Group cognitive behavioural therapy for first episode psychosis: who's referred,who attends and who completes it?

Aim: Most national guidelines recommend psychological therapy for people with first‐episode psychosis (FEP) but interventions proven effective in randomized control trials (RCTs) conducted in research settings do not always translate effectively to real‐world clinical environments. In a limited health system, it is important to understand the system and patient barriers to participation in effective treatment. We sought to determine what patient characteristics influenced clinicians' decision to refer or not to refer to group cognitive behavioural therapy for FEP and what characteristics were associated with those referred attending/not attending and adhering/not adhering to the programme. Methods: Between 2006 and 2008, all cases of confirmed FEP from a defined geographical region were examined using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV‐TR Axis I Disorders for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM‐IV) diagnoses, the Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms, Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms, Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia and Birchwood Insight Scale. Duration of untreated psychosis was established using the Beiser Scale. Results: Of the 124 (77 males, 47 females) people in the final sample, 88 (72%) were referred for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), 52 (59%) attended and 12 (23%) did not complete CBT. Those with higher levels of insight into the need for treatment (U = 740.00, z = −2.63, P = 0.008) and higher levels of positive symptoms (t (120) = −3.064, P = 0.003) were more likely to be referred to CBT. Those with higher educational attainment (χ² = 9.48, P = 0.03) and fewer negative symptoms, particularly in relation to global attention (t (85) = 2.32, P = 0.03), were more likely to attend and complete CBT. Conclusion: Within an early intervention service for FEP, it appears that individuals with less education, more negative symptoms and less insight experienced significant barriers to successfully completing group CBT. More information for referring clinicians about the benefits of CBT for FEP could help increase referral rates. Assertive outreach for people at risk of disengaging or non‐adherence should also be considered.     

Analyzing the Patient's First Name in the Search for Identity

A first name captures indispensable information about its bearer, including aspects of the individual's inner world and approach to the environment, the aspirations and attributions of the name-givers for the individual, and the transferences and countertransferences involving the feelings that a first name evokes. A name is therefore a code waiting to be deciphered that, when explored, can reveal its significance to its bearer. A name can impart multiple meanings; the process of interpreting a name is akin to peeling an onion layered in infinite sequences. This article proposes that an examination of the analysand's first name can be a useful clinical tool in psychoanalytic therapy. An exploration into the origin and meaning of a patient's first name through detailed inquiry and association can serve as a rich source of insight regarding relationships between name and self-identity, and can quickly expand the analytic process.     

Mandibular access osteotomy: Gate way to parapharyngeal space – A case report

IntroductionPara pharyngeal tumors often pose a challenge to surgeons for surgical interventions. Maxillofacial access osteotomies offer excellent visualization and permit unhindered surgical manipulation. Access osteotomy allows the surgeon an adequate access of the surgical field to resect the tumor completely and to preserve vital structures. Though numerous techniques exist, selection of the proper technique is the key factor in reestablishing the function and cosmesis. This article describes our experience with mandibular swing approach that has facilitated complete removal of a parapharyngeal space tumor.Case presentation35years old female complained of deviation of tongue to one side and swallowing difficulty. Clinical and radiographic examinations were suggestive of a skull base lesion involving the hypoglossal nerve. After evaluation the tumor was excised through a mandibulotomy approach. Post operatively the patient was relieved completely of the symptoms and without any postoperative sequalae.Clinical discussionAccessibility is the main concern while dealing with skull base lesions. But the success of surgery lies on the selection of right approach. Paramedian mandibular swing approach has its own advantages over various other facial osteotomies. The swinging of the mandible gives advantage of accessing neck and skull base together, which is not possible with other facial osteotomies.ConclusionManagement of skull base tumors involve a multidisciplinary approach. Choosing the right approach is often a major dilemma. Access osteotomies of facial skeleton is a hatchway to the skull base lesions. Of which mandibular swing approach is a good option for skull base tumors because of the ease of surgical technique even in inexperienced hands.     

Automation and apps for clinical dental biomechanics

Objectives: The aim of this research summary is to introduce the current and ongoing work using smartphone video, tracking markers to measure musculoskeletal disorders of cranial and mandibular origin, and the potential significance of the technology to doctors and therapists.

Method: The MPA? biomechanical measuring apps are in beta trials with various doctors and therapists. The technique requires substantial image processing and statistical analysis, best suited to server-side processing. A smartphone environment has enabled a virtual laboratory, which provides automated generation of graphics and in some cases automated interpretation. The system enables highly accurate real-time biomechanics studies using only a smartphone and tracking markers.

Result: Despite the technical challenges in setting up and testing of the virtual environment and with interpretation of clinical relevance, the trials have enabled a demonstration of real-time biomechanics studies. The technology has prompted a lot of discussion about the relevance of rapid assessment tools in clinical practice. It seems that a prior bias against motion tracking and its relevance is very strong with occlusion related use cases, yet there has been a general agreement about the use case for cranial movement tracking in managing complex issues related to the head, neck, and TMJ.

Discussion: Measurement of cranial and mandibular functions using a smartphone video as the input have been investigated. Ongoing research will depend upon doctors and therapists to provide feedback as to which uses are considered clinically relevant.     

Superior mesenteric artery first approach versus standard pancreaticoduodenectomy:a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) first approach was proposed recently as a new modification of the standard pancreaticoduodenectomy. Increasing evidence showed that a periadventiceal dissection of the SMA with early transection of the inflow during pancreaticoduodenec-tomy associates better early perioperative results, and setup the scene for long-term oncological benefits. The objectives of the current study are to compare the operative results and long-term oncological outcomes of SMA first approach pan-creaticoduodenectomy (SMA-PD) with standard pancreatico-duodenectomy (S-PD).DATA SOURCES: Electronic search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library was performed until July 2015. We considered randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized comparative studies (NRCSs) comparing SMA-PD with S-PD to be eligible if they included patients with periampullary cancers.RESULTS: A total of one RCT and thirteen NRCSs met the in-clusion criteria, involving 640 patients with SMA-PD and 514 patients with S-PD. The SMA-PD was associated with less in-traoperative bleeding, less blood transfusions and higher rate of associated venous resections. The pancreatic fistula and delayed gastric emptying had a significantly lower rate in the SMA-PD group. There were no differences between the two approaches regarding overall complications, major complica-tion rates and in-hospital mortality. There was no difference regarding R0 resection rate, and one-, two- or three-year over-all survival. The SMA-PD was associated with a lower local, hepatic and extrahepatic metastatic rate.CONCLUSIONS: The SMA-PD is associated with better perioperative outcomes, such as blood loss, transfusion re-quirements, pancreatic fistula, and delayed gastric emptying. Although the one-, two- or three-year overall survival rate is not superior, the SMA-PD has a lower local and metastatic re-currence rate.