Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Developing a theoretical understanding of therapy techniques: an illustrative analogue study
- Authors:
- FREEMAN Daniel, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 44(2), June 2005, pp.241-254.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
In psychological interventions, clients are often asked to review unhelpful beliefs. Surprisingly, there is no theoretical understanding of how beliefs are reviewed in therapy. Moreover, by understanding a therapeutic technique, potential interactions with symptom processes can be considered. An analogue study assessing the feasibility of researching therapy techniques is described, in which links between symptoms, reasoning style, and an experimental version of the cognitive therapy technique of belief evaluation are examined. Thirty individuals without psychiatric illness completed (i) dimensional measures of depression, anxiety, and delusions, (ii) a measure of confirmatory reasoning both before and after instruction in disconfirmatory reasoning, and (iii) a belief evaluation task. Compared with individuals with a confirmatory reasoning style, individuals with a disconfirmatory reasoning style were less hasty in their data gathering, considered a greater number of hypotheses during the task, had higher intellectual functioning, and had lower levels of depressive symptoms. Conversely, the individuals with the strongest confirmatory reasoning had higher levels of depression and preoccupation with delusional ideation. Successful adoption of disconfirmatory reasoning was associated with less hasty decision-making and lower levels of preoccupation and distress by delusional ideation. Individuals with a disconfirmatory reasoning style reported more evidence both for and against their beliefs in the belief evaluation task. In the context of clinical research indicating that individuals with delusions are hasty in their data gathering and have difficulty considering alternatives, a potential implication of the findings is that individuals with delusions may find belief evaluation in therapy.
Personality disorder: attitudes, understanding and treatment
- Authors:
- GREEN Barrie, WOOD Simon
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 16.11.04, 2004, pp.40-43.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
Looks at historical attitudes to personality disorder, sufferers from which are often stigmatised and dehumanised, and how understanding has developed in recent years, while legislation has failed to keep pace. Although often assumed to be untreatable, techniques that appear effective in helping such people integrate more successfully into society are summarised.
Somali refugees' perceptions of mental illness
- Authors:
- BETTMANN Joanna E., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 54(8), 2015, pp.738-757.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Research suggests that, among Somali refugees, rates of mental illness are high. Yet research shows Somalis underutilize mental health services. Understanding their perceptions of mental illness and its cures may help practitioners to design more effective treatments for this population. Thus, this pilot study investigated Somali refugees’ perceptions of mental illness and its treatments. Using purposive sampling, this qualitative study interviewed 20 Somali refugees living in the United States using a semi-structured interview guide. Qualitative analysis yielded participants’ perceptions of mental illness through their descriptions of physical symptoms accompanying mental illness, the stigma of mental illness, causes of mental illness, medical and non-medical treatments for mental illness, spirit possession causing mental illness, and the Quran as treatment for mental illness. Such information may help practitioners in the United States approach Somali clients in the most culturally coherent manner. (Edited publisher abstract)
The 10 most important debates surrounding dual diagnosis
- Author:
- HAMILTON Ian
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Dual Diagnosis, 7(3), 2014, pp.118-128.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This paper reflects on the progress made to date in advancing knowledge and understanding of the relationship between substance use and mental health. The author draws on the available literature, identifying key contributions from a variety of fields which have helped to shape the understanding of the issues in relation to dual diagnosis. The ten key themes are identified: the definition of the term dual diagnosis; prevelence and incidence; assessment; cognitive functioning; the reasons behind the relationship between substance misuse and mental health; contrasting perspectives; integrated care; identity and stigma; staff attitudes; and philosophy of treatment. (Edited publisher abstract)
Social workers' attitudes about psychotropic drug treatment with youths
- Authors:
- MOSES Tally, KIRK Stuart A.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work: A journal of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 51(3), July 2006, pp.211-222.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
There have been few studies about the views of practicing clinical social workers on the use of psychiatric drugs in the treatment of young people. This study, a cross-sectional survey of a national sample of social workers in the United States, examines their views about medications and the role they may play in the treatment of youths. Social workers included in the sample met the following criteria: i) had MSW degrees; ii) identified themselves as practicing in either mental health or school social work; and iii) reported that their primary function was clinical or direct practice. The findings suggest that social workers hold complex views that recognize both the potential benefits and harms of psychotropic medications, but overall they seem to support their use in a judicious manner.
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.
The Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale: factor structure, reliability, and validity with older adults
- Authors:
- FLOYD M., SCOGIN F., CHAPLIN W. F.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 8(2), March 2004, pp.153-160.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale Form A (DAS-A), a self-report measure of depression-related attitudes, has been used in numerous depression studies. The DAS-A has a two-factor structure that has been found consistently with college student samples and clinically depressed samples of middle-aged adults, but it has not been validated with older adults. The present study examined the factor structure with a sample of 100 depressed older adults (average age = 68.19; average initial Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression [HRSD] score = 16.72) who participated in a depression treatment study. Results indicated the factor structure established with younger adults was not replicated with older adults. Furthermore, the factor structure with older adults was uncertain: a single factor structure, two-factor structure, and three-factor structure were essentially of equal validity. The uncertainty of the latent structure of the DAS-A suggests that it should be interpreted with caution whenever used with older adults.
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.
General practitioners’ assessment of, and treatment decisions regarding, common mental disorder in older adults: thematic analysis of interview data
- Authors:
- STRACHAN Jennifer, YELLOWLEES Gill, QUIGLEY April
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 35(1), 2015, pp.150-168.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Primary and secondary care services are charged with failing to adequately detect and treat mental disorder in older adults due to the ‘understandability phenomenon’; the belief that mental disorder in old age is inevitable and therefore not worthy of intervention. Quantitative data appear to support this hypothesis but lack the explanatory power of detailed accounts. Nine general practitioners (GPs) participated in group interviews about their assessment and treatment of older patients, and their expectations and experience of referral to secondary care. Resulting transcripts were subject to Thematic Analysis. Respondents recognised the unique features of these clients, and their impact on the detailed, recursive processes of assessment, clinical decision-making and intervention. GPs described confidence in managing most cases of mental disorder, describing the role of secondary care as one of consultancy in extreme or unusual cases. GPs did view mental disorder as commonly originating in adverse circumstances, and queried the validity of pharmacological or psychological interventions in these cases. They did not, however, equate understandability with acceptability, and called for social interventions to be integrated with health-care interventions to tackle the cause of mental disorder in older adults. At a wider level, findings highlight the discrepancy between assumptions about GP attitudes and actions, and their own accounts. At a local level, findings will assist in focusing secondary care service development where need is perceived, into consultancy and training. (Publisher abstract)
Using explanatory models in the care of a person with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- INWANG Francis, HEMMINGS Colin, HVID Cindy
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 7(3), 2013, pp.152-160.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
A case study exploring the differences between carer and professional perspectives in the assessment and treatment of a young man with intellectual disabilities, autism and mental health problems. The opinions and perspectives of psychiatrists involved in the care and treatment of “S” and “S”'s mother about the aetiology, course, treatment and prognosis of “S”'s condition, are explored using “explanatory models”. The similarities and the differences of opinions and perspectives about the mental health care of a person with intellectual disabilities are highlighted. It shows how the explicit comparison of notions about a person's condition, assessment and treatment may help all involved to work together for the common ground of achieving the best outcomes for service users. (Edited publisher abstract)