Study highlights importance of bonding between young mental health patients and nurses

The relationships between young mental health patients and the nurses looking after them is an overlooked treatment in its own right, according to new research. The qualitative study of eight young people, eight family members and eight nursing staff by psychologists from The University of Manchester and Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust is published in high profile journal PLOS ONE. The professional connection between a clinician known as a therapeutic relationship - can help improve outcomes for mental health patients say the research team. Progress in psychotherapy and mental health care in general has previously been shown to strongly link to the therapeutic relationship between clinical professionals and service users. However, the study highlights how nursing staff sometimes do not have the time or support to develop therapeutic relationships with their patients. To achieve that, the researchers urge the employment of adequate staff numbers, focused training and time in cultivating connections between nursing staff and their patients. "This research underlines the established point that therapeutic relationships between patients and staff are just as important as the specific treatment they are receiving, if not more so," said Dr Sam Hartley, an honorary clinical lecturer at The University of Manchester and Principal Clinical Psychologist with Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.