The Benefits of Dog-Assisted Therapy as Complementary Treatment in a Children's Mental Health Day Hospital.

Dog-assisted therapy (DAT) has shown benefits in people with mental health disorders. A child psychiatric day hospital would be a suitable setting to implement DAT and evaluate the benefits in a pediatric population. METHODS: Mixed methods research in a naturalistic setting was considered in this pre-post quantitative study including 23 children under 13 treated in a day hospital over 2 years. Quantitative analysis included the number of emotional and behavioral outbursts and attendance rate and self-control and social impairment questionnaires completed by family members and therapists. In the qualitative study, the experiences of 12 mental health professionals involved in DAT were documented through semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: On DAT days, there were fewer emotional and behavioral outbursts and higher attendance. Significant differences were obtained between pre- and post-test scores on the SCRS and the SRS-2 completed by the therapists, while no significant differences were obtained on the questionnaires completed by the parents. Observations based on the qualitative study were as follows: (1) DAT improves emotional self-regulation; (2) DAT could facilitate the work of therapists in day hospitals; (3) health professionals displayed uncertainty due to a lack of familiarity with DAT. CONCLUSIONS: DAT improved emotional self-regulation, attendance rate and self-control and social response in children with mental disorders attending a day hospital.

Theoretical approaches to the engagement with patients in case-management programmes and assertive outreach teams: A systematic review of the literature.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: It is generally accepted that all interventions carried out by mental health nurses involve engagement with the patient; this engagement is a process that is gradually constructed and is not immediate. In Spain during last decade, nurses working in assertive outreach teams have gradually replaced the traditional institutional setting in favour of environments that are more familiar to the patient. In contrast, when patients and nurses interact outside institutional settings, a new approach and skillset is required in order to adapt to the new environment. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: We have systematically identified and assessed the available evidence on how nurses work in assertive outreach team programmes. The therapeutic link is not just assistance; it is actually a construct, which is established between nurse and patient, with the aim of favouring, fostering and strengthening the therapeutic relationship. Only a few studies have discussed the nurse-patient therapeutic link in assertive outreach services. However, it seems important that nurses use a standardized language, that is, a language promoted as a model of correct use and used for functions of greater prestige, especially in public administration and teaching, to integrate it into the theoretical framework. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: With the synthesis that we present, we hope that it promote a more consistent use of the engagement concept in research on this topic. In turn, this will enhance staff support and training and will foster evidence-based practice. The conceptualization of nursing language and its use by professionals helps to improve practice and the lack of a theoretical framework with a nurse perspective. It is necessary to establish a consensus between mental health nurses around the engagement' meaning in the programmes of assertive outreach teams. ABSTRACT: Introduction During last decade in Spain, nurses working in assertive outreach programmes have replaced the traditional institutional setting in favour of the patient's own environment. Engagement with patients requires a different skillset when the axis of the nurse-patient interaction is the patient's own environment. The engagement alone could be associated with the innate concept of patient's care and the helping relationship. However, in the individualized care models, the engagement seems to be an instrument with its own characteristics for the purpose of providing mental health care. Aim/Question To systematically identify and assess the empirical evidence on the relationships and engagement between patients with mental illness (schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, schizoaffective disorders, mood disorders and disorders of adult personality) and nursing mental health nurses. Method Systematic literature review based on PRISMA guidance. Results We identified and reviewed seven primary research studies. Following the analytic processes, three themes emerged: existence of different engagement levels, training needs and skills in the creation and consolidation of the engagement, and engagement as process. Discussion The engagement of nurse and patient is understood as a process that incorporates different stages. Whilst it is established, the engagement is subject to positive and negative influences. For the creation of the engagement and its maintenance specialized skills, knowledge and personal attributes (resilience, psychosocial skills, compressive knowledge of mental health illnesses, capacity to build effective relationships, adaptability and problem-solving) are necessary, but the main focus is on context where it develops, selected by the patient himself, for example, his home. Implications for Practice Administrators may have questions about appropriate hiring practices for assertive outreach teams since certain skills are necessary to obtain un engagement process, and staff training should be considered a key issue to provide specific skills for enhancing engagement and the therapeutic relationship. Conclusion The engagement must be understood as a long-term process. For the creation of the engagement and its maintenance, specialized skills, knowledge and personal attributes are necessary.

Measure of clinical improvement in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders: an evaluation of multiple perspectives with HoNOSCA. / Valoración de la mejoría clínica en niños y adolescentes con trastornos psiquiátricos: una evaluación de múltiples perspectivas con HoNOSCA.

INTRODUCTION: Routine outcome assessment is helpful to inform decision-making, resource allocation, and health policy design. Routine outcome assessment in the hospital setting for children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders remains limited. The clinical instrument HoNOSCA (Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents), which has recently become available in Spanish and Catalan, allows outcome assessment in this population from the perspective of patients, their parents or legal guardians, and clinicians. HoNOSCA measures 13 areas of health and psychosocial functioning. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess mental health outcomes in psychiatric day hospital pediatric patients from three perspectives (patient, par-ent/legal guardian, clinician), using the Spanish and Catalan versions of HoNOSCA. METHODS: We recruited patients up to 18 years old with any psychiatric disorder at the day unit of the Salut Mental Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari (Sabadell, Catalonia, Spain). We obtained admission and discharge HoNOSCA scores for the patients, their parents or legal guardians, and their clinicians. RESULTS: We recruited 99 patients over the study period (January 2015 to December 2017), 11 of which were lost to follow-up. Among the remaining 88, we found significant improvement in HoNOSCA scores from admission to discharge. Agreement between the HoNOSCA scores for the three different groups of evaluators (patients, parents/legal guardians, and clinicians) was weak at admission but better at discharge. In general, evaluations from patients and their parents or legal guardians had lower HoNOSCA scores (indicating a better mental health status) at admis-sion compared to those from clinicians. At discharge, however, the scores were more homogenous across the three groups of stakeholders. CONCLUSIONS: Use of HoNOSCA allows for routine evaluation of mental health outcomes in the psychiatric day hospital setting from the perspective of pa-tients, their parents or legal guardians, and clinicians.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La evaluación rutinaria de variables de resultado ayuda en la toma de decisiones, la asignación de recursos y el diseño de políticas en salud. La evaluación rutinaria de variables de resultado en el entorno hospitalario para niños y adolescentes con trastornos psiquiátricos sigue siendo limitada. La Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents, HoNOSCA, que recientemente se ha traducido al español y al catalán, permite la evaluación de resultados en esta población desde la perspectiva de pacientes, padres o tutores legales y clínicos. Este instrumento mide 13 áreas de salud y funcionamiento psicosocial. OBJETIVOS: Evaluar variables de resultado en salud mental entre pacientes jóvenes de hospital de día de psiquiatría desde estas tres perspectivas usando Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents. MÉTODOS: Reclutamos pacientes pediátricos (18 años o menos) con cualquier trastorno psiquiátrico en el hospital de día de la unidad de psiquiatría y psicología juvenil del Hospital Salut Mental Parc Taulí (Sabadell, Cataluña, España). Obtuvimos puntuaciones de Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents desde la perspectiva de pacientes, sus padres o tutores legales y clínicos, al ingreso y al alta. RESULTADOS: Reclutamos 99 pacientes entre enero de 2015 y diciembre de 2017; once se perdieron durante el seguimiento. Entre los 88 restantes, encontramos una mejora significativa en las puntuaciones de Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents desde el ingreso hasta el alta. El acuerdo en las puntuaciones de esta escala entre los diferentes evaluadores fue débil al inicio, pero mejor al alta. En general, los pacientes y los padres o tutores legales reportaron puntuaciones más bajas de Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (mejor estado de salud) al ingreso en comparación con los profesionales de la salud. Al alta, las puntuaciones fueron homogéneas desde las tres perspectivas. CONCLUSIONES: La Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents permite la evaluación rutinaria de variables de resultado en salud mental en el entorno de hospital de día de psiquiatría desde la perspectiva de los pacientes, sus padres o tutores legales y los profesionales de la salud.

Valoración de la mejoría clínica en niños y adolescentes con trastornos psiquiátricos: una evaluación de múltiples perspectivas con HoNOSCA / Measure of clinical improvement in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders: an evaluation of multiple perspectives with HoNOSCA

INTRODUCCIÓN La evaluación rutinaria de variables de resultado ayuda en la toma de decisiones, la asignación de recursos y el diseño de políticas en salud. La evaluación rutinaria de variables de resultado en el entorno hospitalario para niños y adolescentes con trastornos psiquiátricos sigue siendo limitada. La Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents, HoNOSCA, que recientemente se ha traducido al español y al catalán, permite la evaluación de resultados en esta población desde la perspectiva de pacientes, padres o tutores legales y clínicos. Este instrumento mide 13 áreas de salud y funcionamiento psicosocial. OBJETIVOS Evaluar variables de resultado en salud mental entre pacientes jóvenes de hospital de día de psiquiatría desde estas tres perspectivas usando Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents. MÉTODOS Reclutamos pacientes pediátricos (18 años o menos) con cualquier trastorno psiquiátrico en el hospital de día de la unidad de psiquiatría y psicología juvenil del Hospital Salut Mental Parc Taulí (Sabadell, Cataluña, España). Obtuvimos puntuaciones de Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents desde la perspectiva de pacientes, sus padres o tutores legales y clínicos, al ingreso y al alta. RESULTADOS Reclutamos 99 pacientes entre enero de 2015 y diciembre de 2017; once se perdieron durante el seguimiento. Entre los 88 restantes, encontramos una mejora significativa en las puntuaciones de Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents desde el ingreso hasta el alta. El acuerdo en las puntuaciones de esta escala entre los diferentes evaluadores fue débil al inicio, pero mejor al alta. En general, los pacientes y los padres o tutores legales reportaron puntuaciones más bajas de Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (mejor estado de salud) al ingreso en comparación con los profesionales de la salud. Al alta, las puntuaciones fueron homogéneas desde las tres perspectivas. CONCLUSIONES La Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents permite la evaluación rutinaria de variables de resultado en salud mental en el entorno de hospital de día de psiquiatría desde la perspectiva de los pacientes, sus padres o tutores legales y los profesionales de la salud.

INTRODUCTION Routine outcome assessment is helpful to inform decision-making, resource allocation, and health policy design. Routine outcome assessment in the hospital setting for children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders remains limited. The clinical instrument HoNOSCA (Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents), which has recently become available in Spanish and Catalan, allows outcome assessment in this population from the perspective of patients, their parents or legal guardians, and clinicians. HoNOSCA measures 13 areas of health and psychosocial functioning. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess mental health outcomes in psychiatric day hospital pediatric patients from three perspectives (patient, par-ent/legal guardian, clinician), using the Spanish and Catalan versions of HoNOSCA. METHODS We recruited patients up to 18 years old with any psychiatric disorder at the day unit of the Salut Mental Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari (Sabadell, Catalonia, Spain). We obtained admission and discharge HoNOSCA scores for the patients, their parents or legal guardians, and their clinicians. RESULTS We recruited 99 patients over the study period (January 2015 to December 2017), 11 of which were lost to follow-up. Among the remaining 88, we found significant improvement in HoNOSCA scores from admission to discharge. Agreement between the HoNOSCA scores for the three different groups of evaluators (patients, parents/legal guardians, and clinicians) was weak at admission but better at discharge. In general, evaluations from patients and their parents or legal guardians had lower HoNOSCA scores (indicating a better mental health status) at admis-sion compared to those from clinicians. At discharge, however, the scores were more homogenous across the three groups of stakeholders. CONCLUSIONS Use of HoNOSCA allows for routine evaluation of mental health outcomes in the psychiatric day hospital setting from the perspective of pa-tients, their parents or legal guardians, and clinicians.

Conceptual framework for personal recovery in mental health among children and adolescents: a systematic review and narrative synthesis protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Personal recovery has been defined as 'a profound personal and unique process for the individual to change their attitudes, values, feelings, goals, abilities and roles in order to achieve a satisfactory, hopeful and productive way of life, with the possible limitations of the illness'. However, research on personal recovery has focused almost exclusively on adults. This project aims to systematically review the available literature on definitions of personal recovery among children and adolescents with mental health conditions and to undertake a narrative synthesis to develop a conceptual framework of recovery. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Systematic review and narrative synthesis consisting (1) searching scientific literature databases, (2) handsearching, (3) citation tracking, (4) grey literature searching, (5) web-based searching and expert consultation. We will include qualitative and quantitative studies or systematic reviews providing a definition, theoretical or conceptual framework, domains or dimensions of personal recovery among eligible participants. The study will follow standard systematic review methodology for study selection and data extraction. We will assess quality of the evidence using tools appropriate for each study design. We will develop a new conceptual framework using a modified narrative synthesis approach, as follows: (1) describing eligible studies and conducting a preliminary synthesis, (2) determining relationships within and between studies and (3) determining the robustness of the synthesis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: We obtained a waiver of approval from our local Research Ethics Committee. Results will be disseminated via publications in international peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.This study will result in a theoretical framework that is based on an exhaustive review of the literature and the input of experts in the field of recovery. We expect that this framework will foster a better understanding of the stages and processes of recovery in children and adolescents with mental health conditions. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42018064087.

Validation of the Spanish and Catalan versions of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA).

Outcome measurement in outpatient and day-care mental health facilities for children and adolescents in Spain remains limited, in part due to a lack of validated scales. To address this issue, we translated HoNOSCA (glossary, score sheet, self-rated questionnaire, and parent/legal guardian questionnaire) into Spanish and Catalan using a reverse translation approach. We ascertained the validity and psychometric quality of the HoNOSCA in Spanish by assessing correlation with the Children's Global Assessment Scale (C-GAS). We recruited 64 participants 7-17 years of age in five day-care Psychiatry hospitals in Catalonia (Spain). Two evaluators administered both instruments twice, two weeks apart. Patients and parents/legal guardians completed the corresponding HoNOSCA versions. We calculated Cronbach's alpha for assessing internal consistency, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for inter-rater and test-retest reliability, and Pearson's correlation coefficients for validity. We found that all HoNOSCA versions in Spanish presented satisfactory internal consistency, inter-rater and test-retest reliability. Concurrent validity for HoNOSCA-Glossary was also acceptable, with Pearson's coefficients of -0.543 and -0.519 for evaluators in the first administration, and of -0.675 and -0.685 in the second administration. HoNOSCA was also successfully translated into Catalan; acceptability was determined using cognitive interviews.