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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.
COVID-19 and intellectual disability/autism spectrum disorder with high and very high support needs: issues of physical and mental vulnerability
- Authors:
- BUONAGURO Elisabetta F., BERTELLI Marco O.
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 15(1), 2021, pp.8-19.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The COVID-19 outbreak has profoundly plagued the world, and current health efforts are focused on providing prevention and ensuring access to intensive services for people with the most severe symptomatology. Many reports have already described substantial psychological distress in the general population. Nevertheless, disasters tend to affect vulnerable subjects disproportionately, and individuals with intellectual disabilities/autism spectrum disorder with high and very high support needs (PwID/ASD-HSN) seem to be counted among the hardest hit populations. The present paper aims to provide a comprehensive discussion and evaluation of COVID-19 related issues specific to PwID/ASD-HSN. Design/methodology/approach: Commentary on available literature and analysis of new preliminary data on PwID/ASD-HSN’s physical and psychic vulnerability factors. This knowledge is fundamental to provide families and caregivers special advice to counteract the risks associated with the current pandemic. Findings: PwID/ASD-HSN represent one of the most vulnerable population to the COVID-19 outbreak and the associated factors of mental distress for several reasons, including multimorbidity, low levels of health literacy, difficulties to understand and communicate, reliance on other people for care, low compliance with complex hygiene rules, the strong need of routine/sameness and low adaptive skills. Originality/value: In the present work, the authors analyze the specific factors of physical and mental vulnerability in PwID/ASD-HSN, corroborating the dissertation with a discussion on the first data published worldwide and with preliminary data collected on the Italian territory for what concerns prevalence rates of COVID-19 and complications in persons with PwID/ASD-HSN and signs and symptoms of psychic distress during the mass quarantine period. (Edited publisher abstract)
The extension of a set of needs-led mental health clusters to accommodate people accessing UK intellectual disability health services
- Authors:
- PAINTER Jon, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 27(2), 2018, pp.103-111.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: A development of a needs-led mental health classification system based on the Health of the National Outcome Scales (HoNOS) has previously been developed. Aims: To extend the needs-based mental health (MH) clusters to accommodate the additional needs of people accessing UK intellectual disabilities health services. Method: Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed on assessment data from 18 National Health Service (NHS) provider organisations. The statistical results were clinically shaped through multi-disciplinary workshops. The resulting clusters were combined with six independently rated measures for a second data collection exercise. Based on these data, refinements were made before performing internal and external validity checks.Results: Eight additional clusters for people with health needs associated with their intellectual disabilities were produced. Three described primarily physical health (PH) needs, four described needs arising from behaviours which challenged (with/without autism) whilst one described people with generally low needs. Together, these covered 83.4% of cases with only a 10% overlap. The clusters were replicable and had clinical utility and validity. Conclusions: It was possible to extend the needs-led mental health classification system to capture the additional needs of people accessing UK intellectual disability services. (Edited publisher abstract)
Impact of mid-life symptoms of alcoholism on the health and wellbeing of aging parents of adults with disabilities
- Authors:
- GHOSHA Subharati, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 59(1), 2016, pp.56-72.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The study examined the effect of adult children’s disability on parents’ physical health in later life and the extent to which parents’ symptoms of alcoholism in mid-life moderates the link between children’s disability and later life parental health. Analyses are based on data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. The analytic sample included parents of children with developmental disabilities (n = 145) or mental health problems (n = 200) and 2,432 parents of unaffected children. The results showed that the negative health consequences in later life of having a child with a developmental disability were greater for those who showed more symptoms of alcoholism in mid-life. However, symptoms of alcoholism in mid-life did not significantly moderate the impact of an adult child’s mental health problems on parents’ later life physical health. The findings suggest a potential area where gerontological social workers could intervene, given the negative impact of symptoms of alcoholism on the health of ageing parents of children with a disability who may be significantly more susceptible to the negative health impacts of alcohol compared to their younger counterparts. (Edited publisher abstract)
Avoiding delays in diagnosis: the importance of proactive liaison and education of staff in the general hospital
- Authors:
- WALDER Anna, GREEN Robert, SONI Sujata
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 8(6), 2014, pp.399-402.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the difficulties patients with intellectual disabilities face when they present to a general hospital with ambiguous symptoms and highlights the importance of adequate training for general staff in caring for people with learning disabilities. Design/methodology/approach: The authors describe the pathway of a person with a learning disability and mental health problems from A&E, through a general hospital, to discharge and the problems encountered in terms of diagnostic clarity and subsequent treatment. Findings: Delay in recognising a psychiatric cause for his symptoms and wrongly attributing his symptoms to his learning disability may have led to a protracted admission and invasive tests. Originality/value: Education of healthcare professionals and proactive liaison work can help improve outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities when they are admitted to generic services. (Publisher abstract)
An inpatient Healthy Living Group
- Authors:
- ROSE Lexy, BREEN Olivia, WEBB Zillah
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 8(2), 2014, pp.128-137.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the usefulness of a Healthy Living Group (HLG) for individuals with learning disabilities and mental health problems in an inpatient setting. Design/methodology/approach: Seven sessions were developed. Each session focussed on a different aspect of healthy living, and used psychoeducation and practical skill building to enable individuals to create personalised healthy living plans. Quantitative post-intervention measures and a qualitative focus group were used to determine group participants’ learning and enjoyment. Findings: Principles about healthy living were successfully taught in an enjoyable way to individuals with learning disabilities. Factors that enhanced learning and those that created barriers to developing healthy living plans are explored. Practical implications: Individuals with learning disabilities and mental health problems can be supported to develop personalised healthy living plans. Recommendations for further adaptations to the group structure are made, in order to enable others to run successful groups. Originality/value: The HLG is the first of its kind to be developed for individuals with learning disabilities. (Edited publisher abstract)
Reporting of health problems and pain by adults with an intellectual disability and by their carers
- Authors:
- TURK Vicky, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 25(2), March 2012, pp.155-165.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Recent years have seen increased efforts to identify and overcome the barriers that people with intellectual disability can experience when accessing health care. Information about the health of people with ID is usually obtained from professionals and carers. This study looked at information provided by people with ID themselves and the difference between self-reports and carer’s information. The data analysed was baseline health information for 98 participants with ID taking part in a RCT and living in south east London. Less than three quarters of participants said they had someone to talk to about their health (68/93). Pain was reported by 67% (66/98) with 18% (17/95) saying they did not tell anyone when in pain, and 27% (26/97) they did not take pain relief medication. Matched carer data for 59 participants revealed a similar number of health problems to those reported by participants when prompted with specific problems. Participants reported more headaches and allergies, but fewer weight problems than their carers. Concordance was poor for many problems. The authors conclude that adults with ID can report health problems, although many chose not to. The information provided on pain and mental health suggests that their some of their needs may be going unrecognised.
Improving health and lives: the Learning Disabilities Public Health Observatory
- Authors:
- EMERSON Eric, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 6(1), 2012, pp.26-32.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
People with intellectual disabilities experience significant health inequalities. This paper describes an innovative approach to helping English local agencies make the best use of available information in order to commission services that may reduce these inequalities. The authors describe the first 15 months of operation of a specialist national public health observatory for intellectual disability. The Learning Disabilities Public Health Observatory (LDPHO) was established in April 2010. It is organisationally based within the North East Public Health Observatory. The authors provide a narrative account of the aims and achievements of the service. Since its inception the observatory has: made available to those involved in commissioning health and social care services, a wealth of information on the health needs of people with intellectual disabilities; identified specific improvements that could viably be made to increase the quality of future information; and begun working with local agencies to support them in making the best use of the available information.
Promoting physical well-being in mental health and learning disabilities: a training resource in reducing physical health inequalities
- Authors:
- BOLTON Anne, DWYER Tony, HARDCASTLE Mark
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 130p., CD ROM
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
A pack designed to help practitioners plan, set up and run their own community healthy living group for people with mental health problems or learning disabilities. The resource was developed by the Slough Assertive Outreach Team, who drew on their experience of running a successful community healthly living group and Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. After placing the programme in context, the pack includes details how to carry out the training, 30 session plans and a section of accompanying resources. The pack includes handouts, facilitator guides, quizzes, healthy recipes, websites, physical exercises, relaxation and yoga exercises. The accompanying CD contains a healthy living folder; an exercise pack; resources and handouts; and additional information
Physical health in mental health: final report of a scoping group
- Author:
- ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 70p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This is the final report of a scoping group that aimed to explore a range of issues concerning the general health of people with mental health problems with a view to making recommendations to the Council of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The report begins by introducing the scoping group, its key recommendations and an overview of physical health in mental health care. Part two looks at the physical health standards in place in four services: West London Mental Health Trust; psychiatry of intellectual disability; forensic psychiatric services; children and young people with mental health problems. Part three describes examples of interventions in physical healthcare. These include psychotropic prescribing; promoting healthy lifestyles in psychiatric services; an action plan to improve the physical health of patients in psychiatric services.