A "Mental-Health-at-the-Workplace" Educational Workshop Reduces Managers' Stigma Toward Depression.

Stigma and discrimination are important factors hindering people with mental health conditions to stay employed or successfully make their careers. We surveyed 580 German managers before and after visiting a "mental-health-at-the-workplace" educational workshop using the Depression Stigma Scale. The workshop significantly reduced stigma toward depression. Managers at baseline already exhibited lower stigma toward depression compared with the general population. In addition, female gender and higher education predicted lower stigma, which is in line with findings from other studies. We conclude that an educational workshop giving practical guidance regarding "mental-health-at-the-workplace" reduces managers' stigma toward depression and improves knowledge regarding depression, its course, and its treatment.

Patients' acceptance of the deltoid application of risperidone long-acting injection.

OBJECTIVE: Recently risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI) was approved for alternative injection into the deltoid muscle in addition to the already established injection into the gluteal muscle. For the first time two different injection locations of a long-acting antipsychotic injection can be offered to patients. Their actual acceptance is of key interest. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES: We surveyed 60 patients stabilized on gluteal RLAI therapy in our depot outpatient clinic. Participants were offered the possibility of switching to the alternative deltoid injection in a standardized manner. Prior to switching patients scored the extent of perceived pain and experienced level of shame through the present gluteal injection therapy on a 7-point-scale. Patients choosing to switch were followed up after three months and asked to report on their individual experience. RESULTS: Switching to the deltoid application was chosen by 34 out of 60 patients. Three months later 15 patients were still receiving deltoid injections. The main reason for their staying with the deltoid injection was improved practicability as reported by these patients and 13 out of 15 patients clearly preferred the new location over the gluteal application. The main reason for returning to the gluteal injection was the pain experienced through the injection in the deltoid. Patients' initial decision whether to switch was not correlated with either perceived pain or the experienced level of shame through the preceding gluteal injections. CONCLUSIONS: The application of RLAI in the deltoid muscle is viewed as an alternative to the injection in the gluteal muscle by a considerable number of patients. Nevertheless, some patients experience increased injection pain through this application location while others perceive the switch as beneficial in terms of practicability. Therefore offering both injection locations with their respective pros and cons should become standard in the RLAI treatment offered.

[Patient participation in german psychiatry - a critical review]. / Patientenbeteiligung in der Psychiatrie - eine kritische Bestandsaufnahme.

OBJECTIVE: A comprehensive review of the present state and new approaches of patient participation in German psychiatry was conducted. METHODS: Literature search. RESULTS: Most psychiatric patients wish to be informed about their disease and treatment options and express a desire for participation in medical decisions. Patient representatives want to participate in political decisions concerning health care. There have been political and legal improvements in recent years, including the implementation of a federal government commissioner for patient issues and the publication of patients' rights. With regard to potential effects of programs promoting patient participation, there are almost no results available for German psychiatry. Pilot studies have demonstrated the feasibility of user involvement and shared decision making in mental health and have also shown favourable outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Until now there has been no general implementation of user involvement in all areas of German psychiatry. However, the desire of patients to participate in all levels of health care system will tend to increase within the next years. Thus, it seems important for physicians to develop new skills in order to meet the participation and information needs of their patients.