ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to investigate the synergistic effects of cognitive remediation training (CRT) on Integrated Supported Employment (ISE). ISE blends individual placement support service with work-related social skills training for Chinese people suffering from schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. METHOD: Ninety participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders were recruited from two psychiatric outpatient services in Hong Kong. They were randomly assigned into the ISE+CRT (n=45) and ISE (n=45) conditions. Blinded assessments on vocational, clinical, psychological, and neurocognitive outcomes were conducted by independent assessors. The two groups were followed up at 7 and 11months. RESULTS: Both groups yielded similar improvements across several outcome domains assessed immediately after the interventions and at 7 and 11month follow-ups, but no significant group differences were found. Significant positive trends over time in vocational, clinical and cognitive outcomes consistently favored the ISE+CRT condition. CONCLUSION: While both the ISE+CRT and ISE groups demonstrated improvement in vocational, clinical, psychological, and neurocognitive outcomes, there was no evidence to show that cognitive remediation facilitated further improvement in these domains beyond gains associated with ISE alone. Further investigation is needed to fully exploit the synergistic potential of ISE combined with CRT, and to better understand which individuals experience a maximal benefit from the specific rehabilitation program components.
Subject(s)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/methods , Employment, Supported/methods , Psychotic Disorders/therapy , Rehabilitation, Vocational/methods , Schizophrenia/therapy , Adult , Cognition , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Hong Kong , Humans , Male , Neuropsychological Tests , Psychotic Disorders/psychology , Schizophrenic Psychology , Social Skills , Treatment Outcome , UnemploymentABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at developing and validating the Perceived Rehabilitation Needs Questionnaires for Caregivers (PRNQ-Cs) of people with schizophrenia. METHODS: The items of PRNQ-C were generated based on focus group discussion and literature review. A validation study was conducted to examine its psychometric properties among 98 caregivers who were recruited via convenience sampling. RESULTS: Through the use of direct oblique rotation, exploratory factor analysis yielded an eight-factor solution which accounted for 64.39% of the total variance. Its internal consistency and test-retest reliability were satisfactory. CONCLUSION: Through cross-cultural validation, the PRNQ-C is applicable in other Chinese communities with huge population of schizophrenia.
Subject(s)
Caregivers/psychology , Needs Assessment/standards , Psychometrics/methods , Schizophrenia/rehabilitation , Surveys and Questionnaires/standards , Adolescent , Adult , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Female , Focus Groups , Hong Kong , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Reproducibility of Results , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Hyponatremia secondary to the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) is not uncommon in patients receiving treatment of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or venlafaxine. METHOD: This is a case report of a 47-year-old man with depression, who developed hyponatremia after commencing treatment with desvenlafaxine. RESULTS: To our knowledge, this is the first case in which desvenlafaxine-associated SIADH was reported since the introduction of the drug. CONCLUSION: Physicians should be aware of the possibility of desvenlafaxine-associated hyponatremia in patients under age of 65.
