Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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A systematic examination of the nature and content of vignettes in schizophrenia research
- Authors:
- ALDERSEY Heather Michelle, HUYNH Doan Chinh, WHITLEY Rob
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 25(3), 2016, pp.189-196.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: Vignettes are often used in psychiatric research, yet there are few systematic studies on their content, creation, and use. Aims: This article describes a study of: (a) how researchers create vignettes in research on schizophrenia and (b) how these vignettes portray individuals with schizophrenia. Method: The authors conducted a systematic search of the PubMed database for articles between 2008 and 2012 that used vignettes to measure attitudes about schizophrenia. They analysed the identified vignettes using a tool developed in reference to DSM criteria. Results: Within the vignettes, 98% of individuals portrayed demonstrated delusions, 91% demonstrated hallucinations and 29% demonstrated disorganised speech. The majority of vignettes portrayed individuals under 25 years and when both genders were not depicted, researchers chose to depict men much more frequently than women (41% vs. 8%). A majority of articles did not use original vignettes (55%), and many of the articles (53%) contained vignettes created by one team of researchers. Most vignettes did not include positive language or recovery-oriented information. Conclusions: This study highlights a need for critical thought on vignette development and utilisation, especially as psychiatry is now moving towards a recovery-based understanding of mental illness. (Edited publisher abstract)
A survey of psychiatrists' attitudes toward treatment guidelines
- Authors:
- HEALY Daniel J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 40(2), April 2004, pp.177-184.
- Publisher:
- Springer
The authors developed a survey to look at psychiatrists' attitudes toward psychotropic prescribing guidelines, specifically the Texas Medication Algorithm Project (TMAP) algorithms. The 22-page survey was distributed to 24 psychiatrists working in 4 CMHC's; 13 completed the survey. 90% agreed that guidelines should be general and flexible. The majority also agreed that guidelines should define how to measure response to a specific agent; fewer agreed guidelines should specify dosage, side effect management, or augmentation strategies. Psychiatrists were familiar with TMAP; none referred to it in their practice. In spite of this, psychiatrists' medication preferences were similar to those suggested by guidelines.
Voices of reason, voices of insanity: studies of verbal hallucinations
- Authors:
- LEUDAR Ivan, THOMAS Philip
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Publication year:
- 2000
- Pagination:
- 235p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Discusses the experience of auditory hallucinations, through six case histories of historical and modern individuals. Argues that what was once perceived as a sign of virtue is now seen as a sign of insanity. Covers issues such as philosophical concepts of the self, contemporary psychiatric views, therapeutic work with voice hearers, and media treatment of mental illness.
Newspaper coverage of psychiatric and physical illness
- Author:
- LAWRIE Stephen M.
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatric Bulletin, 24(3), March 2000, pp.104-106.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
This study compares how newspapers cover psychiatric and physical illness. Psychiatry, psychiatrists and particularly psychiatric patients tend to be represented negatively in the newspapers. Psychiatrists should strive to influence the news agenda by proactively reporting positive messages, such as treatment advances.
Personal consequences of the diagnosis of schizophrenia: a preliminary report from the inquiry into the schizophrenia label
- Authors:
- THOMAS Philip, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 17(3), 2013, pp.135-139.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose – The purpose of this survey was to describe the impact of the diagnosis of schizophrenia on the lives of people who receive the diagnosis. Design/methodology/approach – The authors designed a questionnaire to investigate attitudes to and experiences of the diagnosis of schizophrenia. After a pilot study, they made the questionnaire available online and, through a network of service user and other organisations, solicited responses. Findings – Of the 470 responses, 27.4 per cent were from service users. Content analysis of their responses revealed three main categories: concern with the consequences of the diagnosis and its negative impact on their lives, the life contexts of individuals before receiving the diagnosis, and concerns with medication and treatment. This paper deals with the first two. Research limitations/implications – It is impossible to generalise the results of this survey because respondents self-selected, and thus might be expected to have strong feelings against (or for) the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Practical implications – The diagnosis of schizophrenia in this sample had devastating negative implications. It was experienced as harmful and stigmatising. Very few people understood their experiences as a biomedical disorder. Social implications – A gulf exists between the experiences of people diagnosed with schizophrenia and the concerns of academics and others currently involved in debates about the merits of different systems of diagnosis. Originality/value – This survey is valuable because it draws attention to experiences of diagnosis that are easily lost in the storm of academic controversies about diagnosis in psychiatry. (Publisher abstract)
Anti-stigma films and medical students’ attitudes towards mental illness and psychiatry: randomised controlled trial
- Authors:
- KERBY Jane, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatric Bulletin, 32(9), September 2008, pp.345-349.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
Explores the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial of the effects of two anti-stigma films on medical students’ attitudes to serious mental illness and psychiatry. Attitudes to serious mental illness, perceived dangerousness, social distance and psychiatry, were measured before and after watching the films and at 8 weeks. Intervention films significantly improved general attitudes to serious mental illness and social distance, with a trend towards reducing perceived dangerousness. These effects appeared to attenuate during the students’ clinical placements, suggesting a possible interaction with their clinical experiences. Results suggest both that it may be possible to conduct a substantive trial of the effects of the intervention films on a larger cohort of medical students and that the films may be effective in reducing stigmatising attitudes in medical students.
Professional differences in attitudes toward and utilization of psychiatric recovery
- Authors:
- HARDIMAN Eric R., HODGES John Q.
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 89(2), April 2008, pp.220-227.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
This article examines mental health provider attitudes toward and utilisation of psychiatric recovery concepts in practice settings. Comparisons are made between providers from three major professional disciplines (social work, psychology, and psychiatry) surveyed using a national random sample of 301 mental health providers. Findings indicate that although there is familiarity with recovery-based principles among providers, and high reported belief in the recovery model, actual utilization of recovery content in practice settings remains mixed. Significant differences between disciplines suggest that psychologists may be less familiar with the recovery model, less likely to see it as a feasible approach for their caseloads, and less likely to emphasize it as a primary goal when working with consumers. Implications for practitioners, policymakers, and planners are provided.
Psychiatrists’ views and experiences of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003
- Authors:
- CARSWELL Christine, DONALDSON Andrew, BROWN Keith
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatric Bulletin, 31(3), March 2007, pp.83-85.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
This study assesses the views and experiences of psychiatrists of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. A postal questionnaire was sent to 340 consultant psychiatrists and specialist registrars throughout Scotland. A response rate of 76% was achieved (n=257); 31 respondents (12%) felt patient care had improved with the new Act; 167 (65%) felt that informal patients’ care had suffered; 135 (52%) did not consider that tribunals were better than the previous court system; 151 (59%) felt that the out-of-hours workload had increased. An early indication of psychiatrists’ views and experiences of the new Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 is given.
Involving users in the development of mental health services: a study of psychiatrists' views
- Author:
- SUMMERS Alison
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 12(2), April 2003, pp.161-174.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Users involvement in mental health service development is increasing. Psychiatrists' attitudes are likely to affect the impact of this, but have not been systematically studied. Qualitative study based on interviews with 14 general psychiatrists in North-west England. Findings cover psychiatrists' expectations, hopes and concerns about user involvement. In general, psychiatrists talk about user involvement in terms of a scientific utilitarian frame of reference, and can be seen as clustering in three groups - optimists, rationalists and sceptics - according to the extent of their support. Expressed support seems likely to conceal a range of attitudes. Consideration is given to contextual and other influences on expressed views, and to potential stigmatization of service users. This study offers conceptual frameworks for further research and for work to develop user involvement. It suggests that overemphasis on a scientific paradigm may help to limit users' influence.
Culture and insight revisited
- Authors:
- SARAVANAN B., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 184(2), February 2004, pp.107-109.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Insight signifies a variety of ways in which a person's mental life approximates to that of others - in terms of what constitutes an illness, what beliefs are abnormal and what medical advice it is reasonable to follow. A number of shared assumptions allow these aspects to be incorporated in the mental model that psychiatrists have of what constitutes insight. This takes into account other clinical features, including history, course, culture, etc. In its own way, this is reliable and may even be valid. Hence, if a person could acknowledge some kind of non-visible change in his or her body or mind that affects the ability to function socially, and if he or she feels the need for restitution, then, irrespective of the attribution and the pathways of care that the person seeks, we could call this the presence of ‘insight’. Insight is not only at the interface of biological and psychosocial explanations in psychiatry but also at the interface of globalisation and related cultural transitions. Globalisation and colonisation in various guises introduce new social effects and spread biomedical systems of thought, including causal explanations.