The Trial: pharmacotherapy versus psychotherapy for schizophrenia – how do trials compare?

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Keith Laws looks at a systematic review of patient and study characteristics, which asks: are randomised controlled trials on pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy for positive symptoms of schizophrenia comparable?

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Depression in later life: healthcare professionals’ views about referrals and management

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Alison McKinlay summarises a literature review of qualitative research exploring healthcare professionals’ views of depression in later life, which highlights the quandaries faced by healthcare professionals in primary care, particularly in areas where funding and access to services are limited.

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Can a ‘personalised psychosocial toolbox’ help people reduce ‘on-top’ drug use during opioid substitution treatment?

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Vicky Carlisle summarises a promising recent RCT on the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of an adjunctive personalised psychosocial intervention in treatment-resistant maintenance opioid agonist therapy.

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Psychotherapy for adult depression: is it as good as it’s cracked up to be?

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Ellie Gant summarises a meta-analysis that asks: Was Eysenck right after all? A reassessment of the effects of psychotherapy for adult depression. The paper suggests that we seriously overestimate the benefits of psychotherapy by including biased trials in meta-analyses, and that there’s insufficient reliable research to be certain about the effectiveness of problem-solving therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy and behavioural activation.

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Can interventions help to improve social functioning in youth at risk of psychosis?

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Carla McEnery summarises a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions and social functioning in youth at risk of psychosis.

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Alternatives to medication for children and young people with ADHD

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Joff Jones summarises a recent systematic review, which looks at the evidence for a wide range of non-pharmacological treatments for ADHD. The review finds the strongest evidence for diet, child/parent training and behavioural interventions.

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Youth suicide prevention research needs a shake-up: lives depend on it

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Pooky Knightsmith appraises a systematic review and meta-analysis entitled: “What Works in Youth Suicide Prevention?”. She is disappointed that the review does not answer the question it sets, but sees this as a call to action for better quality research to help save lives.

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A psychological victory for the domestic violence and abuse sector: the PATH trial

Young adults who reported depressive and/or suicidality symptoms in adolescence were significantly more likely to have experienced relationship violence in their romantic relationships

Emma Yapp summarises two new studies out yesterday looking at the PATH intervention (Psychological Advocacy Towards Healing), a CBT-informed psychological intervention delivered by trained domestic violence and abuse (DVA) advocates in specialist services.

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Preventing psychosis: no one intervention is better than the rest

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A group of UCL Mental Health Masters students summarise a recent network meta-analysis that highlights a lack of evidence about specific interventions for preventing psychosis.

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Is third-wave CBT good value?

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Chris Sampson summarises a systematic review on the economic impact of third-wave cognitive behavioural therapies, such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, extended behavioural activation, dialectical behaviour therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction.

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