ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Since 1988, the psychiatric outpatient clinic at Kongsberg Hospital has carried out group treatment for patients with anxiety disorders. This study assesses the effect of this treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nineteen of a total of 27 patients were included in the study. Diagnostic criteria were agoraphobia with or without panic disorder. The length of treatment was three months. Methods used were cognitive behavioural therapy, physiotherapy and group therapy. Ratings of the patients' symptoms were made before treatment, at termination of treatment and one to three years after. The Symptom Score Check List (SCL 90) rates the level of symptoms on nine different dimensions. RESULTS: Analysis of variance for repeated measures (ANOVA) indicates reduction on six of the symptom dimensions at termination of treatment. Significant values of reduction was achieved for anxiety and phobic anxiety. This was even further reduced one to three years later. INTERPRETATION: We could not establish whether the treatment has been effective concerning the symptoms being treated.
Subject(s)
Agoraphobia/therapy , Panic Disorder/therapy , Psychotherapy, Group , Adult , Agoraphobia/complications , Agoraphobia/diagnosis , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Panic Disorder/complications , Panic Disorder/diagnosis , Physical Therapy Modalities , Psychotherapy, Group/methods , Self-Assessment , Treatment OutcomeSubject(s)
Accidents , Malpractice/legislation & jurisprudence , Quality Assurance, Health Care , Risk Management/standards , Wounds and Injuries/etiology , Accidents/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Malpractice/statistics & numerical data , Norway/epidemiology , Risk Management/statistics & numerical data , Wounds and Injuries/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Complaints handled by the Directorate of Health about medical treatment have been registered and analysed for the years 1980, 1985 and 1990. The analysis shows that the number of complaints against government hospitals increased fourfold from 1985 to 1990. Compensation awarded in cases where medical negligence was proved rose sevenfold from NOK 3 million in 1985 to NOK 20 million in 1990. We have reason to believe that there has been a similar increase in the number of claims for compensation, and in the amount of compensation awarded in cases of proven negligence, also in cases not involving the Directorate of Health. It is important to note that our study demonstrates an increase in serious events leading to permanent functional impairment or death. A post hoc analysis suggests that some 80% of the failures might have been avoided if an adequate system of quality assurance had been established.