Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Cognitive-behavioural treatment for severe and persistent health anxiety (Hypochondriasis)
- Authors:
- SALKOSKIS Paul M., WARWICK Hilary M. C., DEALE Alicia C.
- Journal article citation:
- Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 3(3), 2003, pp.353-367.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Hypochondriasis is presently classified as a somatoform disorder. However, in terms of phenomenology and cognitive processes, it is probably best considered as a form of severe and persistent anxiety focused on health. This reconceptualization allows the application of Beck's general cognitive theory of anxiety to the understanding and treatment of hypochondriasis. In this paper, the classification and phenomenology of health anxiety is explained in terms of a specific cognitive-behavioural conceptualization. The way this conceptualisation has been successfully applied to the treatment of health anxiety and hypochodriasis is described. The all-important task of engagement is accomplished as part of the cognitive assessment, which helps the patient develop and evaluate an alternative understanding of their problems. This understanding focuses on how misinterpretations of health-related information (mainly bodily variations and medical information) leads to a pattern of responses including anxiety, distorted patterns of attention, safety-seeking behaviors, and physiological arousal. These responses in turn account for the patient's pattern of symptoms and functional impairment. Treatment progresses by helping the patient actively explore the validity of the alternative account of their problems arising from the shared understanding. This objective is accomplished through two avenues: one, discussion, which has the purpose of making sense of the person's experience; and two, active evaluation of the mechanisms involved, through collaboratively designed and implemented behavioural experiments. Evidence from randomised controlled trials strongly suggests that cognitive treatments are effective and that the effects are specific to the treatment techniques used. Development of this work will likely branch into medical problems, where a prominent component of health anxiety exists.
Exploring the concept of recovery from the perspective of people with mental health problems
- Author:
- WARREN Kate
- Publisher:
- University of East Anglia. School of Social Work and Psychosocial Studies
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 56p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Norwich
Recovery is about seeing people and people seeing themselves as capable of recovery rather than as passive recipients of professional treatments. It is about working out strategies and taking control of our own lives. Within the recovery approach,developing in states in America, New Zealand and elsewhere, individuals are encouraged to learn more about their experience, and find ways to deal with their mental health experiences. People are actively supported to acquire the skills, knowledge and strength to reduce the prevalence or harmful experiences in safe, simple and effective ways. The focus is on self determination and cascading strategies. This means that those who participate in the groups will have a framework for recovery but will determine for themselves how they take this forward. This is a quite different way of doing things from the pervading methodology. It is about people taking control of their own lives, being responsible for their actions and self empowerment.
Understanding the interface of HIV, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance use and its implications for health outcomes
- Authors:
- BRIEF D. J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- AIDS Care, 16(Supplement 1), January 2004, pp.S97-S120.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Many individuals living with HIV have been exposed to some type of traumatic event during their lives and may be living with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A substantial number of these individuals are also likely to show evidence of a co-morbid substance use disorder (SUD). There is reason to believe that the co-occurrence of HIV and PTSD or co-morbid PTSD and SUD (PTSD/SUD) may predict poorer health outcomes. There are several pathways through which PTSD or PTSD/SUD might adversely impact the health of individuals living with HIV, including participation in negative health behaviours, low levels of adherence to antiretroviral medications, and/or a direct, deleterious effect on immune function. Psychological interventions are needed to treat PTSD and PTSD/SUD in HIV-positive individuals, and reduce the negative impact of these conditions on health outcomes. This article will explore data on the prevalence of trauma exposure, PTSD, and PTSD/SUD among individuals living with HIV, the pathways through which these conditions might affect health, possible interventions for PTSD and PTSD/SUD for individuals living with HIV, and methods for integrating care for individuals with these disorders. Future directions for research related to HIV, PTSD, and PTSD/SUD are also be discussed.
Providing medical evaluations for possible child maltreatment to children with special health care needs
- Authors:
- GIARDINO Angelo P., HUDSON Karen M., MARSH Judith
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 27(10), October 2003, pp.1179-1186.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Children with special health care needs are known to be at increased risk of all forms of child maltreatment when compared to children without such needs. The authors describe a health care team's experience providing medical evaluations for suspected child maltreatment to children with special health care needs. Consecutive cases seen as outpatients in the Abuse Referral Clinic for Children with Disabilities were abstracted and analyzed. Mail and telephone follow-up contact was attempted after the medical evaluation to determine adherence with treatment recommendations. A subsample of cases for which complete financial information was available was reviewed to determine a reimbursement rate. During the study, 49 children received complete outpatient evaluations. Ages ranged from 3 to 16 years old, and 54% were males. Special needs spanned a wide range of physical, developmental/cognitive and behavioral conditions. The largest number of referrals came from child protective services (42%) followed by referrals from physicians (27%). After the team's comprehensive evaluation, 18% of the children were found to have a history or physical examination that was diagnostic for child maltreatment, 13% were thought to be at high risk, 25% were thought to be at low risk and 44% were thought to have non-abusive etiologies. The collection rate was 14% for an average reimbursement of $38 per case. Only 29 caregivers could be found at follow-up and 22 remembered the recommendations made by the team. Of the 25 cases that were referred for outpatient mental health counseling, 12 (48%) complied. Children with a wide range of special health care needs were evaluated in an outpatient special health care needs clinic that offered comprehensive medical evaluations for possible child maltreatment. Medical evaluation services for this group of children were poorly reimbursed. Mental health services were frequently recommended but often not accessed. Child maltreatment teams seeking to serve children with special health care needs will need to plan for service delivery to a potentially diverse group of children and families who may experience difficulty in carrying through on the team's treatment recommendations.
Physical health of adults with intellectual disabilities
- Editors:
- PRASHER Vee, JANICKI Matthew
- Publisher:
- Blackwell
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 286p.,bibliogs.
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
In common with the rest of the population, people with intellectual disabilities are experiencing increased longevity. Evidence suggests that mental health disorders may occur in up to half of all persons with intellectual disability and that these disorders accelerate significantly with age. Part one: prevalence and diagnosis; part two: treatments and interventions.
Involuntary treatment of defendants found incompetent to stand trial
- Author:
- BULLOCK Jennifer Leslie
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice, 2(4), 2002, pp.1-33.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia
This American article reviews the literature and case law on the concept of trial competence and the constitutional bases for the right to refuse psychiatric treatment, and examines the right to refuse treatment as it applies to pre-trial detainees. The practical implications of trying to balance the defendant's interests against the state's interests,while protecting the defendant's best medical interests, are discussed.
Overview of child and adolescent mental health services
- Authors:
- HOWELLS Sheila, ROBBINS Julia
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Review, 4(1), March 1999, pp.6-13.
- Publisher:
- Pier Professional
Provides an overview of mental health services for children and young people, including assessment, treatment efficacy and recent policy developments.
Improving quality in primary care: a practical guide to the national service framework for mental health
- Authors:
- GASK Linda, et al
- Publisher:
- University of Manchester. National Primary Care Research and Development Centre
- Publication year:
- 2000
- Pagination:
- 60p.
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
The aim of this handbook is to provide a simple practical guide to the National Service Framework (NSF) for Mental Health which was published by the Government in 1999. The guide is mainly for people working in primary care. It suggests what Primary Care Groups and Primary Care Trusts can do to meet the expectations of the NSF, and also what individual practices and practitioners can do. There are several issues that cut across the standards and will offer a particular challenge to primary care viz: ensuring primary care reaches out to the socially excluded; providing training so that primary care professionals have the skills and knowledge to deal effectively with mental health problems; addressing current inequities of access to services; developing care pathways and protocols; defining severely mentally ill; providing for the mental health and other needs of carers by working with social care agencies and the voluntary sector; and preventing suicide through assessment of risk and crisis management.