The impact of an inpatient family-oriented rehabilitation program on parent-reported psychological symptoms of chronically ill children.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the change of psychological symptoms and quality of life in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease, cancer, or cystic fibrosis after a family-oriented inpatient rehabilitation program. METHODS: 302 participants in the intervention (aged 4-17 years, mean=8.7) were assessed using standard questionnaires at admission to the rehabilitation program, at discharge, and 6 months post discharge. Parent-reported behavioral and emotional symptoms were compared to a healthy control group from the National Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (n=903). RESULTS: At admission, 27.5% of patients showed abnormal levels on the total difficulties score of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire - parent version (SDQ), while an additional 16.9% had slightly elevated symptoms (relative risk=2.16). Patients' psychological symptoms were negatively correlated with their quality of life (QoL) and with parental QoL. After rehabilitation, the patients' symptoms improved significantly, and the improvement persisted for 6 months in those patients who could be followed. CONCLUSIONS: The rehabilitation program can be considered a promising strategy to improve the patients' psychological adaptation.

About the impossibility of a single (ex-)user and survivor of psychiatry position.

OBJECTIVE: To present the European Network of (ex-)users and survivors of psychiatry and discuss issues of concern among (ex-)users and survivors. METHOD: Material from papers and documents published by and discussed among (ex-)users and survivors of psychiatry is used to outline topics of interest. RESULTS: The European Network of (ex-)Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (ENUSP) was founded in 1991 as an association of national/regional organizations of (ex-)users and survivors of psychiatry. The network organizes biennial conferences, all delegates are (ex-)users and survivors of psychiatry. ENUSP aims include the fight against discrimination of people with experience of the psychiatric system, support for (ex-)user/ survivor organizations, influence on policy-making, legislation and human rights debates, demedicalizing psychiatry, and opposition to unidimensional approaches to mental and emotional distress. CONCLUSION: (Ex-)users and survivors should be involved in monitoring psychiatric services, education and examination of mental health professionals. User/survivor-controlled services constitute an important innovative service.

[Quantitative computed tomography of the lung in the early diagnosis of asbestosis: initial results in asbestos-exposed navy personnel]. / Die quantitative Computertomographie der Lunge in der Frühdiagnostik der Asbestose: Erste Erfahrungen an asbestexponierten Marinesoldaten.

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic role of respiratory gated quantitative CT of the lung with regard to the early detection of asbestos-induced lung fibrosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 29 navy personnel with a mean asbestos exposure of 21.3 years and exclusively low profusion stages with regard to plain film X-ray (0/1 and 1/0, ILO 1980) were examined using high resolution CT and respiratory gated quantitative CT of the lung. RESULTS: A low but significant increase of the global lung density with -816 HU (range -844 to -749 HU) was found in comparison with the age-matched reference values of -829.8 HU (range -834 to -819 HU). In individual cases the histogram analysis demonstrated a shift of the density distribution towards higher density intervals without corresponding findings in HRCT. No alterations in lung function were observed. There was no correlation between the latency period or length of exposure and density values. CONCLUSION: The respiratory gated quantitative CT of the lung may potentially develop into an accessory parameter for monitoring dust exposed personnel.