Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 33
Helping children with the Steps to Cope intervention
- Authors:
- TEMPLETON Lorna, SIPLER Ed
- Journal article citation:
- Drugs and Alcohol Today, 14(3), 2014, pp.126-136.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to summarise the findings from two projects in Northern Ireland which investigated the feasibility of adapting an existing adult intervention, the 5-Step Method, for children affected by parental substance misuse and/or parental mental illness. The structured brief psychosocial intervention is called Steps to Cope and can be delivered as an individual or group intervention. Design/methodology/approach: The two projects recruited and trained 57 practitioners from across Northern Ireland, 20 of whom went on to use the Steps to Cope intervention with a total of 43 children. Findings: It appears possible to adapt the intervention for children; to train practitioners, some of whom are able to use the intervention with one or more children; and for the intervention to benefit children in line with the five steps of the intervention targeting areas such as health, feelings, information, coping, support, and resilience. However, there are organisational and practical barriers to delivery which need to be overcome for the intervention to be more widely implemented. Originality/value: Steps to Cope is a unique intervention for this population and the findings discussed here suggest that the model has potential in an area where support for children in their own right is lacking. (Publisher abstract)
Humour-related interventions for people with mental illness: a randomised controlled pilot study
- Authors:
- RUDNICK Abraham, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 50(6), 2014, pp.737-742.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study explored the feasibility and effects of humour-related interventions for mentally ill adults. Twelve, randomly assigned, participated in each of 3 arms: stand up comedy training (the experimental arm), discussing comedy videos (the active control arm), and no humour-related intervention (the passive control arm). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected at baseline, end of interventions (3 months) and follow up (after another 3 months). Scale comparisons were largely negative, although self-esteem marginally increased in the experimental arm. Interview responses indicated benefits for the interventions, including improved self-esteem in the experimental arm. These results, though mixed, justify further study. (Publisher abstract)
Developing community support for homeless people with mental illness in transition
- Author:
- CHEN Fang-pei
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 50(5), 2014, pp.520-530.
- Publisher:
- Springer
To facilitate effective transitional services and enhance continuity of care among people with mental illness, this grounded theory study explored the practice of developing community support in critical time intervention (CTI), a time-limited, shortterm psychosocial rehabilitation program designed to facilitate the critical transition from institutional to community settings. Semi-structured, one-on-one interviews with twelve CTI workers were analyzed. Results show that CTI workers self-identified as an “extra support” to develop community ties that will help clients sustain stable housing. Their practice of community support development was represented by a transient triangular relationship model, involving three dyadic relationships (worker-client, worker-primary support, primary support-client) as the building blocks and specific strategies to facilitate the relational transition. Findings also detailed identification of community supports, collaboration and boundary issues in working with primary supports, and engagement with clients in this transitional process. Recommendations were drawn from findings to enhance broad discharge and transitional services. (Publisher abstract)
Psychopathy: a comprehensive review of its assessment and intervention
- Authors:
- MOREIRA Diana, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(3), 2014, pp.191-195.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Psychopathy is one of the most studied personality disorders, in terms of the negative impact that the behaviours associated with this disorder — particularly, the criminal behaviour — have in the community where the individual lives. The aim of this article is to present a comprehensive literature review on psychopathy, focusing some difficulties related to its concept, assessment, and intervention. Here, psychopathy is presented as a construct resulting from decades of clinical and empirical research, and whose dimensional nature justifies the possibility of assessing the general population. Studies indicate that psychopathy is manifested in a number of behaviours resulting from biological and personality factors related to a series of family history and environmental factors. The authors emphasise the need for more empirical research on psychopathy in the general population in Portugal, regarding the development and adaptation of measures of the construct. (Edited publisher abstract)
Meanings of well-being from the perspectives of youth recently diagnosed with psychosis
- Author:
- LAL Shalini
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 23(1), 2014, pp.25-30.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: The phenomenon of well-being has attracted a surge of attention in mental health policy, clinical practice and research internationally. Yet, the definitions of well-being remain elusive, and there is limited understanding on its meanings from the perspectives of youth mental health service users. Objective: This study explored the meanings of well-being from the perspectives of youth mental health service users diagnosed with psychosis in the past 3 years. Methods: Using a qualitative approach, the authors conducted semi-structured interviews and participant-photography elicited focus groups with 17 youth recruited from an early intervention programme for psychoses and a mental health programme specialising in the delivery of psychiatric services to street youth. Analysis combined the methods of constructivist grounded theory and narrative inquiry. Findings: The findings illustrate five key themes in participants’ conceptualisations of well-being: multidimensionality; active oriented states; social environment; identity; and normality. Dimensions of well-being identified in participants’ accounts include: psychological, physical, emotional, moral/virtuous, financial/material, spiritual, and social aspects. Conclusions: Our heuristic framework for conceptualising well-being, grounded in the narrative accounts of youth participants, can inform the future planning and design of interventions, research, and outcome measures pertaining to the well-being of youth recently diagnosed with psychosis. (Edited publisher abstract)
A systematic review of studies examining effectiveness of therapeutic communities
- Authors:
- MAGOR-BLATCH Lynne E., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Therapeutic Communities: the International Journal of Therapeutic Communities, 35(4), 2014, pp.168-184.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to systematically review quantitative research since 2000 on the effectiveness of residential therapeutic communities (TCs) for the treatment of substance-use disorders with reference to substance-use, crime, mental health and social engagement outcomes. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic search with broad inclusion criteria resulted in the review of 11 studies. The studies investigated community-based TCs, as well as TCs modified for prisoners, prisoners transitioning to community living and TCs for individuals with co-occurring substance-use and mental health issues. Findings: Results were analysed by comparing the findings of the studies under investigation, of which three studies investigated within-subjects outcomes, four compared TC treatment with a no-treatment control condition and four compared TC treatment with another treatment condition. Conclusion: consistent with previous systematic reviews of TCs, outcomes varied across studies but indicated TCs are generally effective as a treatment intervention, with reductions in substance-use and criminal activity, and increased improvement in mental health and social engagement evident in a number of studies reviewed. Research limitations/implications: Variability in outcomes suggests further TC research and research syntheses focusing on a second key research question in the evaluation of complex interventions – how the intervention works – could play an important role in understanding TC effectiveness, and for whom it is effective and in what contexts. Practical implications: Although there is some variability in treatment populations included in this review, evidence reported in other studies suggests individuals with severe substance-use disorders, mental health issues, forensic involvement and trauma histories, will benefit from TC treatment. This is supported by the literature which has found a general relationship between severity of substance use and treatment intensity (Darke et al., 2012; De Leon et al., 2008) with outcomes further enhanced by self-selection into treatment and appropriate client-treatment matching (see De Leon, 2010; De Leon et al., 2000, 2008). The weight of evidence gleaned from multiple sources of research, including randomised control trials and field outcome studies (De Leon, 2010) suggests TCs are an important and effective treatment for clients in improving at least some aspects of their quality of life, specifically mental health and social engagement, and in reducing harmful behaviours, including substance-use and crime. Variability in treatment setting and populations reflect the real-world setting in which TC treatment is delivered, providing a multifaceted treatment modality to a complex population in variable circumstances. Originality/value: The strength of the current study is that it provided a broad evaluation of TC effectiveness across a range of outcomes (substance-use, criminal activity, mental health and social engagement), and is therefore valuable in updating the current literature and providing context for future research in this area. It aimed to address a key question in evaluating complex interventions: whether they are effective as they are delivered. Findings suggest that TC treatment is generally effective for the populations of concern in reducing substance use and criminal activity and contributing to some improvement in mental health and social engagement outcomes. (Publisher abstract)
Strengthening positive parenting through intervention evaluating the moms’ empowerment program for women experiencing intimate partner violence
- Authors:
- HOWELL Kathryn H., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 30(2), 2014, pp.232-252.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study examined the effectiveness of an evidence-based intervention in changing the positive and negative parenting practices of 120 mothers who experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) in the last 2 years. Mothers assigned to the treatment group participated in a 10-session evidence-based intervention, known as the Moms' Empowerment Program, which targets the mental health problems of women and works to increase access to resources and improve parenting abilities of women exposed to IPV. Participants were interviewed at baseline and immediately following the intervention or waitlist period, representing an elapsed time of approximately 5 weeks. After controlling for relevant demographic variables, violence severity, and mental health, women showed significantly more change in their positive parenting scores if they were in the treatment condition. No significant differences were found between the treatment and comparison groups in their negative parenting practices change scores. These findings suggest that even short-term intervention can improve positive parenting skills and parenting knowledge for women who have experienced partner abuse. (Publisher abstract)
Utilising a computer game as a therapeutic intervention for youth in residential care: Some preliminary findings on use and acceptability
- Authors:
- AVENTIN Aine, HOUSTON Stan, MACDONALD Geraldine
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 47(3), 2014, pp.362-369.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Mental illness is common amongst young people living in residential care, many of whom are reluctant to avail of therapeutic help. The potential value of computer games as therapeutic tools for these young people has received very little attention, despite indications of their potential for promoting engagement in therapeutic work and improving mental health outcomes. This study aimed to fill this research gap through the development, introduction, and preliminary evaluation of a therapeutic intervention in group care settings. The intervention incorporated a commercially available computer game (The SIMS Life Stories™) and emotion regulation skill coaching. Qualified residential social workers were trained to deliver it to young people in three children's homes in Northern Ireland, where therapeutic approaches to social work had been introduced. The research was framed as an exploratory case study which aimed to determine the acceptability and potential therapeutic value of this intervention. The evidence suggests that computer-game based interventions of this type may have value as therapeutic tools in group care settings and deserve further development and empirical investigation to determine their effectiveness in improving mental health outcomes (Publisher abstract)
Technology-based interventions in social work practice: a systematic review of mental health interventions
- Authors:
- RAMSEY Alex T., MONTGOMERY Katherine
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 53(9), 2014, pp.883-899.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This systematic review describes accounts of technology-based mental health interventions delivered by social workers over the past 10 years. Searches were conducted on the following databases: Academic Search Complete, Academic Search Premier, ERIC, PsycINFO, CINAHL, CINAHL Plus, PsycARTICLES, MEDLINE, Social Work Abstracts, and PsycCRITIQUES. A total of 5,289 items were retrieved, 87 full articles were assessed and resulted in six articles that reported on five studies for the final inclusion. The content and target population of the technology-based interventions spanned widely, including computer-based cognitive behavioural therapy to treat childhood anxiety, online self-help groups to manage recovery in sex offending adults, and videophone hospice care support for senior caregivers. Results highlight the impacts of these tools and summarize advantages and disadvantages to utilising technologies as a method for delivering or facilitating interventions. (Edited publisher abstract)
Mental health recovery is social
- Author:
- HOLTTUM Sue
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 18(3), 2014, pp.110-115.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to summarise two 2014 research papers that highlight the role of social interactions and the social world in recovery in the context of mental distress. Design/methodology/approach: The author summarise two papers: one is about two theories from social psychology that help us understand social identity – our sense of who we are. The other brings together and looks at the similarities and differences between ten different therapies that can be called resource-oriented – that is, they focus on people's strengths and resources rather than what is wrong with them. Findings: The paper on social identity gives a convincing case for incorporating teaching about social identity – and the social groups to which people belong – into the training of mental health professionals. The paper on resource-oriented therapies suggests that social relationships are a main component of all ten therapies examined. This second paper suggested a need for more research and theory relating to resource-oriented therapies. Social identity theory could help address this issue. Mental health services may be able to help people more by focusing on their established and desired social identities and group-belonging, and their strengths, than is usual. Originality/value: These two papers seem timely given the growing recognition of the role of social factors in the development and maintenance of mental distress. More attention to social factors in recovery could help make it more self-sustaining. (Publisher abstract)