[Conceptions concerning mental health held by professionals working within the family health strategy]. / Concepções de profissionais da estratégia saúde da família sobre saúde mental.

The aim of this study was to analyze what professionals from a team within the Family Health Strategy (FHS) understand mental health to be. This descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative approach was conducted with 16 professionals from a FHS team in the city of Guaiúba, CE, Brazil. Data were collected during January and February 2011 through focal groups in which the dialogues were recorded and later transcribed for analysis. The following categories emerged from content analysis: "Talking about mental health vs. Thinking about mental disorder" and "Understanding mental health more broadly". Some professionals revealed restricted mental disorder-centered conceptions, while others understood mental health more broadly, recognizing the dynamics of the health-disease continuum and identifying aspects that influence one's mental health.

[The implications of a psychoeducation group on the everyday lives of individuals with bipolar affective disorder]. / Implicações de um grupo de Psicoeducação no cotidiano de portadores de Transtorno Afetivo Bipolar.

There is growing evidence that the course of Bipolar Affective Disorder (BAD) can be altered by psychotherapeutic approaches, such as Psychoeducation. Therefore, this study was performed with the objective of identifying the implications of a Psychoeducation group on the everyday lives of individuals with BAD. To do this, the authors chose to perform a qualitative case study. Participants included twelve individuals with BAD who had attended at least six meetings of the Psychoeducation Group held at the São José do Rio Preto Faculty of Medicine (FAMERP). Semi-structured interviews were performed, which were recorded and then transcribed and subjected to Thematic Analysis. The present study showed that the referred group experience promoted the individuals' knowledge acquisition; their awareness regarding the disease and adherence to treatment; their making positive changes in life; the possibility of helping other patients to benefit from the knowledge learned in the group; and their awareness regarding other realities and coping strategies, obtained by exchanging experiences with other participants.

[Profile of students entering the nursing diploma program: University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing]. / Perfil de estudantes ingressantes em licenciatura: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo.

The objective of this study is to describe the profile of the entering students as to gender, age, marital status, educational background (elementary and high school studies) and employment status of the first class of the Nursing Teaching Diploma Program in EERP/USP, in the year 2006, highlighting their implications for the teaching-learning process. This descriptive exploratory study used a questionnaire for data collection. Results are presented in a descriptive way, with absolute and percentage frequency. The age group of the students is diverse, varying from 19 to 46 years old, most (67.5%) of them comes from public schools (high school studies), 42% work, of those, 67% already work in the health area. These data can influence in the pedagogical practice of professors.

[Psychoeducational group and bipolar affective disorder: a reflection on the asylum and psychosocial models]. / Grupo de psicoeducação no transtorno afetivo bipolar: reflexão sobre o modo asilar e o modo psicossocial.

Bipolar Affective Disorder (BAD), known by its chronicity, complexity and high rates of morbidity and mortality, is one of the main causes of disability in the world. There is growing evidence that its path can be changed by psychotherapy approaches, such as psychoeducation, which improves one's social and occupational behavior and capacity to deal with stressful situations. This study is an experience report about a psychoeducational group for individuals with BAD and their relatives, which consisted on reflecting upon the components of the mental health practice paradigm. Reflecting upon the psychosocial and asylum ways regarding the conceptions of object and mode of work permitted to locate the group in a psychosocial manner, as knowledge and experience favor the autonomy of the individuals, who have more chances to face the difficulties that occur in their suffering-existence process.

[Schizophrenia patients' daily life after the use of clozapine and group accompaniment: Family's view]. / Cotidiano de portadores de esquizofrenia, após uso de um antipsicótico atípico e acompanhamento em grupo: visão do familiar.

This study described the daily life of schizophrenia patients after the use of clozapine and group accompaniment from the perspective of family members. The research population consisted of 11 family members who most frequently accompanied 11 schizophrenia patients who participate in the group and use clozapine. With a view to data collection, interviews oriented by a script were held in April 2003, which were taped and fully transcribed afterwards. Results indicated an improvement in patients' symptoms, demonstrated by decreased social isolation, resumption of home/work activities and study as well as by participation in social events. These results point towards the need for a new view on patients who suffer from mental disorder and their family members, with a view to seeking therapeutic attitudes that act in the production of life with a view to a new existential meaning, in the different forms of social contact and sociability.

[Mental illness in the view of patients and their families]. / A doença mental sob o olhar de pacientes e familiares.

With the aim of studying the comprehension of mental illness of patients and their families, we conducted a bibliographical study of articles in Brazilian periodicals, theses and dissertations in the period between 1993 and 2003. The identification of the sources was done through the automated search systems Latin American Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS) and the University of São Paulo's Bibliographic Data Bank On-line Global Catalog (DEDALUS). Nineteen papers were selected and four categories identified: family difficulty in the relationship with the patient; prejudice and stigma; organic/ biological explanation for the illness; and fear and pain of insanity. Most of the papers show that, regarding assistance, there is a need for support and expansion of the public health system in order to meet the demands. It is believed that the number of publications is small considering the importance of the problem, showing the need for new research.

[Therapeutic relationship and teaching of mental health and psychiatric nursing: trends in the state of São Paulo]. / Relacionamento terapêutico e ensino de enfermagem psiquiátrica e saúde mental: tendências no estado de São Paulo.

This study presents a panorama of the insertion of the thematic of therapeutic relationship and therapeutic communication in undergraduate courses in Nursing in the public universities of the State of São Paulo. This is a qualitative and descriptive-analytical research. Data was collected through a questionnaire applied on professors of the area of Psychiatric Nursing and Mental Health from 8 schools and grouped according to the institution, the disciplines, the program and the objectives of the practical activities and practical fields. It was verified that most schools include the therapeutic relationship in their teaching approach, which makes possible the rescue of Nursing as a profession that is concerned with the human being in his/her complexity, in which the know-how is directed to the respect of the patients' limitations, potentialities, needs and interpersonal relations.

[Follow-up group for schizophrenic patients using Clozapine and their relatives: the participants' perception]. / Grupo de acompanhamento de portadores de esquizofrenia em uso de Clozapina e de seus familiares: percepção dos participantess.

This study described the views of Schizophrenic patients as well as those of their relatives concerning the group follow-up. The population consisted of 11 patients participating in the group and of 11 relatives who most often accompanied them to group meetings. Interviews, which were tape-recorded and fully transcribed, were used for data collection. The obtained results showed that the group consisted in a favorable space for talking and listening about the disease as well as to exchange experiences as it provided more security and self-esteem to the participants. In addition to improving the patients' relationships and providing therapeutic help to their relatives. Such results showed the need for a new way to view mentally ill patients in order to search for more adequate therapeutic attitudes which can act on life production.

[Nursing actions in the daily scenario of a psychiatric institution]. / Ações de enfermagem no cenário do cotidiano de uma instituição psiquiátrica.

This qualitative study had the purpose to observe and describe nursing actions performed by nurses at a state psychiatric institution. Eight nurses who work in the institution participated in the study. In order to collect data, authors used participant observation and registration in a field record book. The discussions regarding the results were based on research about nursing practice in psychiatric institutions. Data evidenced that nursing actions were predominantly bureaucratic and administrative and that the professionals studied did not have a defined position about the need to perform interventions in the nursing care provided in this institution.