Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 9 of 9
Willingness to forgive: relationships with mood, anxiety and severity of symptoms
- Authors:
- RYAN Rita B., KUMAR V. K.
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Religion and Culture, 8(1), March 2005, pp.13-16.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The Willingness to Forgive Scale (WFS) was correlated with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Global Severity Index (GSI) of the Brief Symptom Inventory. Participants were 45 male and 55 female outpatients being treated for affective and anxiety disorders. No gender differences (a = 0.05) were found on the aforementioned instruments. In the females, the WFS was not correlated with any of the three scales. In the males, the WFS was significantly correlated ( r = -0.38, p = 0.009) with the BAI scores, marginally correlated ( r = -0.29, p = 0.052) with the GSI, but not correlated with the BDI-II scores. That anxiety and symptom severity were related to willingness to forgive in males, but not in females, is a finding difficult to explain but worth exploring in future research.
The functional competency of elderly at risk
- Authors:
- STANTLEY Barbara, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, June 1988, pp.53-58.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Reports on a study investigating elderly people with depression or Alzheimer's Disease.
A good choice for mental health: mental health in the mainstream; working paper three
- Author:
- RANKIN Jennifer
- Publisher:
- Institute for Public Policy Research
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 23p.
- Place of publication:
- London
In mental health, the choice agenda has had a different evolution to the development of choice in the rest of the NHS. This paper proceeds in three parts. Part 1 provides an overview of choice in the NHS and choice in relation to mental health. It considers how the nature of choice in mental health might differ from choice elsewhere in the health service. Part 2 charts the uneven transition of mental health services from a default position of no or little choice, towards a greater role for people’s preferences. It offers an assessment of people’s current choices or lack of choices in recovery options. While this paper is focused on choice in the context of health and social care, it argues that choice cannot be isolated in these services. The principle of choice goes hand in hand with the drive towards greater social inclusion for people with mental health problems. Finally Part 3 outlines the core principles for promoting choice in mental health, as well as the conditions necessary to support choice in practice.
Psychiatric issues in retrospective challenges of testamentary capacity
- Authors:
- SHULMAN Kenneth I., COHEN Carole A., HULL Ian
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20(1), January 2005, pp.63-69.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Challenges to Wills on the basis of lack of testamentary capacity are likely to increase due to a combination of economic factors, high prevalence of mental disorders in old age and the complexity of many modern families. Geriatric psychiatrists and other experts will be asked to provide expert assessment of the testamentary capacity of individuals whose Wills are being challenged retrospectively. The traditional criteria described in the Banks vs Goodfellow case have been held as the standard for testamentary capacity. However, these criteria may not be comprehensive enough for the coming generation of expert assessors. The literature and selected international case law relevant to testamentary capacity were reviewed. Particular focus is placed on the conceptual and empirical approaches to the assessment of complex capacities that may inform the development of specific legal standards. In addition, 25 consecutive medico-legal reports on retrospective testamentary capacity were analyzed according to co-morbid medical and psychiatric disorders as well as psychosocial and behavioural variables. Illustrative case vignettes are included. The typical profile for retrospective challenges to testamentary capacity included a radical change from a previous Will (72%), where undue influence was alleged (56%), in a testator with no biological children (52%), who executed the Will less than a year prior to death (48%). Co-morbid conditions were dementia (40%), alcohol abuse (28%) and other neurological/psychiatric conditions (28%). While Banks vs Goodfellow continues to provide a sound basis for assessing testamentary (task-specific) capacity, the complexity and subtlety of the issues reflected in these cases highlight the need to go beyond the traditional criteria and assess situation-specific factors. Expert assessors need to determine whether the testator appreciated the consequences of executing or changing a Will, especially when there has been a radical change in the context of a complex or conflictual family environment. Empirical studies addressing the cognitive functions relevant to testamentary capacity and the development of legal standards based on a competency construct may also help to inform retrospective capacity assessments.
Awareness of financial skills in dementia
- Authors:
- VAN WIELINGEN L. E., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 9(4), July 2004, pp.374-380.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The present study examined the relations among levels of cognitive functioning, executive dysfunction, and awareness of financial management capabilities among a sample of 42 community-dwelling persons with dementia. Financial tasks on the Measure of Awareness of Financial Skills (MAFS) were dichotomized as simple or complex based on Piaget's operational levels of childhood cognitive development. Severity of global cognitive impairment and executive dysfunction were significantly related to awareness of financial abilities as measured by informant-participant discrepancy scores on the MAFS. For persons with mild and moderate/severe dementia, and persons with and without executive dysfunction, proportions of awareness within simple and complex financial task categories were tabulated. Significantly less awareness of financial abilities occurred on complex compared with simple tasks. Individuals with mild dementia were significantly less aware of abilities on complex items, whereas persons with moderate/severe dementia were less aware of abilities, regardless of task complexity. Similar patterns of awareness were observed for individuals with and without executive dysfunction. These findings support literature suggesting that deficits associated with dementia first occur for complex cognitive tasks involving inductive reasoning or decision-making in novel situations, and identify where loss of function in the financial domain may first be expected.
Making decisions: the government's proposals for making decisions on behalf of mentally incapacitated adults; a report issued in the light of responses to the consultation paper Who Decides?
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Lord Chancellor's Department
- Publisher:
- Stationery Office
- Publication year:
- 1999
- Pagination:
- 34p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Government believes there is a clear need for reform of the law in order to improve and clarify the decision-making process for those who are unable to make decisions for themselves, or those who cannot communicate their decisions. These are some of the most vulnerable people in our society. The law in this area has developed in piecemeal fashion, and does not always offer sufficient protection either for mentally incapacitated adults, or for those who look after them.This Consultation Paper seeks views on a possible framework for providing that protection, and for providing an organised framework of law to manage the welfare and affairs of mentally incapacitated adults.
The development of potential models of advance directives in mental health care
- Authors:
- ATKINSON Jacqueline M, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 12(6), December 2003, pp.575-584.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
The review of mental health law in the UK has involved consideration of mechanisms for advance directives in mental health care. The aim was to develop potential models of advance directives based on the views of stakeholders in mental health services in Scotland. Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with service users, professionals and carers who had an interest in advance directives. Leaflets and policy documents from campaign groups and voluntary organisations were collected and along with data generated in interview and group discussion were analysed for themes. Six potential models were developed that highlighted the overarching themes of co-operation versus autonomy and the legal status of any directive. There is a wide variety of opinion about what advance directives could or should bring to mental health care, they are not all achievable through the use of any one model.
Joint charter on mental capacity and decision making
- Authors:
- THE LAW SOCIETY, BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, MAKING DECISIONS ALLIANCE
- Publisher:
- Law Society/Mencap
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 2p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Law Society, The Making Decisions Alliance and the British Medical Association all believe that the law does not provide proper protection to people who do not have the capacity to make their own decisions due to illness, injury, or disability. This charter calls new legislation on mental capacity.
Psychosocial issues near the end of life
- Authors:
- WERTH J. L., GORDON J. R., JOHNSON JR
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 6(4), November 2002, pp.402-412.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
End-of-life care has received increasing attention in the last decade; however, the focus continues to be on the physical aspects of suffering and care to the virtual exclusion of psychosocial areas. This paper provides an overview of the literature on the intra- and interpersonal aspects of dying, including the effects that psychosocial variables have on end-of-life decision-making; common diagnosable mental disorders (clinical depression, delirium); other types of personal considerations (autonomy/control, grief); and interpersonal/environmental issues (cultural factors, financial variables). Six roles that qualified mental health professionals can play (advocate, counselor, educator, evaluator, multidisciplinary team member, and researcher) are also outlined.