Variables and designs in psychiatric/mental health nursing research articles published from 1982 to 1992

Research designs and variables of interest were classified in 194 mental health psychiatric articles published between 1982 and 1992. Common variables only could be identified in 100 articles and independent and dependent variables were identified in the remaining 94 articles. The majority of research designs were descriptive. The variables pertained to diverse interests from nurse and patient perspectives, specifically including patients' behavioural responses to illness, care and caregivers. These variables were then compared by the writers to the current research foci as identified in the recent literature. As listed, these are: biological psychiatry; working with the chronically and persistently mentally ill; shifting of care to the community; working with consumers; and outcome research. There is some link between research published between 1982 and 1992 and current trends in design and a few variables of interest. However, current researchers in mental health psychiatric nursing need to change foci and their relationships with other disciplines to ensure relevancy in their research programmes.