Psychosocial Approaches in the Treatment of Psychosis: Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp) and Metacognitive Training (MCT).

Although antipsychotic medication has been the most widely used and efficacious treatment in ameliorating the symptoms of psychosis, there has been a growing realization that pharmacological treatment has limitations. A significant minority of individuals continue to show "treatment-resistant" symptoms and significant relapse risk, while others show symptom reduction without the corresponding improvement in social and role functioning. Psychotherapy, in combination with medication, can help with symptom reduction, as well as improve functioning and quality of life. In this paper, we focus on two modalities of psychotherapy which have been shown to improve symptomatology and functioning in individuals with psychosis: Cognitive Behavior Therapy for psychosis (CBTp) and Metacognitive Training (MCT). Both treatment approaches focus on increasing the individuals' understanding of the psychological mechanisms associated with delusions and hallucinations, and helping them develop strategies to improve reality testing and belief evaluation. We aim to provide an overview of both treatments, examining not only the theoretical mechanisms and efficacy of each approach, but also the common therapeutic components they share.

A qualitative investigation of injurious falls in long-term care: perspectives of staff members.

PURPOSE: Although falls often result in serious injury among seniors residing in long-term care (LTC), there is a paucity of research about LTC staff perceptions about falls. Our purpose was to elicit opinions of LTC staff about falls and fall prevention given 'least restraint' policies. We also aimed to identify obstacles for optimal falls prevention. METHOD: Data were collected from administrators and a wide variety clinical staff (N = 98; 7 LTC facilities) using 11 focus groups and 28 interviews. Questions were asked about clinical practices related to falls. We employed thematic analysis to ascertain primary and secondary themes within the data. RESULTS: Participants viewed falls as a major challenge. They expressed concerns about their ability to control falls and manage consequences. Participants were conflicted about the role of restraints in falls management. Although they acknowledged beneficial effects of least restraint in terms of resident independence and increased activity, they also noted that in some instances, restraints may prevent falls, especially when individuals with dementia are considered. CONCLUSIONS: Participants were highly attentive to issues surrounding falls. However, many were unaware of clinically important findings from relevant research and misperceived fall-related (restraint) policies. Physical therapists have a role to play in education initiatives targeting these areas.