Dr. Suzanne Perraud

My extensive background in the nursing care of psychiatric patients has provided me with an interest in the development of novel methods to help reduce occurrences of relapse or return to inpatient or day hospital care in depressed inpatients. My current research involves the validation and psychometric testing of a measure designed to predict functional levels, depression severity, and return to treatment in depressed inpatients. The measure, developed as part of my dissertation research, is the Depression Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (DCSES).

Member, Nominating Committee, Midwest Nursing Research Society. 2002-2003
Corresponding Secretary, Gamma Phi Chapter Sigma Theta Tau. 2001-2003
Chair, Research Committee, Gamma Phi Chapter Sigma Theta Tau. 2000-2001
Chair, Nominating Committee Gamma Phi Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau. 1998-1999
Secretary, Illinois Nurses Association Continuing Education Commission, 1989-1994

I am currently working on a proposal that will further test the DCSES to determine whether those outcomes that were predicted at six weeks after discharge might also be predicted at six months after discharge. With this knowledge we will have the means during an inpatient hospitalization to identify those patients who will have difficulty six weeks to six months after treatment. Since the DCSES was designed to provide information as to the specific areas of difficulty to target for each patient, once it is validated cognitive-behavioral treatment protocols that focus on those areas can be developed and tested.