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Biomedical subjects

Yi-Cheng Liao

Publications and source records attributed to Yi-Cheng Liao.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Combination antipsychotic therapy in psychiatric outpatient clinics in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to survey the use of combination antipsychotic therapy (CAT) in the psychiatric outpatient clinic of a general hospital. METHODS: Patients who received at least 2 antipsychotics in the psychiatric outpatient clinic of a general hospital in 1 month (August 1-31, 2003) were identified, and their retrospective chart review was performed. Using a questionnaire, we surveyed the clinicians on why 2 antipsychotics were prescribed, why long-term CAT was used, and whether the problems were solved by CAT. RESULTS: We studied 957 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and related disorders in 1 month. A total of 119 patients (12%) were prescribed at least 2 antipsychotics. Among these 119 patients, 91 (76%) were prescribed 2 types of first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs), and 15 patients (16%) were prescribed a second-generation antipsychotic medication and a low-dose FGA medication. The clinicians' main reasons for CAT were to treat insomnia (84%) and psychotic symptoms (83%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study revealed that 12% of the patients received CAT in the clinical practice. Most patients were prescribed 2 FGAs. The clinicians' reasons for prescribing CAT in Taiwan were to treat insomnia and psychotic symptoms.

Adult↗

[An experience promoting evidence-based nursing at a medical center in central Taiwan].

In the 21st Century, evidence-based nursing (EBN) may provide a mechanism by which nurses can manage the explosion in published information in the literature, introduce new techniques, effectively control healthcare costs, and increase attention on nursing quality and health outcomes. The objective of this paper is to share the experience implementing evidence-based nursing. We had applied strategies to implement evidence-based nursing care in our hospital since 2002. Over a more than three-year period (January 2002 to October 2005), we held 46 basic course sessions (around 1,840 attendees) and 58 advanced course sessions (around 500 attendees). There are 445 clinical questions with answered reports, Most questions related to foley care, central vein care and peripheral intravenous injection. Our nursing department revised three guidelines on nursing care skills related to suction and foley and nasal-gastric feeding to meet local conditions. Based on our subjective experience, promotion and implementation of EBN is feasible and helpful to update knowledge and decrease variance in clinical nursing care. However, further outcome research is needed in the future in order to obtain more objective evidence.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗

Correlation between scores on Continuous Performance Test and plasma concentration for schizophrenic patients on risperidone.

The purpose of the present paper was to evaluate the relationship between plasma antipsychotics concentration and cognitive task performance. This may provide valuable information for rational dosage titration. Literature on the relationship between plasma risperidone (RIS) concentration and performance on the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) remains scarce. Ten patients (four male, six female) were given RIS for more than 1 year. Steady-state plasma concentrations of the parent drug RIS and its active metabolite, 9-hydroxy-risperidone (9-OH-RIS), were measured using specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay. Psychopathology, side-effects of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and CPT were also assessed. A negative correlation was found between CPT performance and the plasma RIS, 9-OH-RIS and its active moiety (RIS + 9-OH-RIS) concentrations. Both RIS and 9-OH-RIS have an impact on the CPT performance of schizophrenic patients. Optimal active moiety plasma concentration for best cognitive performance needs further study.

Adult↗