Innovative cultural care training: the impact of flipped classroom methods on critical cultural competencies in psychiatric nursing: a quasi-experimental study.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare systems are encountering a growing number of diverse and multicultural clients due to globalization and migration. To effectively address the challenges associated with cross-cultural interactions, nurses require a comprehensive framework of critical cultural competencies. One potential approach to enhancing these competencies in mental health care settings is to use innovative methods such as the flipped classroom in cultural care training programs. This study evaluated the effect of using the flipped classroom method in cultural care training on the critical cultural competencies of nurses working in a psychiatric hospital. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study involved 70 nurses working in a psychiatric hospital affiliated with the Kerman University of Medical Sciences in southeastern Iran. Through random sampling, the nurses were allocated into two groups of intervention (n = 35) and control (n = 35). The intervention group participated in a cultural care training program using the flipped classroom method, which consisted of four sessions conducted over a four-week period. To evaluate the nurses' critical cultural competence, the Almutairi's Critical Cultural Competence Scale was administered before the training and again one month later. RESULTS: The study findings indicated no significant differences in the scores of critical cultural competencies between the intervention group (4.53 ± 0.64) and the control group (4.73 ± 0.42) during the pre-test stage (t = 1.53, p = 0.13). Both groups had a similar perception of critical cultural competencies, which was not particularly positive. However, in the posttest stage, the intervention group (5.33 ± 0.49) demonstrated a significant increase in critical cultural competencies compared to the control group (4.75 ± 0.44) (t = 5.14, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The study results indicated that the use of the flipped classroom method in the cultural care training program effectively enhanced the critical cultural competencies of nurses. Given the importance of cultural care in both physical and psychiatric care settings for multicultural clients, it is crucial for nurses to receive ongoing in-service education that utilizes innovative and active methods such as the flipped classroom.

Towards implementation of cognitive bias modification in mental health care: State of the science, best practices, and ways forward.

Cognitive bias modification (CBM) has evolved from an experimental method testing cognitive mechanisms of psychopathology to a promising tool for accessible digital mental health care. While we are still discovering the conditions under which clinically relevant effects occur, the dire need for accessible, effective, and low-cost mental health tools underscores the need for implementation where such tools are available. Providing our expert opinion as Association for Cognitive Bias Modification members, we first discuss the readiness of different CBM approaches for clinical implementation, then discuss key considerations with regard to implementation. Evidence is robust for approach bias modification as an adjunctive intervention for alcohol use disorders and interpretation bias modification as a stand-alone intervention for anxiety disorders. Theoretical predictions regarding the mechanisms by which bias and symptom change occur await further testing. We propose that CBM interventions with demonstrated efficacy should be provided to the targeted populations. To facilitate this, we set a research agenda based on implementation frameworks, which includes feasibility and acceptability testing, co-creation with end-users, and collaboration with industry partners.

Evaluation of completely online psychotherapy with app-support versus therapy as usual for clients with depression or anxiety disorder: A retrospective matched cohort study investigating the effectiveness, efficiency, client satisfaction, and costs.

INTRODUCTION: Depressive and anxiety disorders are common mental disorders ranking among the leading causes of global disease burden. Not all clients currently benefit from therapy and clients are looking for modern ways of therapy. Online psychotherapy is a promising option for better meeting clients' needs. Recently, a new psychotherapy concept has emerged that combines videoconferencing sessions with support through a mobile application. The latter allows for ecological momentary assessments and interventions, facilitates communication between patients and therapists in between sessions through chat, and allows for incorporating feedback-informed treatment principles. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was a retrospective observational matched cohort study, comparing online psychotherapy with Therapy As Usual (TAU) for clients with depressive or anxiety disorders. Data were obtained via questionnaires, which are part of standard clinical care. Primary outcomes included general mental functioning, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Secondary outcomes were efficiency, client satisfaction, and therapy costs. Primary endpoints were analyzed using linear mixed models analysis, with an interaction term between time and group. Secondary outcomes were analyzed using linear regression. RESULTS: Larger improvements were observed in the online compared to the TAU group for general mental functioning and depressive disorder (i.e., General mental functioning: B = -8.50, 95 CI: -15.01 - -1.97, p = 0.011; Depressive disorder: B = - 3.66, 95 % CI: -5.79 - -1.54p < 0.01). No significant differences in change over time between the two groups were observed for anxiety disorder (B = -3.64, 95 % CI: (-13.10 - 5.82) p = 0.447). The total number of sessions was significantly higher in the online psychotherapy group than in TAU (B = 3.71, p < 0.01), although clients were matched on treatment time in weeks. Treatment session duration in minutes was comparable across the groups. DISCUSSION: Online psychotherapy with app support showed to be a promising alternative to TAU for depressive and anxiety disorders. More research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and client satisfaction of online psychotherapy compared to TAU, such as randomized controlled trials or studies multiple baseline series designs, and in-depth qualitative research.

Navigating merits and limits on the current perspectives and ethical challenges in the utilization of artificial intelligence in psychiatry - An exploratory mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in psychiatry presents opportunities for enhancing patient care but raises significant ethical concerns and challenges in clinical application. Addressing these challenges necessitates an informed and ethically aware psychiatric workforce capable of integrating AI into practice responsibly. METHODS: A mixed-methods study was conducted to assess the outcomes of the "CONNECT with AI" - (Collaborative Opportunity to Navigate and Negotiate Ethical Challenges and Trials with Artificial Intelligence) workshop, aimed at exploring AI's ethical implications and applications in psychiatry. This workshop featured presentations, discussions, and scenario analyses focusing on AI's role in mental health care. Pre- and post-workshop questionnaires and focus group discussions evaluated participants' perspectives, and ethical understanding regarding AI in psychiatry. RESULTS: Participants exhibited a cautious optimism towards AI, recognizing its potential to augment mental health care while expressing concerns over ethical usage, patient-doctor relationships, and AI's practical application in patient care. The workshop significantly improved participants' ethical understanding, highlighting a substantial knowledge gap and the need for further education in AI among psychiatrists. CONCLUSION: The study underscores the necessity of continuous education and ethical guideline development for psychiatrists in the era of AI, emphasizing collaborative efforts in AI system design to ensure they meet clinical needs ethically and effectively. Future initiatives should aim to broaden psychiatrists' exposure to AI, fostering a deeper understanding and integration of AI technologies in psychiatric practice.

Associations Between a Primary Care-Delivered Alcohol-Related Brief Intervention and Subsequent Opioid-Related Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The co-occurrence of unhealthy alcohol use and opioid misuse is high and associated with increased rates of overdose, emergency health care utilization, and death. The current study examined whether receipt of an alcohol-related brief intervention is associated with reduced risk of negative downstream opioid-related outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all VISN-6 Veterans Affairs (VA) patients with Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) screening results (N=492,748) from 2014 to 2019. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between documentation of an alcohol-related brief intervention and probability of a new 1) opioid prescription, 2) opioid use disorder (OUD) diagnosis, or 3) opioid-related hospitalization in the following year, controlling for demographic and clinical covariates. RESULTS: Of the veterans, 13% (N=63,804) had "positive" AUDIT-C screen results. Of those, 72% (N=46,216) had a documented alcohol-related brief intervention. Within 1 year, 8.5% (N=5,430) had a new opioid prescription, 1.1% (N=698) had a new OUD diagnosis, and 0.8% (N=499) had a new opioid-related hospitalization. In adjusted models, veterans with positive AUDIT-C screen results who did not receive an alcohol-related brief intervention had higher odds of new opioid prescriptions (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=1.10, 95% CI=1.03-1.17) and new OUD diagnoses (adjusted OR=1.19, 95% CI=1.02-1.40), while new opioid-related hospitalizations (adjusted OR=1.19, 95% CI=0.99-1.44) were higher although not statistically significant. Removal of medications for OUD (MOUD) did not impact associations. All outcomes were significantly associated with an alcohol-related brief intervention in unadjusted models. CONCLUSIONS: The VA's standard alcohol-related brief intervention is associated with subsequent lower odds of a new opioid prescription or a new OUD diagnosis. Results suggest a reduction in a cascade of new opioid-related outcomes from prescriptions through hospitalizations.

Gender differences in the prevalence of anxiety and depression and care seeking for mental health problems in Nepal: Analysis of nationally representative survey data.

Background: Assessing gender disparity in mental health is crucial for targeted interventions. This study aims to quantify gender disparities in mental health burdens, specifically anxiety and depression, and related care-seeking behaviors across various sociodemographic factors in Nepal, highlighting the importance of gender-specific mental health interventions. Methods: Data from the 2022 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey was utilized, employing the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 scale (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scales for anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively. Multiple logistic regression models assessed gender associations with these conditions and care-seeking behaviors. Results: Women had a higher point prevalence of anxiety (21.9% vs. 11.3%) and depression (5.4% vs. 1.7%) than men. Large variations were noted in gender disparities in the prevalence of anxiety and depression, influenced by age, geographical areas, level of education and household wealth. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, women were more likely to experience anxiety (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.96-2.43) and depression (aOR = 3.21, 95% CI: 2.53-4.07). However, no difference was observed in the rates of seeking care for anxiety or depression (aOR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.91-1.40). Conclusions: Our findings show a higher point prevalence of mental health issues among women than men, influenced by sociodemographic factors, underscoring the need for gender-focused mental health interventions in Nepal and globally.

The lived experience of mental disorders in adolescents: a bottom-up review co-designed, co-conducted and co-written by experts by experience and academics.

We provide here the first bottom-up review of the lived experience of mental disorders in adolescents co-designed, co-conducted and co-written by experts by experience and academics. We screened first-person accounts within and outside the medical field, and discussed them in collaborative workshops involving numerous experts by experience - representing different genders, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and continents - and their family members and carers. Subsequently, the material was enriched by phenomenologically informed perspectives and shared with all collaborators. The inner subjective experience of adolescents is described for mood disorders, psychotic disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, externalizing disorders, and self-harm behaviors. The recollection of individuals' past histories also indexes the prodromal (often transdiagnostic) features predating the psychiatric diagnosis. The experience of adolescents with mental disorders in the wider society is described with respect to their family, their school and peers, and the social and cultural context. Furthermore, their lived experience of mental health care is described with respect to receiving a diagnosis of mental disorder, accessing mental health support, receiving psychopharmacological treatment, receiving psychotherapy, experiencing peer support and mental health activism, and achieving recovery. These findings can impact clinical practice, research, and the whole society. We hope that this co-designed, co-conducted and co-written journey can help us maintain our commitment to protecting adolescents' fragile mental health, and can help them develop into a healthy, fulfilling and contributing adult life.

Barriers and facilitators in the implementation of youth and young adult models of mental health care.

AIM: It is increasingly recognised that traditional models of mental health (MH) care, with a service transition at age 18 years, may not reflect best practice. The literature supports a move towards youth and young adult focused models of MH care, for young people up to the age of 25, which specifically cater to the unique psychosocial and developmental needs of this population. This service evaluation aimed to explore the facilitators and barriers to the implementation of youth models of MH care across England (UK). METHODS: Six services participated in separate focus groups pertaining to their experience of implementing youth models of MH care. The interview guide for the focus groups was informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and explored barriers and facilitators to implementation and sustainment. The focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. RESULTS: Seven key themes relevant to the implementation of youth models of MH care were identified: a clear rationale for doing things differently, for young people by young people, "building those relationships is key", service identity development, resource and infrastructure, leadership at multiple levels, and valuing and developing staff. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest effective communication and leadership, co-production and cross system collaboration contribute to successful implementation of youth models of MH care. The findings will be of interest to those involved in informing and supporting successful implementation and delivery of youth models of mental health care at local and national levels.

Rapid-Access Focused Treatment: Clinical Considerations for Brief Psychotherapy in Outpatient Psychiatry.

Demand for mental health treatment surged after the COVID-19 pandemic intensified existing issues of limited access to care and long wait times. Programs that deliver high-quality treatment in a brief format are appealing in that they could reduce wait times for care and increase the number of patients served. The Rapid-Access Focused Treatment (RAFT) program was developed with the overarching goals of delivering brief, evidence-informed interventions in a timely and patient-centered manner, reducing wait times, and improving access to psychiatric specialty services. In this article, the authors describe the pilot implementation of the RAFT program in an outpatient psychiatry clinic, provide guidelines for identification of appropriate patients, and discuss lessons learned from two case examples that illustrate variations in the trajectory of brief treatment. Recommendations for the effective implementation of brief therapy models in an outpatient setting are provided.

Postpartum care services and multi-disciplinary collaboration in Japan.

The Postpartum Care Services (PCS) programme in Japan is intended to promote physical recovery and psychological rest for mothers and their children after discharge from the delivery facility, as well as nurture the mothers' own self-care skills and support healthy childrearing for mothers, children and their families. The subsidies for PCS are based on cooperation between psychiatry and obstetrics and between multiple professions, including the local government. The services should also be implemented based on the instruction to medical institutions and the local governments that they should actively screen and approach pregnant women in need of support. This narrative review describes the challenges of expanding the PCS programme nationwide in Japan.

Effectiveness of Digital Learning in Community Mental Health Care Among Nurses in India.

Background: Digital learning is a cost-effective and time-saving approach in higher education. The present study aimed to check the impact of continuing nursing education programs through digital learning by connecting Indian nurses to NIMHANS Digital Academy (NDA). Materials and Methods: One group pre-test and post-test design was used for this study. Overall, 217 nurses registered for the course and 146 nurses were recruited on the basis of eligibility and their Expression of Interest (EoI) through the online registration portal. All the nurses who had access to the internet and enough internet literacy were included in the study. 64 nurses had not submitted the post-test due to various reasons within the stipulated time. Hence, the final sample achieved and calculated for the analysis was n = 82. The data for this study were collected through the retrospective chart review method. Result: The findings of this study reveal that most of the nurses in India had willingness and readiness for digital learning. All the nurses who joined the NDA learning program stated that they would like to improve their knowledge regarding mental health and illness, to identify and manage mentally ill patients efficiently. The results indicated that the training provided through NDA positively impacted the nurses' knowledge and fulfilled their learning needs. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between knowledge, practice, and confidence score changes for the two-time point period, i.e. before and after the training. Conclusion: It can be concluded that conducting Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) through a digital learning program is an effective teaching-learning method in the nursing curriculum.

Collaborative implementation of an evidence-based package of integrated primary mental healthcare using quality improvement within a learning health systems approach: Lessons from the Mental health INTegration programme in South Africa.

Introduction: The treatment gap for mental health disorders persists in low- and middle-income countries despite overwhelming evidence of the efficacy of task-sharing mental health interventions. Key barriers in the uptake of these innovations include the absence of policy to support implementation and diverting of staff from usual routines in health systems that are already overstretched. South Africa enjoys a conducive policy environment; however, strategies for operationalizing the policy ideals are lacking. This paper describes the Mental health INTegration Programme (MhINT), which adopted a health system strengthening approach to embed an evidence-based task-sharing care package for depression to integrate mental health care into chronic care at primary health care (PHC). Methods: The MhINT care package consisting of psycho-education talks, nurse-led mental health assessment, and a structured psychosocial counselling intervention provided by lay counsellors was implemented in Amajuba district in KwaZulu-Natal over a 2-year period. A learning health systems approach was adopted, using continuous quality improvement (CQI) strategies to facilitate embedding of the intervention.MhINT was implemented along five phases: the project phase wherein teams to drive implementation were formed; the diagnostic phase where routinely collected data were used to identify system barriers to integrated mental health care; the intervention phase consisting of capacity building and using Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles to address implementation barriers and the impact and sustaining improvement phases entailed assessing the impact of the program and initiation of system-level interventions to sustain and institutionalize successful change ideas. Results: Integrated planning and monitoring were enabled by including key mental health service indicators in weekly meetings designed to track the performance of noncommunicable diseases and human immunovirus clinical programmes. Lack of standardization in mental health screening prompted the validation of a mental health screening tool and testing feasibility of its use in centralized screening stations. A culture of collaborative problem-solving was promoted through CQI data-driven learning sessions. The province-level screening rate increased by 10%, whilst the district screening rate increased by 7% and new patients initiated to mental health treatment increased by 16%. Conclusions: The CQI approach holds promise in facilitating the attainment of integrated mental health care in resource-scarce contexts. A collaborative relationship between researchers and health system stakeholders is an important strategy for facilitating the uptake of evidence-based innovations. However, the lack of interventions to address healthcare workers' own mental health poses a threat to integrated mental health care at PHC.

Race and Socioeconomic Status as Predictors of Willingness to Use Digital Mental Health Interventions or One-On-One Psychotherapy: National Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: There is an ongoing debate about whether digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) can reduce racial and socioeconomic inequities in access to mental health care. A key factor in this debate involves the extent to which racial and ethnic minoritized individuals and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals are willing to use, and pay for, DMHIs. OBJECTIVE: This study examined racial and ethnic as well as socioeconomic differences in participants' willingness to pay for DMHIs versus one-on-one therapy (1:1 therapy). METHODS: We conducted a national survey of people in the United States (N=423; women: n=204; mean age 45.15, SD 16.19 years; non-Hispanic White: n=293) through Prolific. After reading descriptions of DMHIs and 1:1 therapy, participants rated their willingness to use each treatment (1) for free, (2) for a small fee, (3) as a maximum dollar amount, and (4) as a percentage of their total monthly income. At the end of the study, there was a decision task to potentially receive more information about DMHIs and 1:1 therapy. RESULTS: Race and ethnicity was associated with willingness to pay more of one's income, as a percent or in dollar amounts, and was also associated with information-seeking for DMHIs in the behavioral task. For most outcomes, race and ethnicity was not associated with willingness to try 1:1 therapy. Greater educational attainment was associated to willingness to try DMHIs for free, the decision to learn more about DMHIs, and willingness to pay for 1:1 therapy. Income was inconsistently associated to willingness to try DMHIs or 1:1 therapy. CONCLUSIONS: If they are available for free or at very low costs, DMHIs may reduce inequities by expanding access to mental health care for racial and ethnic minoritized individuals and economically disadvantaged groups.

Mental health, subjective experiences and environmental change.

This article responds to Coope's call for the medical humanities to address the climate crisis as a health issue. Coope proposes three areas for progress towards ecological thinking in healthcare, with a focus on ecological mental health. The article emphasises the need to understand the cultural dimensions of mental health and proposes an interdisciplinary approach that integrates insights from the arts and humanities. It examines the impact of climate change on mental health, drawing on The Rockefeller Foundation - Lancet Commission on Planetary Health and recent studies. The discussion focuses on the intersection of mental health, subjective experience and environmental change. Focusing on emotional experiences as constructed from biological and cultural elements, the article proposes a holistic approach to mental health. It proposes two converging lines of research, in constant interaction: first, a historical and cultural research of those concepts, practices and symbols related to the environment, emphasising a cultural history of nature; and second, a synchronous research, drawing on anthropology, sociology and participatory art-based research, to understand how these aforementioned elements influence our current relations with nature. The article concludes by emphasising the urgency of developing narratives and histories that redirect temporal trajectories towards a better future, while respecting and acknowledging diverse narratives of individual experience. It calls for collaborative efforts from the medical humanities to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between mental health, nature and ecological crisis.

A Patient-Centered Multidisciplinary Medical HOME for Persons With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Innovative models of medical and psychiatric care are necessary to address the complex needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including autism. This article describes a subspecialty medical home program that has provided accessible, comprehensive, coordinated, patient- and family-centered care for this high-needs, underserved patient population. For more than two decades, the University of Utah Huntsman Mental Health Institute Neurobehavior HOME Program (HOME) has provided primary and behavioral health care for individuals with IDD across their lifespan. Program highlights include integrated medical and behavioral health, a unique funding structure, innovative care delivery, and case management. HOME is a clinical setting as well as a Medicaid managed care plan that has blended medical and psychiatric funding streams. This unique funding structure has demonstrated the fiscal sustainability of focusing care on preventive and proactive management of health concerns and responding to crises using a coordinated and comprehensive approach. Rethinking health care delivery and adopting models that are both financially sustainable and provide quality care to this vulnerable population is greatly needed.

An integrated family approach in the practice of adult and child mental health care.

This paper describes the practice of an integrated family approach to treatment in mental health care in which the focus is on the whole family and treatment is carried out by professionals of adult and child mental health services together. It is presented as an example of a best practice in finding a way to overcome barriers in implementing an integrated family approach in treatment for the benefit of families with a variety of interrelated problems. Even though there is a lot of knowledge about the importance of a family approach in mental health care with specific attention to the patients' parental role, the children, family relationships, and the social economic context, this is worldwide rarely implemented in the practice of mental health care. Barriers to keep the whole family in mind are identified on different levels: organizational policy, interagency collaboration, professionals, and patients themselves. As a solution, a model of an integrated family approach in mental health care is presented: how it is defined; which domains in the family are targeted; which key elements it contains; what the treatment consists of; and which procedures are followed in practice. A case illustrates how this approach might work in practice.

'The book's a conversation starter': a realist exploration of the salutogenic potential of reading for pleasure.

Reading for Wellbeing (RfW) is a pilot initiative, aimed at improving mental health and well-being through supporting access and increasing opportunities to read for pleasure. RfW was implemented across six North-East local authorities in England and employed Community Reading Workers to support access to books and reading for targeted populations. The current study used realist methodology to understand context, potential mechanisms of action, acceptability and reported outcomes. Data generation and analysis were conducted iteratively, using focus groups, interviews and observations.The analysis of the collated data highlighted that a positive attitude towards reading and a desire for social connections were significant motivators for engagement with RfW. This paper postulates eight programme theories relating to that context, which describe key mechanisms within RfW linked to engagement with reading, well-being, connections and practice. The paper concludes that previous notions of positivity associated with reading for pleasure enable participants to experience RfW as a positive social encounter. This positive social encounter enhances participants' multiple resistance resources such as increased sense of self-efficacy and connectedness that could impact on their sense of well-being.

Barriers to Mental Health Care Transition for Youth and Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Co-occurring Mental Health Conditions: Stakeholders' Perspectives.

Youth and young adults (YYA) with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have high rates of co-occurring mental health (MH) conditions. The time during transition from pediatric to adult health and mental health care can be a very challenging, with risk of loss of services leading to poor outcomes. This study aimed to explore barriers to transition from pediatric to adult health and mental health care and services for individuals with IDD and co-occurring MH conditions, by eliciting the view of stakeholders, including disability advocates. Qualitative analysis was conducted using grounded theory, and themes were coded based upon the social-ecological model (SEM). We generated themes into multiple levels: the individual level, the family level, the provider level, the systems of care level, and the societal level. Stakeholders expressed a critical need to improve coordination between systems, and to increase provider availability to care for YYA with IDD and co-occurring MH conditions.

The valproate prescription pattern for female mental healthcare users of reproductive age.

Background: Sodium valproate (valproate) that is used both as an anti-epileptic and a mood stabiliser is teratogenic in pregnancy. A Dear Health Care Professional Letter (DHCPL) issued in December 2015 recommended the avoidance of sodium valproate prescription in women of childbearing age (WOCBA) and pregnant women. Aim: This study aimed to describe the prescription pattern of valproate in female mental healthcare users (MHCUs). Setting: Regional hospital psychiatry department in King Dinizulu Hospital Complex, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Methods: This was a descriptive, retrospective chart review of female in- and out-patient aged 12-55 years who were receiving a valproate prescription for mental illness between 01 January 2018 and 31 December 2020. Results: Of the 158 females who received valproate during the study period, 15 (9.5%) had it tapered off while 143 (90.5%) were continued. Only 19% of all the patients had documented counselling regarding valproate, 19 (12%) had documented contraceptive use, and six (3.8%) continued its use at any point during pregnancy. The most frequently prescribed dose range was 800 mg - 1499 mg/day (n = 111, 70.7%) and the most common psychiatric indication was a psychotic disorder. Conclusion: This study showed that prescription of valproate in female MHCUs still occurs in practice in a referral centre in South Africa despite the guidelines outlining management of those of reproductive age on valproate. The prescription pattern and monitoring of valproate were poorly documented in relation to the guideline. Contribution: This study highlights the lack of adherence to recommendations regarding the prescription of valproate in WOCBA and the need for improved documentation of the indications, consent and counselling.

The Content of Usual Clinical Care for Youth with Primary Anxiety Problems.

The current study was designed to describe usual clinical care for youth with primary anxiety problems in community mental health centers. The observer-rated Therapy Process Observational Coding System for Child Psychotherapy - Revised Strategies scale (TPOCS-RS), designed to assess therapeutic techniques from five theory-based domains, was used to code sessions (N = 403) from the usual clinical care group of two randomized effectiveness trials: (a) Youth Anxiety Study (YAS) with 21 youth (M age = 10.44 years, SD = 1.91; 49.2% Latinx; 46.6%, 53.4% male) and 16 clinicians (77.5% female; 43.8% White), and (b) Child STEPS Multisite Trial with 17 youth (M age = 10.00 years, SD = 1.87; 58.8% male; 41.2% White) and 13 clinicians (M age = 40.00 years; SD = 9.18; 76.9% female; 61.5% White). The average number of TPOCS-RS items observed per treatment session was more than 10, and multiple techniques were used together in each session. All TPOCS-RS items were observed at least once throughout a clinical case, and most items reoccurred (i.e., observed in two or more sessions). The dosage of TPOCS-RS in all items was below 5 on a 7-point scale. In conclusion, clinicians in both usual care samples used a wide range of techniques from several theory-based domains at a low to medium dose. However, the type and dosage of the techniques used did vary across the two samples.