Patients' perspectives on information received in outpatient psychiatry.

The purpose of this study is to develop a scale in order to determine the informational needs deemed most important by psychiatric outpatients, and to determine their level of satisfaction with information received. The 'Patients' Perspective on Information Questionnaire' (PPIQ) scale was created and given to a volunteer sample of 86 psychiatric outpatients. The Client satisfaction questionnaire (CSQ-8), assessing global satisfaction, was also completed to assess the convergent validity of the PPIQ-Satisfaction subscale. Internal consistency for the two PPIQ subscales (Information and Satisfaction) is excellent (alpha = 0.90 and 0.91). Convergent validity between the Satisfaction subscale and the CSQ is adequate (r = 0.5). The PPIQ reveals high importance ratings given to items such as 'side effects of medication' and 'confidentiality and access to chart'. Elevated satisfaction ratings are given to items from the conceptual category 'treatment information'. Dissatisfaction on the PPIQ is highest for components of 'information on service modality and organization'. The PPIQ appears to distinguish between information that is important to clients and their level of satisfaction with that information. Satisfaction on multiple components of information, such as treatment, service modality and organization, and clinical difficulties should be assessed to generate feedback to improve services.

Influence of novel and conventional antipsychotic medication on subjective quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of novel antipsychotic medication on the subjective quality of life of patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of data from 2 studies conducted in 1997 and 1998. PATIENTS: 91 outpatients (50 men and 41 women, mean age 43.3 years) diagnosed with schizophrenia (n = 70) and schizoaffective disorder (n = 21); the mean Global Assessment of Functioning score for these patients was 48.0 (standard deviation 12.5). OUTCOME MEASURE: Patients were categorized into 1 of 3 groups: those taking conventional (n = 41), novel (n = 26) or mixed (both conventional and novel) (n = 24) antipsychotics. Responses on the Satisfaction with Life Domains Scale were used to assess subjective quality of life. RESULTS: The type of antipsychotic medication taken did not influence satisfaction with life scores; in fact, 2 items dealing with social relationships were scored lower by those taking novel antipsychotics. CONCLUSIONS: Patients taking novel antipsychotics may expect more from life, and this might explain their lower quality-of-life scores.

Effectiveness of a social skills training program using self/other perspective-taking: a nine-month follow-up.

Using a pre/posttest design, with a nine-month follow-up, a new, "modified" social skills training program, which incorporates the concept of self/other perspective-taking, was evaluated and compared to a traditional social skills program in a sample of 36 children. Students in the modified group showed more short- and long-term improvement in behavior than did those in the traditional social skills training group. Implications for practice and research are discussed.

[Consumers' perspective of mental health service in front line, second and third stages clinics.]. / Perspective d'usagers suivis en clinique externe d'établissements de première, deuxième et troisième lignes.

This study is based on results of four major surveys on the satisfaction of the clientele regarding external consultation of mental health services in Montréal. It covers milieux offering primary care, specialized and ultra-specialized services. Conducted with 856 patients through personal interviews, this study has allowed to document consumers' perspectives. The major tendencies observed indicate that patient are generally highly satisfied with the work of mental health professionals and the therapeutic alliance they establish with them. Organization as well as functioning of services however, generate less satisfaction. These results appear to reflect the impact of recent transformation of the mental health system.

Acculturation style and psychological functioning in children of immigrants.

Thirty-four immigrants, predominantly Asian, and their 48 children were assessed for relationship of acculturation style to children's psychological functioning. Children of parents accepting the majority culture scored higher in social competence. Many of the children reported as having extreme behavioral problems had rejected their ethnic culture.

Risk and protective factors for disruptive behavior disorders in children.

Biological, psychological, and social risk and protective factors in the development of disruptive behavior disorders were assessed in 50 disordered and 50 control preadolescents. Significant risk factors included learning difficulties, hyperactivity, perinatal complications, and violence in the home. Significant protective factors included ability to express feelings and a good relationship with grandparents.

Depression and hopelessness in children with disruptive behaviour disorders.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depression in a day treatment compared to a control population of children and to determine whether or not day treatment is effective in normalizing depression and hopelessness. Twenty-five control children, matched by age and sex, were compared on self-report measures of depression and hopelessness to 25 children admitted to day treatment. Pre-post treatment comparisons were also made for day treatment children. Day treatment children at admission scored significantly higher on both depression and hopelessness than control children. Only boys in day treatment improved significantly at the time of their discharge. Children with disruptive behaviour disorders also experienced significant feelings of depression and hopelessness. Day treatment was effective in reducing these feelings to "normal" levels in boys only; girls continued to experience severe negative life events beyond their control.

Level of disrupted peer relations and poor self-esteem in children with behavior problems and the effectiveness of day treatment.

Children with disruptive behavior disorders often show deficits in peer relations and self-esteem, putting them at risk for later life psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of poor peer relations and low self-esteem in behavior-problem children, as well as the efficacy of an intensive day treatment program in addressing these deficits, was evaluated. Twenty-five normal-population (NP) children were matched sequentially by age and sex to 25 behavior-problem (BP) children who received day treatment. Groups were compared on measures of self-esteem and peer relations. Pre-/posttreatment comparisons were made for the BP group on the same variables. Mann-Withney U tests showed that the BP group had significantly more problems in self-esteem and peer relations than the NP group. Their scores significantly improved with day treatment and were no longer different from those of the control group. The study indicates that children with behavior disorders present with more problems in peer relations and self-esteem. Intensive multimodal day treatment is an efficient approach for treating these difficulties.