Showing papers in "Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services in 1978"

A deep but dazzling darkness.

Abstract: Feel lonely? What about reading books? Book is one of the greatest friends to accompany while in your lonely time. When you have no friends and activities somewhere and sometimes, reading book can be a great choice. This is not only for spending the time, it will increase the knowledge. Of course the b=benefits to take will relate to what kind of book that you are reading. And now, we will concern you to try reading a deep but dazzling darkness as one of the reading material to finish quickly.

Partners in therapy: using the co-therapists' relationship in a group.

Abstract: While this article has been necessarily narrow in scope in order to develop the theme of gives some direction toward other related aspects: the process of relationship development was alluded to but not presented; the transference phenomenon has been the subject of numerous psychiatric articles and could be further explored in the co-therapy situation; and the value of preservation of group interactions on recording tape or videotape for analysis by co-therapists could be researched. The final implication that should be left with the reader concerns the broader application of the co-therapy relationship: in what other psychotherapeutic areas, such as individual therapy or therapy with disturbed children, could the conjointly-developed relationship between two or more interdisciplinary therapists utilized expediently and efficaciously? While we are not suggesting that co-therapy is a panacea, we do hope that more thought will be given to the application of interdisciplinary co-therapy in various psychiatric settings and situations.

Psychiatric patients' perceptions of their milieu therapy program.

Abstract: This study was designed to provide information concerning psychiatric patients' perceptions of their individual treatment program in an inpatient treatment facility with an established therapeutic milieu. The responses of 24 patients aged 16 to 69 years to an 8-item questionnaire, developed and administered by the investigator, constituted the data collected. The 24 patients identified 57 components as part of their treatment programs. Patients with more education mentioned more treatment components than those with less education. Talking with staff members was considered the most helpful treatment component by the most patients, and medication was the most frequently mentioned least helpful treatment component. Six categories were used to organize the data: recreation-physical, recreation-mental, verbal interaction, creature comforts, staff supervision, and diagnostic and medical services. More of the identified treatment components were categorized under verbal interaction than any other category. The second most mentioned category was recreation-physical. As patients listed the most helpful persons during their hospitalization, 36 students and staff members and four other patients were identified. Two psychiatric technicians, a registered nurse, and an occupational therapist were mentioned most often. Patients tended to see persons of their same sex and close to their age as particularly helpful.

Applying Yalom's Principles to Crisis Work. . .Some Intriguing Results

Abstract: In this paper, the writer has shared some of the results of an innovative eight- to sixteen-week, open-ended crisis group developed at the Community Mental Health Center at Strong Memorial Hospital. The group has been running for over a year and a half. Some of the significant findings were that process interventions can be creatively used in a modified manner to enhance the group interaction, while maintaining the crisis-oriented focus. There were two dimensions of process commentary described, the sense data material of an individual, interpersonal nature, and the mass group interventions with a broader, group development focus. In addition, the secondary function of the group, which was to serve as an assessment tool for an individual's capabilities in long-term group work, proved to be reliable for eighteen out of the twenty members, eventually referred to other groups. A theoretical framework, based on Yalom's work, as well as the writer's synthesis of previous crisis group theory, was outlined. Two clinical illustrations were described, using the paradigm. In closing, the writer wishes to validate the impression that crisis group work is indeed an exciting, clinical adventure. Each week the gestalt of the group varies, so that the crisis therapist must remain a versatile strategist and sensitive role model of communication theory. The interweaving of process issues with more concrete, content-focused group work provides the members with an in-depth, sharply practical interpersonal arena for growth.

The role of operations research and systems analysis in holding down the costs of hospitals and clinics.

Abstract: In the past, medical care facilities have concentrated primarily on professional clinical evaluation. With the cost of treatment rising rapidly, it is becoming increasingly important to critically review and analyze our delivery systems so that scarce resources can be used optimally. In this paper the applications of operations research (O.R.) and systems analysis techniques that have been employed successfully in private industry are explored to find ways to improve clinical operations and hold costs down.

Mental health consultation in a home care agency.

Abstract: A mental health nurse, educationally and clinically prepared as a specialist, can be effectively utilized as a consultant to aid nurse generalists in assessment and intervention of patients in a home health care agency. An individual staff nurse consulting with the specialist or a group of nurses provides the setting for consultant led case discussions. Consultation is a highly efficient use of specialist's knowledge and skills in health care delivery, and also provides learning opportunities for staff.