Psychopharmacology Unit (PPU)

Instruments and Intervention Techniques

Instruments

AES Antipsychotic Experience Scale
AIMS Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale for tardive dyskinesia
Barnes Akathisia Scale for drug-induced restlessness
BDI Beck Depression Inventory
BPRS Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale
Calgary Scale Scale for depression
CGI Clinical Global Impressions Scale
DAI Drug Attitude Inventory
ECG Electrocardiogram
HAM-D Hamilton Depression Scale
Laboratory tests Levels of whole blood and plasma 5HT (serotonin), HVA (homovanillic acid), plasma levels of antipsychotic, prolactin, caffeine, cotinine, and nicotine
Movement tests Electromechanical tests of movement disorders
Neuropsychologic Battery of assessments measuring neurocognitive function, including Stroop Color-Word naming, Spatial Working Memory Test, Wisconsin Card Sort, and Digit Span
Neurosoft Signs Battery to measure neurologic deficits
PANSS Positive and Negative Symptom Scale
Physical exam Complete review of systems, including weight, temperature, blood pressure
QLS Quality of Life Scale
SANS Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms
SCID-P Diagnostic tool for psychiatric disorders
SCL-90 Subjective Symptom Check-List
SERS Subjective Extrapyramidal Rating Scale
Sexual Functioning Questionairre measuring changes in sexual function
Simpson-Angus Scale for parkinsonian movement disorders
Smoker's Profile Questionairre capturing and quantifying smoking behavior
SRS Subjective Response Scale
WAIS-R Cognitive test of intelligence
WRAT-3 Reading
Y-BOCS Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale

 

Intervention Techniques

Community Re-Entry Program A pilot study of the outcome of an 8-hour rehabilitation training curriculum with Trainer's Manual, Participant's Workbook, and Demonstration Video for use in assisting individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder to successfully transition from an inpatient hospitalization setting to community living and utilizing aftercare services. This module has been empirically validated in two studies, and publications are available reporting its efficacy
Management of Risk for Relapse in Schizophrenia Program A study of the outcome of antipsychotic treatment combined with 2-6 hours per week of a training curriculum including Medication Management, Symptom Management, Social Problem Solving, and Successful Living for individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Half of the participants also receive In-Vivo Assisted Skills Training, which entails intensive personalized case management and training in the home and community settings. Publicatons are available showing the effectiveness of previous work with this program

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