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The aim of this study is to undertake a systemic literature review (SLR) of horticultural therapy and to explore whether its inclusion in a healthcare programme can enhance hospitalised children's well-being.

An empirical study was developed using a mixed methods approach to monitor stakeholders' perceptions of horticultural therapy. Specifically, hospitalised children (N = 31) and their families (N = 21), as well as medical and nursing staff (N = 3), were engaged in the empirical study. Qualitative and quantitative surveys were developed, involving two paediatric units in an Italian hospital.

The authors’ findings show a significant improvement of children's mood and psycho-physical well-being following horticultural therapy. The authors found positive effects of interactive horticultural therapy on hospitalised paediatric patients and their parents. Parents perceived a positive influence on their mood and found the therapy very beneficial for their children. Qualitative analyses of children's and parents' comments (and related rankings) revealed the helpful support role of horticultural therapy in dealing with the hospitalisation period. There is a very limited number of studies that have inspected co-therapy implementation in paediatric hospitals, and to the best of the authors' knowledge, no study has yet examined the effect of horticultural therapy in such a context. The practice of horticultural therapy with children in health settings has been documented in some Italian hospitals, but its effectiveness has not yet been well established in the literature.

The authors’ findings could provide useful insights to clinicians, health managers and directors in creating and sustaining a successful group co-therapy programme under the managed healthcare system.

The purpose of this paper is to review the efficacy of atypical antipsychotics in combination with clozapine. Previous meta-analyses have assessed the use of both typical and atypical antipsychotics in combination with clozapine, combination treatment being withheld only for those patients deemed treatment resistant.

Outcomes assessed included: positive, negative and overall symptom score. The total numbers of participants (n=588) were scored using the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale/the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and effect sizes were used to judge the efficacy of the combination treatments. Data gained from the ten randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trials were analysed using the R statistical software.

The effect sizes gained from analysis showed a small benefit of combination therapy over clozapine monotherapy. Therefore, it is the recommendation of this analysis that alternative avenues be sought in order to treat patients who have a sub-optimal response to clozapine with a combination other than two second generation antipsychotics.

The initial trials search unveiled 1,412 studies. After the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, ten trials were used in this meta-analysis.

The recommendation of this analysis that alternative medications be sought in order to treat patients who have a sub-optimal response to clozapine with a combination other than two second generation antipsychotics. This route should only be used once all other treatment options have been exhausted.

This meta-analytical study looks specifically at the combination of atypical antipsychotics with clozapine in comparison to clozapine monotherapy. This work extends existing meta-analysis by incorporating data from more recent trials.

To utilize LGBTQ affirmative theory to inform clinical work which affords queer youth with disabilities agency and authorship in their negotiations of sexuality.

The authors use a case study to explore the use of queer affirmative theory and peer consultation to guide and evaluate an ongoing clinical case of a young gay man with cerebral palsy as he negotiates his developing sexuality amid powerful messages from media, pornography, friends, and parental influence.

This paper finds that a queer affirmative therapy model which explores themes of intersectionality, and utilizes nuanced views of sexual identity, sexual behavior, and gender identity are useful to practitioners to encourage agency and authorship for queer disabled people in their negotiations of ability, sexuality, identity, and behavior.

This paper provides an alternative approach to nurturing queer identity by (1) creating refuge for emerging sexualities; (2) allowing for difficult dialogues where ability, sexuality, and gender can be pragmatically discussed, performed, and negotiated; (3) tolerating the discomfort of these difficult dialogues and pushing through to nurturing the unique queerness that evolves out of these conversations; and finally (4) encouraging transformation of all participants including client and practitioners. The practitioners discuss their own transformation through the co-created dialog with each other and with the client.

There has been considerable effort in recent years to link and integrate professional services more closely for patients with comorbidities. However, difficulties persist, especially at the clinical level. This study aims to shed light on these difficulties by examining the process of sensemaking in professionals directly involved in this integration.

The authors conducted an eight‐year longitudinal case study of an organization specializing in mental health and substance abuse. Different data collection methods were used, including 34 interviews conducted between 2003 and 2009, observations and document analysis. The authors performed a qualitative analysis of the data using a processual perspective.

This paper provides empirical insights about the nature of the sensemaking process in which professionals collectively participate and the effects of this process on the evolution of integrated services. It suggests that the development of integrated practices results from an evolutional and collective process of constructing meanings that is rooted in the work activities of the professionals involved.

By drawing attention to the capacity of professionals to shape the projects they are implementing, this study questions the capacity of managers to actually manage such a process. In order to obtain the expected benefits of integration projects, such emergent dynamics must first be recognized and then supported. Only then can thought be given to mastering them.

The fact that this is a single case study is not a limitation per se, although it does raise the issue of the transferability of results. Replicating the study in other contexts would verify the applicability of the authors' conclusions.

This study offers a fresh perspective on the difficulties generally encountered at the clinical level when trying to integrate services. It makes a significant contribution to work on the dynamics of sensemaking in organizational life.

Many autistic people do not have any access to healthcare services or they experience significant barriers to navigating the healthcare system. The purpose of this paper is to represent a significant concern in almost every healthcare setting, including specialized doctors and psychotherapists, outpatient medical care, access to preventive treatments (e.g. information on health and hygiene, vaccinations and early diagnostic screenings) and treatments in hospitals for emergency medical care. Therefore, it is necessary to provide professionals with guidelines and knowledge and to establish concepts for the participation of autistic people also with respect to adequate healthcare.

As a doctor and autistic person, the author’s training and personal experiences have provided the author with a unique perspective on this topic. It has also given the author an important opportunity to provide recommendations on ways to improve access to appropriate medical services for autistic individuals, improve communication between healthcare providers and autistic individuals and improve overall experiences within the healthcare and medical setting.

The paper provides information about the shortcoming of the healthcare system for autistic people, problems and barriers to access the healthcare system and for assessment and treatment and offers various suggestions to overcome these restrictions.

This paper is of special value as it is written by a medical doctor who has the diagnosis of ASD herself since she is 27. This combination of professional background on one side and person with ASD on the other side is of special value to permeate the topic.