Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 11
The influence of thoughts of death and suicidal ideation on the course of depression in older depressed patients
- Authors:
- BOGERS Ista C.H.M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 32(8), 2017, pp.882-891.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objective: Thoughts of death are not regularly included in diagnostic instruments and rarely examined separately from thoughts of suicide. This exploratory study examined whether thoughts of death and thoughts of suicide affect the course of late-life depressive disorders. Methods: In 378 depressed older persons, thoughts of death and thoughts of suicide were assessed using questions from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. After 2 years, the presence of a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of minor or major depression or dysthymia was assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology was administered every 6 months up till 3-year follow-up. Results: Multinomial logistic regression showed that thoughts of death as well as thoughts of suicide predicted double depression at follow-up (OR = 2.14 [95% CI: 1.04–4.40] and OR = 6.47 [95% CI: 2.22–3.02], respectively), compared with patients without these thoughts. Results became non-significant when adjusted for baseline depression severity (OR = 1.17 [95% CI: 0.52–2.63] and OR = 2.57 [95% CI: 0.79–8.84], respectively). Mixed linear models showed that severity of depression was lowest in the reference group, while symptoms decreased more over time in those with either thoughts of death or suicide. Conclusions: Patients with thoughts of death or with thoughts of suicide were more severely depressed at baseline and follow-up, with the highest risk of being depressed at follow-up for patients with thoughts of suicide. These associations could be explained by baseline depression severity. The results suggest that thoughts of death and thoughts of suicide are important risk markers in predicting the course of depression. (Publisher abstract)
Huntington's disease
- Author:
- QUARRELL Oliver
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 154p.
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
- Edition:
- 2nd ed.
Huntington's Disease is a genetically inherited condition, the result of severe nerve-cell damage in the brain. Due to the recent identification of the gene involved, and the debilitating nature of the disease, a great many more people are now affected either directly or indirectly (families and carers) by this condition. The majority of people develop the disease between the ages of 35 and 55, so for those that are aware of a genetic inheritance, there are enormous problems to confront - should you carry on life as normal? Should you start a family? In this, the first book on Huntington's disease written for sufferers and their families, advice is given on living with this disabling illness. Written as much for carers as for the patients themselves, the book aims to answer some of the questions that both sufferer and carer might have. With the identification of the responsible gene, genetic counselling is now available for those at risk of developing the disease. Though some may wish not to use these services, the book clearly explains the role of the counsellor, and what help is additionally available from the various patient organisations worldwide.
Age of discontent
- Author:
- EATON Lynn
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 1.3.01, 2001, p.25.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Argues that health and social services are not well equipped to help with depression among older people.
Huntington's disease: psychiatric practice in molecular genetic prediction and diagnosis
- Authors:
- SCOURFIELD Jane, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 170, February 1997, pp.146-149.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Predictive genetic testing for Huntington's disease has been available in Cardiff since 1987 using linked genetic markers, and since 1993 using direct mutation testing, which can also be used as a diagnostic test. During this period there have been numerous referrals that have require liaison with psychiatric services at all stages of the testing programme. Discusses a series of cases to highlight issues from both genetic prediction and diagnosis that are relevant to psychiatric practice and have arisen during the testing programme. Raises issues concerning competence to consent to testing in the context of psychotic illness; depression and suicidal ideation in test candidates; requests for testing from third parties such as psychiatrists, social services and the courts; and testing of children. Concludes that as genetic testing becomes possible for more disorders the lessons learned from Huntington's disease will provide valuable guidelines for counselling.
Therapeutic approaches to Body Dysmorphic Disorder
- Authors:
- NEZIROGLU Fugel, KHEMLANI-PATEL Sony
- Journal article citation:
- Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 3(3), 2003, pp.307-322.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder characterized by an intense preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in appearance. BDD has posed a challenge to mental health professionals as a result of its complex clinical presentation, involving issues such as high overvalued ideation, comorbidity, suicidality, and severe impairment in daily functioning. This article reviews the appropriate psychological and psychopharmacological treatment approaches for BDD, and it offers clinical strategies to address the multiple array of symptoms.
Nursing home suicides: a psychological autopsy study
- Authors:
- SOUMINEN Kirsi, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(12), December 2003, pp.1095-1101.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Older adults comprise a fifth of all suicides. Elders are the fastest growing part of the population, thus the number of persons needing nursing home care will increase dramatically in the near future. Little information has been available about suicides in nursing homes. The present study described all suicides among older adults in nursing homes in Finland during a 12-month period emphasizing the factors that have been found to be associated with suicide in the general elderly population. Drawing on data from a psychological autopsy study of all suicides (n=1397) in Finland during one year, all suicides committed by patients in nursing homes were identified. Retrospective DSM-IV consensus diagnoses were assigned. Twelve elderly (aged 60 years or more) nursing home residents who died by suicide, 0.9% of all suicides, were identified. The primary finding of the present study was that nursing home residents who died by suicide had suffered from highly comorbid somatopsychiatric disorders. One or more diagnoses on Axis I were made for all who died by suicide in nursing home. Depressive syndrome was diagnosed in three-quarters of subjects. Only a third of these were identified to have suffered from depressive symptoms before their death. Early recognition and adequate treatment of both somatic diseases and mental disorders, particularly depression, as well as early recognition of suicide risk among nursing home residents, are needed in order to prevent suicide.
Hopelessness and the anticipation of positive and negative future experiences in older parasuicidal adults
- Authors:
- CONAGHAN Susan, DAVIDSON Kate M.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 41(3), September 2002, pp.233-242.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This article examines whether older people who are depressed or had engaged in parasuicidal behaviour could be identified by any increase in negative future experiences in comparison with a community control group. It was found that older parasuicidal and older depressed participants were characterised by a reduction in positive anticipation and that this may be accounted for by depression rather than hopelessness.
Deliberate self-harm: the impact of a specialist DSH team on assessment quality
- Authors:
- WHYTE Sean, BLEWETT Andrew
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatric Bulletin, 25(3), March 2001, pp.98-101.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
This research was a repetition after 5 years of a prospective case note audit, looking at the impact of a recently established deliberate self-harm (DSH) assessment team on the quality of DSH assessments at Kettering general hospital. Results showed that a specialist DSH team achieved improvement in the quality of psychiatric assessments for the majority of patients who harmed themselves. Assessments of mental state by accident and emergency (A&E) and medical staff before referral to the psychiatric team remain problematic. Setting up a specialist team to assess patients who harm themselves can improve the quality of the psychiatric care they receive, but emphasis must still be placed on an adequate assessment of mental state by medical and nursing staff in A & E and on medical wards.
Alcohol and mental health
- Author:
- -
- Journal article citation:
- Acquire Alcohol Concern's Quarterly Information and Research Bulletin, Autumn 1996, pp.1-3.
- Publisher:
- Alcohol Concern
In October, Alcohol Concern held a conference, "Problem drinkers with complex needs," recognising that some people dependent on alcohol or drugs have a range of problems including severe mental health difficulties. Looks at the research background.
Suicide in special populations and circumstances: a review
- Authors:
- RANGE Lillian M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aggression and Violent Behavior, 2(1), Spring 1997, pp.53-63.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Describes the characteristics of people at risk of suicidality and discusses implications for prevention strategies.