Pharmacological management of akathisia in combination with psychological interventions by a mental health nurse consultant

Abstract

The article describes the management of akathisia by a mental health nurse (MHN) prescriber, working in partnership with the patient. A single-case design was used to evaluate this. It highlights three features: first, MHN can safely prescribe psychiatric medication in combination with concordance therapy. Second, the value base underpinning prescribing practice is partnership, honesty and choice for the patient. Finally, the pharmacological mechanism of antipsychotic medication, which contributes towards akathisia, requires further analysis.

Mental health nurse supplementary prescribing: experiences of mental health nurses, psychiatrists and patients

“…The results of this small exploratory study show that patients, nurses and psychiatrists had had a positive experience of mental health nurse supplementary prescribing, and tended to support the studies conducted by Carr et al. (2002), Fisher and Vaughan‐Cole (2003) and the recent case study in UK by Jones et al. (2006) and Jones and Jones (2007).…”

“…Most of the studies in this review in focussed on physical health care. Recent case studies of mental health nurse prescribing seem to suggest it may be useful in the UK (Jones et al. 2006, Jones & Jones 2007).…”

Partial agonists and suicide: the role of the mental health nurse

“…The development of mental health nurses who prescribe has the potential to transform the National Health Service in the way it manages medicines used in mental health (Jones & Jones 2006). There have been several case study reports demonstrating the application of prescriptive authority by mental health nurses (Jones et al . 2006, Jones & Jones 2007), and a recent UK qualitative study (Jones et al .…”

The nurse consultant in mental health services: A national, mixed methods study of an advanced practice role

“…The twenty papers can be grouped into 4 categories: Case reports of the work of individual NCs ( n = 7)—Clarke (), Mc George (), Jones, Bennett, Gray, Arya, and Lucas (), Hughes (), Forsyth, Weddle, Drummond, and Mann (), Langton (), Allen () Collected views regarding NCs' current and future roles ( n = 4)—Chalder and Nolan (), Jinks and Chalder (), Gamble, Ekers, and Callaghan () and Barron, Snowden, and Martin (). Commentaries/opinion papers on NCs current and future roles ( n = 5)—McMillan (), McDougall (), Braynion (), Hayes and Harrison () and McDougall (). Comparisons with interventions from other professionals ( n = 4)—Happell, Summers, and Pinikahana (), Happell, Summers, and Pinikahana (), Woodward et al () and Lee et al (). …”