RESUMEN
The British Association for Psychopharmacology guidelines specify the scope and targets of treatment for bipolar disorder. The third version is based explicitly on the available evidence and presented, like previous Clinical Practice Guidelines, as recommendations to aid clinical decision making for practitioners: it may also serve as a source of information for patients and carers, and assist audit. The recommendations are presented together with a more detailed review of the corresponding evidence. A consensus meeting, involving experts in bipolar disorder and its treatment, reviewed key areas and considered the strength of evidence and clinical implications. The guidelines were drawn up after extensive feedback from these participants. The best evidence from randomized controlled trials and, where available, observational studies employing quasi-experimental designs was used to evaluate treatment options. The strength of recommendations has been described using the GRADE approach. The guidelines cover the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, clinical management, and strategies for the use of medicines in short-term treatment of episodes, relapse prevention and stopping treatment. The use of medication is integrated with a coherent approach to psychoeducation and behaviour change.
Asunto(s)
Trastorno Bipolar/terapia , Medicina Basada en la Evidencia , Guías de Práctica Clínica como Asunto , Antidepresivos/uso terapéutico , Trastorno Bipolar/diagnóstico , Terapia Combinada , Consenso , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Humanos , Cumplimiento de la Medicación , Educación del Paciente como Asunto , Psicofarmacología , Prevención SecundariaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Twenty per cent of patients with bipolar affective disorder suffer an illness that responds inadequately to treatment and has a poor outcome. Many patients, but not all, with bipolar disorder show white matter abnormalities on T(2)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). AIMS: To explore the hypothesis that white matter abnormalities on MRI are seen more frequently in subjects whose illness has a poor outcome compared with those with a good outcome or controls. METHOD: Two groups of age- and gender-matched patients with bipolar disorder (14 with a good outcome and 15 with a poor outcome) and 15 controls, aged 20-65 years, were studied. Axial T(2)-weighted MRI scans were examined for the presence and severity of white matter abnormalities. RESULTS: Significantly more poor outcome group members had deep subcortical punctate, but not periventricular, white matter hyperintensities than the good outcome group (P:=0.035) or controls (P:=0.003) and these abnormalities were of greater severity (P:=0.030 and P:<0.014, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Subcortical white matter lesions are associated with poor outcome bipolar disorder.
Asunto(s)
Trastorno Bipolar/etiología , Encefalopatías/diagnóstico , Adulto , Factores de Edad , Anciano , Trastorno Bipolar/tratamiento farmacológico , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Corteza Cerebral , Ventrículos Cerebrales , Femenino , Humanos , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Selección de Paciente , Pronóstico , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
Most profitable strategies are built on differentiation: offering customers something they value that competitors don't have. But most companies concentrate only on their products or services. In fact, a company can differentiate itself every point where it comes in contact with its customers--from the moment customers realize they need a product or service to the time when they dispose of it. The authors believe that if companies open up their thinking to their customer's entire experience with a product or service--the consumption chain--they can uncover opportunities to position their offerings in ways that neither they nor their competitors though possible. The authors show how even a mundane product such as candles can be successfully differentiated. By analyzing its customers' experiences and exploring various options, Blyth Industries, for example, has grown from a $2 million U.S. candle manufacturer into a global candle and accessory business with nearly $500 million in sales and a market value of $1.2 billion. Finding ways to differentiate one's company is a skill that can be nurtured, the authors contend. In this Manager's Tool Kit, they have designed a two-part approach that can help companies continually identify new points of differentiation and develop the ability to generate successful differentiation strategies. "Mapping the Consumption Chain" captures the customer's total experience with a product or service. "Analyzing Your Customer's Experience" shows managers how directed brainstorming about each step in the consumption chain can elicit numerous ways to differentiate any offering.
Asunto(s)
Comportamiento del Consumidor , Emprendimiento , Administración de Línea de Producción/métodos , Comercio , Toma de Decisiones , Competencia Económica , Humanos , Estados UnidosAsunto(s)
Educación de Postgrado , Ciencia/educación , Biotecnología/economía , Biotecnología/educación , Biotecnología/tendencias , Educación de Postgrado/tendencias , Emprendimiento , Administración Financiera , Apoyo a la Investigación como Asunto/tendencias , Ciencia/economía , Transferencia de TecnologíaAsunto(s)
Sífilis/complicaciones , Uveítis/etiología , Adulto , Humanos , Masculino , Uveítis/diagnósticoRESUMEN
As the pace of competition intensifies in the 1980s, information systems will emerge as critical new weapons in the battle to gain an advantage over competitors. The authors show how a business can use modern information technologies to create a competitive edge by adding value to present products and services.
Asunto(s)
Competencia Económica , Economía , Sistemas de Información/economía , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
The ability of corporations to defend or take market share from competitors varies with the corporations' strengths and weaknesses, may of which spring from their own structures. The challenge is not to design organizational structures that are perfect, but to design structures that are better than those of competitors.
Asunto(s)
Competencia Económica , Economía , Organización y Administración , Técnicas de Planificación , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
Preemptive strategies often offer the best opportunity to gain advantage over competitors and upset industry balance. Preemptive moves exist all along the industry chain if one knows where to look for them. Companies can preempt their rivals in myriad ways, ranging from threatening major investments and securing critical skills to cornering raw materials and components and positioning products in a unique way.