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Eighty-six participants wishing to stop benzodiazepine and who met DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. American Psychological Association, 1994) criteria for anxiety disorder or insomnia were assessed pre- and post-taper on clinical, pharmacological and psychosocial measures. An initial cohort of 41 participants received treatment as usual (taper only) plus physician counselling in the same clinic setting. A second cohort of 45 participants were randomly allocated to group cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) plus taper, or group support (GS) plus taper. At 3 months follow-up, the outcomes in both the CBT and the GS subgroups were equivalent. Intention to treat analysis revealed a slight advantage to the CBT over the GS group and the CBT group showed higher self-efficacy post-taper. Over all 86 participants, a high-baseline level of psychological distress, anxiety and dosage predicted a poor outcome, but increase in self-efficacy contributed to a successful outcome particularly in those with initially poor baseline predictors. Although there was a decrease in positive affect during preliminary stages of tapered discontinuation compared to baseline, there was no significant overall increase in negative affect. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Sante Mentale au Quebec is the property of Revue Sante Mentale au Quebec and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Physical restraint is frequently used in intensive care units to prevent patients' life-threatening removal of indwelling devices. In France, their use is poorly studied. Therefore, to evaluate the need for physical restraint, we have designed and implemented a decision support tool., Aims: Besides describing the prevalence of physical restraint use, this study aimed to assess whether the implementation of a nursing decision support tool had an impact on restraint use and to identify the factors associated with this use., Study Design: A large observational, multicentre study with a repeated one-day point prevalence design was conducted. All adult patients hospitalized in intensive care units were eligible for this study. Two study periods were planned: before (control period) and after (intervention period) the deployment of the decision support tool and staff training. A multilevel model was performed to consider the centre effect., Results: During the control period, 786 patients were included, and 510 were in the intervention period. The prevalence of physical restraint was 28% (95% CI: 25.1%-31.4%) and 25% (95% CI: 21.5%-29.1%) respectively (χ 2  = 1.35; p = .24). Restraint was applied by the nurse and/or nurse assistant in 96% of cases in both periods, mainly to wrists (89% vs. 83%, p = .14). The patient-to-nurse ratio was significantly lower in the intervention period (1:3.0 ± 1 vs. 1:2.7 ± 0.7, p < .001). In multivariable analysis, mechanical ventilation was associated with physical restraint (aOR [95% CI] = 6.0 [3.5-10.2])., Conclusion: The prevalence of physical restraint use in France was lower than expected. In our study, the decision support tool did not substantially impact physical restraint use. Hence, the decision support tool would deserve to be assessed in a randomized controlled trial., Relevance to Clinical Practice: The decision to physically restrain a patient could be protocolised and managed by critical care nurses. A regular evaluation of the level of sedation could allow the most deeply sedated patients to be exempted from physical restraint., (© 2023 British Association of Critical Care Nurses.)

Objectives: Patients at risk of adverse effects related to positive fluid balance could benefit from fluid intake optimization. Less attention is paid to nonresuscitation fluids. We aim to evaluate the heterogeneity of fluid intake at the initial phase of resuscitation., Design: Prospective multicenter cohort study., Setting: Thirty ICUs across France and one in Spain., Patients: Patients requiring vasopressors and/or invasive mechanical ventilation., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: All fluids administered by vascular or enteral lines were recorded over 24 hours following admission and were classified in four main groups according to their predefined indication: fluids having a well-documented homeostasis goal (resuscitation fluids, rehydration, blood products, and nutrition), drug carriers, maintenance fluids, and fluids for technical needs. Models of regression were constructed to determine fluid intake predicted by patient characteristics. Centers were classified according to tertiles of fluid intake. The cohort included 296 patients. The median total volume of fluids was 3546 mL (interquartile range, 2441-4955 mL), with fluids indisputably required for body fluid homeostasis representing 36% of this total. Saline, glucose-containing high chloride crystalloids, and balanced crystalloids represented 43%, 27%, and 16% of total volume, respectively. Whatever the class of fluids, center of inclusion was the strongest factor associated with volumes. Compared with the first tertile, the difference between the volume predicted by patient characteristics and the volume given was +1.2 ± 2.0 L in tertile 2 and +3.0 ± 2.8 L in tertile 3., Conclusions: Fluids indisputably required for body fluid homeostasis represent the minority of fluid intake during the 24 hours after ICU admission. Center effect is the strongest factor associated with the volume of fluids. Heterogeneity in practices suggests that optimal strategies for volume and goals of common fluids administration need to be developed., Competing Interests: Dr. Constan’s institution received funding from the French Intensive Care Society/Société de Réanimation de Langue Française. Dr. Senay disclosed work for hire. The remaining authors have disclosed that they do not have any potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Context: In ICUs, many patients are intubated. UE is an indicator of the quality of care.Isolation associated with "air" precautions may increase the number of UEs in mechanically ventilated (MV) COVID patients.The main aim of the study was to compare the rate of UE between a COVID-19 period and a control period. The secondary aims were to identify UE risk factors and to study the experience of caregivers during the COVID-19 period., Method: The method of choice was a retrospective single center case-control study. MV patients aged ≥ 18 years were eligible in two periods: the control period from 01/02/2020 to 29/02/2020, and the COVID-19 period from 01/03/2020 to 31/03/2020. An anonymous survey was given to ICU caregivers in Vannes Hospital., Results: The UE rate was 17% (n=7) vs. 20% (n=9) control period vs. COVID-19 period (p=0.58), with nocturnal preponderance (75%). A quarter (n=4) of patients fulfill MV weaning criteria at the time of UE. A 71% (n=49) survey response rate was obtained. The COVID-19 period had a higher estimated UE risk for 76% (n=37) of caregivers, who felt that they had a greater workload, difficulties with monitoring, and decreased regular visits to patients' rooms., Conclusion: Contrary to the caregiver experience, we reported a similar UE rate over both the COVID-19 period and the control period.

Few randomized controlled trials have included panic disorder patients with moderate to severe agoraphobia. Therefore, this population was studied using pharmacotherapy as well as psychotherapy. At the time of the study, imipramine was widely used as a pharmacological treatment. Also, current practice guidelines for patients with panic disorder find selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants roughly comparable in terms of efficacy. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to compare four psychosocial treatments-cognitive and graded in vivo exposure treatments, graded in vivo exposure, cognitive treatment, and supportive therapy-to evaluate the benefits of combining cognitive therapy with exposure in vivo. These treatments were combined with imipramine or placebo for a total of eight experimental conditions. Participants presented moderate to severe agoraphobia. The method involved a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 137 participants who completed a 14-session protocol involving the treatments just mentioned. Measures were taken at baseline and posttreatment and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. All treatment conditions were statistically and clinically effective in reducing self-reported panic-agoraphobia symptoms over the 1-year follow-up. No statistical differences were observed between imipramine and placebo conditions. This study found that all treatment modalities helped reduce panic and agoraphobic symptomatology over a 1-year follow-up period. These surprising results support the need to document the relations among the various components of an intervention. This would make it possible to assess the relative efficacy of the treatment components rather than of the intervention as a whole.

The aim of this study was to examine the overall changes in healthcare services utilization after providing an empirically supported cognitive-behavioral treatment for panic disorder with agoraphobia. Data on healthcare utilization were collected for a total of 84 adults meeting DSM-IV criteria. Participants were completers of a cognitive-behavioral treatment for panic disorder with agoraphobia. Data on utilization of healthcare services and medication were obtained from semi-structured interviews from baseline to 1-year after treatment. Results of the Friedman non-parametric analysis reveal a significant decrease in overall and mental health-related costs following treatment. This study shows a significant reduction in healthcare costs following cognitive behavior therapy for panic disorder with agoraphobia. More studies are needed to examine the potential long-term cost-offset effect of empirically supported treatments for panic disorder.

Twenty-six to forty percent of individuals suffering from panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA) do not benefit significantly from cognitive-behavior therapy. Marital problems are among risk factors that may explain this limited impact. Some studies suggest that PDA treatment outcome is related to the couple's ability to communicate and solve problems during and after treatment. It may be also useful to further clarify the interplay of marital interpersonal variables with PDA severity before any intervention. This study aims at specifying the links between PDA symptom severity on the one hand and, on the other hand, marital adjustment, attachment style and personal problem-solving skills in both spouses. Results obtained from a group of 67 PDA patients (44 women and 23 men) and their partners showed that some PDA symptoms or comorbid depressive symptoms were more severe when both spouses independently scored low on problem-solving skills or marital adjustment, and when attachment style of PDA patients was insecure. Marital adjustment and difficulties in problem-solving, more specifically, avoidance of problem-solving activities in PDA patients, were the best predictors of PDA symptom severity. In light of these findings, a more complete program of problem-solving and acceptance strategies could be developed as part of a cognitive-behavior treatment of PDA. Other theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

The aim of this study was to replicate and extend the findings of O'Connor, Bélanger, Marchand, Dupuis, Elie, and Boyer [Addict. Behav. 24 (1999) 537], which had established a psychosocial profile associated with psychological distress in benzodiazepine (BZD) use. Forty-one participants with anxiety or insomnia, receiving maintenance therapy of BZD for at least 8 weeks, participated in a 20-week, tapered discontinuation protocol with physician counselling. Drug type and use was monitored throughout. Questionnaire measures of anxiety, behavioural inhibition, neuroticism, withdrawal complaints, social support, psychological distress, self-efficacy in coping without BZD, quality of life, positive and negative life events, were completed at baseline, postdiscontinuation, and at 3-month follow-up. Measures of baseline psychological distress and anxiety inhibition were consistently associated with both discontinuation and the emergence of withdrawal complaints. Successful withdrawal was characterized by low baseline neuroticism, low behavioural inhibition, higher number of positive events, and higher level of social support satisfaction. Higher dosage (in diazepam equivalent dose) was associated with both poorer outcome and the emergence of withdrawal symptoms. Self-efficacy in coping was negatively associated with relapse but not with outcome. Psychosocial factors play a role at different stages of the BZD withdrawal process and could be targeted in treatment.

The efficacy of a new cognitive-behavioral group program to help discontinuation of benzodiazepines (PASSE) was evaluated by comparison to a group receiving only social support. Both programs lasted 20 weeks commencing with a preparatory period of one month and then tapering continually during 16 subsequent weeks until discontinuation. Forty-eight participants (24 in each condition) with a diagnosis of anxiety disorder took part in the study. These two active conditions were compared with a separate group of 41 people receiving standard tapering with physician counselling only. The results post-treatment supported the hypothesis that those receiving either of the two active treatments succeeded better in discontinuing benzodiazepines than those receiving the standard treatment. Among those completing the two active programs there was no difference in outcome between the social support and the cognitive behavioral (PASSE) group. However, when the rate of dropout was considered, the cognitive-behavioral group proved significantly superior than the social support group. The results suggest that a cognitive-behavioral program can help people wishing to discontinue benzodiazepines to psychologically tolerate the immediate effects of discontinuation.

Objective: To educate family physicians about screening, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders related to traumatic events., Quality of Evidence: PsycLIT, PsychINFO, PILOTS, and MEDLINE databases were searched from January 1985 to December 2000 using the terms "acute stress disorder," "posttraumatic stress disorder," "traumatic stress," "psychotherapy," "psychosocial treatment," "treatment," and "pharmacotherapy." Recommendations concerning treatment of acute stress disorder (ASD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are based on evidence from trials of the highest quality. Conclusions about assessment and diagnosis are based on the most recent epidemiologic studies, consensus, and expert opinion., Main Message: Very often, ASD and PTSD are underdiagnosed and undertreated. Family physicians are likely to see patients suffering from these disorders. Early screening in primary care is a function of active listening; warm, safe patient-physician relationships; and careful examination of difficulties related to traumatic events. Ideally, patients with either ASD or PTSD should be referred to a specialist. If a specialist is unavailable, family physicians can offer support and prescribe medication to address patients' symptoms., Conclusion: Family physicians can help identify and treat patients presenting with disorders related to traumatic events.