Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 69
A light in the dark
- Author:
- TICKLE Louise
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 29.7.04, 2004, pp.36-37.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Asks whether social workers with mental health problems are an asset or liability when dealing with service users with similar illnesses. Argues that the level of the support they get from employers is a key factor.
Substance abuse and psychiatric dual disorders: focus on tobacco
- Authors:
- GOLD Mark S., FROST-PINEDA Kimberley
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 1(1), 2004, pp.15-35.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Smoking is a leading cause of morbidity and is the single most important preventable cause of mortality in the United States. The link between tobacco smoking and lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic lung disease, other cancers, and other medical diseases is now generally accepted. The link between tobacco and psychiatric diseases has become a focus for recent epidemiological studies, which have even led to the suggestion that in the differential diagnosis of "smoker" highest on the list are depression, alcohol dependence, and schizophrenia. Less is known about the role of second hand tobacco exposure, either in utero or during childhood, in the risk of dual disorders. Here the authors explore the issue of substance abuse and psychiatric dual disorders, prenatal and early childhood Second Hand Smoke (SHS) exposure and the relationship to the genesis of these dual disorders. They describe a novel method of detecting SHS exposure and the public health implications of this development. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Dual diagnosis: discovery of a critical role for environmental exposure
- Author:
- GOLD Mark S.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 1(1), 2004, pp.5-13.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
It is estimated that 10 million persons in the United States have at least one mental disorder and at least one substance-related disorder in any given year. Dual disorders are common in psychiatry, but misdiagnosis may be even more common. Drug and alcohol testing should be expanded from routine use in the Olympics and intercollegiate athletics to psychiatric diagnosis of drug intoxication, dependence, and withdrawal states. Major Depression is co-morbid with opiate addiction, alcohol dependency, tobacco smoking, and many other substance abuse disorders. Drug use induces adaptations in brain systems associated with mood and motivation. The acute rewarding effects of drugs change the mesolimbic dopaminergic system. Cessation of drug self-administration induces dysphoria and anhedonia as a result of changes in monoamine levels in brain reward circuits; opposite to the effects that occur after the administration of drugs of abuse. While most models for dual disorders assume compulsive or volitional use or self administration, we have been interested in second-hand exposure which was common in the past among flight attendants and occurs today between smoking parent and child. We expand the concept from parent-to-child environmental tobacco toxicity to a workplace toxicity hypothesis for anesthesiologists. Such a hypothesis can explain the high rates of depression, workplace and social distress, drug abuse, and drug addiction among anesthesiologists. While co-occurring disorders have been the focus of epidemiological studies and twin and genetic studies, the role of exposure to potent drugs of abuse in the intra-uterine, home, and workplace environment has been neglected. We have demonstrated the unequivocal presence of fentanyl and other potent drugs of abuse in the air that anesthesiologists breathe in the operating room. Drug exposure sensitizes the brain. When sensitization is coupled with the stress of operating room, employment may produce the pattern of co-occurring disorders seen in anesthesiologists but not psychiatrists. Prevention is the goal in environmental or toxicity-related illness. After diagnosis, treatment for dual disorders should be vigorous with remission of all disorders in mind. For anesthesiologists, limiting toxic environmental exposure may prevent both drug and affective disorders. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Rethinking childhood depression
- Authors:
- TIMIMI Sami, SPENDER Quentin, WIKKINSON Paul
- Journal article citation:
- British Medical Journal, 11.12.04, 2004, pp.1394-1396.
- Publisher:
- British Medical Association
Increasing numbers of children are being treated for depression. At the end of 2003, over 50,000 were prescribed antidepressants, and over 170,000 prescriptions a year for antidepressants were issued to people under 18 in the UK. Recent evidence suggests that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are largely ineffective and may be dangerous in this age group. Older antidepressants have already been shown to have no beneficial effect in under 18s. Undoubtedly part of the problem is with pharmaceutical industry tactics, designed to enable greater consumption of their products. However, the gateway diagnosis to prescribing antidepressants to under 18s is that of childhood depression. Timimi discusses the notion of childhood depression and suggests the medicalisation of children's unhappiness is hindering our ability to respond effectively.
Can babies get depressed?
- Author:
- GEORGE Mike
- Journal article citation:
- Children Now, 13.10.04, 2004, pp.20-21.
- Publisher:
- Haymarket
Investigates the best way forward for specialist services targeted at infancy, a key period for children's future mental health but with few services. Describes a case study in Sunderland.
No need for a crystal ball
- Author:
- HOFFMANN Norman
- Journal article citation:
- Addiction Today, 15(88), May 2004, pp.22-23.
- Publisher:
- Addiction Recovery Foundation
Reports on the findings of a survey of a group of juvenile offenders aged between 13 and 18 in the United States. It was conducted in routine practice from 218 consecutive admissions to two juvenile criminal-justice facilities and adolescent diversion courts in a New England state. Results found that most appeared to have co-existing mental-health and substance-use disorders. Argues that these must be treated to reshape lives and cut re-offending.
Longitudinal syndromal and sub-syndromal symptoms after severe depression: 10-year follow-up study
- Authors:
- KENNEDY Noel, ABBOTT Rosemary, PAYKEL Eugene S.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 184(4), April 2004, pp.330-336.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Few follow-up studies of depression have evaluated depressive symptomatology over time at both threshold and sub-threshold levels. The aim was to evaluate long-term longitudinal symptomatic course after an episode of severe depression. A total of 61 participants from a previous study cohort underwent a detailed interview covering the longitudinal course of depression and pharmacological treatment over 8–11 years of follow-up. Of the follow-up months, 52% were spent at an asymptomatic level, 15% at minor symptom level, 20% at residual symptom level and 13% at full depression level. Also, 30% of follow-up months were spent in an episode of depression, and 18% of patients never achieved asymptomatic status during follow-up. The percentage of patients at each symptom level remained relatively stable after the first 2 years, but levels in individuals fluctuated, with a mean of two changes in symptom levels per follow-up year.
People with physical impairments and mental health support needs: a critical review of the literature
- Author:
- MORRIS Jenny
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 53p.
- Place of publication:
- York
This report reviews the literature on the mental health support needs of people with physical impairments. The review is divided into two parts. The first part reviews research literature concerned with psychology, psychiatry and rehabilitation services. The second part of the review looks at what is known about the mental health support needs and experiences of people with physical impairments from a social model perspective. It was the first stage of a research project. (Edited publisher abstract)
Mental health problems and use of services of lesbians results of the Boston Lesbian Health Project II
- Authors:
- ROBERTS Susan Jo, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 17(4), 2004, pp.1-16.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article reports on the results of the Boston Health Project II, which replicated a national American survey of lesbians completed in 1987. The survey found few differences from previous data regarding mental health problems and service use among lesbians. Respondents expressed positive feelings about being lesbian but reported money and work to be major problems. Surveyed lesbians used therapy at high rates, with depression and relationship problems being common reasons for seeking care. Most respondents were satisfied with their therapy experiences; female and lesbian therapists received the highest ratings. Depression, anxiety/panic disorders, and alcohol use continued to be concerns, along with suicide attempts and eating disorders among adolescents. Findings confirm that mental health needs exist for lesbians and challenge social service workers to make these services available. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Paranoia: the psychology of persecutory delusions
- Authors:
- FREEMAN Daniel, GARETY Philippa
- Publisher:
- Psychology Press
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 188p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Taking persecutory delusions as its focus, this study defines the phenomenon in detail and analyzes the content of persecutory delusions. It reviews previous psychological writings, explores the relationship between psychosis and neurosis, reports on innovative empirical studies with patients, and highlights future essential research directions.