Biography:

Ana Joy Mendez is a Registered Nurse. She is working as a Division Chair/Assistant Professor of School of Nursing & Health Sciences at University of Guam, USA.

Abstract:

This study investigated the impact of training through a 24hours Transition Course as intervention in facilitating  nursing students’ perceived readiness in handling patients in their psychiatric nursing practicum.  A total of 89 senior nursing students across three academic years served as participants in the study.  Results of Self-assessment Tests that were given before and after the three-day intensive transition course show significant difference in the perceived competence of the students to handle mental health patients.  Feelings of anxiety in doing clinical work significantly decreased after the training and workshop.  The students perceived that the 24- hour- Transition Course was an enormous help in equipping them with the appropriate skills, precise knowledge, and sufficient psychological readiness that are necessary in facing up to the challenges of actual clinical practice.  Results of the study distinctly underscore the value of training psychiatric nursing students before exposing them to the real-world clinical practice.  Practical implication of the result is also discussed.

Biography:

Sangjan Rungruangkonkit completed her PhD at the University of Washington (UW). She is a clinical faculty in Psychosocial and Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing, UW and practicing psychiatric nurse practitioner. She has over 20 years’ experience providing mental health treatment to refugees and immigrants at Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) clinic and at the psychiatric emergency room at Harborview Medical Center (the Level 1 trauma center covered Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana states). Her research interest is in the mental health of refugees and immigrants and global health.

Abstract:

The global refugee crisis requires immediate action in terms of political, financial, and healthcare assistance. Refugees are at risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, and Anxiety. Mental health practitioners have to understand the issues that the refugees face and how to provide mental health care to the refugees.  The needs of the individual refugees can be very different, depending on the resettlement period, cultural background, and life experiences on their way to resettlement. Mental health treatment generally uses psychopharmacology, therapy, or a combination thereof. The new paradigm shift includes positive mental health, mental health promotion and prevention. Utilizing and understanding resiliency is one example of this approach. The presenter will share her study, “Understanding the Lived Experiences of the Depressed Mien Refugees After 10 Years Resettlement in the United States” and her experiences providing mental health services in a clinic and a major trauma center in Seattle, WA, USA. 

Biography:

Fiona Martin has been a lecturer in mental health nursing since the late 1990’s. She has been successful in achieving a progressive method of curriculum implementation by innovative strategies such as ‘Simulated Patients initiative; and families/carers as part of the faculty staff team teaching.  In 2015 Fiona was awarded a Florence Nightingale Foundation Travel Scholarship to learn about Open Dialogue.  Her travels included Finland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.  Fiona hopes to pilot Open Dialogue in Northern Ireland in collaboration with a local mental health service provider.

Abstract:

There is a quiet revolution happening in mental health care, in particular in the response to psychosis and crisis.  Many patients and their families feel they are still not being listened to or being invited to be part of the decisions made about their care/treatment.  They are no longer content with the traditional system where the professional is the sole expert, and with the lack of recognition for the expertise of the patient and family.  A more fundamental way of structuring mental health services that authentically places the patient and family/network at its centre is needed.  Open Dialogue, which is a relatively new system, originating in Finland, may provide a significant advance to address these issues and is being piloted in several countries worldwide.  In the UK four trusts are preparing to be part of the first multi-site Open Dialogue pilot.  In the United States of America the principles of Open Dialogue are being integrated into mental health systems in a number of states.  The Parachute Project in New York City has attracted much international interest and state funding and is the first time Open Dialogue has been piloted in a major urban environment.  Open Dialogue attests to the importance of ensuring all voices are heard and responded to.  It is critical that in this transformative time in mental health care that mental health nursing has a voice, a voice that is heard and responded to.  There are important learning points for mental health nursing on which to reflect.

Biography:

Chiedza Kudita works at University of West London, UK

Abstract:

Background: In the UK public involvement in health education has become an important part of pre-registration nursing programmes. This involvement is predicated on a belief that it can provide these students with opportunities to learn from ‘service users’ of health and social care services about their experiences of health and illness. Despite this belief little is known about how students engage with public members and patient groups within their education. Thus this study aims to explore, describe and explain pre-registration nursing students’ experiences and perceptions of public involvement in their education. Public involvement ensures and brings a valuable alternative perspective to a discussion or a decision making process that will influence future practitioners. Purpose: To explore pre-registration nursing student experiences and perceptions about public involvement in their education.

Methods: This is a three phase sequential multiple method study. Phase 1 and phase 2 are informed by grounded theory, and located within the Interpretivist paradigm.

Main findings: The potential outcomes of this study are the development of model/s of public involvement to inform pre-registration nursing programmes at all levels of the curriculum. It is also envisaged this study will contribute to experiential learning theory. Significance of research for practice as relevant: Findings derived from data collected from one cohort of pre-registration student nurses will inform pre-registration nurse education in the UK and beyond as to the best methods to adopt in public involvement within nursing education.

Biography:

Evmorfia Koukia is an Assistant Professor in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing in School of Health Sciences, faculty of Nursing in University of Athens Greece and Scientific collaborator in School of Health Sciences in European University of Cyprus. She is also working in the Community Centre of the University of Athens. She is the president of the faculty of Mental Health Nursing at the Hellenic Union of Nurses (ENNE). She has a number of publications. She has an extended experience in teaching and working in various clinical settings.

Abstract:

According to mental health care reform in Greece, psychiatric hospitals had to be closed down for their greater part and units would have been integrated into general hospitals, during the year 2014-2015. The psychiatric care reform is not yet completed. Due to the economic depression of our country the last 5 years, the Greek government has asked from the European committee, an indefinite extension and financial support for the implementation of the psychiatric care reform program. When the reform will take place psychiatric nurses will be a part of a larger team of nursing staff working in psychiatric outpatients units. The aim of the study was to identify nurses’ educational needs for further training concerning outpatient provision of care. A questionnaire based study was conducted among 164 psychiatric nurses working on two major psychiatric hospitals to be closed. The majority of nurses noted that the most important issue in everyday work was the effective communication with the client and patients’ symptoms management. Nurses thought to be unprepared for management abilities and evidenced based care in community settings. Problems between health care team and lack of time and personnel was causes of additional stress in their work. The results have shown that nurses were adequate prepared for clinical care but there is a need for further training especially in law issues and nursing role in community settings.

Biography:

Dr. Somaya Abou-Abdou has completed her Ph.D. in Psychiatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Suez Canal University, Egypt. She is working as an Associate Prof. of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Suez Canal University, Egypt. Also, she is one of the board member of Faculty of Nursing in the same university. She has published papers in conferences and journals.  

Abstract:

Mental illness is a significant problem across countries and worldwide. People with mental illness need to be treated and rehabbed by mental health professionals & Psychiatric nurses are a group of mental health professionals who take actively important roles in providing care for people with mental illness. The aim of this study is to identify the ethical beliefs of psychiatric nurses and ethical issues encountered. A cross-sectional descriptive survey study design was used with a self-administered questionnaire to a sample of 364 nurses who volunteered to take part in the study from the five psychiatric hospitals states in five different census regions of Egypt.  The results indicate that most of the psychiatric nurses seemed to have a general understanding of an ‘ethical challenge’ since they started to give care for mental patient. They were able to present a broad variety of rich descriptions of situations in which they experienced either small or big ethical challenges, while ethical codes of nursing in psychiatric inpatient units are inadequate and standards of care are poor. On the other hand excessive workload, working conditions, lack of supervision, are the main factors leads to ethical issues. Conclusion: that in the field of psychiatric hospitals some problems perceived as ethical were eventually described as malpractice and there are needs for education strategies for clinical nurses and nursing organizations to improve nurses' ethical problems.

Biography:

Maria Knutzen is a R.N.(1978), R.P.N.(1992) officially approved supervisor (1997). Master in Health science. (2002) and PhD (2013), at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.  Long experience in teaching/supervision of colleagues and students.  Member of the expert group for the Norwegian breakthrough project Use of coercion in psychiatry in 2001-2002. Project manager for the national survey of coercive measures in mental health care for adults, 2012, commissioned by Health Directorate in Norway. Published 6 peer reviewed articles about seclusion and restraint. Member of the steering group for Early Recognition Method (ERM) in Norway.  

Abstract:

The starting point for studying patients subjected to restraint was my own experience. As a psychiatric nurse in emergency department I was responsible for providing nursing before, during and after the use of seclusion. Another reason was that use of restraint is professionally and ethically problematic since restraint devices potentially are risky and can harm the patient. Results from my research suggests that the patient's age, sex and reported behavior and clinical variables (number of admissions, duration, individual diagnoses and referral clause) are all factors that independently affect aspects of use of restraint (ie whether restraints are used, how frequently, type of restraint and duration). A key finding was that a small group of patients who were frequently subjected to restraint (9% of patients restrained, 56% females) represented 39% of all episodes of restraint. They differed from the other patients by being younger, having a longer duration of hospitalization and were frequently admitted. This “heavy tailed” distribution of episodes of coercive measures, where also found in our two subsequent national surveys of the use of restraint in all psychiatric institutions for adults. Identification of the small group of patients being frequently subjected to restraint (34 of the 3365 hospitalized patients) may provide a basis for quality assurance and a huge reduction of restraint. This would lead to a major improvement for the patient experience of being hospitalized, the ward atmosphere including other patients and staff.

Biography:

Peter Thomas Sandy is presently an Associate Professor at the University of South Africa, Department of Health Studies. He is a Mental Health Practitioner and Health Research Psychologist who has worked in the United Kingdom with a wide range of clinical presentations of people with mental health difficulties and learning disabilities. As a Clinical Lead, Peter Thomas Sandy actively supported people with drug and alcohol problems, mental Contributors 298 health difficulties and self-harming behaviours using specific counselling styles like motivational interviewing. Peter Thomas Sandy`s clinical experiences shaped his research interests. He is interested in drug and alcohol use among vulnerable populations, such as women, homeless, and people with mental health and learning disability problems. From a broader perspective, Peter Thomas Sandy has huge interest in attitude and behaviour change, and has conducted funded research related to these areas. For example, he conducted research on attitudes of mental workers on people who self-harm in large mental health institutions in England that resulted in the development of the Self-harm Explanatory Model. As an academic, Peter Thomas Sandy worked in the England as a Principal Lecturer (Associate Professor) at Buckinghamshire University and developed and led a range of training programmes for mental health practitioners in both generic and forensic settings. Peter Thomas Sandy earned his doctoral degree (PhD) from Brunel University, England, United Kingdom. His thesis focused on a very controversial area of mental health practice, application of harm minimisation approach to people who self-mutilate. 

Abstract:

Background: Secure forensic mental health services always need interventions to manage aggressive and violent behaviours. Seclusion is one of a number of interventions used for managing these behaviours in these settings. Service users experiences with seclusion are mainly negative with feelings of punishment and threat being the most commonly reported reactions. Some nurses regard seclusion as antitherapeutic, while others consider it an effective intervention. Despite these discrepancies, nurses continue to support the practice of seclusion.

Objective: To investigate factors that might influence attitudes of nurses working in a secure forensic mental health setting toward the use of seclusion.

Methods: This study utilised an analytic cross-sectional survey design to investigate and explain associations between the use of seclusion and attitudes toward it. Data were collected between October and December of 2014 using a self-administered questionnaire: staff attitudes toward seclusion. Eighty-eight nurses (N=88) completed the questionnaires. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics (percentages and frequency distributions) and inferential statistics, specifically spearman’s rank correlation coefficients, chi square and mann-whitney tests.

Results: The reasons for the use of seclusion noted in this study were consistent with Mason’s (1993) treatment, containment and punishment framework. The study revealed several significant but mostly negative associations between attitudes of nurses toward the use of seclusion and factors, such as age, sex, post, experience, and registered practice. Positive and significant associations were also found between attitude variables and grades or rank of nurses.  

Conclusion: These findings of this study offer insight into nurses’ attitudes toward the use of seclusion. They may serve as a useful resource for the development of guidelines, policies and training programme for enhancing positive attitudes toward seclusion. 

Biography:

Mrs Jansen has completed her M.Soc.Sc. (Nursing) from the University of the Free State and M.Cur (Psychiatric Community Nursing) from the Northwest University in Potchefstroom (South Africa). I am currently appointed as a Lecturer in the School of Nursing (SoN). My teaching responsibilities include Psychiatric Nursing Theory, Practica & Community Service learning modules. Courses in these fields of study are presented at an undergraduate and post-basic level.

Abstract:

Research studies in the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia suggest that students do not consider psychiatric nursing as a popular career option. According to this research there is a widespread concern about the nursing shortages in psychiatry. The demand for psychiatric services continues to grow and there is a need for strategies to recruit nurses in this specialization. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that prevent nursing students to choose psychiatric nursing as a career. A qualitative research design that aimed to explore and describe, was used. Data was collected through the Nominal Group Technique. A sample of convenience of 27 final year nursing students from the School of Nursing from the University of the Free State as well as the Free State School of Nursing voluntarily participated in this research. This unit of analysis comprised of four nominal groups. The following main causal categories emerged from the content analysis of the data, presented in the order that they were prioritized: Personal factors, working environment, unprofessional behaviour, learning environment and an unclassified category. The findings in this study highlighted the nursing students’ reasons for not choosing psychiatric nursing as a future career. Students’ actual descriptions were used to identify these reasons and it is therefore imperative for nursing schools in SA to address these concerns. Addressing their concerns might pave the way for them to take up psychiatric nursing as a career. Every nursing school needs to be dedicated and creative in improving their recruitment strategies to ensure adequate numbers. Otherwise, psychiatric nursing as a profession will remain in dire straits.

Biography:

Herni Susanti is a practising nurse, educator and researcher in mental health nursing. She obtained a Bachelor degree in Nursing from the Faculty of Nursing, University of Indonesia in 1998. She also obtained a Master degree in Nursing from the Curtin University of Technology, Australia in 2005. After completing her first degree, she started working as a lecturer of mental health nursing in the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Indonesia. She has completed her PhD from the University of Manchester UK in the late 2015.  

Abstract:

One of the major issues of mental health provision in Indonesia is related to services for carers of people with serious mental illnesses. Very basic and limited services have been offered to the carers. Understanding the needs of Indonesian carers is of key importance before developing appropriate interventions for them.

The study is one of series of PhD study, aimed for exploring the needs of carers from mental health hospital services in Indonesia from the perspectives of carers and service users.  Focus groups with carers and service users were undertaken to explore the needs of Indonesian carers and how mental health hospital services could help to meet those needs. In total, 9 focus groups were conducted, seven with carers (n=33) and two with service users (n=13). All carer and service user participants were recruited from two government mental health hospitals in the capital city of Indonesia. The data were analysed by using framework analysis (Ritchie and Spencer 1994), and resulted in four themes: experiences in caregiving, carer needs from mental health hospital services, current support for carers, and recommendations for service improvement. The findings were valuable resources to aid in the design of a need-based and culturally sensitive intervention for carers in the country. 

Biography:

Tadesse Awoke Ayele is head of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at University of Gondar, Ethiopia

Abstract:

Depression is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder during pregnancy and is associated with psychosocial and clinical obstetric factors. Depressive disorders are not only common and chronic among women throughout the world but also principal sources of disability. The scarce information and limited attention to the problem might aggravate the consequence of the problem and can limit the intervention to be taken. Therefore, the current study was conducted to determine the prevalence and identify associated factors for antenatal depression.

Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted by taking a sample of 388 pregnant women coming for ANC service at Gondar University Hospital. Systematic random sampling technique was employed to recruit the study participants. Structured, pretested and interview administered questioner was used to collect related information while Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) tool was used to assess individuals depression condition. A cut of point with high sensitivity and specificity was determined and internal consistency of the tool was checked (Cronbach alpha =0.82). Ep Info V. 2002 and STATA 12 were used for data entry and analyzes, respectively. Adjusted Odds Ratio with its 95%CI was used to declar the statistical significance of the factors.

Result: Depression among pregnant women was found to be 23% (95%CI: 18.48%; 26.86%). Significant associated factors were: Mother age (20 to 29, AOR=0.18,95%CI:0.07;0.49), Occupation (Housewife, AOR= 2.57,95%CI:1.21;5.46, Merchant and daily laborers ,AOR =3.44(1.38;8.58), Previous pregnancy (No, AOR=4.74;95%CI:1.58;14.17) and Previous ANC follow up pattern (Irregular, AOR= 11.43,95%CI:3.68;35.49), No follow up, AOR=11.98 ,95%CI:4.73;30.33).

Conclusion: Depression symptoms are relatively common in pregnant mothers in the study area and interventions that would address the for mentioned factors would benefit and tackles further complications.

Biography:

Dr. Carl C. Bell, M.D. – during 45 years, published more than 500 articles, chapters, & books on mental health. Retired Clinical Professor of Psychiatry & Public Health - University of Illinois at Chicago.  He is co-editor - Jeste D and Bell CC (eds).  Psychiatric Clinics of North America – Prevention in Psychiatry.  In 2012 he was presented the Special Presidential Commendation of the American Psychiatric Association in recognition of his outstanding advocacy for mental illness prevention and for person-centered mental health wellness and recovery, and the 2012 Agnes Purcell McGavin Award for Prevention in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Abstract:

For the last 45 years, Dr. Bell has studies the underserved African-American population in the United States.  His research has uncovered various problems of misdiagnosis in these populations.  The first discovery was the Misdiagnosis of African-Americans with Bipolar Disorder.  The second major observation was the high levels of childhood trauma low-income African-American children were subject to during their development.  Following that epiphany, it was demonstrated that these populations also had high levels of head injury owing to a general risk suffered by low-income populations.  Most recently, he has observed the problem of exposure to prenatal alcohol as many low-income communities are inundated with liquor stores resulting in a social determinant of health that lends itself to social drinking before realizing pregnancy. This presentation will highlight the prevalence of childhood traumatic stress and how it ties in with the prevalence of Neurodevelopmental Disorders of Childhood (the most prevalent of which may be Neurodevelopmental Disorder associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure).  In addition, a proposed criterion for Developmental Trauma Disorder (DTD) and Neurodevelopmental Disorder associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure will be presented.  There will be emphasis on clinical practice skills to identify these two common problems in all populations, not just low-income African-Americans that by nature of being in high-risk contexts often herald public health problems that will affect everyone in society. 

Finally, the author will illustrate prevention strategies for both of these two common and intertwined problems using actual large population based data and clinical case histories

Biography:

Amy is a PTSD peer-peer specialist, artist, author, speaker for RAINN, writer for The Huffington Post, award-winning health advocate, actress and playwright. In 2012, she wrote, directed and starred in a one woman musical about her life, Gutless & Grateful, touring theatres across the country for three years, earning rave reviews and accolades since it’s BroadwayWorld Award-nominated NYC debut. As an visual artist, her art has won accolades in multiple galleries and in dozens of solo art shows. Her mixed media creativity workshops emphasize creativity as an essential mindset. Amy’s “beautiful detour” has inspire her passionate desire to create and help others. As a health advocate, she's written feature articles for Phoenix Magazine, and has spoken to hundreds of nurses and doctors as the Eastern Regional Recipient of the Great Comebacks Award. Her Washington Post and On Being with Krista Tippet, and is a regular contributor for numerous publications including Elite Daily, The Mighty, Indie Chicks and Career Girl Daily. Her story has appeared on the TODAY Show, CBS, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen Magazine, among others. Amy's passion for the arts as a means of healing and expression inspired her to devise storytelling workshops for the Transformative Language Arts Network National Conference, the Eating Recovery Center Foundation, and The League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling. Determined to bridge the gap of communication between wellness resources on college campuses and students, Amy devised storytelling programs especially for colleges and universities to address the issue and is touring colleges campuses with her program combining mental health advocacy, sexual assault awareness and Broadway Theatre. For information on keynote presentations, workshops and signature talkbacks, (and specialized versions for corporations, college campuses, survivors, healthcare professionals, and artists) visitamyoes.com.

Abstract:

In a 2011 NAMI study, that 64% of college dropouts were for mental health-related reasons, and that, of those, 50% never accessed any mental health programs or services. Stress, anxiety, can make us feel like we’re entirely alone in our struggles. College, especially, can be a breeding ground for stress – a turning point in our lives where we’re independent, perhaps for the first time. Doors become open to us that we never even knew existed. We realize we have the power to make choices, which can be equal parts empowering and frightening. About one-third of college students across the United States had problems functioning because of depression in the last 12 months; almost half said they had felt overwhelming anxiety in the last year, 20 percent said they had seriously considered suicide in their lifetime, and 5.8 percent said they had attempted suicide. Plagued with their own anxiety, as well as taking on the anxiety from their families many students appear more stressed than ever. The office hours of professors are packed with students asking for advice on how to handle situations outside of the class room or are looking for advice on what to do. Counseling centers are operating on waitlists and students are not learning how to self care properly. Students may feel uncomfortable reaching out to health and counseling services. Worse, students may be unaware that these resources exist. Students may feel that if they don't have a “diagnosis”, “mental illness” physical handicap or learning disability, there is no reason to seek out services, they are not “qualified” to seek out these services, or they fear being “labeled”. There can often be a communication gap or barrier between academia and a student struggling with anxiety, campus life transitions, and common adjustments needed for college. To address the deathly stigma surrounding mental illness, sexual assault and PTSD on college campuses, Gutless & Grateful is a program combining a dynamic, live autobiographical musical performance, a talkback on an empowered approach to mental health, how to develop a resiliency toolbox, how to cultivate hope, and how to thrive in college with a physical or mental health condition. See the program: https://www.amyoes.com/gutless/for-colleges/ I've been through my own ordeal of sexual abuse, 27 surgeries, coma, organ failure, six years unable to eat or drink, and the PTSD that comes from ten years of trauma. Being able to reach out for help and find support is what helps us realize we’re not alone. This inspired me to start trying to bridge the gap of communication between departments on campus – academia, career counseling, wellness resources, accessibility, and student groups. There can be a barrier between academia and a student struggling with anxiety, campus life transitions, and common adjustments needed for college. The resources on campus become compartmentalized and students who don’t necessarily feel they have an issue “significant” enough cheat themselves out of learning valuable life skills. Gutless & Grateful aims to introduce these resources on campus helpful sources that can build resilience on campus, while also destigmatizing mental illness and encouraging students to reach out, speak up and start the conversation. One of the most difficult issues for students is to not feel alienated or stigmatized when they feel they have a concern that needs to be addressed - or worse, the feeling that they don't need/deserve/want help. The solution lies in our ability to engage, educate and empower youth to act as “fluids” in the system – infiltrating the gaps that administration may not be able to access. Through our “detours” in our individual pathways, we create an intricate tapestry that makes up the fabric of who we are as a human race. Gutless & Grateful strives to shift an entire college ethos in the direction of inclusion – partly to give courage and a sense of belonging to people who are struggling with all kinds of mental health or physical challenges, but also to help build a campus that gives everyone the kind of awareness and generosity of spirit that makes that world a better place. Through integrating the Eight Divisions of Wellness, incorporating various learning styles, and molding a campus community ready for growth, students can learn, evolve and collectively thrive through shared experience.

Biography:

Dr. Bergantin received his academic education at UNIFESP-EPM (Brazil) and UAM (Spain): degree in biomedicine (2008), MSc (2010) and PhD (2014). His research involves cell signaling mediated by Ca2+ and cAMP, skeletal and smooth muscles, peripheral and central nervous systems. His research work solved the enigma of the paradoxical effects produced by L-type Ca2+ channel blockers (ScienceDirect TOP 25 Hottest Articles, including TOP 1 positions: 2013 and 2014, Cell Calcium). Dr. Bergantin is currently postdoctoral fellowship (FAPESP) at UNIFESP-EPM.

Abstract:

The hypothesis of the so-called “calcium paradox” phenomenon in the sympathetic neurotransmission has its origin in experiments done in models of neurotransmission since 1970´s. Historically, “calcium paradox” originated several clinical studies reporting that acute and chronic administration of L-type Ca2+ Channel Blockers (CCBs), drugs largely used for antihypertensive therapy such as verapamil and nifedipine, produces reduction in peripheral vascular resistance and arterial pressure, associated with a paradoxical sympathetic hyperactivity. Despite this sympathetic hyperactivity has been initially attributed to adjust reflex of arterial pressure, the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in this paradoxical effect of the L-type CCBs remained unclear for four decades. Also, experimental studies using isolated tissues richly innervated by sympathetic nerves showed that neurogenic responses were completely inhibited by L-type CCBs in high concentrations, but paradoxically potentiated in low concentrations, characterized as a “calcium paradox” phenomenon. We discovered in 2013 that this paradoxical increase in sympathetic activity produced by L-type CCBs is due to Ca2+/cAMP interaction (Bergantin et al., Cell Calcium, 2013; ScienceDirect TOP 25 Hottest Articles - Cell Calcium - TOP 1 July to September 2013/ TOP 5 October to December 2013/ TOP 1 January to December 2013 full year/TOP 6 January to March 2014). Then, the pharmacological manipulation of this interaction could represent a potential cardiovascular risk for hypertensive patients due to increase of sympathetic hyperactivity. In contrast, this pharmacological manipulation could be a new therapeutic strategy for increasing neurotransmission in psychiatric disorders such as depression, and producing neuroprotection in the neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer´s and Parkinson´s diseases (Caricati-Neto et al. 2015, Pharmacol Res Perspectives; Bergantin and Caricati-Neto 2016, Eur J Pharmacol).

Biography:

Graduated at the University of Florence in neuro and psychomotor developmental therapy in 2008. Since 2009 she has worked at the Institute of Agazzi in Arezzo. By following an intuition in the branch of children’s rehabilitation therapy by exploiting the use of telemedicine, she has created a software for rehabilitation which offers a new approach in childhood pathologies. She has had many collaborations with rehabilitation institutes in Tuscany in order to conduct experimentations of the software created and with Polytechnic University of Milan and University of Bologna. Since 2015 she is working in Public Health in Chiavari (Italy).

Abstract:

The aim of the present study is to show the results of our research concerning touchless motion-based software in the rehabilitation treatment of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the importance of their parents active  role. The work that we present analizes the experimental results of a specific software introduced in a rehabilitative program  for children with ASD, with five different age groups and their families and introduces the importance of  working with  parents with a specific training program. It is important to envolve the caregiver in programming the rehabilitation  to have chance to share their experiences,  their doubts and expectations in order to allow  to continue to emotionally get them engaged  in the individualized rehabilitative program. Comparing clinical needs with parents’ perceptions allows the therapist to reach  better goals and better family quality of life. Our results show the importance to move from a general aspecific rehabilitation model to a tailored treatment approach.

Biography:

Abel Jacobus Pienaar completed his PhD titled: The development of an HIV/AIDS counselling approach for Africans at the University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. He further holds a clinical Masters-degree in Community Psychiatric Nursing and a M.Ed. (e-Learning). He focus on African indigenous knowledge, mental health and higher education. The latest publication he edited, Mental care in Africa: A practical evidence-based approach, Pienaar authored and co-authored ten chapters, capacitating mental health care providers in Africa. Prof. Pienaar is a senior faculty member at the School of Nursing Science, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), where he is involved in both under-graduate and post-graduate education. He is also a member of the South African Nursing Council, where he is the Chairperson of the Education Committee and a mental health nursing expert.

Abstract:

Mental health care is the pinnacle of holistic health care in all communities, therefore a burden rest on the shoulders of mental health care practitioners to deliver therapeutic mental health care, irrespective of the context of their practice (N’Gambi & Pienaar, 2013 p.97). In an African context holism in health is not only seen as a healthy body (Omolewa, 2007 p. 594); but to be healthy means that there will be harmony between the body, the mind, emotions and the spirit of the human being and maintenance of cultural distinctiveness (Seboka, 2013). Indigenous Africans strive towards ultimate worth through interaction and relationship with other human beings, nature and the Cosmos. Evidently it is obvious that more than 70% of all health care in Africa and most developing countries are delivered by nurses (King, 2005). Furthermore most facilities in Africa more often than not, cannot meet the needs of the mentally ill, because the staff are not trained or well equipped to work with the mentally ill or culturally sensitivity is lacking (Van Heerden et al. 2008:4; N’Gambi & Pienaar, 2013 pp.94 - 97). Noticing the dire insufficiency in Africa of human-and material resources a natural question may arise: How can mental health practitioners deliver therapeutic care in this context? A likely response would be to start at inception by ascertaining how a particular community attended to their health challenges indigenously.

Biography:

Dr.Sailaxmi Gandhi had completed her Ph.D Nursing at the age of 43 yrs from NIMHANS University.  She is an Associate Professor of Nursing at NIMHANS, a premier neuro-psychiatric super-speciality in India.   She has published more than 90 papers in peer-reviewed and indexed journals.  She has been serving as an editorial board member of reputed journals.  Her area of interest is in rehabilitation, suicide prevention, school mental health programs and man-power capacity empowerment.  She is the recipient of many awards, the most recent being the prestigious Best Nurse Educator Florence Nightingale award from the President of India on 12 -5 -2014.  

Abstract:

Mental health nursing rehabilitation in India is still not well established.  This is due to many factors such as acute shortage of mental health professionals, poor implementation of the Mental Health Act of India, custodial care in several hospitals, non-therapeutic family emotional climate and high levels of stigma.  The National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS) which is also an institute of national importance is a premier super-speciality neuro-psychiatric hospital in the country.  It is a 1000 bedded hospital.  There are only five nursing faculty who have multiple roles – both nursing service, education, research as well as administration of patient care.  Five years back, the psychiatric rehabilitation services was re-vamped with a multi-disciplinary team.  This presentation will focus on various innovations in mental health nursing rehabilitation.  The multi-disciplinary component itself is an innovation and does not exist anywhere else in India.  There are other innovations such as inclusion of complimentary therapies such as yoga, supported education, family as partners in the recovery process, persons with mental illness as peer therapists, initiation of a domestic skills section, involvement of volunteers from society (concept of corporate responsibility), placement within the hospital services, home based rehabilitation, SERWICE (Services for Enhanced Recovery With Intensive and Continued Engagement) wherein trainees are linked with one patient throughout their course, training of social skills, independent living skills, healthy life style (exercise and sports programs), caregiver support groups (sanjeevani vedike), etc.  These will be discussed at length during the presentation.