[Nursing experience using cognitive behavior therapy on a multiple suicide adolescent patient].

This case report described a nursing process that employed cognitive behavior therapy in the care of a repeated suicide adolescent patient between January 25 and March 25, 2007. Data collection was done through observations, interviews and discussions conducted concurrently with the patient and his family. The patient was evaluated physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Major nursing problems identified included: (1) potential suicide risk, (2) social interaction disturbance, and (3) sleep pattern disturbance. During hospitalization, cognitive behavior therapy was employed to correct distortions in patient cognition, reduce suicidal ideations and improve sleep quality. Role-playing was also employed to deliver social skills training, which enhanced the ability of the patient to interact with others. After eight weeks and prior to discharge, the patient was able to use effective coping skills to face his negative-automatic thinking and actively participate in group therapy. After discharge, the author tracked patient progress by visiting the OPD and through communications over the telephone. His family and teacher described the patient as having a stable mood, no longer attempting suicide and being able to join clubs on campus and live a a normal daily life.

Evaluation of assertiveness training for psychiatric patients.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effectiveness of assertiveness training programmes on psychiatric patients' assertiveness, self-esteem and social anxiety. BACKGROUND: Assertiveness training programmes are designed to improve an individual's assertive beliefs and behaviours, which can help the individual change how they view themselves and establish self-confidence and social anxiety. It is useful for patients with depression, depressive phase of bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder or adjustment disorder. DESIGN: Experimental. METHOD: There were 68 subjects (28, experimental group; 40, diagnosis-matched comparison group). Subjects in experimental groups participated in experimenter-designed assertiveness training twice a week (two hours each) for four weeks. The comparison groups participated the usual activities. Data were collected in the two groups at the same time: before, after and one month after training programme. Efficacy was measured by assertiveness, self-esteem and social anxiety inventories. A generalised estimating equation was used for analysis. RESULTS: After training, subjects had a significant increase in assertiveness immediately after the assertiveness training programme and one-month follow-up. There was a significant decrease in social anxiety after training, but the improvement was not significant after one month. Self-esteem did not increase significantly after training. CONCLUSION: With our sample of patients with mixed diagnoses, assertiveness seemed to be improved after assertiveness training. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Patients would benefit more from the assertiveness training programme for the change in how they view themselves, improve their assertiveness, properly express their individual moods and thoughts and further establish self-confidence. The assertiveness training protocol could be provided as a reference guide to clinical nurses.

[A nursing experience in a patient with antipsychotics-induced overweight].

The purpose of this article is to describe a nursing experience with a patient with schizophrenia who had antipsychotics-induced overweight. The authors assessed the patient's health condition and provided weight management to reduce her hallucinations as well as her body weight between May 1 and June 10, 2004. Three nursing problems had been identified as follows: disturbed sensory perception, imbalanced nutrition, and ineffective health maintenance. During the nursing process, the authors established a rapport relationship with the patient and her mother, educated them in skills for reducing hallucinations, and designed an individual body weight management program. After the interventions, the patient was able to positively face her illness, effectively use methods to reduce the impact of hallucinations, and successfully lose 5.5 kg. From this perspective, an individual body weight management program can be an effective intervention for nurses to care for this group of patients.