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Issues and outcomes associated with adult mental health self-help materials: a “second order” review or “qualitative meta-review”
- Author:
- PAPSWORTH Mark
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 14(4), August 2006, pp.387-406.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
This review evaluates the evidence associated with the effectiveness of self-help materials designed to help individuals suffering with adult mental health (AMH) problems, and explores the methodological status of the field as well as issues associated with self-help delivery. An original second-order review perspective was used, where previous individual reviews are systematically retrieved, compared and contrasted qualitatively. Self-help treatment manuals appear to be effective for several types of anxiety disorder as well as with assertiveness difficulties. There is early support for its use with depression. Less powerful and more variable evidence exists for its use with habit disorders and as a computer-delivered modality. Certain methodological limitations remain within the field including, for instance, compliance/drop-out and generalization issues. Self-help looks set to be an important component in AMH services. Studies do not seem to have attempted to fully evaluate the “added-value” dimensions which justify the use of self-help materials. Interventions should be offered which are based on a person's presenting difficulties, personal preferences and their individual characteristics. Several themes associated with the individual characteristics which might advantage the self-help modality are explored and some future research guidance is listed.
Sub-syndromal and syndromal symptoms in the longitudinal course of bipolar disorder
- Authors:
- PAYKEL Eugenee, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 189(2), August 2006, pp.118-123.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
There have been few detailed longitudinal symptom studies of bipolar disorder. The aim was to describe the course of bipolar disorder over 18 months in 204 patients receiving mental healthcare. Patients were interviewed every 8 weeks, with weekly ratings of depression, mania and overall severity. Participants were symptomatic 53% of the time, with sub-syndromal symptoms present for twice as long as major disorder, and depressive symptoms three times more than manic symptoms. Individuals who were experiencing an episode at baseline spent 33% of the 18 months with substantial sub-syndromal symptoms, 17% with major disorder and 28% symptom free. Those not experiencing a baseline episode spent twice as long symptom free and half as long at disorder levels. Changes in symptom level were frequent. Predictors of sub-syndromal symptoms were similar to those of major disorder. Sub-syndromal residual symptoms are an important problem in recurrent bipolar disorder and require therapeutic intervention
Socio-economic position and common mental disorders: longitudinal study in the general population in the UK
- Authors:
- SKAPINAKIS Petros, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 189(2), August 2006, pp.109-117.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Individuals in lower socio socio-economic groups have an increased prevalence of common mental disorders. The aim was to investigate the longitudinal association between socio-economic position and common mental disorders in a general population sample in the UK. Participants (n=2406) were assessed at two time points 18 months apart with the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule. The sample was stratified into two cohorts according to mental health status at baseline. None of the socio-economic indicators studied was significantly associated with an episode of common mental disorder at follow-up after adjusting for baseline psychiatric morbidity. The analysis of separate diagnostic categories showed that subjective financial difficulties at baseline were independently associated with depression at follow-up in both cohorts. These findings support the view that apart from objective measures of socio-economic position, more subjective measures might be equally important from an aetiological or clinical perspective
Adolescent mental health literacy: young people's knowledge of depression and help seeking
- Authors:
- BURNS John R., RAPEE Ronald M.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adolescence, 29(9), April 2006, pp.225-239.
- Publisher:
- Academic Press
This study examined the mental health literacy of a group of adolescents, with particular reference to their ability to recognize symptoms of depression in their peers. Respondents were 202 Australian adolescents (122 males, 80 females) aged 15–17 years. Their mental health literacy was examined through a questionnaire that presented them with five scenarios of young people. Respondents showed a mixed ability to correctly recognize and label depression, although they were able to differentiate depressed and non-depressed scenarios in terms of severity and expected recovery time. Results are discussed in light of findings from adult mental health literacy and clinical implications.
Psychiatric morbidity among sentenced prisoners: prevalence study in Iran
- Authors:
- ASSADI Seyed Mohammad, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 188(2), February 2006, pp.159-164.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study investigates the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Iranian prisoners. Through stratified random sampling, 351 prisoners were interviewed using the clinical version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM–IV Axis I Disorders and the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version. The majority (88%) of prisoners met DSM–IV criteria for lifetime diagnosis of at least one Axis I disorder and 57% were diagnosed with current Axis I disorders. Opioid dependence (73%) had the highest prevalence among lifetime diagnoses, whereas major depressive disorder (29%) was the most common current diagnosis. Psychopathy was recorded in 23%. Prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders were significantly different among offence categories. The results suggest that a substantial burden of psychiatric morbidity exists in the prison population of Iran, with treatment challenges that appear to be different from those observed in inmates in Western countries.
Curing madness
- Author:
- PEGLER Jason
- Publisher:
- Chipmunkapublishing
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 227p.
- Place of publication:
- Brentwood
Curing Madness is an inspirational selection of works by former manic depressive and mental health activist Jason Pegler which details the thought processes he used to cure himself. It includes a couple of excellent scripts about his experiences of manic depression, rap lyrics, an essay that examines madness in Greek Mythology and a personal account of what happened to him Jason is now off his medication and has become one of the UK's foremost experts on mental health. He now dedicates his life to helping others afflicted by mental illness. This is all a far cry from the young man who spent most of his formative years in and out of hospitals and teetering on the edge of addiction. Curing Madness is in essence a self-help book which provides a blueprint for recovery from severe mental illness. This is an important book for anybody who experiences some sort of mental distress.
Delivering for mental health using self-help in primary care and community based services: a guide to everyday service delivery for mild to moderate psychological problems: lessons from the Doing Well by People with Depression programme
- Author:
- SCOTLAND. Scottish Executive
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Executive
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 37p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
This guide is an interactive practical approach to setting up supported self-help services for the treatment of psychological problems in a primary care/community-based setting. It has been taken from the learning and the evaluation of the Doing Well by People with Depression programme funded by the former Centre for Change and Innovation (now the Improvement and Support Team). Reasons for implementing a service are outlined along with definitions of self-help.
Mental illness...hush
- Author:
- McGILL Paul
- Journal article citation:
- Scope, November 2006, p.14.
- Publisher:
- Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action
The author reports on new research by the Health Promotion Agency on public attitudes to mental health in Northern Ireland. When people were asked to name major health problems, very few listed mental health. However, when the 1,013 respondents in the survey were prompted the figures changed a lot, highlighting, that people initially did not recognise mental health as a major issue.
Invariance of SCL-90-R dimensions of symptom distress in patients with peri partum pelvic pain (PPPP) syndrome
- Authors:
- ARRINDELL W. A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 45(3), September 2006, pp.377-391.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
There are no studies available that have examined the factorial invariance of dimensions underlying the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) across at least three distinct samples. In the following study, we wished to determine whether a dimensional model comprising eight primary factors previously identified in psychiatric out-patients, phobics and the general population (Arrindell & Ettema, 2003) could be extended to a homogeneous sample of pain patients comprising females suffering from peri partum pelvic pain (PPPP) syndrome (N=413). The internal consistency and discriminant validity of the dimensions were also examined. The SCL-90-R and measures of disability, pain-related fear, pain intensity and fatigue were administered to the participants. The multiple group method was used to determine factorial invariance. Pearson correlations were determined between the SCL-90-R and aforementioned measures. The factorial invariance of an 8-dimensional model of primary factors underlying the SCL-90-R, namely, agoraphobia, anxiety, depression, somatization, cognitive-performance deficits, interpersonal sensitivity-mistrust, acting-out hostility and sleep difficulties, was extended with success to the present sample of PPPP patients. In spite of substantial correlations between the internally consistent SCL-90-R symptom dimensions, some evidence of discriminant validity was reported in that specific subscales showed different patterns of correlations with measures of disability, pain-related fear, pain intensity and fatigue. The 8-dimensional system based on the work of Arrindell and Ettema (2003) was invariant across psychiatric patients, phobics, the general population and pain patients. The invariance of the SCL-90-R hostility dimensions may have implications for a re-formulation of Watson and Clark's tripartite model of general distress, specific anxiety and specific depression.
Mood switch in bipolar depression: comparison of adjunctive venlafaxine, bupropion and sertraline
- Authors:
- POST R. M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 189(2), August 2006, pp.124-131.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Few studies have examined the relative risks of switching into hypomania or mania associated with second-generation antidepressant drugs in bipolar depression. The aim was to examine the relative acute effects of bupropion, sertraline and venlafaxine as adjuncts to mood stabilisers. In a 10-week trial, participants receiving out-patient treatment for bipolar disorder (stratified for rapid cycling) were randomly treated with a flexible dose of one of the antidepressants, or their respective matching placebos, as adjuncts to mood stabilisers. A total of 174 adults with bipolar disorder I, II or not otherwise specified, currently in the depressed phase, were included. All three antidepressants were associated with a similar range of acute response (49-53%) and remission (34-41%). There was a significantly increased risk of switches into hypomania or mania in participants treated with venlafaxine compared with bupropion or sertraline. More caution appears indicated in the use of venlafaxine rather than bupropion or sertraline in the adjunctive treatment of bipolar depression, especially if there is a prior history of rapid cycling