These findings can inform staff training on violence prevention and suggest that increased ward-based supervision and enhanced use of psychological formulations may help in reducing violence within this service context.

Intensive Short Term Psychodynamic Therapy (ISTDP) has demonstrated promising evidence for the treatment of several Functional Neurological Disorders (FND) including dissociative seizures. However, its implementation in secondary mental health and specialist services within the English National Health Service (NHS) is scarce. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the estimates of the therapeutic effects of a 3-session course of this treatment as well as establish safety and acceptability for a complex patient group. Method: The study followed a mixed methods case series design and recruited 18 patients from secondary adult mental health care and specialist neurology services. Participants completed self-report outcome measures at the start, at the end and 1-month following the completion of therapy. Three open ended questions examined their therapy experiences qualitatively and these were analysed through thematic analysis. Results: All participants who started the treatment (N=17) completed the intervention and attendance rates were very high (95%). No serious adverse effects were observed, and the CORE-OM and BSI showed improvements both at the end of the treatment and at follow-up. Healthcare utilisation was also reduced including acute medications, A&E attendances, and crisis line usage. Conclusions: The results provide preliminary support for the safe use of ISTDP in this complex group of participants but further evidence from controlled and randomized studies is warranted.

Alcohol consumption frequency and volume are known to be related to health problems among drinkers. Most of the existing literature that analyses regional variation in drinking behaviour uses measures of consumption that relate only to volume, such as 'binge drinking'. This study compares the regional association of alcohol consumption using measures of drinking frequency (daily drinking) and volume (binge drinking) using a nationally representative sample of residents using the Health Survey for England, 2011-2013. Results suggest the presence of two differentiated drinking patterns with relevant policy implications. We find that people in northern regions are more likely to binge drink, whereas people in southern regions are more likely to drink on most days. Regression analysis shows that regional variation in binge drinking remains strong when taking into account individual and neighbourhood level controls. The findings provide support for regional targeting of interventions that aim to reduce the frequency as well as volume of drinking.

Purpose: Short Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has been demonstrated as an effective treatment for several mental health difficulties. However, its implementation in secondary mental health services in the National Health Service (NHS) is scarce. The aim of this study was to bridge the gap between controlled trials and practice-based evidence, by exploring an initial estimate of the therapeutic effects of this intervention in a secondary care NHS community mental health setting. Method: The study followed a quantitative case series design. Eight clients with complex, enduring mental health difficulties, supported by a community secondary mental health service received a course of STPP. They completed outcome measures at the start, at the end and eight-weeks following completion of therapy. Results: All participants but one completed the therapy and attendance rates were high (>75%). No adverse effects were reported. All participants but two reported improvement in the CORE-OM, BSI and the PHQ-9 and these were maintained at follow-up. Conclusions:The results suggested that STPP was a safe and acceptable intervention, that may have contributed to clinical and reliable improvement for 4 participants, non-reliable improvement for 2 and non-reliable deterioration for one participant who finished the treatment.

Background: Caregivers of children with asthma are at higher risk of experiencing mental health difficulties and lower quality of life than caregivers of healthy children. Mentalizing is a psychological construct that defines the ability of understanding one's own and others' states of mind. Poor levels of mentalizing are strongly associated with a wide range of mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety or emotional dysregulation. This crosssectional study is the first to examine the associations between mentalizing and mental health in a sample of caregivers of children with asthma. Method: Caregivers of children (mean age=6.53, SD=3.72, ages 1 to 17) with asthma were recruited from social media support groups and the Asthma UK charity research bulletin. Participants completed self report measures of mentalizing, family functioning, mood and anxiety difficulties. Results: A total of 88 caregivers completed the full survey. Results indicated that poorer mentalizing capacity was significantly associated with poorer family functioning and increased mood and anxiety symptomatology. Poor mentalizing was significantly associated with increased levels of depression, hypomania and anxiety, explaining 16% of variance in depression and 10% of variance in anxiety. Family functioning was not a significant predictor after controlling for the effect of mentalizing. Conclusions: These findings suggest that mentalizing capacity might be a valued new treatment target to improve the mental health of caregivers of children with asthma. The results suggest that mentalizing could complement previously identified factors such as family functioning or asthma symptom severity in understanding caregivers' mental health. Further investigation into the role of mentalizing in the mental health of this population is warranted.

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