Research abstracts: Findings on mental health recovery

Title: Outcomes of an effectiveness trial of cognitive-behavioural intervention by mental health nurses in schizophrenia.
Author: Turkington, Douglas, et al
Reference: British Journal of Psychiatry, 189(1), July 2006, pp36-40.

Abstract: Little is known about the medium-term durability of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) in a sample of people with schizophrenia. The aim was to investigate whether brief CBT produces clinically important outcomes in relation to recovery, symptom burden and readmission to hospital in people with schizophrenia at one-year follow-up. At one-year follow-up, participants who received CBT had significantly more insight and significantly fewer negative symptoms. Brief therapy protected against depression with improving insight and against relapse, significantly reduced time spent in hospital for those who did relapse, and delayed time to admission. It did not improve psychotic symptoms or occupational recovery, nor have a lasting effect on overall symptoms or depression at follow-up. Mental health nurses should be trained in brief CBT for schizophrenia to supplement case management, family interventions and expert therapy for treatment resistance.

Title: A solution-focused approach to case management and recovery with consumers who have a severe mental disability.
Author: Greene, Gilbert J, et al
Publisher Families in Society, 87(3), July/September 2006, pp339-350.

Abstract: Community mental health systems have been increasingly emphasising providing services and using interventions that support mental health consumers recovering from severe mental disability. It has been noted in the literature that the strengths approach to case management is supportive of mental health consumers experiencing recovery. Although strengths-based case management has been operationalised by six principles and five functions, it has not been very well operationalised at the micro level of direct interactions between case managers and mental health service recipients. This article describes how the perspective of and techniques from solution-focused therapy can be used to further operationalise the strengths perspective for these direct, one-on-one interactions to facilitate mental health consumer recovery.

Title: Implementing recovery oriented evidence based programs: identifying the critical dimensions.
Author: Farkasm, Marianne, et al
Publisher: Community Mental Health Journal, 41(2), April 2005, pp141-158.

Abstract: Since the 1990s many mental health programmes have identified themselves as recovery-oriented. First person accounts of recovery and empirical research have led to a developing consensus about the service delivery values underlying recovery. The emphasis on recovery-oriented programming has been concurrent with a focus in the field on evidence-based practices. The authors propose that evidence-based practices be implemented in a manner that is recovery compatible. Programme dimensions for evidence based practice, such as programme mission, policies, procedures, record keeping and staffing should be consistent with recovery values in order for a program to be considered to be recovery-oriented. This article describes the critical dimensions of such value-based practice, regardless of the service the recovery oriented mental health programmes provide. The aim of this first attempt at conceptualising recovery-oriented mental health schemes is to provide direction to those involved in programme implementation of evidence based mental health practices, as well as providing a stimulus for further discussion in the field.