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Biomedical subjects

S Pilling

Publications and source records attributed to S Pilling.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Psychological treatments in schizophrenia: II. Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of social skills training and cognitive remediation.

BACKGROUND: Social skills training and cognitive remediation are psychological techniques with considerable face validity for the treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia and their consequences. This paper provides a meta-analytical review of these treatments. It includes an appreciable number of randomized controlled trials, using comparisons against both standard care and other active interventions. However, the assessment of particular outcomes sometimes had to be based on single studies. METHOD: A detailed search strategy was used to identify randomized controlled trials of social skills training and cognitive remediation, primarily employing electronic databases. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that met predefined criteria were then subjected to meta-analysis on a variety of outcome measures. RESULTS: There was no clear evidence for any benefits of social skills training on relapse rate, global adjustment, social functioning, quality of life or treatment compliance. Cognitive remediation had no benefit on attention, verbal memory, visual memory, planning, cognitive flexibility or mental state. CONCLUSIONS: Social skills training and cognitive remediation do not appear to confer reliable benefits for patients with schizophrenia and cannot be recommended for clinical practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Psychological treatments in schizophrenia: I. Meta-analysis of family intervention and cognitive behaviour therapy.

BACKGROUND: While there is a growing body of evidence on the efficacy of psychological interventions for schizophrenia, this meta-analysis improves upon previous systematic and meta-analytical reviews by including a wider range of randomized controlled trials and providing comparisons against both standard care and other active interventions. METHOD: Literature searches identified randomized controlled trials of four types of psychological interventions: family intervention, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), social skills training and cognitive remediation. These were then subjected to meta-analysis on a variety of outcome measures. This paper presents results relating to the first two. RESULTS: Family therapy, in particular single family therapy, had clear preventative effects on the outcomes of psychotic relapse and readmission, in addition to benefits in medication compliance. CBT produced higher rates of 'important improvement' in mental state and demonstrated positive effects on continuous measures of mental state at follow-up. CBT also seems to be associated with low drop-out rates. CONCLUSIONS: Family intervention should be offered to people with schizophrenia who are in contact with carers. CBT may be useful for those with treatment resistant symptoms. Both treatments, in particular CBT, should be further investigated in large trials across a variety of patients, in various settings. The factors mediating treatment success in these interventions should be researched.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Quality assurance in mental health: the QUARTZ system.

This paper is concerned with how quality might be assured in mental health services. It includes an account of why a concern with quality and quality assurance procedures are now high on the agenda of the Health Service. A quality assurance programme requires a decision about what elements of a service to monitor, what information is relevant, how it can be collected, and a system for acting on the results. This paper provides a brief review of the kind of information that has been considered relevant and the methods that have been used to collect it. In addition, the principles underlying good and comprehensive quality assurance programmes will be outlined and the development of a particular system, known as QUARTZ, which has attempted to incorporate these principles, described briefly.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Plasma amino acid concentrations in the overtraining syndrome: possible effects on the immune system.

Overtraining and long-term exercise are associated with an impairment of immune function. We provide evidence in support of the hypothesis that the supply of glutamine, a key fuel for cells of the immune system, is impaired in these conditions and that this may contribute to immunosuppression. Plasma glutamine concentration was decreased in overtrained athletes and after long-term exercise (marathon race) and was increased after short-term, high intensity exercise (sprinting). Branched chain amino acid supplementation during long-term exercise was shown to prevent this decrease in the plasma glutamine level. Overtraining was without effect on the rate of T-lymphocyte proliferation in vitro or on the plasma levels of interleukin-1 and -6, suggesting that immune function is not impaired in this condition. Given the proposed importance of glutamine for cells of the immune system, it is concluded that the decrease in plasma glutamine concentration in overtraining and following long-term exercise, and not an intrinsic defect in T lymphocyte function, may contribute to the immune deficiency reported in these conditions.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

A study of variables associated with under-attendance at a psychiatric day centre.

This study examines the problems of client under-attendance at a psychiatric day centre. Demographic, psychiatric, psychometric and Semantic Differential measures were used. Several of these measures were significantly associated with under-attendance. Various methods are suggested for the identification of and reduction of the level of under-attendance.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Calculating the risk.

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Accidents, Occupational↗