The aim of the present study was to investigate how Swedish occupational therapists describe their work with persons suffering from cognitive impairment following acquired brain injury. A qualitative descriptive approach was used and interviews were conducted with 12 occupational therapists working in community and county council care. Qualitative content analysis was used and revealed three main themes: (1) "To make the invisible visible", (2) "To collaborate-a prerequisite for success", and (3) "Dilemmas to handle". The findings showed a complex scenario where the occupational therapists worked to make the cognitive impairments visible to themselves, the clients, and persons close to the client. Collaboration was perceived as a key factor. The dilemmas concerned different aspects in the rehabilitation process, which affected the occupational therapists' work with the clients. Identified areas in need of improvement are prioritizations and additional education regarding both intervention methods and theory. A reluctance to use standardized assessments was expressed and research that identifies and overcomes those hindrances in clinical practice is needed. Therapeutic use of self was described as important. To understand and illuminate the occupational therapists' comprehension of the concept further research is required.

The aims of this study were to test the construct validity and the homogeneity of the Swedish version of the Burden Assessment Scale (BAS) and study perceived burden in daily life among family caregivers of individuals with severe mental disorders. A total of 256 caregivers took part in the study. The participants completed two questionnaires. One was the BAS, a brief scale that focuses on specific subjective and objective consequences of families caring for individuals with severe mental disorders. The other one was a questionnaire constructed for the study including demographic data. A principal component analysis yielded three factors: 'activity limitation', 'feelings of worry and guilt' and 'social strain'. The internal consistency calculated by Cronbach's alpha coefficients varied between 0.73 and 0.88 for the three factors. The findings indicated that the caregivers experienced more 'activity limitation' and 'social strain' in relation to the youngest and to those who had an elementary educational level than they did for comparison groups. There were no differences found between the caregivers in relation to clients' daily occupation outside home. The results confirm that family caregiver burden is complex and includes several areas such as activities in daily life, worry and social strain. Given this knowledge about caregivers' situation, it is critical that families be given opportunities to identify what support might help. Further research is needed to identify such support.

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Swedish occupational therapy practice for clients with cognitive impairments following acquired brain injury focuses highly on occupational performance. Therapies targeting executive functioning seem particularly important in practice and a collaborative approach involving clients, relatives and other staff is a prominent feature in practice.

This article presents intensive psychiatric nurses' work and nursing care. The aim of the study was to describe expressions of cultural knowing in nursing care in psychiatric intensive care units (PICU). Spradley's ethnographic methodology was applied. Six themes emerged as frames for nursing care in psychiatric intensive care: providing surveillance, soothing, being present, trading information, maintaining security and reducing. These themes are used to strike a balance between turbulence and stability and to achieve equilibrium. As the nursing care intervenes when turbulence emerges, the PICU becomes a sanctuary that offers tranquility, peace and rest.