bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How to Improve the Visibility of Research in the Countries from the ‘Scientific Periphery’: A ‘Case Study’ [P02-220]
Authors: Kulenovic A. Dzubur , Puljak L. , Ivanis A. , Vukojevic K. , Zaletel-Kragelj L. , Donev D. 
Published: March 2009

Case history and symptoms:Small number of prestigious scientific journals publishes most of the world's scientific information. Although scientists in developing countries represent 25% of the world's scientific community national journals from this 'scientific periphery' are poorly visible: the Science Citation Index (SCI) included less than 2% of these journals in 1995.Clinical presentation:A vicious cycle of inadequacy for these journals: small number and poor quality of manuscripts submitted, inadequate review process, and imperfect English prevents them from reaching higher visibility and eventually escaping form anonymity. Key problems seem to be poorly designed and unoriginal research, lack of knowledge of research methods and data presentation.Treatment:1.Teaching principles of scientific research in medical schools.2.Author-friendly editorial policy - a procedure where most of the articles received are pre-reviewed intramurally and improved by providing guidance to the authors, before being sent out for extramural review.3.Proactive board of editors - who seek interesting research and encourage researchers to communicate their results.3.Networking regional collaboration.Treatment outcome:In the case of Croatian Medical Journal (CMJ) that followed and partly developed the 'treatment' described, such policy resulted in significant formal success - inclusion of CMJ in the most selective international indexing databases (MEDLINE, Current Contents and Web of Science), open access status, decent visibility and attention of researches (impact factor 1.2). The original, active and efficacious approach of the editors of CMJ will be analyzed in this presentation.
In my Breast… in Your Hands… Psychological Distress Among Women Submitted to Breast Histological Biopsy
Authors: da Costa A. Ferreira , Guimarães R. , Samico S. , Coelho R. , Pimentel F. , Grangeia R. 
Published: March 2009

It is almost consensual, the development of both anxiety and depression, among women diagnosed with breast cancer. Sometimes symptoms remain restricted to the time of diagnosis, but quite often they persist, and even increase after that. However, this same feature, among women with benign tumors, has not yet been well established.Authors’ aim is to characterize the population of women attending a Breast Disease Diagnosis Unit, including: socio-demographic features, clinical conditions and screening for anxiety and depression. They also pretend to check out differences between the ones with benign and the others with malign disease.For this purpose they evaluated 150 women, attending Breast Disease Diagnosis Unit of St. John Hospital (Oporto). All of them were first evaluated by a Psychologist, at the time of the histological diagnostic biopsy, and fulfilled a clinical specific protocol, as well as the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS). Patients scoring for borderline (8-10) or pathological levels (» 11) were then reevaluated, after a three month period. Preliminary data shows that a high percentage of women with pathological levels of anxiety and depression symptoms (40%) were diagnosed with benign breast tumor.First conclusion is about the need for a more attentive clinical behavior, also towards women with benign breast tumors. In fact it seems that they also have a high risk of developing both anxiety and depression.This is an ongoing study, and the aim is to increase sample size and to better analyze and justify all possible variable correlations.
Behavior Manifestations in Preschool Children
Authors: Golubovic Š. , Golubovic B. 
Published: March 2009

In the sample of 943 preschool children aged between 4 and 7 (where the arithmetic mean is 5.72 decimal years and standard deviation .882) the assessment questionnaire was used in order to get the description of children's behavior as seen by their parents. The questionnaire contained 36 items for assessing behavior.The aim of the research was to determine which forms of behavior characterize preschool children and how behaviors are manifested with relation to sex and the age of a child. The research shows that certain forms of manifestable behavior, such as aggressiveness, vivacity, restlessness are more often manifested in boys, while in the case of girls latent forms of behavior are more often manifested. The results achieved show that a number of behaviors, mostly externalized, change and manifest less frequently under the educational impact while growing up.The early screening of problems related to the mental health of children, especially of those referring to the behavior and emotional problems, enables timely detection and early disorder intervention.
Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviour in Early Childhood: Relative Contribution of Executive Functioning, Social Cognition and Verbal Ability
Authors: Huijbregts S. , Swaab-Barneveld H. 
Published: March 2009

Early internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems strongly predict later behaviour problems. We investigated cognitive correlates (executive functioning (EF), Theory of Mind (ToM), and verbal ability (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Task (PPVT) of internalizing and externalizing behaviour (assessed with Child Behaviour Checklist) in 229 3-to-6-year-old children. ToM and EF (r = .446, p < .001), ToM and PPVT (r = .308, p < .001), and EF and PPVT (r = .434, p < .001) were significantly related. Partial correlations, controlling for age, EF, and PPVT, showed that ToM was independently related to internalizing behaviour (r = -.125, p = .030), emotional reactivity (r = -.120, p = .035), anxious/depressed (r = -.141, p = -.016), and withdrawn/depressed (r = -.138, p = .018). Trends were observed for correlations between ToM and externalizing behaviour (r = -.105, p = .057) and aggression (r = -.087, p =.096), while the correlation with attention problems was significant (r = -.119, p = .036). Generalized Linear Models also showed significant differences on externalizing behaviour [Wald Chi-square = 17.8, p < .001] and aggression [Chi-square = 14.9, p = .001], between children with good and poor ToM-performance. In contrast, none of the EF-behaviour correlations remained significant after control for ToM and PPVT, and only the PPVT-withdrawn/depressed correlation remained significant after control for EF and ToM.It is concluded that cognitive interventions for young children at an increased risk for continued behaviour problems might best be aimed at improving social cognitive abilities.
Spiritual Needs of Iranian Cancer Patients
Authors: Karimollahi M. , Rostamnejad M. , Abedi H.A. 
Published: March 2009

Introduction:Until the last 2 decades, spiritual care was a vital, but invisible, aspect of nursing care. Spirituality and spiritual care have entered the mainstream, and the literature in this area has burgeoned. In addition, there is minimal information in the literature documenting the expressed spiritual needs of patients in general and specific subgroups of patients in particular, thus this article aimed to present spiritual needs of Iranian Muslim patients. Therefore, this study is of significance to nursing in general and to transcultural nursing in particular because of the high priority associated with increasing the nursing knowledge through research that investigates and describes care practices in diverse cultures. This paper reports an investigation into the spiritual needs of hospitalized Iranian Muslim patients.Method:A qualitative study with a sample of 24 patients using semi-structured interviews. The sample selected from three different cities of Iran.Findings:Although not clearly distinguishable, we found two main spiritual needs include religious and existential needs in Iranian Muslim patients.Conclusion:With regard to holistic approach in Islamic philosophy, holism is a relevant concept in the care of Iranian patients.
Socio-Demographic Profile of Out-Patient Clinic First Assessment
Authors: Moreno A. Chinchilla , Mateos L. Mateo , Larrégola M. Martín , Saez A. Diez 
Published: March 2009

Introduction:Ramon y Cajal Hospital is the referencial center for the mental health unit used in this study, whose outpatients are attended by psychiatrist consultants. First assessment is conducted by general practicioners, or other specialists. Once assessed, a decision must be made: to follow-up, carry out psychological therapies, refer to social workers or other resources.Objectives:To investigate socio-demographic and clinical profiles at the psychiatric outpatients unit as a result of an analysis of the first assessment data.Methods:We include 9 variables from 104 first assessments carried out in our center.Results:48,27 is the age range of our sample, with 58,65% female and 50,1 % married. Most referrals are requested by primary care, being only 14,42% by psychiatric ward units and other medical specialities. Anxiety is the primary reason for requiring psychiatric care (36, 54%) and affective disorders (35,58%), followed by psychosomatic events. With respect to diagnosis at first consultation, we found, as expected, that the most frequent disorders are anxiety (37,50 %) and depression (32,69%).71,15% of our patients needed a follow up by us and 8,65 % are discharged after the first assessment. The rest are reffered to other mental health resources.Conclusions:As a result of the analysis we found out that minor pathology is the most common reason for care in our centre, being refered mostly by general practicioners. So psycho educational programmes and continuous training in general medicine could be needed in order to improve mental health and to reduce costs of the mental health system.
Punitive Parental Discipline Among Adult Victims of Child Abuse
Authors: Mitkovic M. , Tosevski D. Lecic , Deusic S. Popovic , Milovancevic M. Pejovic 
Published: March 2009

Aims:It has been shown that abusive experiences in childhood may be related to specific behavior patterns manifested in adulthood, especially those that refer to negative parenting practices. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the use of punitive parental discipline and the childhood abuse trauma in parents.Method:Sixty six parents (30 males, 36 females, age 45.92±8.79 yrs, predominantly urban) completed the socio-demographic questionnaire, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and the punitive discipline self-report measure.Results:The frequency of use of punitive discipline between parents with and without the history of abuse was not significantly different (t=-1.298; p>0.05). The difference was not found neither among fathers (t=-0.047; p>0.05) nor among mothers (t=-1.951; p>0.05). Emotional abuse was the only type of childhood maltreatment related to the use of punitive discipline (r=0.393; p< 0.01). This relationship was found among both fathers (r=0.428; p< 0.05) and mothers (r=0.371; p< 0.05). In females, the use of punitive discipline was additionally related to the history of emotional neglect (r=0.379; p< 0.05).Conclusion:The findings may emphasize the need for identification and modification of the parental discipline strategies in adult victims of child emotional abuse and neglect.
Spanih Validation of TOOL Questionnaire: A New Instrument to Assess Quality of Life in Patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Montejo A. , Lauffer J. Correas , Porras F. , Martin T. , Carrasco P. Ruiz , Cordero L. , Diez T. , Maurino J. 
Published: March 2009

Objective:Develop a cross-cultural translation, Swedish to Spanish, of TOOL questionnaire - a previously validated instrument to assess the impact of adverse effects (AE) on the health utilities and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.Methods:TOOL questionnaire has 8 attributes and 4 levels per domain: mood (anxiety and depression), function capabilities, and AE frequently associated with antipsychotics (fatigue-weakness, weight gain, stiffness-tremor, physical restlessness, sexual dysfunction, and vertigo-nausea). Firstly, 4 independent translators carried out the forward-backward translations. Next, draft version was reviewed by an experts panel (5 psychiatrists & 1 GP specialized in HRQoL) and tested in 40 stable patients (20 schizophrenic & 20 bipolar). Comprehension and importance (C/I) of each item were evaluated by a Likert scale ranging from 0 (lowest level) to 4 (highest level).Results:3 items should be modified to facilitate comprehension: mood, physical restlessness and vertigo-nausea. However, C/I of items mean scores were respectively: mood (3.50/ 2.37); function capabilities (2.58/ 2.03); fatigue-weakness (3.58/ 2.55); weight gain- (3.75/ 2.87); stiffness-tremor (3.65/ 2.61); restlessness (3.37/ 2.62); sexual dysfunction (3.39/ 2.51) and vertigo-nausea (3.56/ 2.44). Only 2 patients (5%) were unable to complete the questionnaire. Internal consistency was high (Cronbach α= 0.87) and neither item ceiling nor floor effects were found.Conclusions:The Swedish TOOL questionaire was culturally adapted into Spanish. Psychometric analyses are needed to validate this measure in Spain. A multtiatribute utility fuction should be estimated to evaluate AE by using a patients"centered perspective.
The Attitudes of the Medical Professionals Towards the Psychiatric Patients
Authors: Nastase S. , Ivanovici D. , Mihailescu A. , Dumitrescu I.M. 
Published: March 2009

Objective:The study is assessing the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of the different categories of medical professionals towards the psychiatric patients.Method:The transversal descriptive study was developed in the hospitals from two cities of Romania: Bucharest and Targoviste. We have studied the opinions about patients with mental disorders of 8 groups of medical professionals: psychiatrists, medical doctors, trainees from psychiatry and from other medical specialities, nurses from psychiatry and from other medical specialities, medical students and student nurses. We have conceived an anonymous self-administered questionnaire with 18 items concerning knowledge, attitudes, affects and actions of the medical professionals toward people with a psychiatric disorder.Results:From the 450 medical professionals that were asked to complete the questionnaire, 379 returned the questionnaire completed. The comparison between the eight groups of medical professionals showed that the clinical experience is a differentiating factor in the opinions about the cognitions, affects and behaviours towards psychiatric patients. The psychiatric specialists and trainees demonstrated a more tolerant attitude towards the patients with mental disorders. The knowledge about the psychiatric illness had positive correlations with the tolerance in attitude and behavior, apart from the medical category of the respondents.Conclusion:Based on the fact that the modification of the cognitions influences the attitude and behavior, the stigma-reducing campaigns between medical professionals should have the main objective of informing about the psychiatric illness and patients.
The Picture of Mental Disorders in Czech Printed Media
Authors: Nawková L. , Adámková T. , Vondráčková P. , Nawka A. , Miovský M. , Raboch J. 
Published: March 2009

Background and aims:It's known that media significantly contribute to the stigmatisation of mental disorders themselves, as well as the people suffering from such ailments. The aim of our study is to provide content analysis of media messages covering the topics of mental health and psychiatry.Methods:The study sample comprises the media messages pertaining to the topic of mental illness collected by using the database of the Newton IT monitoring system. The articles were chosen from 6 printed most widely read daily periodicals, the period under consideration were 5 separate weeks randomly selected from the year 2007.Results:184 articles with mental illness as main content were found, including 110 in broadsheets and 74 in tabloids. Global impression of the message was negative in 76% of articles in tabloids and in 33% in broadsheets. The most represented diagnosis were Substance use disorders that were mentioned in 22% of all articles, on the other hand the representation of Neurotic disorders was quite low - 2% of all articles, Psychotic disorders were mentioned in 7% of articles.Conclusions:The results relate to only a short time period, however, suggest that the degree of stigma of mental disorders in the Czech printed media is high and should be further analysed. The main outcome is to formulate the recommendations for media in order to meet anti-stigmatising objectives and thus improve media coverage, minimalize discrimination practises and increase help seeking behavior.
Somatic Symptoms in a Community Sample of Ethiopian Immigrants in Toronto, Canada
Authors: Fenta H. , Hyman I. , Noh S. , Rourke S. 
Published: March 2009

Objective:This study examines the occurrence and correlates of somatization in a sample of adult Ethiopian immigrants and refugees residing n Toronto, Canada.Methods:A random sample of 342 adult (≥ 18 years of age) Ethiopian immigrants and refugees in Toronto completed structured face-to-face interviews. The Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) Somatization Disorder Module was used to collect data on somatic symptoms. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to assess major depression and generalized anxiety disorder.Results:Nearly two-thirds of the study participants reported having had at least one somatic symptom, and 5% reported experiencing medically unexplained symptoms in the 12 months preceding the interview. Individuals with major depression had significantly increased number of somatic symptoms compared to those without major depressive disorder. In a multivariate linear regression analysis, controlling for major depressive disorder, a higher level of somatization was associated with older age, pre-migration trauma, and post-migration stressful life events, and limited English proficiency.Conclusion:The findings of the study suggest that somatic symptoms are prevalent among individuals in cross-cultural transition and symptom level was associated with pre-migration trauma, post-migration stressors and mental disorder, particularly depressive disorder. The data also indicate a need for primary care physicians to routinely screen immigrant minority clients who present with somatic complaints for common and treatable psychiatric conditions, such as depression. In minority immigrant communities, somatic symptoms may reflect psychiatric problems.
A National Evaluation of Mental Health Inpatient Staff Morale in England
Authors: Nolan F. , Johnson S. , Killaspy H. , Wood S. , Osborn D. , Paul M. , Araya R. 
Published: March 2009

Introduction:Improving the quality of care on psychiatric inpatient wards has been a major focus in recent mental health policy, a recurrent criticism being that contact between staff and patients is limited in time and therapeutic value. Change is unlikely to be achieved without recruitment and retention of a high quality and well-motivated work force.Aim:The NHS commissioned national inpatient mental health staff morale study is intended to inform service planning and policy by delivering evidence on the morale of the inpatient mental health workforce and the clinical, organisational, architectural and human resources factors that influence it.Methods:100 wards in 17 area ‘Trusts’ are participating in the study, in addition to 40 community teams. The study will take place over two years, and has 6 modules:1.A quantitative questionnaire for all staff in participating wards and2.A comparison group in 20 community mental health teams and 20 crisis teams.3.Case studies of 10 wards scoring in the top and bottom quartile for indicators of morale.4.Repeated questionnaires for 20 wards in the second year to investigate how morale changes over time.5.Staff who leave the wards in the course of the first year will be asked their reasons for leaving.6.Links between rates of staff sickness and morale will be investigated.Results:Questionnaires have been distributed to 3,500 staff with a response rate of 65%, results from which will be presented in 2009.
Patients’ and Family Attitudes Toward Seclusion and Restraint
Authors: Bilanakis N. , Peritogiannis V. 
Published: March 2009

Background and aim:Coercive physical measures, such as seclusion and restraint are sometimes used in psychiatric inpatient treatment for the management of severely disturbed behaviour of patients. As part of a larger study on the use of restraint and seclusion in a psychiatric unit of a general hospital in Greece we aimed to record the patients’ and their relatives’ attitudes on coercive measures.Methods:Data regarding patients’ and family accounts on coercive measures were collected retrospectively with chart review of all patients who had been admitted to the psychiatric ward of the University Hospital of Ioannina over a six-month period and had been subjected to restraint or seclusion. During hospitalization and after the periods of restraint or seclusion, patients and relatives had been asked whether they considered coercion as justified or not. Patients had been also asked whether they perceived this experience as harmful.Results:Thirty one cases of restraint and seclusion from a total of 282 admissions were recorded during the study period. In 6 cases the patients refused to answer or did not have the decision making capacity. Twenty out of 25 (80%) patients considered their coercion to be unjustified and perceived it as traumatic experience. Twenty-five out of 28 (89.3%) relatives considered justified the decision to restrain or seclude the patient.Conclusions:Patients and their families have different accounts on coercion, but more research is needed. It is important for care planning to record the patients’ and families’ views and integrate them in mental health policy making.
Consent to Treatment, Second Opinion Appointed Doctors and Code Compliance - an Audit?
Authors: Qureshi A. , Kirk G. 
Published: March 2009

Aim:Ensuring standards of section 58 documentation and associated communication complies with the code of practice of the Mental Health Act 1983 UK.Method:Case note review of detained patients under section 3 of Mental Health Act (MHA) 1983, requiring either a certificate of consent to treatment (form 38) or a certificate of second opinion authorising treatment (form 39), beyond first three months of medication. A standard checklist was devised, based on recommendations of MHA commission and code of practice.Results:Form 38 (5 Patients), 100% completion of names, dosage, route of adminstration of medication and proposed number of ECT treatments. Only 60% completion of documentation regarding treatment plan explanation and stating whether clozapine was included excluded.Form 39 (7 patients) completed correctly in 100% cases with recommendation by second opinion appointed doctor (SOAD) in 85% cases. No documentation by SOAD in case notes and contact with the responsible medical officer (RMO) was only by phone (should have face to face contact). Only in 28% of cases RMO documented the SOAD visit and outcome.Conclusion:This audit has highlighted wide range of implications from the medico-legal perspective. The statutory documents, form 38 and 39, were completed correctly in majority of cases except for minor omissions. Adequate documentation was lacking with regards to discussion about the care plan and outcome of the SOAD visit. SOAD contact with the RMO was only on the phone (should only be in emergency) and no documentation of the second opinion in the case notes apart from filling the form 39.