OSPN content 1

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy: evaluating current evidence and informing future research

2009-01-03T07:58:00.000-08:00

From PubMed

Coelho HF, Canter PH, Ernst E.

Complementary Medicine, Peninsula College of Medicine & Dentistry, Universities of Exeter & Plymouth, Exeter, United Kingdom. helen.coelho@pms.ac.uk

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a recently developed class-based program designed to prevent relapse or recurrence of major depression (Z. V. Segal, J. M. G. Williams, & J. Teasdale, 2002). Although research in this area is in its infancy, MBCT is generally discussed as a promising therapy in terms of clinical effectiveness. The aim of this review was to outline the evidence that contributes to this current viewpoint and to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this evidence to inform future research. By systematically searching 6 electronic databases and the reference lists of retrieved articles, the authors identified 4 relevant studies: 2 randomized clinical trials, 1 study based on a subset of 1 of these trials, and 1 nonrandomized trial. The authors evaluated these trials and discussed methodological issues in the context of future research. The current evidence from the randomized trials suggests that, for patients with 3 or more previous depressive episodes, MBCT has an additive benefit to usual care. However, because of the nature of the control groups, these findings cannot be attributed to MBCT-specific effects. Further research is necessary to clarify whether MBCT does have any specific effects. (Copyright) 2007 APA.

From the Mind Hacks blog

2008-11-11T07:31:00.000-08:00

November 10, 2008

BBC All in the Mind kicks off with race, law and suicide

A new season of BBC Radio 4's All in the Mind has just started and begins with a discussion of a fantastic study that used a version of the popular children's game Guess Who? to investigate the social niceties of discussing race.

The programme also tackles the UK's new mental health act and the alarmingly high rate of suicide in older women in Britain's South Asian communities.

Despite being presented by the brilliant Claudia Hammond, it's still not quite as good as its Australian namesake and still has a slightly parochial feel to it.

However, it is also known for flashes of brilliance and there should be a few of those in the coming weeks as the new season progresses.

Link to first in the new season of BBC All in the Mind.
Link to programme webpage.

—Vaughan.

Posted at November 10, 2008 12:00 PM

From http://www.mindhacks.com/blog/2008/11/bbc_all_in_the_mind_.html [well worth subscribing to]

Suicide prevention mandatory for national accreditation

2008-10-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

LISA PRIEST

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
October 21, 2008 at 12:27 AM EDT

For the first time, Canadian hospitals and nursing homes seeking a national stamp of approval will have to develop suicide-prevention programs.

Under rules starting in January, institutions seeking accreditation will not only have to make patient safety paramount, but must also identify treatment and monitoring strategies for those at risk.

“The intention is to make sure that organizations have an approach in place to identify the client who is at risk,” said Wendy Nicklin, president and chief executive officer of Accreditation Canada, a non-profit, independent organization. “And that specific steps are taken to minimize the possibility of suicide occurring while in the facility, in the program.”

Full article