Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment/Motivational Interviewing School-Based Therapy Pilot Study.

ABSTRACT: Substance abuse and comorbid psychological disorders are significant problems among adolescents. Hence, school-based interventions could be a promising approach for tackling substance use and mental health symptoms in at-risk youth. This pilot study was aimed at determining the effectiveness of interventions like Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment and motivational interviewing (MI) on depressive anxiety and substance use symptoms in middle school participants. Student psychiatric nurse practitioners who were trained and competent in MI conducted a combined Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment/MI intervention with 19 participants using measurement tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Generalized Anxiety Disorders-7, and the Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, Trouble Screening Test. Depressive and anxiety symptoms decreased after the intervention. Because the pre-post Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, Trouble screening period was 4 weeks, there were no significant pre-post differences.

Clinical Practice Recommendations for Pediatric Dyslipidemia.

The leading cause of mortality in the United States is atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Atherosclerotic lesions begin during childhood and can place individuals at greater risk for ASCVD. Providers play an active role in preventing the progression of risk factors and future ASCVD events through appropriate clinical management of genetic and acquired dyslipidemias in the pediatric population. Health care providers need to be aware of current recommendations related to screening for dyslipidemia, lifestyle modification strategies, pharmacologic treatment, and guidelines for ongoing monitoring. Most patients with mild to moderate dyslipidemia can be managed by a primary care provider. It is imperative that providers understand the pathophysiology, screening methods, and available treatment options to effectively manage the condition. Frequent reassessment of family history and adherence to lifestyle modifications and pharmacologic interventions is essential for effective treatment.

Offering Culturally Congruent Christian Care.

Nurses provide care for people of many cultures. Understanding the patient's culture and incorporating cultural beliefs and practices into care are important to the patient's holistic well-being. Cultural and professional awareness creates culturally congruent care. Biblical teachings remind us to love one another; laws require culturally appropriate care, and nursing theory lays the path for understanding. The purpose of this article is to present a Christian view of caring, the theoretical and ethical underpinnings of cultural care, and the organizational and legal aspects of doing what is right.

Adolescent self-mutilation: diagnosis & treatment.

Self-mutilation is complicated and difficult to diagnose. Its incidence among adolescents has increased during the past 10 years. Most mental health professionals discover that the behavior has been part of patients' lives long before their initial visit and that patients have become very good at hiding their behavior. The literature on self-mutilation is increasing, but newer statistics, specifically about cutting and picking behaviors, need to be assessed. The disorder often co-exists with another disorder that requires psychotropic medications, the administration of which should be managed by psychiatric clinicians who specialize in children and adolescents. A multidisciplinary team is necessary to achieve the best outcomes.