SoftPsych Blog

Graph Puzzles

2008-09-25T00:51:00.000-07:00

March 13, 2008

There is a wealth of information in graphs mentioned in the e-book “Metrics and Art of Psychiatry”. This graph measures the Average level of an inpatient unit. What does this graph say?

Why did the Graph bottom out? What is the significance of Average level ?

The graph bottomed out because the staff did not have a community meeting therefore no levels were recorded that day. This led to a meeting with the weekend staff. They were unaware of the significance of this measure. The levels were recorded daily after this date. This example shows that staff’s participation and acceptance of the Treatment team’s approach is essential to management of the unit.

The Average level should be around 2.0. Why ? Patients at Level 2 or above are cooperative and not considered at risk. The Average level above 2 indicates that overall unit functioning is at safe levels and staffing need not be increased. New activities and staff can be introduced. When the average Level falls below 2 the staff should have a meeting and discuss approaches to address the issues that are keeping the level low. “All staff are on deck”, means that every staff member should be present in community meeting and should identify patient that need extra assistance. This approach allows one to avoid unit’s deterioration and crises.

Metrics and Art of Psychiatry Adobe e-book

2008-09-25T00:39:00.001-07:00

March 13, 2008

Metrics and Art of Psychiatry Adobe e-book has been released.

http://ebooks.ebookmall.com/ebook/277751-ebook.htm

Amazon Kindle version of e-book

2008-09-25T00:38:00.000-07:00

March 10, 2008

Amazon Kindle version of Metrics and Art of Psychiatry has been released. Please click this link:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00159JW72

e-book released

2008-09-25T00:37:00.000-07:00

March 4, 2008

Metrics and art of psychiatry has been released for Windows and Windows Mobile (www.softpsych.com).

Preface from Metrics and Art of psychiatry

2008-09-25T00:36:00.000-07:00

February 28, 2008

The success of any enterprise is based upon several factors some known some unknown. Psychiatry is one of these fields with few known and a large number of unknown factors. Its practitioners struggle with this and adapt their methods to the state of current knowledge or engage in various explanations to justify their practice. Author’s experience of three decades in the field of psychiatry have encompassed a journey in various settings from academic, private practice, community mental health, state hospitals, Veterans administration, Indian mental health, Forensic setting, HCFA surveyor, medical director and different parts of the country from New York to Florida, Louisiana to California have led to certain conclusions that are presented in this monograph.

The quality of psychiatric care remains uneven despite tremendous advances over the years. The developments in research have failed to translate changes in actual practice. Diagnosis are made often by a personal bias despite specific criteria and treatment shows little adherence to published clinical guidelines. The advances in computerization have benefited most industries but health care has failed to capture its ability to easily and quickly gather data and subject it to analysis. Computerization has added considerable efficiency and rise in productivity in most industries. How does one translate this to the field of psychiatry? Author at first devised programs to make the diagnostic process quicker, easier and uniform. The second series of programs was written to simplify the pharmacological treatment by providing easy access to guidelines. This monograph is an attempt to add the ability to analyze data, i.e., introduces Metrics. Metrics refers to the ability to measure data and analyze it. Numerous research instruments have been devised to measure and quantify the change in patient’s symptoms for drug research. These same instruments can also be used by the average practitioner to perform his own analysis on the data of his own pool of patients.

Metrics can be applied to measure interventions’ effectiveness and administration of inpatient and outpatient settings. The following chapters spell out this process with examples, case studies and references. This monograph is divided into 2 halves. “Metrics in Psychiatry”, gives a brief history of psychiatry of last 3 decades, Fads and fashions in psychiatry, What works examines the question in depth and lays out the principles of good practice. This is followed by examples in outpatient and inpatient settings. The second half “Art of Psychiatry” examines the practice of psychotherapy in outpatient, inpatient, child and adult settings. It examines concepts of therapeutic alliance, transference, therapeutic milieu and therapeutic community. Different models from personal psychology are explored along with their application in various settings. A Critique of unacceptable therapy is included. The reasons things go wrong in inpatient settings from child, adolescent and adult settings is examined and solutions are suggested. Case studies show the application of these ideas in practice. Art of psychopharmacology shows a critical evaluation of various styles along with a discussion of Polypharmacy. The often neglected subject of psychiatric administration is presented with a theoretical model along with a way to examine the process of change in dysfunctional institutions.

This monograph is likely to be useful to Mental Health Professionals who have been in practice for a few years. They have seen the problems explored here and may find a new way of addressing those issues. The necessity of an appropriate theoretical model, uniform practices, collecting objective data and subjecting it to analysis is emphasized. Links in ‘purple’ can be clicked to go to the suggested articles directly from with in this e-book.

Author sincerely hopes that this will launch a dialog that involves everyday practitioners in a concerted effort to bring empirical evidence into actual practice. Comments can be posted on this blog.

Table of contents from Metrics and Art of Psychiatry

2008-09-25T00:34:00.000-07:00

February 28th, 2008

1. Preface
2. Metrics in Psychiatry
a. Brief history of three decades
b. Fads and fashions in Psychiatry
c. What Works? (Model of Mind)
d. Imagine – Outpatient, Inpatient
e. You can do your own research
3. Art of Psychiatry
a. Art of psychotherapy
b. Therapeutic alliance
c. Transference
d. The body and the mind
e. How to assess a psychotherapy patient- Capacity to change, Developmental view
f. Skill deficit vs. pathology
g. A critique of attachment therapy
h. Therapeutic Child Inpatient Unit
i. Therapeutic Adolescent unit
j. Adult staff in child and adolescent setting
k. Conduct disorder unit
l. Adult inpatient unit
m. Art of Psychopharmacology- styles, Polypharmacy
n. Art of psychiatric administration

Metrics and Art of Psychiatry

2008-09-25T00:32:00.000-07:00

February 28th, 2008

A e-book with the above title has been published. It is available for purchase from SoftPsych www.softpsych.com . This monograph addresses the use of SoftPsych software beyond diagnosis and information regarding psychopharmacology. Application of Metrics to enhance your practice in outpatient, inpatient and other institutional settings is examined with case studies. References are provided where applicable. Experienced mental health professionals may find a wealth of useful information derived from practical application of these principles. Excerpts from the book will be published on this blog.

Readers are encouraged to post their comments, queries and data based examples here.

Upcoming Software

2008-09-25T00:31:00.000-07:00

December 24th, 2007

The advent and common use of Smartphones is now replacing the PDA devices that do not have the phone function. We want everything easily accessible and now. Therefore the Smartphones come in handy since they are always with you.

This web site is dedicated to developing practical applications at an affordable price. Software for PALM OS is already compatible with Palm Smartphones such as TREO and Centro. Software for Windows Mobile Smartphones with and without Touch Screens has been released for two Primary diagnostic programs: Psychiatric Diagnosis and Psychiatric Tools.

Upcoming software will be Psychopharmacology Software for Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD, Anxiety, Depression and Schizophrenia. Please stay tuned. Windows versions for ADHD, Depression and Schizophrenia will also be released at the same time. Stay tuned!

I would also like to see if there is a demand for Blackberry, iphone and Symbian (Nokia) devices. Please contact me at locum@softpsych.com if you use these devices.