Guidance for commissioners of eating disorder services

The Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health has published ‘Guidance for commissioners of eating disorder services’. This guide examines the commissioning of comprehensive mental health services for people with eating disorders that are therapeutic and promote independence and recovery.

http://www.jcpmh.info/resource/guidance-commissioners-eating-disorder-services/

Stoptober challenge

Public Health England has reported that nearly a quarter of a million people in England and Wales stopped smoking this month as a result of the mass 28-day stop smoking challenge, Stoptober. Last year saw over 160,000 people successfully complete the 4-week challenge.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/stoptober-challenge-reaches-new-high-as-countrys-biggest-mass-quit-attempt

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Evidence Updates

This Evidence Update highlights and provides commentary on selected new evidence published since the NICE guidance was issued. For each topic, the evidence was considered by an Evidence Update Advisory Group (EUAG), a panel of experts.  The update includes commentary from the EUAG on 16 new articles covering the following topics: initial treatment options in children and adults, choice of drug treatment in adults, options after poor response to initial treatment in children and adults.
http://www.evidence.nhs.uk/evidence-update-47

The Mental Elf – latest commentary on published mental health research

The Mental Elf website covers important and reliable mental health research and guidance.  Updates are posted daily with short and snappy summaries that highlight evidence-based publications relevant to mental health practice in the UK and further afield.  Research covered recently is listed below:
The CHAMP RCT finds that CBT is more effective than standard care for reducing health anxiety
The cost of living? Early childhood interventions could reduce the impact of socio-economic inequalities on the mental health of children and young people
Weak evidence from recent review suggests there is no harm when using exercise to treat anorexia nervosa
Common antidepressants associated with increased risk of postpartum haemorrhage
#MindfulnessMonday – Mindfulness proves effective in depression and anxiety, but is not superior to traditional CBT
The overall incidence of eating disorders increased between 2000 and 2009, says new register-based UK study
CAM: Many of us are using it, despite poor evidence. Whats going on?
A meta-analysis of cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult depression: the winner takes it all?
Systematic review of fluphenazine for schizophrenia: 50 years of learning not that much
#MindfulnessMonday – Mindfulness-based stress reduction works for patients with breast cancer
For more details see the Mental Elf website:  http://www.thementalelf.net/

Alcohol treatment system performing well

The latest annual alcohol treatment statistics released by Public Health England show an increase in the number of people coming forward for specialist treatment in 2012 to 2013 and the number who successfully completed their treatment continued to increase. Waiting times also continued to improve. The statistics, produced from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS), provide data on the number of adults (18 and over) in contact with alcohol treatment providers and general practitioners in England in 2012-13, and the proportion of clients exiting treatment who completed their treatment having overcome their dependency.
Press release:  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/alcohol-treatment-system-continues-to-perform-well-but-there-is-more-to-be-done
Statistics :  http://www.nta.nhs.uk/statistics.aspx

Dementia self-assessment framework

The Department for Health has published ‘Dementia self-assessment framework’. This tool has been developed to ensure implementation of the nursing contribution to dementia care, including the 6Cs and dementia pathway. The self-assessment framework was created by nurses and care staff to compare current dementia care with the best practice criteria. It is for use by health and social care staff, as well as wider teams and organisations when: considering changes to improve practice, developing a plan; and reviewing progress around their involvement in dementia care across the whole pathway. The contribution to the dementia care pathway by nurses and care staff includes: increasing basic awareness, reducing stigma and assessing, diagnosing and continuing to support people with dementia and carers through to end of life care.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dementia-self-assessment-framework

Better mental health for all

In recognition of World Mental Health Day, the Faculty of Public Health has launched a new online resource to support mental wellbeing and prevent mental illness. ‘Better mental health for all’ provides advice and information for public health professionals about mental health and wellbeing, including its links with physical health.

Press release:  http://www.fph.org.uk/time_to_treat_mental_and_physical_illness_with_equal_importance

Better mental health for all:  http://www.fph.org.uk/better_mental_health_for_all

Investment in mental health services

The Royal College of Psychiatrists and Centre for Mental Health have published ‘Bridging the gap: the financial case for a reasonable rebalancing of health and care resources’. The report suggests that under-investment in mental health services and a lack of integration with physical health services have created a bottleneck in health care improvement, constrained physical health outcomes and has impaired broader economic performance. Aside from the human cost, the financial cost of untreated mental ill health among people treated for physical illness is some £13 billion. The report finds that a rebalancing of health and care resources is needed to ensure no one is denied the mental or physical health care they need.
Press release:  http://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/news/2013_bridging%20the%20gap.aspxReport:  http://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/publications/bridging_the_gap.aspx?ID=679

Schizophrenia omega 3 fatty acid: NICE medicine-related evidence summary

NICE has published the following medicine related – ‘Evidence summary’
–  Unlicensed/off-label medicines – Schizophrenia: omega-3 fatty acid medicines  (ESUOM19)
Summary:  The randomised controlled trial (RCT) evidence for using omega-3 fatty acid medicines in people with schizophrenia is limited and the results are not consistent.

Details: http://www.nice.org.uk/mpc/evidencesummariesunlicensedofflabelmedicines/ESUOM19.jsp

Barriers to employment for people with mental health problems

The Centre for Mental Health has published a briefing ‘Barriers to employment: what works for people with mental health problems’. This briefing identifies where the main barriers to employment of people with mental health problems still lie, what is known about which interventions work (and should be provided more widely), and where there are gaps in evidence-based interventions and what might be tested to develop that evidence.

http://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/publications/barriers_to_employment.aspx?ID=678