No abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder has a lifetime prevalence of almost 9% in the United States. The diagnosis is associated with increased rates of comorbid substance abuse and increased rates of depression. Providers are taught how to diagnose and treat PTSD, but little discussion is devoted to how to prevent the disorder. Behavioral research in animal studies has provided some evidence for the use of medications in decreasing the fear response and the reconsolidation of memories. A heightened fear response and the re-experience of traumatic memory are key components for diagnosis. The purpose of this literature review is to examine the evidence for pharmacotherapy as prophylactic treatment in acute stress/trauma in order to prevent the development of post-traumatic stress disorder. The body of the review includes discussions on medications, medications as adjunct to script-driven imagery, and special considerations for military, first responders, and women. This article concludes with implications for practice and recommendations for future research. The key words used for the literature search were "prophylactic treatment of PTSD," "pharmacotherapy and trauma," "pharmacological prevention of PTSD," "beta blockers and the prevention of PTSD," "acute stress and prevention of PTSD," "propranolol and PTSD," "secondary prevention of PTSD," and "medications used to prevent PTSD." Findings were categorized by medications and medications as adjunct to script-driven imagery. The literature suggests that hydrocortisone, propranolol, and morphine may decrease symptoms and diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

In response to the problem of frequent 30-day readmissions to inpatient psychiatric facilities, Vigod and colleagues (2015) developed the READMIT clinical risk index to identify risk factors for psychiatric inpatient readmissions. The purpose of this descriptive retrospective study was to examine the effectiveness of the READMIT clinical risk index to identify patients that are at high risk for a 30-day inpatient psychiatric readmission at a state psychiatric hospital in the southeastern US. Data were extracted from the discharge summaries of patients discharged between September 2013 and December 2014. Data collected included patient demographic variables (age, gender, race/ethnicity, primary diagnosis, housing status at discharge, employment, long-acting injectable at discharge, substance abuse, education, and insurance status) and study variables from the READMIT clinical risk index (repeat admission, emergent admission, age, diagnosis and discharge, medical comorbidity, intensity, and time in hospital). The inclusion criterion was age 18 and above. There were no exclusion criteria. Findings indicated that age, insurance status, previous lifetime admissions, 'diagnoses and discharge' scores, and higher READMIT clinical risk index scores were associated with 30-day readmissions. Future research should include a prospective study of the READMIT clinical risk index to assess its predictability of 30-day readmissions and explore possible use of the minimum clinical risk index score to trigger evaluation of patient need for enhanced transitional care services posthospital discharge.

The Medication Management Approaches in Psychiatry (MedMAP) is a medication management evidence-based practice (EBP) to guide the use of psychotropic medications in the treatment of schizophrenia. This qualitative study examined facilitators and barriers to implementing MedMAP in community mental health treatment settings. Audio-taped qualitative interviews were conducted with practitioners and administrators involved in a MedMAP implementation project conducted in six community mental health centers. Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis of transcribed interviews. Findings indicate that facilitators to MedMAP implementation included practitioner recognition of the value of MedMAP, consumer involvement, collaboration, continuity of care, and fidelity assessments. Barriers to MedMAP implementation included problematic technology, work flow issues, lack of flexibility in prescribers' ability to implement MedMAP guidelines, regulatory and financial barriers, and consumer insurance status. Recommendations for improving future implementation efforts of MedMAP emphasize technological readiness, development of innovative models of care delivery, an emphasis on treatment guided by outcomes, and active leadership to promote EBPs within organizations and academic settings.

Organizational support is essential for successful implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) in clinical settings. This 3-year study used a mixed qualitative and quantitative design to implement a medication management EBP in the treatment of schizophrenia in six community mental health clinics in a south-central state of the United States. Findings from organizational fidelity assessments indicate that support for EBP implementation was moderate. Organizational support was highest for prescriber access to relevant patient information at each medication visit, scheduling flexibility for patients' urgent problems, and availability of medication guidelines. Organizational support was lowest for medication availability and identification of treatment refractory patients. Findings suggest that leadership is essential to support successful implementation. Nurse educators can incorporate implementation research and leadership training into graduate nursing programs to facilitate successful EBP implementation in practice settings.