Biomaterial Database

Assessing the therapeutic impact of a community group on a secure hospital ward. 2002

Alison Beck

Chartered Clinical Psychologist, Forensic Services, South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.

The constructs of ward staff and patients in a medium secure rehabilitation ward were assessed before and after an eight-month trial of a twice weekly community group. One of the aims of this group was to address day-to-day interpersonal issues and to encourage patients to take social responsibility for their actions and to learn to support one another. Another aim was to encourage staff and patients to consider the possibility of applying some therapeutic community principles on the ward. These aims were assessed using repertory grid techniques. The results were that over the eight-month pilot both staff and patient groups shifted towards viewing their ideal ward as a therapeutic community (TC). However qualitative information suggested that considerable difficulties arose in bringing about the necessary cultural changes. As a result both staff and patients felt confused and disempowered. Future attempts are highly recommended, however better resourcing, particularly in the form of employing a trained full-time individual to co-ordinate activities, is essential.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007398	Interpersonal Relations	The reciprocal interaction of two or more persons.	Social Relationships,Husband-Wife Communication,Partner Communication,Communication, Husband-Wife,Communication, Partner,Husband Wife Communication,Husband-Wife Communications,Interpersonal Relation,Partner Communications,Relation, Interpersonal,Relationship, Social,Social Relationship
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010358	Patient Participation	Patient involvement in the decision-making process in matters pertaining to health.	Patient Activation,Patient Empowerment,Patient Engagement,Patient Involvement,Patient Participation Rates,Activation, Patient,Empowerment, Patient,Engagement, Patient,Involvement, Patient,Participation Rate, Patient,Participation Rates, Patient,Participation, Patient,Patient Participation Rate
D010361	Patients	Individuals participating in the health care system for the purpose of receiving therapeutic, diagnostic, or preventive procedures.	Clients,Client,Patient
D011369	Professional-Patient Relations	Interactions between health personnel and patients.	Contacting Clients,Pharmacist-Patient Relations,Professional Patient Relationship,Client, Contacting,Clients, Contacting,Contacting Client,Pharmacist Patient Relations,Pharmacist-Patient Relation,Professional Patient Relations,Professional Patient Relationships,Professional-Patient Relation,Relation, Pharmacist-Patient,Relation, Professional-Patient,Relations, Pharmacist-Patient,Relations, Professional-Patient,Relationship, Professional Patient,Relationships, Professional Patient
D011618	Psychotic Disorders	Disorders in which there is a loss of ego boundaries or a gross impairment in reality testing with delusions or prominent hallucinations. (From DSM-IV, 1994)	Psychoses,Psychosis, Brief Reactive,Schizoaffective Disorder,Schizophreniform Disorders,Psychosis,Brief Reactive Psychoses,Brief Reactive Psychosis,Disorder, Psychotic,Disorder, Schizoaffective,Disorder, Schizophreniform,Disorders, Psychotic,Disorders, Schizoaffective,Disorders, Schizophreniform,Psychoses, Brief Reactive,Psychotic Disorder,Reactive Psychoses, Brief,Reactive Psychosis, Brief,Schizoaffective Disorders,Schizophreniform Disorder
D006739	Hospital Administration	Management of the internal organization of the hospital.	Hospital Organization and Administration,Organization and Administration, Hospital,Administration, Hospital
D006778	Hospitals, Psychiatric	Special hospitals which provide care to the mentally ill patient.	Mental Hospitals,Hospitals, Mental,Mental Institutions,Psychiatric Hospitals,Hospital, Mental,Hospital, Psychiatric,Institution, Mental,Institutions, Mental,Mental Hospital,Mental Institution,Psychiatric Hospital
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults