Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services

Includes bibliographical references.

Guest Editorial -- Commentary -- Psychopharmacology for Borderline Personality Disorder -- Sensitizing Inpatient Mental Health Staff to the Challenges of Aging -- Team Development Measure in Interprofessional Graduate Education: A Pilot Study -- Identifying Depression in Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Recommendations for Professional Practice -- Metabolic Side Effects in Patients Using Atypical Antipsychotic Medications During Hospitalization -- Psychological Capital and Perceived Professional Benefits: Testing the Mediating Role of Perceived Nursing Work Environment Among Chinese Nurses.

[Article Title: Psychopharmacology for Borderline Personality Disorder / Barbara J. Limandri, p. 8-11] Abstract: Treating individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex and challenging process fraught with clinician stigma and bias. Clinically, polypharmacy is the most common approach, even though it is more likely to produce greater drug-drug adverse effects and interactions than effective improvement in symptoms. Currently, there are no approved medications specific for the treatment of BPD. The current article reviews the extant literature on psychopharmacology and provides treatment recommendations.;[Article Title: Sensitizing Inpatient Mental Health Staff to the Challenges of Aging / Michelle R. Zechner, Joseph C. Birkmann, Jennifer Sperduto,and Carlos Pratt, p. 12-16] Abstract: Although the aging inpatient population in state psychiatric hospitals is growing significantly, there are few examples of available training to improve staff knowledge and practice. The current article describes a 10-week training series developed through a university and psychiatric hospital collaboration. Training was attended by 135 direct care nursing and rehabilitation staff and focused on improving aging awareness, problem solving, using person-centered therapeutic techniques, and engaging older adults. Staff reported improvements in therapeutic techniques, knowledge, concrete strategies for providing care, and stress management skills. Specialized training to improve understanding of aging processes and communication with older adults may also improve inpatient staff knowledge and skills. As the aging inpatient population in state psychiatric hospitals continues to grow, future work should develop manualized training initiatives to address communication needs of older adults and intervention strategies that can be used by mental health nursing staff when working with this population. ;[Article Title: Team Development Measure in Interprofessional Graduate Education: A Pilot Study / Lora Humphrey Beebe, Marian Roman, Gary Skolits, Hollie Raynor, Dixie Thompson and Andrea Franks, p. 18-22] Abstract: A faculty team developed the 4-week Recovery-Based Interprofessional Distance Education (RIDE) rotation for graduate students in their disciplines. The evaluation team identified the Team Development Measure (TDM) as a potential alternative to reflect team development during the RIDE rotation. The TDM, completed anonymously online, was piloted on the second student cohort (N = 18) to complete the RIDE rotation. The overall pretest mean was 60.73 points (SD = 11.85) of a possible 100 points, indicating that students anticipated their RIDE team would function at a moderately high level during the 4-week rotation. The overall posttest mean, indicating student perceptions of actual team functioning, was 72.71 points (SD = 23.31), an average increase of 11.98 points. Although not statistically significant, Cohen's effect size (d = 0.43) indicates an observed difference of large magnitude. No other published work has used the TDM as a pre-/posttest measure of team development. The authors believe the TDM has several advantages as a measure of student response to interprofessional education offerings, particularly in graduate students with prior experience on health care teams. Further work is needed to validate and extend the findings of this pilot study.;[Article Title: Identifying Depression in Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Recommendations for Professional Practice / Brenda Marshall, Betty Kollia, Victoria Wagner and David Yablonsky, p. 23-27] Abstract: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face many challenges, not the least of which can be dealing with their own depression. Depression decreases an individual's capacity for self-care and is often overlooked in this population striving to manage the demands of parenting their child with ASD. This article examines current literature related to prevalence, diagnosis, and interventions for depression in parents of children with ASD. The review indicates that depression is more common in parents of children with ASD than in the general public. However, most literature addresses parenting skills rather than depression and associated self-care deficits identified in these parents. Suggestions for best practice models and proactive interventions to caregivers are provided. ;[Article Title: Metabolic Side Effects in Patients Using Atypical Antipsychotic Medications During Hospitalization / Gül Dikeç, Leyla Baysan Arabaci, Gülçin Bölük Uzunoglu and Selin Demet Mizrak, p. 28-37] Abstract: The current research evaluated metabolic side effects in inpatients (N = 271) using atypical antipsychotic medications in a psychiatric hospital in Turkey between June and December 2016. Data were collected via an information form created after reviewing the literature at the time of patients' hospitalization and discharge. According to the analysis, 73.8% of patients stated they experienced side effects from antipsychotic medications and 20.7% of patients experienced weight gain. A statistical difference was detected among body mass index, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate during patient hospitalization and discharge. Patients using atypical anti-psychotic medications gained weight, had increased cardiovascular risk, and experienced adverse effects on their physical health during hospitalization. Mental health nurses should inform patients of medication effects and possible side effects, monitor side effects, and teach patients how to manage metabolic side effects. ;[Article Title: Psychological Capital and Perceived Professional Benefits: Testing the Mediating Role of Perceived Nursing Work Environment Among Chinese Nurses / Hongzhen Zhou, Yafang Zhu, Xiaomei Zhang, Juan Peng, Qingdong Li, Xiaoyan Wang, Lihui Wang, Xiaohui Cai and Limei Lan, p. 38-47] Abstract: The current descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to explore the mediating role of perceived nursing work environment (PNWE) in the relationship between psychological capital (PsyCap) and perceived professional benefits among Chinese nurses. Participants (N = 351) working in two large general hospitals in Guangdong, China completed self-report questionnaires from March to May 2017. Linear regression analyses and structural equation modeling were performed to explore the mediating effect. PsyCap (particularly for hope and optimism) had a positive effect on perceived professional benefits, and PNWE was a mediator in this relationship among Chinese nurses. A good working environment can be regarded as a mediator variable, increasing staff's competence and sense of belonging to a team. For successful implementation, nurse managers should use effective strategies to increase nurses' confidence and hope while providing a comfortable work environment.