Enhancing Medication Adherence Among Patients With Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder: Mobile App Intervention Study.

Introduction: Technology has permeated every aspect of our existence and the mental health sector is not exempt from this. Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the impact of using a mobile phone app (MyTherapy pill reminder and medication tracker) on medication adherence in patients with schizophrenia and/or schizoaffective disorder. Methods: Time series design was used. Fifty-one participants were recruited from tertiary hospitals in Oman. The Medication Adherence Rating Scale was used for assessing medication adherence. The data related to medication adherence were collected at baseline, 3 months later and 3 months after installing the program on participants' smartphones. SPSS data set used to analyze the data. Results: A repeated-measures ANOVA found no significant change in the level of adherence among patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders at the start and 12 weeks later when the mobile app was installed (p = .371). However, adherence scores improved significantly 12 weeks after installation of mobile app compared with the same group at the baseline and 12 weeks before the installation of mobile app (p < .001). Conclusion: The mobile phone app was effective in improving the adherence level among patients. Installation of the program and teaching patients how to use it to improve their level of adherence is recommended.

Self and public stigma towards mental illnesses and its predictors among university students in 11 Arabic-speaking countries: A multi-site study.

This study aimed to explore self and public stigma towards mental illness and associated factors among university students from 11 Arabic-speaking countries. This cross-sectional study included 4241 university students recruited from Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Syria, Sudan, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Egypt. The participants completed three self-administrative online questionnaires-Demographic Proforma (age, gender, family income, etc.), Peer Mental Health Stigmatization Scale and Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire. There was a significant difference in the average mean between the 11 countries (p < 0.01) based on stigma agreement (self) and stigma awareness (public). The mean stigma agreement towards mental illnesses among university students was 19.7 (SD = 6.0), with the lowest in Lebanon, 15.9 (SD = 5.1) and the highest in UAE, 24.1 (SD = 5.6). The factors associated with stigma agreement included poor knowledge, being male, high family income, age, weak cumulative grade point average (cGPA), mothers with primary education, an unemployed parent, students in scientific colleges and fathers who completed secondary or university degrees. Furthermore, the factors associated with stigma awareness included good knowledge, acceptable cGPA and having a father who has a low income and is illiterate. Stigma towards mental illness varies among university students across Arabic-speaking countries. There is a need to sensitize youngsters to the need for a humanitarian approach in society to individuals affected by mental health concerns. Major governmental reforms must be initiated for the provision of mental health services for individuals with mental illnesses.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Anxiety and Depression among People Undergoing Haemodialysis: A Randomized Control Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is becoming a major public health problem worldwide. The very diagnosis of CKD brings a plethora of psychological problems that adds to the agony of the debilitating illness. Financial difficulties apart from the excruciating physical burden of the disease, owing to series of psychosocial issues. Anxiety and depression are two major concerns that to be managed effectively to sustain the life of people undergoing Haemodialysis. AIM: The study aimed at finding the effect of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) on anxiety and depression among people undergoing haemodialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An experimental approach with Randomized controlled trial design was adopted for the study. The instruments used for data collection were Background Proforma and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A total of 150 subjects undergoing haemodialysis in a tertiary care hospital of South Karnataka were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria and 80 participants were recruited for the study. Through computerized block randomization 40 each were allotted to experimental and control groups whereas 33 and 34 respectively in both the groups completed the study. CBT, a structured individual therapy of cognitive, behavioural and didactic techniques, with 10 weekly sessions each was administered to the experimental group. Non-directed counseling, a psychological intervention with ten weekly sessions of individual counseling was given to the control group. RESULTS: The findings of the study revealed that there was a significant reduction of mean anxiety (F=76.739, p=0.001) and depression (F=57.326, p= 0.001) in the experimental group when compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Researchers concluded that CBT can be effectively utilized for people undergoing haemodialysis in order to obtain control over their negative thoughts thereby reducing anxiety and depression.