Participation in leisure activities and quality of life of people with psychosis in England: a multi-site cross-sectional study.

Background: Leisure activities can improve quality of life in the general population. For people with psychosis, negative symptoms (e.g.

Social Isolation and Psychosis: Perspectives from People with Psychosis, Family Caregivers and Mental Health Professionals.

This paper explores the subjective experiences of mental health practitioners, people with psychosis and carers, on social isolation and community integration of people with psychosis. Focus groups and one-to-one interviews with 80 adult participants across three sites in the UK were conducted. Audio recordings were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.

Who wants more social contacts? A cross-sectional study of people with psychotic disorders in England.

Many people with psychosis have few social contacts which can significantly reduce quality of life. While the symptoms of psychosis are thought to contribute to social isolation, they could also lead to the perception that patients are uninterested in increasing their social contacts or in socialisation interventions. Hence, those who most need support to reduce isolation may be less likely to receive it.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a structured social coaching intervention for people with psychosis (SCENE): protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: People with psychosis tend to have smaller social networks than both people in the general population and other people with long-term health conditions. Small social networks are associated with poor quality of life. Preliminary evidence suggests that coaching patients to increase their social contacts may be effective.

Renal Prognosis in Children With Tubulointerstitial Nephritis and Uveitis Syndrome.

Introduction: Tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) and uveitis (TINU) syndrome is a rare disease. The renal prognosis is generally thought to be better in children with TINU syndrome than in adults. However, data are scarce.

Patient and befriender experiences of participating in a befriending programme for adults with psychosis: a qualitative study.

Background: Befriending is a popular form of volunteering in healthcare, and research suggests that it can be beneficial for people with mental illness. This study aimed to explore the experiences of a large sample of volunteer befrienders and patients who participated in the VOLUME trial, testing the efficacy of a structured befriending programme for individuals with psychosis. This is the first study to explore the specific challenges and benefits of befriending in both volunteers and patients in this population within the same programme.

Effectiveness of a volunteer befriending programme for patients with schizophrenia: randomised controlled trial.

Background: Befriending by volunteers has the potential to reduce the frequent social isolation of patients with schizophrenia and thus improve health outcomes. However, trial-based evidence for its effectiveness is limited.

Aims: To conduct a randomised controlled trial of befriending for patients with schizophrenia or related disorders.

Exploring the initial experience of hospitalisation to an acute psychiatric ward.

Background: Patient-reported satisfaction with inpatient psychiatric services, within the first few days of admission, is related to positive future outcomes. Despite its predictive value, little is known about this initial experience and what underlies these appraisals. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore the initial experience of being admitted to an inpatient psychiatric ward.

Preferences for befriending schemes: a survey of patients with severe mental illness.

Background: Befriending has become a widely used method for tackling social isolation in individuals with severe mental illness (SMI), and evidence exists to support its effectiveness. However, patient preferences for befriending remain unclear. We aimed to determine whether patients with SMI want a volunteer befriender and, if so, the volunteer characteristics and character of the relationship they would prefer.

Staff views on wellbeing for themselves and for service users.

Background: Wellbeing is an important outcome in the context of recovery from mental illness. The views of mental health professionals on wellbeing may influence their approach to supporting recovery.

Aims: This study aims to explore views held by mental health staff about factors influencing their own wellbeing and that of service users with psychosis.

Bowel and bladder-control anxiety: a preliminary description of a viscerally-centred phobic syndrome.

Background: People with anxiety disorders occasionally report fears about losing control of basic bodily functions in public. These anxieties often occur in the absence of physical disorder and have previously been recognized as "obsessive" anxieties reflecting a preoccupation with loss of bowel/bladder control. Motivated by our observations of the non-trivial occurrence of such anxieties in our clinical practice we sought to fill a gap in the current understanding of "bowel/bladder-control anxieties".