PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a relapse prevention program (RPP) and examine the effects of the RPP on insight, empowerment, and treatment adherence in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. Participants were 54 inpatients who had a diagnosis of schizophrenia (experimental group: 26, control group: 28). The study was carried out from February 7, 2012 to February 6, 2013. Over a 10-day period prior to discharge each participant in the experimental group received three one-hour sessions of RPP a one-to-one patient-nurse interaction. Data were collected using Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD), Empowerment Scale, and Insight and Treatment Attitude Questionnaire (ITAQ) and analyzed using PASW 18.0 with chi-square test, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and ANCOVA. RESULTS: The experimental group had a significant increase in insight and treatment adherence compared to the control group. However, there was no significant difference in empowerment between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that the RPP for patients with schizophrenia was effective in improving insight and treatment adherence. A longitudinal study is needed to confirm the persistence of these effects of RPP in patients with schizophrenia.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Longitudinal Studies ; Mental Disorders ; Power (Psychology)* ; Recurrence* ; Schizophrenia* ; Secondary Prevention*

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore family members’ caring experiences of schizophrenia patients during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Seventeen family caregivers participated in this study. Focus group and individual interviews were conducted from February to March 2022. Content analysis was applied for the data analysis. Results: Three categories were derived. First, healthcare aspects with three subcategories: increased difficulties in hospitalization process, complete separation of mental health inpatient, and difficulties in implementing quarantine guidelines. Second, rehabilitation aspects with three subcategories: broken daily lives, pity for lost recovery chance, a ruled out life, and nothing different from the pre-pandemic period. Finally, familial aspects with three subcategories: necessity of reorganizing medical system, necessity of national-led care system, and necessity of face-to-face programs. Conclusion Family members’ of schizophrenia patients had various challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study provides evidence for mental health professionals to expand their perspectives of families of schizophrenia during possible infectious disease disasters in the future.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the therapeutic communication experience of nurses in psychiatric wards.METHODS: Data were collected from 9 mental health nurses working at psychiatric wards in three university hospitals in Seoul and Gyeongju, South Korea. The study involved in-depth individual interviews, which were recorded and transcribed as they were spoken, and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.RESULTS: Therapeutic communication experiences of psychiatric ward nurses were categorized into 4 categories, 12 subcategories, and 24 codes. The four categories were ‘therapeutic communication practiced as a nurse’, ‘therapeutic communication delivered to patients’, ‘power revealed between patients and nurses’, and ‘environment surrounding therapeutic communication’. The twelve subcategories were ‘approaching with interest’, ‘with all one's heart and soul’, ‘learning and grow from peers’, ‘understanding the true meaning of mental health nursing’, ‘boosting in strength’, ‘providing a sense of security’, ‘formation of rapport’, ‘lead to recovery’, ‘variability of interaction’, ‘powerful energy originating from sparklet’, ‘lack of physical time’, and ‘absence of supervision’.CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate the need to develop and apply therapeutic communication interventions for psychiatric nurses. Supervision is needed to promote therapeutic communication among psychiatric nurses and requires institutional support.
Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Heart ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Organization and Administration ; Psychiatric Nursing ; Qualitative Research ; Seoul

Purpose: The psychiatric survivors movement, which represents people with mental disorders (PWMD), recognizes the autonomy of PWMD activists and emphasizes peer support and advocacy. However, in South Korea, where this movement is still in its early stages, the activities associated with it are not clearly defined. This paper aims to explore the role identities of PWMD activists and examine their significance. Methods: We conducted one or two in-depth interviews with 12 PWMD activists to gather data. The interviews were designed to uncover the participants’ perspectives on their roles as PWMD activists and their understanding of these roles. Thematic analysis was used to identify common themes. Results: The overall theme that emerged from the role identities of PWMD activists was “one who publicly advocates for the rights of the group while leading colleagues towards personal growth and societal change.” Within this overarching theme, three sub-themes were identified: intrapersonal, interpersonal, and socio-political aspects. In total, we identified 10 sub-themes. Conclusion Our findings can inform the development of various activities that support the recovery of PWMD, enabling them to assist their peers and advocate for their future interests, while also ensuring that their roles are reflected in policies.

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify factors influencing grit among nursing students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in September 2023 involving 135 nursing students from a college in J City, South Korea. The survey included measures of positive psychological capital, mindset, and grit. At the same time, stress, as part of the general characteristics, was evaluated through the power values of high beta waves in brain waves. Statistical analyses included t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis. Results: Positive correlations were found between positive psychological capital, mindset, and grit in nursing students. Volunteer experience and positive psychological capital were identified as significant factors influencing grit. Conclusion To enhance grit among nursing students, it is essential to encourage participation in volunteer activities at the societal, educational, and familial levels, in conjunction with interventions to strengthen positive psychological capital.

Purpose: This integrative review aims to identify changes in people with schizophrenia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An integrative literature review method of Whittemore and Knafl was applied to integrate the studies. The literature search was conducted in six electronic databases using English and Korean search terms. Three researchers independently reviewed the extracted papers and rated their quality based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of fifteen relevant studies were included. Results: The selected articles were all international papers, and most of them were quantitative studies. The changes observed in people with schizophrenia were summarized as follows: (1) changes in health outcomes: psychosocial (increased levels of depression, stress, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and psychotic-like experience) and physical (reduction in food intake, weight loss, changes in immunerelated clinical values, etc.); (2) changes in treatment and health management: increased hospitalization, decreased ICU hospitalization, and a decrease in outpatient visits and prescription rate. Conclusion This study confirmed the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with schizophrenia. It is necessary to develop mental health policies and appropriate nursing interventions to help people in preparing for possible future crises.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the experience of clinical nurses regarding training programs for critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and their educational needs. Methods: Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, and quantitative data were analyzed according to Borich's formula. Data for the study were collected in March 2021 from 16 nurses who had completed a nursing program for critically ill patients with COVID-19 and were working at three hospitals designated for COVID-19. Results: Participants' experiences were classified into three major categories, namely “Participation experiences and perceptions of the training program,” “Recommendations for improving the training program,” and “Perceptions of working in an infectious environment,” and 10 subcategories. According to Borich's formula, the most pressing educational needs in respiratory and non-respiratory nursing, respectively, were for “nursing care for patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation” and “application of continuous renal replacement therapy and caring for patients.” Conclusion To prepare for the periodic emergence of communicable infectious diseases throughout the world and cultivate nursing staff to care for critically ill patients, it is necessary to develop nursing education programs with content corresponding to nurses' needs. This study can be used as base data for cultivating nursing staff for critically ill patients with communicable infectious diseases in keeping with clinical nurses’ educational needs and basic educational materials for nursing students.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify non-psychiatric nurses' difficulties in caring for patients with mental illness. METHODS: Data were collected from eighteen general medical-surgical nurses working at a university hospital in Seoul, Korea. This study involved two focus group discussions and three in-depth individual interviews. All interviews were recorded and transcribed as they were spoken, and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: General medical-surgical nurses experienced difficulties in 3 categories, 9 subcategories, 27 codes. The three categories were ‘nurse’ related factors, ‘patient’ related factors, ‘resource’ related factors. The nine categories were ‘unpreparedness’, ‘nursing barriers due to stigma’, ‘undervaluing and avoidance of psychiatric nursing’, ‘eroding into the trap of a vicious cycle’, ‘facing unapproachable patients’, ‘dealing with unhelpful family members’, ‘burdening already overburdened staff’, ‘obstructive environment’, and ‘isolation of staff with heavy responsibilities’. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate the need to develop psychiatric mental health education programs for non-psychiatric nurses. Education about psychiatric mental health and support from institutions for non-psychiatric nurses can reduce their negative attitude toward psychiatric patients and difficulties in caring for psychiatric patients.
Education ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical-Surgical Nursing ; Mental Disorders ; Mental Health ; Psychiatric Nursing ; Qualitative Research ; Seoul

It is well-known that more than 50% of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) cases also have comorbid psychiatric disorders. We evaluated the comorbid psychopathology of Korean children and adolescents with ADHD using a standardized diagnostic instrument. The Korean Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL-K) was administered and completed in 105 patients who had been referred to the outpatient and inpatient clinics at the Samsung Medical Center from March 2004 to May 2005. All of the cases were diagnosed as ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria. We analyzed their clinical characteristics and psychiatric comorbidities, and assessed the correlation of any comorbidity with gender, age and ADHD subtype. Among our 105 participants, 70 (66.7%) subjects were diagnosed with combined-type ADHD, 22 (21.0%) were the predominantly inattentive type, only 1 (1.0%) was determined to have the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type of ADHD, and 12 (11.4%) were classified as not otherwise specified (NOS) ADHD. Eighty (76.2%) subjects had at least one comorbid disorder such as oppositional defiant disorder (n = 53, 50.5%), anxiety disorders (n = 35, 33.3%) and affective disorders (n = 15, 14.3%). Our patients ranged in age from five to 16 years. Among the factors including gender, age, and ADHD subtype, ADHD subtype was the only one significant to comorbidity in our study. The results of this study suggest that psychiatric comorbidity in Korean children with ADHD is similar to the results of previous studies in western countries. Out of all the ADHD subtypes, the combined-type group had a significantly higher ratio of comorbid disorders and psychopathologies.
Tic Disorders/epidemiology ; Mood Disorders/epidemiology ; Mental Disorders/*epidemiology ; Male ; Korea/epidemiology ; Humans ; Female ; Elimination Disorders/epidemiology ; Comorbidity ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/classification/*epidemiology ; Anxiety Disorders/epidemiology ; Adolescent

This review examined the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. It briefly addresses the issues about the cause of hospital visit, diagnosis, and impact of disease, specific to adults. The article focused on the evidence regarding the efficacy and tolerability of short- and long-acting stimulant medications, as well as the non-stimulant medications such as atomoxetine and bupropion in the treatment of the adult ADHD. Generally speaking, variability in diagnostic criteria, dosing parameters and response rates between the various studies were considerable. The aggregated literature shows that both the stimulants and non-stimulants had clinically significant beneficial effect on treating ADHD in adults. Special attention is given to the pharmacological treatment for patients with adult ADHD and various comorbidities. In summary, medications are effective and combined medication and psychosocial treatment is the most beneficial treatment option for most adult patients with ADHD.
Adult ; Bupropion ; Comorbidity ; Humans ; Propylamines ; Atomoxetine Hydrochloride