Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Going mad?: understanding mental illness
- Authors:
- CORRY Michael, TUBRIDY Aine
- Publisher:
- Newleaf
- Publication year:
- 2001
- Pagination:
- 163p.
- Place of publication:
- Dublin
One of the most alarming experiences has to be losing control over one's thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Everyone knows that if they lose control over the simple things, they are no longer running their lives. The fear of mental illness is not exclusive to high levels of anxiety and panic, although it is the commonest source. There are many symptoms that terrify people simply because they can't be explained - flashbacks to traumatic incidents, panic attacks, inability to concentrate or sleep. Psychological distress has a stigma that physical disease doesn't share. Well meaning suggestions are laced with judgement. Those who can't pull themselves together are thought spineless, lazy or weak. In this climate of achievement, success and money, who wants to employ someone who has had a 'nervous breakdown'? In this book, the authors chart the course of psychological distress from the minor to the major, clearly documenting what happens and what doesn't. They aim to make mental illness understandable and inseparable from the experience of being human. And the question the attitude and behaviour of the medical profession towards it.
Symptoms of depression and anxiety among a sample of South African patients living with HIV
- Authors:
- KAGEE Ashraf, MARTIN Lindi
- Journal article citation:
- AIDS Care, 22(2), February 2010, pp.159-165.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Little systematic epidemiological research has been conducted on the extent of psychiatric disorders among South African patients in general, and among patients living with HIV in particular – yet disorders such as depression and anxiety appear to be common with patients suffering from HIV. This study reports on a survey conducted among 85 patients receiving treatment at three HIV clinics in the Western Cape. Participants completed the Hopkins Symptom Checklist and the Beck Depression Inventory - both self-report instruments designed to measure mood disorder. The mean score of the sample on the Hopkins Symptom Checklist was 47.54, which was significantly different from the commonly used cut-off-point of 44 for clinically significant distress; 52.9% of the sample scored in the elevated range on this measure. On the Beck Depression Inventory, 37.6% of the sample fell in or above the normal range for depression. The results suggest that a considerable number of the sample may experience psychiatric difficulty, for which they may not be receiving treatment.
Masking the problem
- Author:
- FANTI Graham
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 29.4.93, 1993, p.17.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
As a psycho-active drug alcohol can create depression, anxiety, confusion and psychoses; a primary cause of mental health difficulties, rather than a symptom of depression. Describes the link between alcohol and mental illness.
Anxiety disorders: QS53
- Author:
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND CARE EXCELLENCE
- Publisher:
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
This quality standard covers the identification and management of anxiety disorders in primary, secondary and community care for children, young people and adults. These include generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder. The standard sets out the following four quality statements: people with a suspected anxiety disorder receive an assessment that identifies whether they have a specific anxiety disorder, the severity of symptoms and associated functional impairment; people with an anxiety disorder are offered evidence-based psychological interventions; they are not prescribed benzodiazepines or antipsychotics unless specifically indicated; and people receiving treatment for an anxiety disorder have their response to treatment recorded at each treatment session. (Edited publisher abstract)
What does a 'transdiagnostic' approach have to offer the treatment of anxiety disorders?
- Authors:
- MCMANUS Freda, SHAFRAN Roz, COOPER Zafra
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 49(4), November 2010, pp.491-505.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aim of this study was to review the rationale for transdiagnostic approaches to the understanding and treatment of anxiety disorders. The authors suggest that a transdiagnostic approach to treating anxiety disorders may help to address two important challenges in this area: the development of treatments for patients with more than one coexisting anxiety disorder, and ensuring that evidence-based treatments are effectively applied in routine clinical settings. A literature search was undertaken and a small number of relevant papers were identified and reviewed. The article discusses the prevalence of multiple co-occurring anxiety disorders, treating multiple coexisting anxiety disorders, the theory and practice of transdiagnostic approaches to anxiety disorders, and the advantages of transdiagnostic treatment. The authors conclude that transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural approaches have potential benefits, particularly in striking a balance between completely idiosyncratic formulations and diagnosis-driven treatments of anxiety disorders, but that there is a need for further research.
Anxiety disorders in dementia sufferers
- Authors:
- BALLARD Clive, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 11(11), November 1996, pp.987-990.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
One hundred and fifty-eight consecutive patients attending a university memory clinic were assessed using variety of standardized instruments. Dementia was diagnosed according to DSM-III-R criteria. One hundred and nine patients had DSM-II-R dementia. None of the cognitive or demographic variables were significantly associated with the presence of anxiety symptoms. Three main categories of anxiety symptoms were evident - anxiety related to depression, anxiety related to psychosis and anxiety to interpersonal situations.
Quality of diagnosis and treatment plans after using the ‘diagnostic guideline for anxiety and challenging behaviours’ in people with intellectual disabilities: a comparative multiple case study design
- Authors:
- PRUIJSSERS Addy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 29(4), 2016, pp.305-316.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: People with intellectual disabilities often have a multitude of concurrent problems due to the combination of cognitive impairments, psychiatric disorders (particularly anxiety) and related challenging behaviours. Diagnoses in people with intellectual disabilities are complicated. This study evaluates the quality of the diagnoses and treatment plans after using a guideline that was developed to support professionals in their diagnostic tasks. Materials and Methods: A comparative multiple case study with an experimental and control condition, applying deductive analyses of diagnoses and treatment plans. Results: The analyses revealed that the number of diagnostic statements and planned treatment actions in the experimental group was significantly larger and more differentiated than in the control condition. In the control group, consequential harm and protective factors were hardly mentioned in diagnoses and treatment plans. Conclusions: Working with the ‘Diagnostic Guideline for Anxiety and CB’ leads to improved diagnoses and treatment plans compared with care as usual. (Publisher abstract)
CBT and the challenge of primary care: developing effective, efficient, equitable, acceptable and accessible services for common mental health problems
- Author:
- WHITE Jim
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 7(1), August 2008, pp.32-41.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Recent guidelines suggest that cognitive behavioural therapy has a pivotal role to play in the treatment of common mental health problems. There is a danger that we ask for 'more of the same' instead of looking at all the current limitations preventing individuals from accessing appropriate help. This paper suggests that progress in primary care mental health has been much more limited than mental health workers and, in particular, researchers often acknowledge. It looks at the major obstacles barring the way to the development of services that could meet the needs of the very large number of people in our communities with common mental health problems.
Mental health of US Gulf War veterans 10 years after the war
- Authors:
- TOOMEY Rosemary, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 190(5), May 2007, pp.385-393.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Gulf War veterans reported multiple psychological symptoms immediately after the war; the temporal course of these symptoms remains unclear. The aim was to assess the prevalence of war-era onset mental disorders in US veterans deployed to the Gulf War and in non-deployed veterans 10 years after the war. Mental disorders were diagnosed using structured clinical interviews. Standard questionnaires assessed symptoms and quality of life. Gulf War-era onset mental disorders were more prevalent in deployed veterans (18.1%, n=1061) compared with non-deployed veterans (8.9%, n=1128). The prevalence of depression and anxiety declined 10 years later in both groups, but remained higher in the deployed group, who also reported more symptoms and a lower quality of life than the non-deployed group. Remission of depression may be related to the presence of comorbid psychiatric disorders and level of education. Remission of anxiety was related to treatment with medication. Gulf War deployment was associated with an increased prevalence of mental disorders, psychological symptoms and a lower quality of life beginning during the war and persisting at a lower rate 10 years later.
Detection of depression and anxiety disorders by home care nurses
- Authors:
- PREVILLE M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 8(5), September 2004, pp.400-409.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Several studies have reported that psychiatric disorders, mainly depression and anxiety disorders, were masked and undiagnosed among older adults, particularly frail elderly. This phenomenon could have a significant impact on elderly quality of life. In this study, we assessed the utility of three measures for detecting mental health disorders among frail elderly receiving home care services: (1) the PRIME-MD; (2) a standard psychological distress measure (PDI-29), and (3) the health care case manager'sa priori judgment on the subject'smental health status. Results obtained by home care nurses were compared to those obtained by clinical psychologists using a structured diagnostic interview (SCID for DSM-IV). The study was conducted in two community health service centres. During the study'speriod, all patients in the health care workers' caseload without cognitive impairment and not reporting significant stressful life events during the six-week period preceding the interview (n = 315) were asked to participate in the study. Results showed that 42.9% of the volunteers that agreed to meet a psychologist at home (n = 177) had a current SCID-IV diagnosis. The specificity of the PRIME-MD test performed by nurses was 83.8% and its sensitivity was 41.7%. The correct classification rate was 66.7%. Results indicated that the PDI-29 items showed better performance characteristics than the PRIME-MD in identifying current cases. The specificity of the PDI-29 was 59.0% and its sensitivity was 73.6%. The PRIME-MD 1000 study to help physicians in primary care clinics, could be less appropriate than the PDI-29 when used by home care nurses in identifying undiagnosed mental health disorders in frail older adults living at home. Moreover, this study showed that the health care case manager'sa priori judgment on the care receiver'smental health status is not sufficient in identifying frail elderly mental health services needs. A two-stage screening procedure is proposed to help home care nurses.