Jean Ziemba

Bio: Jean Ziemba is an academic researcher from United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The author has contributed to research in topics: Clinical nurse specialist & Schizoaffective disorder. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 11 citations.

Nursing Model of Psychoeducation for the Seriously Mentally Ill Patient

Abstract: The purposes of this paper are to describe a nursing model for psychoeducation that is being implemented in the psychiatric unit of a Veterans Administration (V.A.) Hospital and to report baseline descriptive data for 19 seriously mentally ill patients. The data were collected as part of a larger study of patient, family, and treatment variables associated with community adjustment of seriously ill psychiatric patients. A convenience sample of 19 consenting patients with DSM-III-R diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder were interviewed and assessed by a clinical nurse specialist. Nine consenting family members, identified by the patient as a key family member, were also interviewed. The baseline data reported here were generated in these interviews. These data were also used to develop psychoeducational plans to meet individual patient/family needs. The patients had had an average of 12 prior hospitalizations. Their mean age was 38 years; 74% were African-American and 89% were male. Patients reported a variety of understandings of the reason for their hospitalization and techniques for management of their symptoms. The most common ways of managing symptoms were categorized as physical activity, decreasing stimuli, and use of alcohol/drugs/smoking. Practical problems arising in association with the conduct of clinical research in a V.A. psychiatric setting by a research team are also discussed.

Exercise as medicine – evidence for prescribing exercise as therapy in 26 different chronic diseases

Abstract: This review provides the reader with the up-to-date evidence-based basis for prescribing exercise as medicine in the treatment of 26 different diseases: psychiatric diseases (depression, anxiety, stress, schizophrenia); neurological diseases (dementia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis); metabolic diseases (obesity, hyperlipidemia, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome, type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes); cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, cerebral apoplexy, and claudication intermittent); pulmonary diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, cystic fibrosis); musculo-skeletal disorders (osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, back pain, rheumatoid arthritis); and cancer. The effect of exercise therapy on disease pathogenesis and symptoms are given and the possible mechanisms of action are discussed. We have interpreted the scientific literature and for each disease, we provide the reader with our best advice regarding the optimal type and dose for prescription of exercise.

Antonovsky's sense of coherence: theoretical basis of psychoeducation in schizophrenia

Abstract: Psychoeducational models have been found to be effective interventions for people with schizophrenia. However, a unifying theoretical basis for these models has not been articulated. This article explicates the sense of coherence theory developed by A. Antonovsky (1987) and demonstrates its utility as a framework for conceptualizing the basis for the effectiveness of psychoeducational programs.

Effect of psychoeducation and telepsychiatric follow up given to the caregiver of the schizophrenic patient on family burden, depression and expression of emotion.

Abstract: Objective: This randomized-controlled experimental study was conducted to determine the effects of psychoeducation in the inpatient clinic and regular telepsychiatric follow-up (via telephone) after discharge on emotional expression, depression and family burden of primary caregivers of the schizophrenic patients Methods: This study was performed on 62 caregivers of the schizophrenic patients, assigned to experiment (n=32) and control (n=30) groups, from 1 st July 2010 to 31 st May 2011 The Scales for Expressed Emotion, the Beck Depression and the Zarit Family Burden were applied for the caregivers in experiment and control groups before education, after education and after 6-months telephone follow-up Results: The mean scores of the caregivers in experiment group on family burden, emotional expression and depression were decreased after education and after telephone follow-up and difference was significant (p < 0001) Conclusions: Psychoeducation and telepsychiatric follow-up via telephone induced decrease in family burden, emotional expression and depressive symptoms for their caregivers and was a support for the family in the patient care

Recognition of early warning signs in patients with schizophrenia: A review of the literature

Abstract: This article reviews and discusses the literature on the recognition of the early warning signs of psychosis. The assumption is that nurses, in the everyday exercise of their profession, can contribute to the prevention of psychotic relapse in schizophrenic patients by the early recognition of warning signs. First, the process of psychotic relapse and the factors that influence it are described. Then research on the early signs of psychosis is discussed. This article questions the most common early signs, when they occur, and who can recognize them. Then the predictive value of the early signs is considered: how well can psychotic relapse be predicted with these early signs? Finally, the research on the effects of early recognition and early intervention is discussed, primarily with respect to the question of whether psychotic relapses can actually be prevented by making use of preventive intervention strategies. The conclusion is that the preliminary results are hopeful and invite further research on such matters as the application of this intervention strategy within nursing practice.