Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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A critique of the diagnostic construct schizophrenia
- Author:
- WONG Stephen E.
- Journal article citation:
- Research on Social Work Practice, 24(1), 2014, pp.132-141.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This article examines problems in the clinical utility of the diagnosis of schizophrenia including reliance on questionable data, arbitrary criteria and categorization, inadequate precision for assessment and treatment evaluation, and omission of information on causal current and historical environmental factors. Some alternatives to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) are briefly considered including continuous recording of individual client’s specific problems and goals, and functional assessments and functional analyses. The article discusses how biomedical assumptions implicit in the DSM-5 diverts mental health workers’ attention from social adversity factors contributing to the development of psychotic behavior and available psychosocial interventions for this disorder, thereby perpetuating biomedical dominance of mental health services. (Publisher abstract)
Met and unmet need in youth mental health
- Authors:
- COSGRAVE Elizabeth M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 17(6), December 2008, pp.618-628.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Adolescents and young adults have a high incidence and prevalence of mental disorders, which can be disabling, chronic and lead to the development of further mental health problems. Yet their needs are not being adequately met by existing health structures. This study set out to examine the extent of met and unmet need in young people by assessing referrals to a public mental health service for 15 - 24 year olds in Western and Northwestern regions of Melbourne, Australia. The study sought to identify differences between young people who were accepted into the service and those who were not with respect to psychiatric diagnosis, subthreshold symptoms, and psychosocial functioning. All young people aged 15 - 24 years who were referred to the service from April to September 2003 for assistance with non-psychotic disorders were approached for assessment. 204 individuals were referred to the service with non-psychotic problems over the data collection period, and 150 consented to participate in the study. Fifty nine percent of participants (n = 88) were accepted into the service (the RA group). They were more likely to have a current diagnosis than those not accepted into the service (the RNA group; n = 62). The RA group had higher levels of depression and anxiety, and lower psychosocial functioning, compared to the RNA group. The RNA group were also unwell: nearly 63% had at least one diagnosis at the time of referral. Both the RA and RNA groups showed functional impairment. Limited services are denying assistance to young people with significant morbidity and associated functional impairment.
Timely identification of mental health problems in two foster care medical homes
- Authors:
- JEE Sandra, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 32(5), May 2010, pp.685-690.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Although high rates of mental health problems among children in foster care are well known, these problems are often not rapidly identified by primary care or other systems. This study, looking at a novel centralised delivery system and examining the identification of mental health within two paediatric medical homes for foster care, involved a retrospective medical review of all children (aged 6 to 18 years) entering foster care in two foster care clinics serving two county-wide populations. A sample of 242 children was used to describe demographics, rates for mental health problem identification, and length of time after entering foster care that mental health needs were identified. Using logistic regression analyses to examine variables associated with identification of mental health needs, it was found that both centralised foster care medical homes had high rates for identification of mental health problems (over 70% in both sites), timely identification within two months, and high mental health referral rates for children entering foster (over 70%)The findings suggest that attention to mental health needs for children in foster care within their primary care setting can impact identification rates and management of mental health.
Psychiatric disorder and unmet service needs among welfare clients in a representative payee program
- Authors:
- EVANS Jovier D., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 40(6), December 2004, pp.539-548.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study assessed psychiatric problems, needs for psychiatric and social services, and service utilization among clients of a public assistance programme. Sixty-five clients were assessed using a structured clinical interview to determine the presence of a psychiatric disorder (using the CIDI-A), extent of social service need, and health-related quality of life (RAND SF-36). Seventy-seven percent of the sample met criteria for at least one current or lifetime psychiatric disorder. Health-related quality of life was substantially below published norms. Most clients reported needing financial, housing, and vocational assistance. Many had contact with mental health services, but few were actually receiving psychiatric treatment. Although many clients were assessed as having serious psychiatric, physical, or social needs, very few were receiving appropriate services for these problems. Findings suggest problems or barriers to the provision of services that need to be investigated among this vulnerable community population.
The Scottish 700 Outcomes Study: Comparative Evaluation of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS), the Avon Mental Health Measure (AVON), and an Idiographic Scale (OPUS) in adult mental health
- Authors:
- HUNTER Robert, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 13(1), February 2004, pp.93-105.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Although many outcome measures are available, there is little empirical evidence to help clinicians to decide which to adopt in clinical, as opposed to research settings. The aim was to assess the content validity and levels of agreement between professionals and service users of three approaches to outcome measurement—a standard measure devised by mental health professionals (Health of the Nation Outcome Scale, HoNOS), a standard measure devised by service users and health professionals in partnership (the Avon Mental Health Measure, AVON), and an idiographic scale the Outcome of Problems of Users of Services (OPUS). The three measures were completed by nearly 700 predominantly long-term users of mental health services, and by their key worker clinicians. All major psychiatric diagnoses were represented in the cohort. A small sub-sample had repeat testing after 3 months to assess sensitivity to change of the three measures. Agreement between the three measures was low. Avon was more likely to detect problems, and to produce agreement between service users and key-workers, than HoNOS. Both omit key problem areas elicited using OPUS. All measures were sensitive to change. The Avon detects problems that service users judge to be important.
Barriers to using early signs monitoring in a forensic population
- Authors:
- BECK Alison, MORRISON Tamara
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 11(5), October 2002, pp.501-509.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Research has highlighted a number of barriers to disseminating psychosocial interventions, which might ease the burden for individuals with psychotic illnesses. Barriers include an absence of appropriate skills and knowledge, certain characteristics of the organisation and poor working relations between researchers and clinicians. This article briefly examines these barriers in the context of a study that attempted, but failed, to explore the utility of the Early Sign Scale (ESS) in predicting relapse in a forensic population. The barriers experienced in this study included difficulty obtaining consistently completed ESS forms, staff workload and work priorities, the structure of the organization (particularly the use of shift work), high staff turnover and a lack of understanding about the researcher's role.
Towards women-sensitive mental health services
- Authors:
- BARNES Marian, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Review, 7(1), March 2002, pp.19-21.
- Publisher:
- Pier Professional
Looks at women only mental health services, and draws on existing knowledge and research evidence about women's experiences of mental distress and of the mental health systems.
Pathways to care through an inner-city mental health service
- Author:
- HIRST Joanna F.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 8(4), August 1999, pp.373-384.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Although traditionally described as taking a linear course, patients' pathways to mental health care might be better summarised in terms of one or more circular sequential Distress-Appraisal-Action cycles. This systematic examination of the referral pathways of patients attending an inner-city psychiatric outpatients clinic revealed that three-quarters of patients' referral routes involved two or three Distress-Appraisal-Action cycles.
Developing mental health services for people with learning disabilities in England
- Author:
- SIMPSON Neill
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 2(2), April 1997, pp.35-42.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Many people with learning disabilities experience mental health problems, and the outcome is likely to be better if they have a good mental health service. Opinions vary about what form of good mental health service for people with learning disabilities would take. Great changes have occurred in services, but research about the effect of these changes is sparse. This article explores the nature of mental health problems which require services and compares two models for providing a specialist mental health service for people with learning disabilities.
Emotional and behavioral problems of children in residential care: screening detection and referrals to mental health services
- Authors:
- GONZALEZ-GARCIA Carla, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 73, 2017, pp.100-106.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Adverse family conditions, abuse and neglect during childhood present important risk factors for the appearance of emotional and behavioural problems. The main aim of this paper is to describe the presence of these kinds of disorders in children in residential child care and to explore individual, socio-family and care process factors associated with the use of mental health services. The sample consisted of 1216 children 6–18 years old in residential care in several Spanish regions. Information about emotional and behavioural problems was gathered according to two criteria: receiving some kind of treatment services and/or being identified as within the clinical range in the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Results showed that 49% of cases were receiving some kind of mental health treatment and 61% were identified as within the clinical range in some of the broad band scales of the CBCL. In terms of agreement between referral to treatment and CBCL scores, results showed that four out of ten cases identified as within the clinical range were not receiving any kind of treatment. Several factors related to the type of problems detected in the CBCL, personal variables, and child care arrangements are associated with greater use of mental health services. (Edited publisher abstract)