of 30 months. RESULTS: Forty-six (21.6%) patients were granted a pension during the follow-up period. Greater age, comorbidity and lowered self-esteem were strongly associated with being granted a pension. DISCUSSION: Some risk factors associated with subsequent retirement could be identified at the early phase of the illness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

National prescribing practices of adolescent psychiatrists for psychotropic medications in outpatient care in Finland.

We studied national prescribing practices for psychotropic drugs in adolescent psychiatric outpatient care in Finland in the cross-sectional survey study in 1999. A questionnaire was sent to the adolescent psychiatrists employed in the community outpatient clinics covering all Finland. The response rate was 81% (n=34). On average, the respondents reported that 33% of their outpatients were treated with drugs. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were the drug of choice in the treatment of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Atypical antipsychotics played an important role in the treatment of psychotic adolescents. Adolescent psychopharmacology is an important and developing part of treatment of mentally disordered young people, on the understanding that drug therapies are adjunct to other treatment interventions.

Adolescent↗