Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Complex dissociative disorders in social work: discovering the knowledge gaps
- Authors:
- FUNG Hong Wang, ROSS Colin A., LING Henry Wai-Hang
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Mental Health, 17(6), 2019, pp.682-702.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Social workers are major mental health service providers in many countries and regions. This paper presents five reasons to explain why complex dissociative disorders (complex DD) should receive more attention from social workers. The authors conducted a preliminary review of complex DD in the social work literature. In June 2019, the authors searched all articles related to complex DD in academic journals classified under the “Social Work” research area in two Web of Science databases. Twenty-four articles were identified and reviewed. Most articles did not even have insights/implications for working with trauma and dissociation survivors regarding the social aspects of their care. None of the articles discussed the potential role of social workers in the assessment or management of complex DD. The body of knowledge regarding complex DD remains seriously limited in the social work field. Several knowledge gaps are discussed. The article highlights some issues that social workers should consider when working with individuals with complex DD. (Edited publisher abstract)
Child maltreatment and adult psychopathology in an Irish context
- Author:
- FITZHENRY Mark
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 45, 2015, pp.101-107.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
One-hundred-ninety-nine adult mental health service users were interviewed with a protocol that included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Structured Clinical Interviews for Axis I and II DSM-IV disorders, the Global Assessment of Functioning scale, the SCORE family assessment measure, the Camberwell Assessment of Need Short Appraisal Schedule, and the Readiness for Psychotherapy Index. Compared to a U.S. normative sample, Irish clinical cases had higher levels of maltreatment. Cases with comorbid axis I and II disorders reported more child maltreatment than those with axis I disorders only. There was no association between types of CM and types of psychopathology. Current family adjustment and service needs (but not global functioning and motivation for psychotherapy) were correlated with a CM history. It was concluded that child maltreatment may contribute to the development of adult psychopathology, and higher levels of trauma are associated with co-morbid personality disorder, greater service needs and poorer family adjustment. A history of child maltreatment should routinely be determined when assessing adult mental health service users, especially those with personality disorders and where appropriate evidence-based psychotherapy which addresses childhood trauma should be offered (Publisher abstract)
The recovered memory controversy; a representative case study
- Author:
- COLANGELO James J.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 18(1), 2009, pp.103-121.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The recovered memory controversy has been an ongoing debate within the mental health profession for the past two decades. Disagreement remains over the veracity of “forgotten” memories of childhood sexual abuse that are recalled or recovered during therapy. At the heart of the controversy are the concepts of repression and dissociation as well as the impact traumatising events have on the encoding of memory. This article provides an overview of the central factors in the longstanding debate and presents a detailed clinical case study involving independent corroboration of memories of childhood sexual abuse recovered during treatment, which the author believes provides additional support for the potential veracity of recovered memories.
Pathological dissociation as measured by the child dissociative checklist
- Authors:
- WHERRY Jeffrey N., NEIL Debra A., TAYLOR Tamara N.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 18(1), 2009, pp.93-102.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The component structure of the Child Dissociative Checklist was examined among abused children. A factor described as pathological dissociation emerged that was predicted by participants being male. There also were differences in pathological dissociation between groups of sexually abused and physically abused children. Replication of this factor and the establishment of base rates for various groups of children are recommended so that the Child Dissociative Checklist might be used to more effectively eliminate false positives and increase true positives in the screening and ultimate treatment of dissociative children.
Is reported childhood sexual abuse associated with the psychopathological characteristics of patients who experience auditory hallucinations?
- Authors:
- OFFEN Liz, WALLER Glenn, THOMAS Glyn
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 27(8), August 2003, pp.919-927.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
The aim of this study was to determine whether reported childhood sexual abuse is related to the severity of symptoms in patients who experience auditory hallucinations. A sample of 26 adult male and females with psychotic disorders involving auditory hallucinations were interviewed and were asked to complete three self-report measures: the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II and DES-taxon versions); the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); and the Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire (BAVQ). They were also asked about any history of sexual abuse in childhood. A history of childhood sexual abuse was reported by 10 of the 26 patients (38.5%), and was associated with higher levels of depression and dissociation, as well as being linked to a tendency to regard the voices as more malevolent. The same three features were all associated with the age at first reported abuse, with a younger age of first experience being related to higher levels of psychopathology in all instances. These results require replication and refinement in future research, but indicate a need for greater attention to be paid to the possible role of childhood sexual abuse when understanding and treating auditory hallucinations.
Understanding dissociative disorders
- Author:
- LIVINGSTONE Kathryn
- Publisher:
- MIND
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 15p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Dissociation is a defence mechanism. Its primary function is to help people to survive traumatic experiences. The bomb survivor, quoted opposite, is describing a normal dissociative response, which allowed her to focus on the things she needed to do to survive, including remembering where the nearest exit was. Dissociation can also occur as a side effect of some drugs, medication and alcohol. Dissociative disorders occur when people have persistent and repeated episodes of dissociation. These usually cause distressing internal chaos and may interfere with work, school, social, or home life. This is called the dissociation continuum. A person’s position on the continuum will depend on the severity and mix of the types of dissociation they experience.The dissociation continuum, ranges from everyday dissociation, to depersonalisation disorder and dissociative amnesia; dissociative fugue and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); dissociative disorder not otherwise specified (DDNOS) to dissociative identity disorder (DID).
Torrential tears: the relationship between memory development, early trauma, and dysfunctional behaviour
- Author:
- INBINDER Francine C.
- Journal article citation:
- Clinical Social Work Journal, 30(4), Winter 2002, pp.343-357.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
The purpose of this article is to illustrate how findings in memory research can significantly inform our understanding of dysfunctional behaviour. It demonstrates that specific forms of memory, which are expressed through procedures or behaviors, reveal through their presentation information of diagnostic significance. From a neuropsychosocial perspective, this article suggests that the time at which early trauma intersects with the development of memory structures, systems and functions can be significant to the motivation of dysfunctional behaviour.
Profiles of adult survivors of severe sexual, physical and emotional institutional abuse in Ireland
- Authors:
- FITZPATRICK Mark, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse Review, 19(6), November 2010, pp.387-404.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
In this research funded by the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, 247 adult survivors of severe institutional abuse in Ireland were interviewed with a standard assessment protocol which included instruments which assessed history of child abuse and current psychological functioning. Participants were aged 40 to 83 years, 54.7% were male; on average they had spent 10 years living in an institution and it had been 22-65 years since they had suffered institutional abuse. Profiles were identified for subgroups that described severe sexual (n=60), physical (n=102), or emotional (n=85) abuse as their worst forms of maltreatment. Significant intergroup differences were found for gender, age, length of time living with family before entering an institution, reasons participants believed they were placed in institutions and institutional management. Survivors of severe sexual abuse were found to have the most abnormal profile, which was characterised by higher rates of all forms of child maltreatment and higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol and substance abuse, antisocial personality disorder, trauma symptoms and life problems. Survivors of severe emotional abuse were better adjusted than the other two groups. The profiles of survivors of severe physical abuse occupied an intermediate position between the other two groups. Implications for future research, practice and policy are discussed. The authors comment that a thorough assessment of abuse history and current functioning should be conducted when providing services to adult survivors of institutional abuse. Survivors of severe sexual abuse may require more intensive services.