Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 16
Neuroscience in social work practice and education
- Author:
- JOHNSON Harriette C.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 1(3), 2001, pp.81-102.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In the past two decade, advances in neuroscience research have revolutionised the scientific community's understanding of brain/behaviour connections. Social work is now taking note of this trend. Specialists in substance abuse, addiction, and co-occurring diagnoses are beginning to relinquish long-held beliefs in mind-body dualism in favour of a truly integrated biopsychosocial understanding. This article identifies challenges related to social work and argues that neurobiological knowledge is essential for a biopsychosocial understanding of substance abuse and addiction, other mental disorders, co-occurring conditions, and human behaviour. It gives examples of drawing on neurobiological knowledge for practice applications. These include educating users, families, and providers about neurobiological aspects of substance abuse (psychodeucation); using neuroscience research on mental illness and addiction to develop integrated approaches for dually diagnosed persons; and considering a range of medication options to alleviate cravings and reduce relapse.
What neurobiology has to say about why people abuse alcohol and other drugs
- Author:
- LITTRELL Jill
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 1(3), 2001, pp.23-40.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Four major hypotheses have formulated to address the issue of why some people develop compulsive use of particular drugs. These hypotheses include: (1) drugs that are abuse sensitive the motivational systems of the brain such that the behavioural routines for acquisition of the drug become compulsive, (2) drugs that are abused stimulate the pleasure centers in the brain, (3) people who abuse drugs are naturally in an aversive state that their drug use enables them to escape, and (4) drugs of abuse are associated with aversive withdrawal phenomena which can be elicited by conditioned stimuli, therefore people continue to take drugs to avert conditioned withdrawal states. This paper examines each of these hypotheses in light of research findings from neurobiology.
Childhood maltreatment among Norwegian drug abusers in treatment
- Authors:
- RAVNDAL Edle, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Social Welfare, 10(2), April 2001, pp.142-147.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This article reports on the investigation of the correlation between the European Addiction Severity Index and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire among 102 Norwegian drug abusers admitted to treatment. The aim of the study is to explore how different types and levels of childhood trauma and social and psychiatric factors, medical situation and experienced family history are interrelated. Concludes that more research, and especially prospective studies, is needed to clarify the importance of parents' substance abuse and psychiatric problems in childhood/adolescence compared with trauma in the client's childhood and the client's current psychiatric status.
The prevalence and characteristics of co-occurring serious mental illness (SMI) and substance abuse or dependence in the patients of Adult Mental Health and Addictions Services in eastern Dorset
- Authors:
- VIRGO Nick, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 10(2), April 2001, pp.175-188.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Researchers interviewed key workers of all NHS inpatient, day-patient and outpatient Adult Mental Health (AMH) and Addictions Services in eastern Dorset. 'Dual diagnosis' (co-occurring severe mental illness (SMI) and substance abuse or dependence) occurred in 12% of addictions, 12% of all AMH, and 20% of SMI, AMH patients (range 10% rehabilitation to 41% acute wards). Most 'dual diagnoses' in AMH were alcohol and/or cannabis abuse with psychoses, and in addictions heroin dependence and/or alcohol abuse or dependence with depression. Compared with other AMH, SMI patients, AMH 'dual diagnosed' patients were younger; were more often male, in less stable accommodation, unemployed, with more than one psychiatric diagnosis and personality disorder; and tended to have more crises and pose greater risk to themselves and others. Compared with 'dual diagnosed' addictions patients they were less involved with drugs, at less risk of abuse by others and less often acknowledged dual problems.
Running out of choices
- Author:
- GEORGE Mike
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 19.4.01, 2001, pp.30-31.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Providing supported housing for clients with mental health problems can be challenging. An outreach support worker talks to the author about the difficulties she faced when working with a client whose chaotic lifestyle made it difficult to maintain him in his assured tenancy.
Psychiatric effects of cannabis
- Author:
- JOHNS Andrew
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 178, February 2001, pp.116-122.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Aims To re-evaluate the adverse effects of cannabis in the general population and among vulnerable individuals, including those with serious psychiatric disorders. It was found that an appreciable proportion of cannabis users report short-lived adverse effects, including psychotic states following heavy consumption, and regular users are at risk of dependence. People with major mental illnesses such as schizophrenia are especially vulnerable in that cannabis generally provokes relapse and aggravates existing symptoms. Health workers need to recognise, and respond to, the adverse effects of cannabis on mental health.
Nicotine, alcohol and drug dependence and psychiatric comorbidity: results of a national household survey
- Authors:
- FARRELL Michael, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 179, November 2001, pp.432-437.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study aims to report on consumption patterns of and dependence on nicotine, alcohol and non-prescribed drugs and to report on the levels of psychiatric morbidity in these groups. A national household study of psychiatric morbidity was conducted in England and Wales. This research compares the levels of psychiatric morbidity in the non-dependent and the nicotine-, alcohol- and drug-dependent cases. Results found twelve per cent of the non-dependent population were assessed as having any psychiatric disorder compared with 22% of the nicotine-dependent, 30% of the alcohol-dependent and 45% of the drug-dependent population. Concludes that there is a clear relationship between dependence on nicotine, alcohol and drugs and other psychiatric morbidity.
The clinical advantage of the death instinct
- Author:
- WASKA Robert
- Journal article citation:
- Psychoanalytic Social Work, 8(2), 2001, pp.23-40.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The death instinct is dirived from Kleinian theory and has been subject to great debate. This paper explores the advantages of the concept from both a clinical and theoretical perspective. Due to their self-destructive ways, certain patients seem to create difficult and destructive transference-countertransference patterns. Case material is used to illustrate manifestations of the death instinct.
Retrospective reasons for the initiation of substance use: gender and ethnic effects
- Authors:
- CORCORAN Myra, CORCORAN Jacqueline
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 10(1), 2001, pp.69-83.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Evidence for co-morbidity in psychiatric disorders and chemical dependency suggests that people with addiction problems use drugs and alcohol to cope with painful affective states and symptoms. At the same time, sustained chemical use may also lead to further damage and mimic symptoms of disorders. This American study was designed to build knowledge about the reasons in-patient and out-patient substance abusers in treatment initially use, and to test if there were differences between gender and ethnic (White non-Hispanic and African -American) groups. Findings indicated that people not only started using drugs and alcohol to enhance affective states, they also were likely to use chemicals as a way to cope with painful, affective symptoms. Gender seemed to play a salient role than ethnicity in that females of either ethnicity were more likely than males to endorse items relating to the management of negative affective states, for enhancement of skills and problem-solving abilities, and for perceived lack of alternatives. Implications study are provided.
Double jeopardy
- Author:
- VALIOS Natalie
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 28.6.01, 2001, pp.20-21.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Services tend to be tailored either to people with mental health problems or to those with drug or alcohol misuse problems, not to both. Looks at what happens when a person presents needs in both categories.