IntroductionResearch has shown the importance of social support on mental health, however, this investigation has not been done in elder population.Objective/aimsOur aim is to study the relationship between perceived social support, satisfaction with life, anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms.MethodsWe collected a sample of 46 institutionalized elderly aged between 65 and 95 years old. We used the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to assess anxious and depressive symptoms. To assess social support we used the Older Americans Resources and Services Program (OARS), which evaluated the social resources, and to assess the life satisfaction we used the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS).ResultsWe found that 91.3% of subjects were illiterate or with low education and only 4 (8.7%) had studied beyond the fourth grade. The elders showed an high average of anxiety and depression symptoms, and dissatisfaction with life. Regarding the perception of social support, the elderly essentially reveal high dissatisfaction with the extent of contact with others and the availability of help. We also found that perceived social support is related with GAI, GDS, and SWLS.ConclusionIntervention strategies should involve the integration of elder population in social life.

IntroductionDiet and physical activity interventions are effective in psychiatric outpatients that suffer from obesity, namely those treated with antipsychotic drugs. However, there is less evidence related to these interventions in hospitalised acute patients.AimTo evaluate the effect of a diet and physical activity program on weight and BMI variation in acute psychiatric patients during hospitalisation.MethodsMatched case-control study from January to September 2016. Inclusion criteria: patients with at least 15 days of hospitalisation in an acute psychiatry ward, evaluated by a nutritionist in the admission and medical discharge. The intervention consisted in a diet and physical activity program, with total restriction to visitors to bring food to the patients. Statistical analysis was done with T-student and multiple linear regression taking into account the effect of age, sex, daily dose of antipsychotics, and days of hospitalisation.ResultsSixty-six patients were studied (34 cases and 32 controls). Groups were statistically similar concerning the average of age, daily dose of antipsychotics, days of hospitalisation and sex. The differences of weight gain during hospitalisation were 0.088 kg (cases) versus 1484 kg (controls), P < 0.05. And the differences of the increased BMI during the hospitalisation were 0.041 kg/m2 (cases) versus 0.509 kg/m2 (controls), P < 0.05.ConclusionsObesity presents challenging health problems for individuals with severe mental illness that require inpatient treatment. This study provides evidence that individuals with acute mental illness can benefit from weight control interventions during their hospitalisation, in special a total restriction to visitors to bring food to the patients.

The year 2015 started a new assistance in the cycle of mental health care ending the gap that existed in the district of Beja in the last twenty years, in this area. The aim of this presentation is to give the data of nursing activity in the first six months inpatient psychiatric service. The population studded was 98 inpatients, 53%male and 47% females aged between 16 and 87-years-old, diagnosed with depression, schizophrenia, personality disorders, bipolar disorders, dementias and others. Descriptive statistic of collected data. We rated the gender, marital status, aged and main disorders as well as the nursing therapeutic activities preformed with the patients. Six different kinds of activities were done. The total of interventions were 148: relaxation, ludic activities, physical activity, art therapy, health education and music therapy. Nursing intervention in the treatment of people with mental disorders improves the compliance to the treatment (adherence, self-care, useful occupation, stress career and insight of the illness) during the hospitalization time, aiming to avoid the worsening situation and the social isolation of the patient, and promote the recovery and quality of life. These objectives begin on hospital stay during the acute crisis. We are aware of the fact that this is just the beginning of this approach and for more and better results we have to have a bigger sample and a longer time of intervention as well as better methodology, namely the use of scales to measure some parameters that can provide more consistent and objective findings.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.