Verbal de-escalation to reduce the use of mechanical restraint during nonvoluntary ambulance transfers. / Utilización de la desescalada verbal para reducir la contención mecánica durante los traslados no voluntarios en ambulancia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the usefulness of annual training in verbal de-escalation techniques for reducing the use of mechanical restraints during nonvoluntary ambulance transfers of patients with mental health problems who need emergency care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Quasi-experimental before-after study. Patients with mental diseases treated by a psychiatric team and transferred from home without their consent were included from January through December 2008 in Barcelona. Since 2013, the team had been attending annual training sessions in verbal de-escalation based on the recommendations of the BETA project (Best Practices in the Evaluation and Treatment of Agitation). We compared the prevalence of the use of mechanical restraint before and after the team started verbal de-escalation training. We also analyzed variables associated with the need to use restraints. RESULTS: Patients in 633 nonvoluntary transfers were included. Mechanical restraints were used in 42.0% of transfers before de-escalation training and in 20.6% of transfers afterwards, reflecting a 50.1% reduction. Logistic regression identified younger age and the presence of psychotic symptoms as factors associated with the use of restraints; the use of verbal de-escalation was a protective factor (P 0.005). CONCLUSION: Annual training in verbal de-escalation techniques following the BETA project's recommendations led to a 50% reduction in the need to use mechanical restraint during nonvoluntary ambulance transfers of patients with mental health problems.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la efectividad de la formación anual en desescalada verbal (DV) en la reducción de las contenciones mecánicas (CM) durante los traslados no voluntarios en ambulancia a urgencias de pacientes con enfermedad mental. METODO: Estudio cuasiexperimental antes-después. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes con enfermedad mental trasladados de manera no voluntaria en Barcelona por un equipo de atención psiquiátrica en domicilio, desde enero de 2008 hasta diciembre de 2020. En el año 2013 el equipo al completo inició una formación anual en DV en base a las recomendaciones del proyecto BETA (Best Practices in the Evaluation and Treatment of Agitation). Se ha comparado la prevalencia de CM durante dichos traslados, antes y después de iniciar la formación en DV. Asimismo se han analizado los factores asociados a la necesidad de CM. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 633 traslados no voluntarios. Antes de la formación en DV hubo un 42,0% de CM y después fue del 20,6%, lo que supone una reducción del 50,1%. La regresión logística mostró que los factores asociados a la necesidad de CM son una menor edad y la existencia de síntomas psicóticos como factores de riesgo y uso de la DV como factor protector (p 0,005). CONCLUSIONES: La formación anual en DV siguiendo las recomendaciones del proyecto BETA ha permitido una reducción del 50% de la necesidad de CM durante el traslado no voluntario en ambulancia de pacientes con enfermedad mental.

Utilización de la desescalada verbal para reducir la contención mecánica durante los traslados no voluntarios en ambulancia / Verbal de-escalation to reduce the use of mechanical restraint during nonvoluntary ambulance transfers

Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de la formación anual en desescalada verbal (DV) en la reducción de las contenciones mecánicas (CM) durante los traslados no voluntarios en ambulancia a urgencias de pacientes con enfermedad mental. Método: Estudio cuasiexperimental antes-después. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes con enfermedad mental trasladados de manera no voluntaria en Barcelona por un equipo de atención psiquiátrica en domicilio, desde enero de 2008 hasta diciembre de 2020. En el año 2013 el equipo al completo inició una formación anual en DV en base a las recomendaciones del proyecto BETA (Best Practices in the Evaluation and Treatment of Agitation). Se ha comparado la prevalencia de CM durante dichos traslados, antes y después de iniciar la formación en DV. Asimismo se han analizado los factores asociados a la necesidad de CM. Resultados: Se incluyeron 633 traslados no voluntarios. Antes de la formación en DV hubo un 42,0% de CM y después fue del 20,6%, lo que supone una reducción del 50,1%. La regresión logística mostró que los factores asociados a la necesidad de CM son una menor edad y la existencia de síntomas psicóticos como factores de riesgo y uso de la DV como factor protector (p < 0,005). Conclusiones: La formación anual en DV siguiendo las recomendaciones del proyecto BETA ha permitido una reducción del 50% de la necesidad de CM durante el traslado no voluntario en ambulancia de pacientes con enfermedad mental. (AU)

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of annual training in verbal de-escalation techniques for reducing the use of mechanical restraints during nonvoluntary ambulance transfers of patients with mental health problems who need emergency care. Methods: Quasi-experimental before-after study. Patients with mental diseases treated by a psychiatric team andtransferred from home without their consent were included from January through December 2008 in Barcelona. Since 2013, the team had been attending annual training sessions in verbal de-escalation based on the recommendations of the BETA project (Best Practices in the Evaluation and Treatment of Agitation). We compared the prevalence of the use of mechanical restraint before and after the team started verbal de-escalation training. We also analyzed variables associated with the need to use restraints. Results: Patients in 633 nonvoluntary transfers were included. Mechanical restraints were used in 42.0% of transfers before de-escalation training and in 20.6% of transfers afterwards, reflecting a 50.1% reduction. Logistic regression identified younger age and the presence of psychotic symptoms as factors associated with the use of restraints; the use of verbal de-escalation was a protective factor (P < 0.005). Conclusions: Annual training in verbal de-escalation techniques following the BETA project’s recommendations led to a 50% reduction in the need to use mechanical restraint during nonvoluntary ambulance transfers of patients with mental health problems. (AU)

Treating immigrant patients in psychiatric emergency rooms.

We examine whether patient variables (geographic origin, gender, Spanish language proficiency) and subjective clinician aspects in emergency department psychiatric encounters (diagnostic certainty, clinician's comfort level with patient) are associated with diagnosis and the use of coercive measures. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, we recorded 467 visits (400 foreign-born and 67 native-born patients) in hospital psychiatry emergency rooms (ERs) in Barcelona between 2007 and 2015. We first assessed the association of patient variables and subjective clinician aspects of psychiatric encounters with service use outcomes and with mental illness diagnosis. Fitted logistic models predicted the likelihood of service use outcomes and estimated the propensity of receiving each diagnosis. The null model evaluated the role of patient's geographical origin, while the full model evaluated the additional roles of patient's gender and language, the clinician's assessment of the influence of culture in diagnosis, and clinician comfort with two outcomes: patient's diagnosis and use of coercive measures in the ER. Women were less likely to receive coercive measures or intramuscular medications compared to men. Significant ethnic/racial and gender differences were found in receiving certain diagnoses. Additionally, a patient's lower Spanish proficiency was correlated with a higher probability of receiving a psychosis diagnosis. The clinician's level of diagnostic certainty was also positively correlated with increasing clinician-reported comfort with patient. Overall, ethnic factors and the subjective aspects of psychiatric encounters were found to influence diagnosis and the use of coercive measures. Cultural competency programs and interpreter services within psychiatric ER settings should thus be required.

Family Features of Social Withdrawal Syndrome (Hikikomori).

Background: Family may play an important role in the origin, maintenance, and treatment of people with social withdrawal. The aim of this study is to analyze family factors related to social withdrawal syndrome. Methods: Socio-demographic, clinical, and family data, including family psychiatric history, dysfunctional family dynamics, and history of family abuse were analyzed in 190 cases of social withdrawal with a minimum duration of 6 months that started an at-home treatment program. Data were analyzed at baseline and at 12 months. Results: In 36 cases (18%) neither the patient nor the family allowed at home evaluation and treatment by the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment (CRHT) team. Patients had high rates of dysfunctional family dynamics (n = 115, 61.5%), and family psychiatric history (n = 113, 59.3%), especially maternal affective (n = 22, 42.9%), and anxiety disorders (n = 11 20.4%). There was a non-negligible percentage of family maltreatment in childhood (n = 35, 20.7%) and single-parent families (n = 66, 37.8%). Most of the cases lived with their families (n = 135, 86%), had higher family collaboration in the therapeutic plan (n = 97, 51.9%) and families were the ones to detect patient isolation and call for help (n = 140, 73.7%). Higher social withdrawal severity (as defined by at least one of: early age of onset, no family collaboration, lack of insight, higher CGSI score, and higher Zarit score), was associated with family psychiatric history, dysfunctional family dynamics, and family abuse history. All of these predictive variables were highly correlated one to each other. Conclusions: There is a high frequency of family psychiatric history, dysfunctional family dynamics, and traumatic events in childhood (family maltreatment), and these factors are closely interrelated, highlighting the potential role of family in the development and maintenance of social withdrawal.

A 12-month study of the hikikomori syndrome of social withdrawal: Clinical characterization and different subtypes proposal.

Social withdrawal is a new mental health problem increasingly common, present in different cultures, whose psychopathology and treatment is not yet established. This study aims to determine the socio-demographic and clinical features and possible clinical subtypes that predict the 12-month outcomes of cases with hikikomori syndrome, a severe form of social withdrawal. Socio-demographic and clinical data at baseline were analysed as well as data obtained for 12 months after at-home treatment in 190 cases. The inclusion criteria were: spending all time at home, avoiding social situations and relationships, significant deterioration due to social isolation, with a minimum duration of 6 months. Six major diagnostic groups were identified: affective, anxiety, psychotic, drug use, personality and other Axis I disorders. The anxiety-affective subgroup demonstrated lower clinical severity, but worse evolution. Less than half of the cases were available for medical follow-up at 12-months. Subjects undergoing intensive treatment had a higher medical follow-up rate and better social networks at 12-months. Therefore, our findings provide data to reach consensus on the specific characteristics of social isolation hikikomori syndrome. The analysis demonstrated the fragility and tendency to relapse and have disengagement, particularly relevant in the anxiety-affective subgroup, suggesting that intensive treatments are more effective.

Hikikomori in Spain: A descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Social withdrawal behaviour is a major health problem that is becoming increasingly important, being necessary studies that investigate its psychopathology and existence in different cultures. AIMS: To describe the clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of hikikomori individuals in Spain. METHOD: Participants were 200 subjects referred to the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment (CRHT) because of social isolation. The definition of hikikomori was the state of avoiding social engagement with generally persistent withdrawal into one's residence for at least 6 months. Socio-demographic and clinical data were analysed, including Severity of Psychiatric Illness (SPI), Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and World Health Organization Disability Assessment (WHODAS) scales. RESULTS: A total of 164 cases were evaluated. Hikikomori were predominantly young male, with the mean age at onset of hikikomori of 40 years old and a mean socially withdrawn period of 3 years. Only three people had no symptoms suggestive of mental disorder. Psychotic and anxiety were the most common comorbid disorders. The scales administered describe the presence of serious symptoms and impairment in social functioning, with a high prevalence of poor collaboration with treatment. CONCLUSION: This study shows the existence of hikikomori in Spain. Its difficult detection and treatment highlights the need for specialized domiciliary teams. The high comorbidity leads us to conclude that it may not be a new diagnosis, but rather a severe syndrome associated with multiple mental illnesses. Primary hikikomori also exist, but less commonly. Future cross-national studies are needed in order to describe its definition and psychopathology.