True Colours is an automated symptom monitoring programme used by National Health Service psychiatric services. This study explored whether patients with unipolar treatment-resistant depression (TRD) found this a useful addition to their treatment regimes. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 patients with TRD, who had engaged in True Colours monitoring as part of the Lithium versus Quetiapine in Depression study. A thematic analysis was used to assess participant experiences of the system.

Six main themes emerged from the data, the most notable indicating that mood monitoring increased patients' insight into their disorder, but that subsequent behaviour change was absent.

Patients with TRD can benefit from mood monitoring via True Colours, making it a worthwhile addition to treatment. Further development of such systems and additional support may be required for patients with TRD to experience further benefits as reported by other patient groups.

Veganism has increased in popularity in the past decade and, despite being a characteristic protected by law, is often viewed negatively by the general population. Little is known about the attitudes of healthcare professionals despite the potential influence on practice and eating disorder patient care. This is one of the first studies to investigate attitudes toward veganism within specialist eating disorder, general mental health and other professionals.

A one-way ANOVA indicated all professionals held positive views toward veganism. General mental health professionals held statistically more positive veganism attitudes than specialist eating disorder and other professionals.

As one of the first studies to suggest eating disorder professionals are not biased against veganism, it has important clinical practice implications, particularly when exploring motivations for adopting a vegan diet (health, weight loss, environmental or animal welfare concerns) in patients with eating disorders. Implications for further research are provided.

To identify the outcomes of patients in the obstetric screening clinic. In 2 years, 180 women were referred by midwives to a clinic run by specialist community perinatal team. ‘Ultra-high risk’ patients were identified. There were four outcome measures predicated on level of care.

Of those referred, 69 women were managed in primary care/generic community mental health teams, 90 by specialist perinatal team and 21 did not attend; 23 women were ultra-high risk. The majority of the ultra-high risk patients required treatment with specialist teams.

Specialist community perinatal screening clinics are successful at identifying those at high risk of developing mental health problems. Ultra-high risk women needed a higher level of service. High morbidity in women who fail to attend the services demands more assertive follow-up. Cumulative personal and family history is an important risk factor.

The purpose of this paper is to review current evidence and opinion with regard to the long-term treatment of unipolar depression. The method employed was a Psychlit search using the search items long-term, maintenance, treatment and depression.

The search yielded 91 articles.

Unipolar depression is frequently recurrent and sometimes a chronic illness. The paper identifies those at greatest risk of recurrence. It goes on to examine strategies to prevent relapse and for prophylactic treatment. It concludes that continuation treatment should be sustained at full dose for 4–6 months after full remission of symptoms. Where depression is highly recurrent the acute phase dose should be maintained in the long-term.

In recent years, the role of non-medical community mental health team (CMHT) clinicians has widened to include new patient assessments. It is unclear whether all professionals have the skills and confidence to undertake these to a high quality. This project investigated which professionals are doing new assessments, evaluated their quality and explored the assessors' unmet training needs. The study was based on the data extracted from electronic notes and a complete audit cycle in South Oxfordshire Older Adults CMHT; this was a cross-sectional study across Oxfordshire older adults services.

Most new assessments (72.4%) were done by non-medical clinicians; the majority were missing important information, especially relating to medications and risk assessment. Only 75% of assessors felt at least ‘partially confident’ to do assessments and found them stressful, with 86% keen to undertake further training.

Simple measures such as an assessment form, a programme of training seminars and adequate supervision, delivered to all CMHT clinicians, can ensure high-quality assessment in diverse clinical environments.

In three localities in a mental health trust in England, an enhanced bed management team was established to improve patient flow and reduce out-of-area placements. Trusted assessments were provided to support risk management and conflict resolution. Two measures of flow were compared before and after the team was established.

The trusted assessment recommendation was for discharge in 70% of cases. The number of out-of-area placements was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), saving £616 876 over a 12-month period. Patient flow was significantly improved in one of the three localities as measured by patients/bed/6-month period (P < 0.05). In one of the other localities increased use of trusted assessment input and reduced numbers of patients being transferred in are recommended to improve flow.

Mental health trusts should consider the establishment of an enhanced bed management team, including trusted assessment, as a safe and cost-effective approach to improving patient flow and reducing the need for out-of-area placement.