Effectiveness of internet-based psychosocial interventions on psychological distress, expressed emotion, and knowledge about psychosis among family caregivers of people with schizophrenia: a systematic review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of internet-based psychosocial interventions versus active comparators (such as in-person interventions, bibliotherapy, or telephone interventions) and passive comparators (such as usual psychiatric care) on psychological distress, expressed emotion, and knowledge about psychosis in family caregivers of people with schizophrenia. INTRODUCTION: Family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia are at increased risk of developing mental disorders. Despite the widespread dissemination of reliable guidelines for caring for people with schizophrenia and their family caregivers, these have been poorly implemented. Hence, internet-based interventions with caregivers of people with schizophrenia could be an effective and feasible option. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review will include studies focusing on the family caregivers of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Internet-based psychosocial interventions will be defined as any psychosocial intervention that is internet-based compared with active comparators (such as in-person interventions, bibliotherapy, or telephone interventions) and passive comparators (such as usual psychiatric care). The primary outcomes of this review will include psychological distress, expressed emotion, and knowledge about the psychosis of family caregivers of people with schizophrenia. The secondary outcome will be the hospitalization of people with schizophrenia. METHODS: MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL (Ovid), Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses will be systematically searched for published and unpublished studies from 2010 in English and Thai. Two reviewers will select studies, critically appraise them, and perform data extraction independently. Finally, when possible, the studies will be pooled through statistical meta-analysis and grading of the certainty of evidence by each outcome. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42021255318.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy Self-Help Booklet to Decrease Depression and Alcohol Use among People with Alcohol Dependence in Thailand.

Individuals with disorders co-occurring of depression and alcohol dependence are clinically more complex and more difficult to keep well than those diagnosed with either depression or alcohol dependence alone. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has shown to help reduce patients' symptoms of depression and alcohol use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a CBT self-help booklet (CBT-SHB) with usual care in decreasing depression and alcohol use among people with co-occurring alcohol dependence and mild depression. People with alcohol dependence and a score in the mild depression range of the PHQ-9 (Thai) were randomized to receive either CBT self-help booklet (CBT-SHB) with usual care (n = 168) or usual outpatient care alone (n = 164) at a community hospital. Our findings indicated significant reductions in depression and alcohol use in the CBT-SHB group from baseline across 6 months of follow-up over time in depression and alcohol use in both CBT-SHB with usual care and the control group. The reductions in depression were significantly greater in the CBT-SHB with usual care group.

Assessment of patient satisfaction of mentally ill patients hospitalized in Thailand.

Psychiatric patients' satisfaction with their hospital care has not been reported in the Western literature. The concept of asking psychiatric patients about their perceptions of care is relatively new. The purpose of the present investigation was to assess the satisfaction of the care received by a group of acutely mentally ill hospitalized Thai patients. This post-test design examined a random sample of 182 persons hospitalized between 1 March 2000 and 31 July 2000. Using a validated Perception of Care instrument, research assistants assessed patient satisfaction. Patients rated the care as average with none of the items achieving a very good or excellent score. The lowest scoring items were receiving information about their rights, consistency of information provided, and the ease of obtaining information. Women tended to be more satisfied with care as were patients over the age of 55 years (P = 0.02). Patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were more satisfied with the care than other patients (P = 0.05). It is unknown if satisfaction levels are similar in other institutions in Thailand. None of the areas received excellent or very good ratings. The findings of this study were shared with the staff at the study site. There appears to be a need to develop performance improvement activities designed to address the areas identified as needing improvement. Replication of this study in other Thailand sites would provide an opportunity for agencies to benchmark their findings. By consenting to be a part of this study the staff and patients have taken a positive step forward to improve patient satisfaction with care.

Assessment of inpatient treatment of mentally ill patients in Thailand: implications for practice.

Given the demand for services, psychiatric facilities in Thailand, strive to provide quality care despite limited resources. Patient quality of care initiatives are limited. The purpose of this investigation is to assess the quality of inpatient treatment among a group of acutely mentally ill hospitalized Thai patients. This study presents important data on the standards of care provided to mentally ill patients at one inpatient facility in Thailand. This study is one of the first to look at the inpatient care for Thais with a diagnosis of an acute mental illness. Areas for improvement identfied in this research include master treatment planning and documentation of care, patient teaching, and management of aggressive behavior. This study provides an insight into the patient profile and major nursing problems facing Thai nurses. The article also highlights areas of concern such as the high use of ECT and mechanical restraint. How pervasive these deficiencies are in other settings is not known. The findings in this study were shared with the professional staff. It is hope that the nursing staff armed with the results of this study will develop performance improvement activities to improve the quality of care.