Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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A family approach to delirium: a review of the literature
- Author:
- HALLOWAY Shannon
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 18(2), 2014, pp.129-139.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This literature review had the following objectives: (1) evaluate the current state of research into delirium management (prevention, identification, or treatment of delirium) with family approaches or involvement, (2) identify gaps and areas that require investigation, and (3) determine a future course of research. A comprehensive search of original research was conducted in six major databases using seven keywords in 2012. The literature search yielded a total of 2160 articles. Criteria for eligibility were met by a total of 11 articles. The articles were evaluated in regards to purpose, sample, research design, level of evidence, variables, and results. The literature review revealed that this topic is emergent and requires substantial additional research. The aspects of delirium care that researchers investigated were diverse and included bedside interventions (n = 3), screening strategies (n = 4), family education (n = 2), and care that employed multiple components (n = 2). Delirium outcomes improved significantly in two high-quality studies: one multi-component intervention and one bedside intervention program. Other noteworthy findings of lower quality studies warrant further examination. The review of the articles did not determine if the involvement of families in delirium management improves patient outcomes; however, the review revealed potential for program development and future courses of research.
The burden of living with and caring for a suicidal family member
- Author:
- McLAUGHLIN Columba
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 23(5), 2014, pp.236-240.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Aim: This study explores the lived experiences of participants who cared for suicidal family members. Methods: Eighteen participants were interviewed using a short topic guide. Responses were digitally recorded and transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: One overarching theme: “Hard work for the whole family” and four sub-themes: (i) Family burden, (ii) competing pressures, (iii) secrecy and shame and (iv) helplessness and guilt. Conclusions: Caring for a suicidal family member may be euphemistically summarised as “hard work” that impacts heavily on the day-to-day tasks of other family members. Participants spent much time worrying and ruminating about the risk of suicide in their family member. Mental health care professionals ought to acknowledge and address the impact that suicidal behaviour has on family carers. (Edited publisher abstract)
Assessing the capacity of parents with mental illness: parents with mental illness and risk
- Author:
- BOURSNELL Melanie
- Journal article citation:
- International Social Work, 57(2), 2014, pp.92-108.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This article presents findings from an empirical study of 23 parents with mental illness in New South Wales, Australia. Discussion focuses on the prevailing risk discourse associated with parental mental illness which suggests a limited capacity to parent. Risk assessment practice creates expectations about parenting ability, often utilizing rigid, inflexible and predetermined categorical information. This approach limits social work practice. The discussion presents an insight into how parents manage mental illness and how they manage risk. The narratives of the parents encourage social workers to increase their skills in family-focused working practices to enhance engagement with these families. (Publisher abstract)
Improving mental health through social support: building positive and empowering relationships
- Author:
- LEACH Jonathan
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 208
- Place of publication:
- London
This book examines the nature of social support and offers a practical approach to how it can be enhanced. Social support is the everyday assistance offered by family, friends, neighbours and colleagues, as well as the foundations of support in a range of non-clinical settings, and plays a vital role in a person's mental health and wellbeing. Focusing on the relationships between service users and supporters, this book examines service users' experiences of issues of identity, stigma, social exclusion and social networks. Individual chapters look in depth at how social support is enacted in close relationships, educational institutions and in the world of employment. The nature of 'community' is explored with particular reference to how service users can be supported into greater engagement with social networks. (Edited publisher abstract)
Child maltreatment and high risk families
- Authors:
- TAYLOR Julie, LAZENBATT Anne
- Publisher:
- Dunedin Academic Press
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 110
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
Examines why most child maltreatment occurs within the context of high risk families. Although physical abuse can occur in any family, it is prevalent in particular sectors of society, where families may be vulnerable to a combination of complex risk factors such as domestic abuse, alcohol and drug (mis)use, and mental health issues. These factors are present in 34 per cent of Serious Case Reviews (SCRs). Physical abuse is a significant issue throughout the UK. Yet, while neglect and other forms of abuse are receiving focused attention, physical abuse may languish under the misconceptions that it is no longer a problem, is addressed elsewhere, or is just too overwhelming an issue. The physical abuse of children can involve regular, violent treatment at the hands of parents or carers over a number of years. Its physical effects may last for days and may result in actual physical injury. The authors provide an increased understanding of risk, analysis, impact, learning and the current landscape of service delivery in relation to the physical abuse of children living in high risk families for professional, postgraduate and policy-making audiences. (Edited publisher abstract)
The use of the Burden Assessment Scale with families of a pediatric population
- Authors:
- MURDOCH Douglas D., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 50(6), 2014, pp.703-710.
- Publisher:
- Springer
The emotional, financial and social impact on caregivers of those with paediatric psychiatric, emotional and behavioural disorders has been poorly documented. This study investigates the utility of the Burden Assessment Scale (BAS) with this population. 300 parents seeking services within a major Canadian city were interviewed using the BAS and a follow up questionnaire on the clarity, comprehensiveness and acceptability of the BAS. The BAS was clear, acceptable and comprehensive for over 80 per cent of participants. Factor analysis revealed four factors compared to the original five factors found with adults. The BAS had a utility with this population and would be a valuable addition to standard information gathered but use of the total score only is recommended. (Edited publisher abstract)
The Fit Families pilot study: preliminary findings on how parental health and other family system factors relate to and predict adolescent obesity and depressive symptoms
- Authors:
- HOOPER Lisa M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Family Therapy, 36(3), 2014, pp.308-336.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study, undergirded by family systems theory, examined the extent to which parent and family-level factors correlate with adolescent obesity and depressive symptoms. The authors also considered whether these variables predict unique variance in adolescent obesity and depressive symptoms. The participants were a convenience sample of 77 racially diverse, predominantly early adolescents (aged 12 to 17) and their parents. Results from a series of linear and logistic regression analyses indicated that three of the study factors (parental weight history, family resources and adolescent weight history) significantly contributed to the variance in adolescents' body mass indexes and only one of the study factors (parental depressive symptomatology) significantly contributed to the variance in adolescents' rates of depressive symptomatology. These preliminary findings clarify how parent and family system factors might inform family and school-based intervention and treatment efforts for adolescent health outcomes. Practitioner points: Family environment (measured in this study as family conflict and cohesion) should continue to be evaluated as a risk factor for obesity and depressive symptoms in racial and ethnic minority and non-minority families; Family therapists as well as other practitioners (for example, primary care providers) should assess for family conflict when adolescents present with physical and psychological distress and disturbances; Family therapists and other practitioners could be more effective if they established whether adolescent patients and their family members have the resources (for example, knowledge, financial ability and skills) needed to live a healthy lifestyle, as well as the coping strategies for maintaining their physical and psychological health. (Publisher abstract)
Feeling down: improving the mental health of people with learning disabilities.
- Author:
- BURKE Christine-Koulla
- Publisher:
- Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 36
- Place of publication:
- London
This report is aims to raise awareness among policy makers, commissioners and health and social care services and promote positive mental health of people with learning disabilities. It draws on a literature review, a national survey and focus groups, and real life case studies. The report begins by providing the context of the mental health needs of people with learning disabilities, drawing on the findings of a literature review. It then presents the results from a national survey and focus groups which look at the experiences of people with learning disabilities, their families, friends and staff when accessing support for their mental well-being. The final sections of the report provide recommendations for improving the mental health of people with learning disabilities. The report found that people with learning disabilities experience high levels of mental health problems. It also found that access to mental health services, assessment and treatment for this group needs to be improved. (Edited publisher abstract)
A systematic review of the familial co-aggregation of schizophrenia with non-psychotic disorders
- Authors:
- DeVYLDER Jordan E., OH Hans Y.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Mental Health, 12(3), 2014, pp.280-301.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Schizophrenia is a highly heritable mental health condition, likely due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Given that genes appear to predispose offspring to vulnerabilities or endophenotypes rather than to the disorder itself, and that environmental risk-factors tend to be shared across psychopathologies, it may be expected that other non-psychotic conditions to likewise aggregate with schizophrenia in families. This article reviews studies on familial co-aggregation of schizophrenia with other disorders, published over the past two decades. Twenty-two studies met inclusion criteria. Although many early family and cohort studies lacked statistical power due to small sample sizes, the overriding pattern is one in favor of familial co-aggregation of schizophrenia with a broad range of psychiatric conditions, including affective, anxiety, substance use, and childhood-onset disorders, which has been confirmed in recent population-based studies. Several causal hypotheses are proposed to explain these associations, which should be directly tested in future studies. These results suggest that family-based social work interventions for schizophrenia may benefit from an added emphasis on prevention and treatment of common mental health conditions among family members. (Edited publisher abstract)
The recovery framework as a way of understanding families' responses to mental illness: balancing different needs and recovery journeys
- Authors:
- WYDER Marianne, BLAND Robert
- Journal article citation:
- Australian Social Work, 67(2), 2014, pp.179-196.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Personal recovery is a guiding principle in mental health and suggests that consumers own and are responsible for their own recovery. An exclusive focus on the recovery of those living with mental illness challenges the relevance of recovery concepts to families’ experiences. This paper extends these recovery principles to consider if the recovery framework is helpful in understanding families’ experiences. We distinguished the family's recovery task by recovery-oriented support and the family's own recovery journey. By applying recovery frameworks developed by Davidson et al. and Leamy et al. to these two tasks, we were able to highlight similarities and points of tension between consumer and family recovery tasks. The tasks for families include: (1) maintaining hope; (2) reconnecting; (3) overcoming secondary trauma; and (4) journeying from carer to family. Family response to mental illness is a dynamic, multilayered process rather than a static and enduring role of caregiving. The recovery framework offers an alternative way to understand a family's response to mental illness and suggests possibilities for social work practice with families. (Edited publisher abstract)