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Psychosocial factors affecting adults with intellectual disabilities with psychiatric disorders in Cali, Colombia
- Authors:
- VERDUGO Miguel Angel, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 6(3), September 2009, pp.173-179.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The objective of this study was to describe the psychosocial factors associated with the comorbidity between intellectual disability (ID) and psychiatric disorder of adults in the city of Cali, Colombia. Subjects were 50 dyads consisting of a carer and a person with ID. The Caregivers Questionnaire and the Integral Quality of Life Scale were adapted for use in the study. The analysis of information was based on three factors: person, family, and society. In the case of the personal factor, an adequate level of physical well-being and a good level of self-care were found in more than 60% of the adults with dual diagnosis, good adherence to treatment in 82%, and medium satisfaction in the individual-context relationship in 54%. With regard to the family factor, a high level of satisfaction of needs (84%) was found. Good family functioning was observed in 86%, while family participation in rehabilitation was reported to be between moderate and deficient in 60% of the cases. With respect to the social factor, cases of support between moderate and deficient were found in 68%, and a regular inclusion was observed in 48%. The authors conclude that the family functioning aspect appeared as the major protective factor, while the inclusion and social support were shown as the main risk factors.
Exploring perceptions of family relationships by individuals with intellectual disability and psychiatric disorders
- Authors:
- WIDMER Eric D., KEMPF-CONSTANTIN Nadine L., CARMINATI Giuliana Galli
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 91(4), October 2010, pp.378-384.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
This article explores the ways in which individuals with intellectual disability (ID) and psychiatric disorders perceive their family relationships compared with the perceptions of those relationships by family members. The study used social network methods as it focused on perceptions of a large number of family relationships of individuals with ID rather than specific family dyads. The participants were 17 individuals with mild ID and psychiatric disorders who were patients at the University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland. Each participant was interviewed and completed the Family Network questionnaire. The first family member that they cited was also interviewed. A third group, a comparison nonclinical group of 17 individuals, matched for age and sex with the clinical group were also interviewed. The results showed that the clinical group, compared with comparison nonclinical individuals, perceived their family as presenting less emotional support and fewer influential relationships, but the same number of conflict relationships. For the most part, the interviews with family members confirmed these results, confirming that the patients had a very limited set of supportive relationships. However, there were some significant differences in the perceptions between patients and their family members, with family members perceiving additional relationships that the patient did not perceive. The importance of these findings for research on family relationships of individuals with ID is discussed.
Family expectations and transition experiences for young adults with severe disabilities: does syndrome matter?
- Authors:
- BLACHER Jan, KRAEMER Bonnie R, HOWELL Erica J.
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, 4(1), March 2010, pp.3-16.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This study examines the differential impact of young adult diagnosis on families during the period of transition from school to adult life. Two hundred and forty six parents of young adults with severe learning disability, aged 18 to 26 years, participated. The young adults were classified into four diagnostic groups: 30 for autism; 68 for Down's syndrome; 95 for cerebral palsy; and 3 to an undifferentiated learning disability group. The parents were asked questions relating to their expectations of their offspring’s transition to living and working environments post high school, and the parental satisfaction and worries were also assessed. The findings showed that more community expectations of work for young adults with Down's syndrome, and more restrictive expectations for young adults with autism, including more expectations that young adults with autism would move out of the family home into a residential environment. Parents of young adults with autism also worried significantly more about various aspects of transition than other parent groups.
Services for young people with learning disabilities and mental health needs from South Asian communities
- Authors:
- RAGHAVAN Raghu, WASEEM Fozia
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, 1(3), September 2007, pp.27-31.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Children and young people with learning disabilities and mental health problems from black and minority ethnic communities face barriers in accessing services. This article describes a mapping of services used by young people with learning disabilities and mental health problems from Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities in Bradford city. Overall the participants accessed primary health care services through their GPs, had contact with social services for support and benefits and the voluntary sector for culturally appropriate services. Most participants did not access statutory child or adult mental health services, or professionals such as psychologists or behaviour nurse specialists. Families reported key barriers such as lack of awareness of services, language difficulties in communication and lack of culturally sensitive services.
Reflections: life stories, quotes, poems and snapshots from people with support needs
- Author:
- FAMILY MOSAIC
- Publisher:
- Family Mosaic
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 40p.
- Place of publication:
- Pitsea
This collection of ‘Life Stories’ has been pulled together in this booklet, the people writing them have a range of different backgrounds, different needs and abilities including young people leaving care, adults with learning difficulties, adults with mental health problems, adults with acquired brain injuries, vulnerable single homeless and vulnerable families. Some of the stories are uplifting, some are sad but all of them show the person behind the ‘label’.
Feeling down: improving the mental health of people with learning disabilities.
- Author:
- BURKE Christine-Koulla
- Publisher:
- Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 36
- Place of publication:
- London
This report is aims to raise awareness among policy makers, commissioners and health and social care services and promote positive mental health of people with learning disabilities. It draws on a literature review, a national survey and focus groups, and real life case studies. The report begins by providing the context of the mental health needs of people with learning disabilities, drawing on the findings of a literature review. It then presents the results from a national survey and focus groups which look at the experiences of people with learning disabilities, their families, friends and staff when accessing support for their mental well-being. The final sections of the report provide recommendations for improving the mental health of people with learning disabilities. The report found that people with learning disabilities experience high levels of mental health problems. It also found that access to mental health services, assessment and treatment for this group needs to be improved. (Edited publisher abstract)
Neglected children and their families
- Author:
- STEVENSON Olive
- Publisher:
- Blackwell
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 182p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
- Edition:
- 2nd ed.
Those who work with children and young people have a responsibility to safeguard and promote their welfare. Recognizing and detecting signs of emotional abuse and neglect is an important responsibility as well as a key skill. As well as ensuring that children and young people are free from harm, it is equally important to ensure their well-being and quality of life. This new edition is updated throughout to include the latest policy and research developments, and expanded to include greater consideration of topics such as the impact of parental mental health, substance abuse and alcoholism on parental capacity and the issue of parents with learning disabilities. Providing clear guidelines for the assessment and intervention of child neglect, Neglected Children and Their Families is an invaluable resource for all those studying and working in childcare, including social workers, health visitors and child nurses.
Developing a mental health guide for families and carers of people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- GRATSA Anastasia, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 20(2), March 2007, pp.77-86.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Although there is already information available about caring for someone with a mental health problem, there is very little written for families and carers of people with intellectual disabilities. This paper describes the development of a Guide as such a resource. The consultation stage involved interviews and focus groups with families, service users and paid carers (n = 20) to highlight their needs and preferred format. Additional carers (n = 12) completed structured questionnaires to evaluate the Guide. The initial consultation showed that an easily accessible and user-friendly information resource was needed. The evaluation showed that family carers were satisfied with the Guide, finding it easy to read and covering most of the information required. However, they did highlight areas that needed further detail. The involvement of carers in the development of such resources is essential, emphasizing the benefit of carers' knowledge and experience to professionals.
The impact of person centred planning
- Authors:
- ROBERTSON Janet, et al
- Publisher:
- Lancaster University. Institute for Health Research
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 125p.
- Place of publication:
- Lancaster
The initial results show that person centred planning led to positive changes for individuals. Some changes were short-lived, but some continued beyond the end of the project. People experienced ongoing positive changes in the size of their social networks, their circle of friends, their presence in the community and the extent and range of their daytime activities. Changes were also seen in people’s contact with their families and the amount of choice available to them, but these improvements were not sustained. People with a plan were more likely to have access to some advocacy and health services. Some negative changes were reported in relation to people’s emotional, behavioural and health problems. These findings are not entirely surprising given that some people find change stressful; that new environments are more likely to seem risky (whether they really are or not); and that person centred planning tends to highlight existing health problems and get help with them. The overall message is that person centred planning was beneficial for people taking part in the study. It is also effective as a policy in promoting community involvement, changing daytime activities, extending contacts with families and friends, and improving choice for people with learning disabilities.
Guide to mental health for families and carers of people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- HOLT Geraldine, et al
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 240p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This guide outlines a range of signs and symptoms of mental health problems that can affect people with intellectual disabilities. The guide explains why mental health problems develop, and advises on what can be done to help people with intellectual disabilities and carers themselves. With chapters on specific disabilities such as autism and epilepsy, the authors cover topics such as: treatment and interventions for mental health problems; getting the best services and understanding policy around mental health and intellectual disabilities; legal issues, for example, what it means to ‘give consent’ ; and carers’ needs and support for carers.