Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Emotional security in the family system and psychological distress in female survivors of child sexual abuse
- Authors:
- CANTON-CORTES David, CANTON Jose, CORTES María Rosario
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 51, 2015, pp.54-63.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
The Emotional Security Theory (EST) was originally developed to investigate the association between high levels of interparental conflict and child maladaptative outcome. The objective of the present study was to analyse the effects of emotional security in the family system on psychological distress among a sample of young female adult survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA). The role of emotional security was investigated through the interactive effects of a number of factors including the type of abuse, the continuity of abuse, the relationship with the perpetrator and the existence of disclosure for the abuse. Participants were 167 female survivors of CSA. Information about the abuse was obtained from a self-reported questionnaire. Emotional security was assessed with the Security in the Family System (SIFS) Scale, and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) was used to assess psychological distress. In the total sample, insecurity (preoccupation and disengagement) was correlated with high psychological distress scores, whereas no relationship was found between security and psychological distress. The relationship between emotional insecurity and psychological distress was stronger in cases of continued abuse and non-disclosure, while the relationship between emotional security and distress was stronger in cases of extrafamilial abuse and especially isolated or several incidents and when a disclosure had been made. No interactive effect was found between any of the three emotional variables and the type of abuse committed. The results of the current study suggest that characteristics of CSA such as relationship with the perpetrator and, especially, continuity of abuse and whether or not disclosure had been made, can affect the impact of emotional security on psychological distress of CSA survivors. (Publisher abstract)
Childhood trauma levels in individuals attending adult mental health services: an evaluation of clinical records and structured measurement of childhood trauma
- Authors:
- ROSSITER Amy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 44, 2015, pp.36-45.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Despite an increased awareness regarding the prevalence and impact of childhood trauma, especially childhood sexual abuse (CSA), few studies examine the clinical reporting of such childhood experiences. This study compared the prevalence of childhood trauma recorded in individual's clinical notes to those ascertained with a structured validated questionnaire, examined which forms of childhood trauma were less likely to be reported to the treating mental health team and established which demographic or clinical factors were associated with reporting of childhood trauma. The prevalence of childhood trauma was ascertained using both the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and a lifetime retrospective clinical note review in 129 individuals attending a general adult mental health service. Individuals were evaluated for the presence of mental health disorders, impulsivity, symptom severity and disability. Using the CTQ, childhood trauma was noted in 77% of individuals and recorded in 38% of individual's clinical notes. The greatest differences between CTQ reporting and clinical note documentation were noted for emotional neglect (62% versus 13.2%), physical neglect (48.1% versus 5.4%) and CSA (24.8% versus 8.5%). Childhood trauma was associated with increased psychopathology and greater symptom severity, and was particularly prevalent for individuals with personality disorders. This study demonstrated high rates of childhood trauma amongst adults attending a general adult mental health service. Furthermore, we demonstrated high rates of either non-enquiry from mental health professionals and/or high rates of non-documentation of childhood trauma by mental health professionals. Given the disparity between reporting of childhood trauma in clinical notes and findings with the CTQ, the use of a standardised questionnaire for the assessment of childhood trauma should be considered when performing a comprehensive mental health history. (Edited publisher abstract)
Childhood sexual abuse and its association with adult physical and mental health: results from a National cohort of young Australian women
- Authors:
- COLES Jan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 30(11), 2015, pp.1929-1944.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study aimed to investigate the associations between child sexual abuse (CSA), CSA plus adult violence experiences, and selected self-reported physical and mental health in a community sample of women. Data from 7,700 women aged 28-33 years from the 1973-1978 cohort who completed Survey 4 of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) were analysed. Questions about prior abuse experience such as child sexual abuse, interpersonal violence, adult physical and sexual assaults, and physical and mental health. Women who experienced CSA were 1.4 times more likely to experience bodily pain, 1.3 times more likely to have poorer general health, and 1.4 times more likely to be depressed in the past 3 years compared with those without abuse. Women who experienced both CSA and adult violence were 2.4 to 3.1 times more likely to experience poor general and mental health, and suffer from depression and anxiety compared with women with no abuse. This study demonstrates the importance of CSA in pain and poorer long-term mental and physical health. It emphasises how prior CSA may amplify pain and poorer long-term mental and physical health among women who are again exposed to violence in adulthood. (Edited publisher abstract)
Patterns of maltreatment and diagnosis across levels of care in group homes
- Authors:
- SEIFERT Heather T. Pane, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 42, 2015, pp.72-83.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Patterns of Axis I psychiatric diagnosis and maltreatment history were explored among youth in group homes, including match of clinical need to level or restrictiveness of care. Data on demographics, diagnoses, maltreatment, and group home level of care (Level I, II, or III homes, representing lower to higher intensity of supervision and treatment) were obtained from 523 youth who participated in a quasi-experimental study of group homes. Three quarters of youth had a diagnosis and two-thirds of youth had a maltreatment history. Youth in higher level homes had more diagnoses and higher rates of all disorders except adjustment disorders. Youth in Level I homes had a history of more maltreatment types, particularly high rates of neglect. Sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse were most common among youth in higher level homes. Regardless of diagnosis history, comparable proportions of youth had a maltreatment history, and similar patterns were found across levels of care. Together, findings indicate that group homes with varying degrees of restrictiveness serve youth with different psychiatric diagnosis and maltreatment histories. Youth triaged to higher level homes had more diagnoses, while youth placed in the least restrictive homes had a history of more maltreatment subtypes. Further, distinct patterns of diagnosis types and maltreatment subtypes were seen across homes. Implications include the importance of assessing unique clinical needs of youth to promote an appropriate match to level of care and treatment plan. (Publisher abstract)
Survivors' voices: breaking the silence on living with the impact of child sexual abuse in the family environment
- Author:
- ONE IN FOUR
- Publisher:
- One in Four
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 48
- Place of publication:
- London
Using first-hand accounts, this report illustrates the effects suffered by people who were sexually abused as children in the family environment. In the report, adult survivors describe the long-term impact that childhood sexual abuse in the family environment has had on their lives and what has helped them to survive. The narratives demonstrates how sexual abuse in childhood can be associated with long-term conditions such as eating disorders, self-harm, addiction to alcohol or drugs, and mental illness including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal thoughts and behaviour. Many survivors also end up in the criminal justice system through the misuse of alcohol and drugs, causing significant costs to society. To draw out the key themes an analysis of the individual narratives was carried out. Themes discuss the impact on the survivor, their families; the professional responses; and also include a list of survivors’ recommendations. Recommendations include: improve the training of health-related professionals; improve referral pathways for survivors to ensure they are directed to specialist agencies; and the involvement of survivors and survivor organisations in the training of professionals and service development. The report will be useful for policy-makers, healthcare professionals and social workers to help them to understand what it means to have been sexually abused as children by a relative or close family friend. (Edited publisher abstract)
Violence, abuse and mental health in England: population patterns: REVA briefing 1
- Authors:
- SCOTT Sara, et al
- Publishers:
- DMSS Research and Consultancy, NatCen Social Research, London Metropolitan University, Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit, Truth
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Place of publication:
- London
One of five briefing paper presenting findings from the Department of Health funded REVA study, which looked at responding effectively to the needs of survivors of violence and abuse who are mental health service users. Based on a representative community-based sample the briefing examines people’s experiences of violence and abuse, and the relationship between subsequent mental health and mental health service use. The analysis is based on data from the 2007 Department of Health funded Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS), which asked 7,400 adults from across England about their: experience of a range of types of violence and abuse; current mental health; current social and economic circumstances; and use of health and community mental health services. The analysis found that a quarter of the population have had experience of violence and abuse; identified strong links between different types of violence and abuse and a range of mental problems; and found that experiences of violence and abuse are often under-acknowledge factors. It concludes that services must address both mental health and violence and abuse if they are to respond effectively to service users’ needs. (Edited publisher abstract)
Multiple victimizations before and after leaving home associated with PTSD, depression, and substance use disorder among homeless youth
- Authors:
- BENDER Kimberly, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Maltreatment, 20(2), 2015, pp.115-124.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Exposure to multiple forms of maltreatment during childhood is associated with serious mental health consequences among youth in the general population, but limited empirical attention has focused on homeless youth - a population with markedly high rates of childhood maltreatment followed by elevated rates of street victimisation. This study investigated the rates of multiple childhood abuses (physical, sexual, and emotional abuse) and multiple street victimisations (robbery, physical assault, and sexual assault) and examined their relative relationships to mental health outcomes (meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], depression, and substance use disorder) among a large (N = 601) multisite sample of homeless youth. Approximately 79% of youth retrospectively reported multiple childhood abuses (two or more types) and 28% reported multiple street victimisations (two or more types). Each additional type of street victimisation nearly doubled youths’ odds for meeting criteria for substance use disorder. Furthermore, each additional type of childhood abuse experienced more than doubled youths’ odds for meeting criteria for PTSD. Both multiple abuses and multiple street victimisations were associated with an approximate twofold increase in meeting depression criteria. Findings suggest the need for screening, assessment, and trauma-informed services for homeless youth who consider multiple types of abuse and victimisation experiences. (Edited publisher abstract)
A briefing for mental health professionals: why asking about abuse matters to service users: REVA Briefing 3
- Authors:
- SCOTT Sara, et al
- Publishers:
- DMSS Research and Consultancy, NatCen Social Research, London Metropolitan University, Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit, Truth
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 10
- Place of publication:
- London
One of five briefing paper presenting findings from the Department of Health funded REVA study, which looked at responding effectively to the needs of survivors of violence and abuse who are mental health service users. The study included specifically asking survivors of violence and abuse about their views on routine enquiry (the policy of asking routinely about experiences of abuse in service user assessments), their experiences of disclosing abuse and their recommendations for how staff should ask people using mental health services about abuse. Interviews with users of mental health services found that people are positive about routine enquiry and that those who had been asked by a professional about their experience of violence and abuse welcomed this. Service user recommendations for service providers about routine enquiry included: asking the question as early as possible, asking with interest rather than as a tick box requirement and asking the question more than once. (Edited publisher abstract)
A briefing for commissioners: what survivors of violence and abuse say about mental health services: REVA briefing 4
- Authors:
- SCOTT Sara, et al
- Publishers:
- DMSS Research and Consultancy, NatCen Social Research, London Metropolitan University, Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit, Truth
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 12
- Place of publication:
- London
One of five briefing paper presenting findings from the Department of Health funded REVA study, which looked at responding effectively to the needs of survivors of violence and abuse who are also mental health service users. The briefing focusses on the links between experience of abuse and mental health and the implications this has for commissioners to create an effective service. It presents information drawn from interviews with 21 mental health service users who had experienced domestic and/or sexual violence. It reports on their views and experience of mental health services and what they thought were the key elements of a good service. Five core components that were considered essential for effective support include: routine enquiry across a range of child and adult settings; well trained staff who are able to make referrals to specialist services; availability of group and peer support; non-hospital based crisis provision; and integrated coordinated services. Implications for commissioners of mental health services are also listed. (Edited publisher abstract)
Guidance for Trust managers: implementing and sustaining routine enquiry about violence and abuse in mental health services: REVA Briefing 2
- Authors:
- SCOTT Sara, et al
- Publishers:
- DMSS Research and Consultancy, NatCen Social Research, London Metropolitan University, Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit, Truth
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 13
- Place of publication:
- London
One of five briefing paper presenting findings from the Department of Health funded REVA study, which looked at responding effectively to the needs of survivors of violence and abuse who are mental health service users. This briefing highlights key recommendations and good practice guidelines for Trust managers regarding implementation of routine enquiry, the practice that all adult service users should be asked about experiences of violence and abuse in mental health assessments. It draws on the findings from case studies of four hospital trusts. The briefing summarises key evidence on why mental health professionals should routinely ask service users whether they have experienced violence or abuse, presents findings from the four case studies in the REVA study which focuses on the need for strategic leadership and commitment; training provision; data collection requirements; knowledge sharing and awareness raising. It also list points for good practice in implementing routine enquiry as part of mental health assessments. (Edited publisher abstract)