BMC Psychiatry

ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify characteristics that define population need groups with similar mental health service needs within prisons and describe the mix of services required to meet those needs. MethodsMixed methods were used, including three iterative, semi-structured focus groups, followed by an online survey, seeking information on the characteristics that define service needs, how these can identify groups of people who require mental health care in prisons and the services req...

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) is an effective treatment for adolescents exhibiting features of borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, some do not benefit, potentially leading to major negative outcomes later in life. Previous quantitative studies have highlighted the importance of dynamic (changeable) factors in determining treatment success, including the therapeutic alliance, emotional dynamics between therapist and adolescent, and the motivation of those inv...

BackgroundApproximately 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental health illness in any given year. While most individuals can be successfully treated within a primary care setting, a subset of individuals present with a severity and complexity requiring specialist care. Unfortunately, a shortage of psychiatrists (especially in rural regions) can result in wait times of months to years. MethodsWe designed the Alberta Network for Community Health Outreach and Rural Mental Health. ANCHOR-MH is a 12-we...

BackgroundDespite widespread recognition of the value of lived experience (LE) involvement in healthcare research and increased LE involvement activity, we lack established implementation methods and instruments for reporting and evaluating impact. We present a protocol for an innovative LE-led Impact Log tool and co-production framework, which may help to address some fundamental barriers to co-production. The Impact Log will be implemented within a five-year multidisciplinary transdiagnostic r...

BackgroundAdults with intellectual disabilities who display behaviours that challenge (BtC) are more prone to poor health. This study seeks to evidence the long-term health outcomes for this population. MethodsWe conducted a longitudinal cohort study of adults with intellectual disabilities aged 18+ years in England using data from Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum (01/2003-12/2023) linked to Hospital Episode Statistics and Office for National Statistics. Main outcome measures were Annu...

BackgroundShort-term funding initiatives are often used to stimulate innovation and improve service delivery. They are a main source of funding for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations. However, reliance on these short-term grants can limit their funded activities and sustainability. In 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) set up the Suicide Prevention Grant Fund (SPGF). This was awarded to VCSEs for a single year to deliver diverse, innovative interve...

BackgroundUp to one-third of medical inpatients experience clinically relevant mental distress, yet many remain untreated. Stepped and collaborative care (SCC) models may improve access to mental health care, but predictors of service uptake are unclear. We examined patient- and ward-level predictors of psychosomatic-psychiatric consultation (PPC). MethodsWe analyzed data from SomPsyNet, a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial targeting SOMatic inpatients across three Swiss tertiary hospitals,...

BackgroundImproving access to high-quality community-based crisis care and reducing inpatient admissions are key policy objectives in England, yet evidence on who uses crisis-related services and potential inequalities in access remains limited. AimsTo examine socio-demographic patterns in the use of six crisis-related services in England: 1) Crisis phonelines; 2) Crisis cafes; 3) Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment teams (CRHTs); 4) Voluntary inpatient admissions; 5) Compulsory inpatient admi...

Structured AbstractO_ST_ABSObjectiveC_ST_ABSThis mixed-methods study investigated the lived-experience perspectives of receiving a novel, brief digital mental health intervention after psychological trauma. The online gamified imagery-competing task intervention (ICTI) involves one researcher-guided session followed by self-use. Tested in two randomised controlled trials (GAINS-01; GAINS-02), ICTI led to fewer intrusive memories at week-4, with the reduction sustained over 24 weeks, alongside re...

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have not been widely implemented in mental health settings, representing a significant gap in digital health care transformation. A reason for underutilisation includes concerns from healthcare professionals regarding the collection and storage of patients sensitive information. Language use can positively influence clinician-patient relationships, and stigmatising language in EHRs viewed by patients could undermine trust. This is concerning as using EHRs have be...

The COVID-19 pandemic had substantial impact on healthcare systems across the globe, including psychiatric services. Use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), a lifesaving intervention for severe mental illness, was reported to have declined during the pandemic in several countries, but nationwide data remain scarce. Using nationwide data from the Danish National Patient Register, we examined all ECT treatments administered in Denmark from September 2019 to May 2025. Weekly treatment numbers were ...

ObjectiveTo analyze the structure of mental disorders in children in the outpatient practice of a specialized mental health center for optimization of care organization for this patient category. MethodsA retrospective analysis of medical records of 23 children (out of 44 patients) at the Insight Mental Health Center (Dushanbe, Tajikistan) was conducted for the period from December 9, 2025, to January 8, 2026. Diagnosis was performed according to ICD-10 criteria using standardized instruments: ...

BackgroundPoor patient retention and family engagement compromise the effectiveness of coordinated specialty care (CSC) for first-episode psychosis (FEP). This mixed methods study aimed to identify program-level characteristics (CSC fidelity and engagement strategies) associated with patient retention and family engagement in Massachusetts CSC programs. MethodsPrimary outcomes were rates of patient retention and family engagement ([≥]1 evidence-based family intervention session), based on CS...

BackgroundPredictive models in mental health can identify service users at risk of high-intensity care, enabling proactive interventions. However, false positive predictions may lead to over-medicalisation, inequitable resource use, and stigma. Understanding the factors associated with false positives can improve model interpretation and real-world application. AimsTo evaluate a previously validated prediction model for high-intensity (top decile) service use and identify false positive (FP) vs...

ObjectiveDespite recommendations that young people at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis receive stepped treatment, few programs have published details of their clinical models or outcomes. This study describes the preliminary effectiveness of a risk calculator-informed stepped care model used at the Yale PRIME Clinic, a specialized outpatient clinic for young people at CHR. MethodsSeventy-one individuals (ages 12-25) at CHR enrolled in Yales PRIME Clinic during the first four years of the ...

BackgroundHumanitarian settings in Pakistan face major gaps in mental health service delivery, with limited specialist resources and a high burden of untreated conditions. The WHO mhGAP-Humanitarian Intervention Guidelines (mhGAP-HIG) aim to strengthen the capacity of primary care physicians (PCPs) to identify and manage common mental health conditions in humanitarian contexts. However, the evidence for multidimensional training outcomes remains limited. This study evaluated the effectiveness of...

IntroductionSepsis is a life-threatening ailment caused by an exaggerated immune response to infection that poses a major health problem, with increasing prevalence, high costs, and poor outcomes. Improved outcomes are seen in patients when providers follow the Surviving Sepsis Campaign recommended clinical practice guidelines for identifying and treating sepsis using a 3-hour and 6-hour bundle after sepsis is suspected. Previous research has shown patients with mental health issues receive wors...

BackgroundCognitive deficits in anxiety disorders (ADs) contribute to clinical and socio-occupational dysfunction, necessitating targeted interventions. NoveltyIntegrated Cognitive Control Training (ICCT), a novel intervention, has demonstrated benefits in other disorders, however, remains unexplored in ADs. With its process-specific training and multi-pronged exercises for stimulation, metacognitive training and generalization, it has potential for enhancing cognitive functions in ADs. Object...

BackgroundAs digital communication becomes central to daily life, psychotherapy increasingly has access to patients electronic media data. While digital phenotyping has been widely studied, less is known about whether incorporating personal communication data, such as text messages, improves clinical outcomes in psychotherapy. ObjectiveTo determine whether integrating personalized text message data into psychotherapy improves depression, anxiety, health related quality of life, and therapeutic ...

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is frequently associated with speech and language difficulties, yet empirical data from Central Asian countries remain scarce. This study examined the association between a diagnosis of childhood autism (ICD-10: F84.0) and the presence of speech development difficulties in a clinical sample from Tajikistan MethodA retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using clinical records of 85 patients (36 with F84.0; 49 with other psychiatric diagnoses) a...