Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Lesbian and bisexual women's mental health
- Editors:
- MATHY Robin M., KERR Shelly K.
- Publisher:
- Haworth Press
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 235p.
- Place of publication:
- New York
The book reviews the past literature on mental health and sexual orientation - citing biased and inadequate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment approaches currently in use in the care of lesbian and bisexual women. It explores specific challenges that face various lesbian and bisexual female populations, with research on: dysthymia; depression and anxiety, including a chapter on depressive distress among African-American women; the way that community size and religiosity impact lesbian/bisexual women’s psychosexual development; the relationship between shame and a client’s attachment style; the mental health implications of same-sex marriage; and mental health in Taiwan’s T-Po lesbian community with a focus on community members’ sexual orientation, gender roles, and gender identity; and the interconnectedness of sexual fantasies, sychological adjustment, and close relationship functioning in lesbian/bisexual women, together with body image and eating issues. As the diversity of this population becomes progressively more evident, so does the necessity for deeper exploration of the mental health problems facing lesbians and bisexuals.
Coping defence and depression in adolescents hearing voices
- Authors:
- ESCHER Sandra, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 12(1), February 2003, pp.91-99.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
The level of self-initiated coping defences in the face of auditory hallucinations reflects the degree to which the psychotic experiences are exceeding the person's resources. As it has been suggested that individuals who feel overwhelmed by their psychotic experiences are also more likely to develop depression, greater levels of self-initiated coping defences should predict onset of depression in the context of auditory hallucinations. Eighty adolescents who reported hearing voices were examined at baseline and followed-up three times over a period of 3 years. Fifty per cent were receiving professional care, but 50% were not in need of care. Baseline measurement of self-initiated coping defences and psychopathology were used as predictors of depression at follow-up. Baseline level of self-initiated coping was strongly associated with baseline severity of positive psychotic symptoms. Coping at baseline, with the exception of active problem solving, predicted an increase in the level of depression over the follow-up period, independent of baseline psychopathology, demographic characteristics, receipt of professional care and appraisals and attributions related to the voices. The results suggest that individuals who have a tendency to feel overwhelmed by the experience of voices, as evidenced by a more defensive style of response, are more likely to develop depression.
Correlates of depressive symptoms among HIV-positive injection drug users: the role of social support
- Authors:
- MIZUNO Y., et al
- Journal article citation:
- AIDS Care, 15(5), October 2003, pp.689-698.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Using cross-sectional data from an ethnically diverse sample of HIV-positive injection drug users (IDUs), we sought to identify correlates of depressive symptoms. We were particularly interested in whether perceived social support was associated with depression among HIV-positive IDUs and whether social support buffered adverse effects of other correlates. Data were collected from a sample of HIV-positive IDUs recruited from a variety of venues in the New York City and San Francisco metropolitan areas in the USA. Multiple regression analysis identified four significant correlates of depressive symptoms. Perceived social support and having a regular place for HIV medical care were significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms, while history of mental health problems and non-injection polydrug use were significantly associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. Moreover, a significant interaction effect was found between social support and non-injection polydrug use, indicating that social support buffers the association between non-injection polydrug use and depression. These results suggest that increasing social support might be a useful tool for HIV-positive IDUs in reducing depression and the adverse effect of non-injection polydrug use.
Functional health status, chronic medical conditions and disorders of mood
- Authors:
- SURTEES Paul G., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 183(10), October 2003, pp.299-303.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Understanding of the impact of depressive and anxiety disorders on functional health status in the context of chronic medical illness has been gained almost exclusively from the study of patient populations. The aim of this paper is to compare the impact of major depressive and generalised anxiety disorder with that of chronic medical conditions on functional health in a UK resident population. The functional health of 20 921 study participants was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 questionnaire. Depressive and anxiety disorder episode histories and chronic medical conditions were assessed using independent self-completed questionnaires. The degree of physical functional impairment associated with mood disorders was of equivalent magnitude to that associated with the presence of chronic medical conditions or with being some 12 years older. Depressive and anxiety disorders have a profound impact on functional health that is independent of chronic medical illness. Chronic anxiety is associated with physical health limitations in excess of those associated with chronic depression or any of the physical health conditions considered, except for stroke.
Screening for late life depression: cut-off scores for the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia among Japanese subjects
- Authors:
- SCHREINER Andrea S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(6), June 2003, pp.498-505.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Proper screening of depression among older adults depends on accurate cut-off scores. Recent articles have recommended the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) for this screening. However, there has been no investigation of the sensitivity and specificity of either scale using Japanese subjects. The purpose of the present study was to identify appropriate GDS and CSDD cut-offs for Japanese older adults. The GDS and the CSDD were interview-administered to nondepressed Japanese older adults (n = 74) and to Japanese older adults with a SCID-IV diagnosis of major or minor depression (n = 37). Depressed subjects were also administered the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Data were also collected on demographic variables, mental status, health status, and medication use. ROC curve analysis identified a cut-off score of 6 for the GDS which had a sensitivity of 0.973, a specificity of 0.959, a False Positive Rate (FPR) of 0.894, and a False Negative Rate (FNR) of 0. A cutoff score of 5 for the CSDD yielded a sensitivity of 1, a specificity of 0.919, a FPR of 0.942, and a FNR of 0. Comparisons indicate current HDRS cut-offs may overlook subthreshold depression. The GDS cut-off score identified among Japanese subjects was the same as that reported for Western subjects. Due to the substantial prevalence of psychiatric disorders found in false-negative subjects, the above cut-off scores were chosen to optimize the potential for true positives. These scores are recommended for alerting physicians and other caregivers as to when more intensive depression evaluation is needed.
Service provision for elderly depressed persons and political and professional awareness for this subject: a comparison of six European countries
- Author:
- BRAMSFELD Anke
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(5), May 2003, pp.392-401.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Under-treatment of depression in late-life is a subject of rising public health concern throughout Europe. This study investigates and compares the availability of services for depressed elderly persons in Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Additionally, it explores factors that might contribute to an adequate services supply for depressed elderly people. Review of the literature and guide supported expert interviews. Analysis of the practice of care provision for depressed elderly persons and of indicators for political and professional awareness, such as university chairs, certification processes and political programmes in gerontopsychiatry. Only Switzerland and the UK offer countrywide community-oriented services for depressed elderly persons. Clinical experience in treating depression in late-life is not regularly acquired in the vocational training of the concerned professionals. Indicators suggest that the medical society and health politics in Switzerland and the UK regard psychiatric disease in the elderly more importantly than it is the case in the other investigated countries. Service provision for depressed elderly persons seems to be more elaborated and better available in countries where gerontopsychiatry is institutionalised to a greater extend in the medical society and health politics.
Maytree - a safe house
- Author:
- LIPSEY Jon
- Journal article citation:
- Openmind, 121, May 2003, pp.20-21.
- Publisher:
- MIND
Looks at the work of Maytree, the UK's first respite house for people who feel suicidal, which opened in Finsbury Park, north London in December 2002.
Unemployment and mental health among white collar workers: a question of work involvement and financial situation?
- Authors:
- RANTAKEISU Ulla, JONSSON Lef R.
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Social Welfare, 12(1), January 2003, pp.31-41.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Examines whether it is a psychosocial or an economic need for employment that affects mental health among the unemployed. The relevance of both aspects are examined, concentrating on two measures of each dimension. Two perspectives of work involvement - the degree of connection to working life and the perceived employment commitment - and two perspectives on financial situation - economic security and perceived economic concern - have been analysed, using empirical data collected by means of a cross-sectional survey of 1297 unemployed white-collar workers from the public sector in Sweden. The degree of connection to working life was not significantly linked to the mental health of the unemployed, although there was a strong link between the perceived employment commitment and mental health among this group. The stronger the perceived employment commitment, the poorer the state of the person's mental health. Perceived economic concern was also tightly linked to mental health: the greater the economic concern, the poorer the mental health.
A three-factor analytic model of the MADRS in geriatric depression
- Authors:
- PARKER R. D., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(1), January 2003, pp.73-77.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Major depression is a heterogeneous disorder, perhaps comprising several clinical subtypes or subgroups of symptoms. This study examined whether items on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) form distinct symptom subgroups among geriatric depressive patients that might form the basis of new outcome measures for tracking treatment effects. The study examined a sample of 225 adults age 59 and older diagnosed with major depression. Three distinct interpretable factors were obtained. The first factor, dysphoric apathy/retardation, comprised five items: apparent sadness, reported sadness, lassitude, reduced concentration, and inability to feel. Psychic anxiety, the second factor, included three items: inner tension, pessimistic thoughts, and suicidal thoughts. The third factor, vegetative symptoms, resulted from items involving sleep and appetite.
Accuracy of the 15-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) in a community sample of the oldest old
- Authors:
- DE CRAEN Anton J. M., HEEREN T. J., GUSSEKLOO Jacobijn
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(1), January 2003, pp.63-66.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Cognitive impairment is common in the oldest old. This might influence the sensitivity and specificity of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Few studies, however, have included subjects older than 85 years to evaluate the GDS-15 as a screening instrument for depression. The GDS-15 is a suitable instrument to diagnose depression in the general population of the oldest old. The optimal cut-off point depends on its intended use.