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This study aimed to evaluate if a new Mental health IN DiabeteS Optimal Health Program (MINDS OHP) compared with usual care in adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes would improve psychosocial outcomes including self-efficacy and quality of life. Design and Main Outcome Measures This initial randomised controlled trial evaluated MINDS OHP compared with usual care. Participants were recruited through outpatient clinics and community organisations. The intervention group received nine sessions with assessments over twelve months. Primary outcomes were self-efficacy and quality of life. Secondary outcomes included diabetes distress and anxiety. There were 51 participants in the control group (mean age = 52) and 55 in the intervention group (mean age = 55). There were significant main effects of time in general self-efficacy, diabetes distress, diabetes self-efficacy, and illness perceptions, however no significant between-group differences in primary or secondary outcomes. Post-hoc analyses revealed MINDS OHP improved diabetes self-efficacy for participants with mild to severe depression and anxiety, with a small effect. Initial evaluation found MINDS OHP was associated with improved diabetes self-efficacy for adults with diabetes, for people with mild to severe levels of distress, with small effect. Further research is required to explore whether this disease-specific, collaborative care-focused intervention benefits the mental health of people with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cognitive impairments contribute to difficulty in obtaining employment for people with severe mental illnesses (SMIs). We describe a pilot evaluation of a programme, Employ Your Mind (EYM), which integrates cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) with vocational rehabilitation. Method: Sixty participants with SMIs enrolled in EYM, a 6-month programme that combines CRT exercises, individual project work and group reflection sessions about social interaction and cognitive functioning. Participants completed assessments of cognitive function (Audio Recorded Cognitive Screen, Wechsler Digit Span Task), psychosocial function (Work and Social Adjustment Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale) and abilities related to work (Dialogue about Working Ability, Self-Assessment of Thinking Skills) at baseline and postprogramme. Paired t- tests were used to compare assessments of participants who completed the programme between the two time points. Results: The programme was completed by 22 individuals. These individuals demonstrated significant improvement in cognitive function, social and work-related function, and subjective thinking ability after completing the EYM programme. Conclusion: The EYM programme is effective in improving cognition, impairments related to work and social function, and subjective thinking skills for some individuals with SMIs. Future evaluation of the programme should focus on enhanced retention and assessment of employment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background People who have complex health care needs frequently access emergency departments for treatment of acute illness and injury. In particular, evidence suggests that those who are homeless, or suffer mental illness, or have a history of substance misuse, are often repeat users of emergency departments. The aim of this study was to describe the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of emergency department re-presentations. Re-presentation was defined as a return visit to the same emergency department within 28 days of discharge from hospital. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted of emergency department presentations occurring over a 24-month period to an Australian inner-city hospital. Characteristics were examined for their influence on the binary outcome of re-presentation within 28 days of discharge using logistic regression with the variable patient fitted as a random effect. Results From 64,147 presentations to the emergency department the re-presentation rate was 18.0% (n = 11,559) of visits and 14.4% (5,894/40,942) of all patients. Median time to re-presentation was 6 days, with more than half occurring within one week of discharge (60.8%; n = 6,873), and more than three-quarters within two weeks (80.9%; n = 9,151). The odds of re-presentation increased three-fold for people who were homeless compared to those living in stable accommodation (adjusted OR 3.09; 95% CI, 2.83 to 3.36). Similarly, the odds of re-presentation were significantly higher for patients receiving a government pension compared to those who did not (adjusted OR 1.73; 95% CI, 1.63 to 1.84), patients who left part-way through treatment compared to those who completed treatment and were discharged home (adjusted OR 1.64; 95% CI, 1.36 to 1.99), and those discharged to a residential-care facility compared to those who were discharged home (adjusted OR 1.46: 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.06). Conclusion Emergency department re-presentation rates cluster around one week after discharge and rapidly decrease thereafter. Housing status and being a recipient of a government pension are the most significant risk factors. Early identification and appropriate referrals for those patients who are at risk of emergency department re-presentation will assist in the development of targeted strategies to improve health service delivery to this vulnerable group.