Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Therapeutic interventions for foster children: a systematic research synthesis
- Authors:
- CRAVEN Patricia Ann, LEE Robert E.
- Journal article citation:
- Research on Social Work Practice, 16(3), May 2006, pp.287-304.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Approximately 30% of children in foster care have severe emotional, behavioural, or developmental problems. A systematic research synthesis of empirical studies was conducted in an attempt to identify and classify therapeutic interventions for foster children. Utilizing a treatment protocol classification system, empirical studies were classified according to their theoretical, clinical, and empirical support. A total of 18 studies were reviewed, including a compare and contrast of methodological strengths and shortcomings. In all, 6 out of the 18 interventions may be considered well-supported and efficacious, 3 interventions were determined to be supported and probably efficacious, and 9 were supported and acceptable. Interventions recognizing the unique experience of foster children and foster family dynamics were found to be lacking in the current literature.
Is it worth investing in mental health promotion and prevention of mental illness? A systematic review of the evidence from economic evaluations
- Authors:
- ZECHMEISTER Ingrid, et al
- Journal article citation:
- BMC Public Health, 8(20), January 2008, Online only
- Publisher:
- BioMed Central Ltd
This systematic review aimed to identify and assess economic evaluations in mental health promotion and the prevention of mental illness to support prioritisation of resource allocation. Health and non health related bibliographic databases were reviewed, key journals hand searched and grey literature analysed. Economic evaluations of programmes that address mental health outcome parameters directly, those that address relevant risk factors of mental illness, as well as suicide prevention interventions were included, while evaluations of drug therapies were excluded. Fourteen studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There was evidence that interventions can be cost-effective, especially when aimed at children and adolescents, but the wide variation in the methods used, the quality of the studies, and the target populations do not allow specific recommendations to be drawn.
Inequalities and the mental health of young people: a systematic review of secondary school-based cognitive behavioural interventions
- Authors:
- KAVANAGH J, et al
- Publisher:
- University College London. Institute of Education. EPPI-Centre
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 114p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This review aimed to increase what is known about promoting good mental health and mental health inequalities. It focused on the role of interventions based on the techniques of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for preventing and reducing suicidality, depression and anxiety in young people. A further aim of the study was to use the systematic review as a case study to applying an ‘equity lens’ to a review topic, by building on work completed in an earlier systematic map and methodological review. Results of the review found that CBT delivered to young people in secondary schools can reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety. No evidence was found to assess the impact of CBT on suicidal thinking or behaviour. Few studies provided any useful data that might be used to examine the impact of CBT-based interventions on inequalities in mental health. No studies presented data relevant to evaluating the differential impact of interventions according to differences in the participants’ gender, age, religion, education or social capital. Although conclusions about impact of CBT on inequalities are therefore tentative, there are suggestions that it might be less effective for people who are more socio-economically disadvantaged.
A systematic scoping review of community-based interventions for the prevention of mental ill-health and the promotion of mental health in older adults in the UK
- Authors:
- LEE Caroline, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, early cite May 2021,
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Mental health concerns in older adults are common, with increasing age-related risks to physical health, mobility and social isolation. Community-based approaches are a key focus of public health strategy in the UK, and may reduce the impact of these risks, protecting mental health and promoting wellbeing. This study conducted a review of UK community-based interventions to understand the types of intervention studied and mental health/wellbeing impacts reported. Method: This study conducted a scoping review of the literature, systematically searching six electronic databases (2000–2020) to identify academic studies of any non-clinical community intervention to improve mental health or wellbeing outcomes for older adults. Data were extracted, grouped by population targeted, intervention type, and outcomes reported, and synthesised according to a framework categorising community actions targeting older adults. Results: In total, 1,131 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and 54 included in the final synthesis. Example interventions included: link workers; telephone helplines; befriending; digital support services; group social activities. These were grouped into: connector services, gateway services/approaches, direct interventions and systems approaches. These interventions aimed to address key risk factors: loneliness, social isolation, being a caregiver and living with long-term health conditions. Outcome measurement varied greatly, confounding strong evidence in favour of particular intervention types. Conclusion: The literature is wide-ranging in focus and methodology. Greater specificity and consistency in outcome measurement are required to evidence effectiveness – no single category of intervention yet stands out as ‘promising’. More robust evidence on the active components of interventions to promote older adult's mental health is required. (Edited publisher abstract)
Empirically evaluated suicide prevention program approaches for older adults: a review of the literature from 2009-2021
- Authors:
- WALLACE Marrisa, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, early cite 8 April 2021, pp.1-19.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Mental health in later life and suicide risk among older adults are important topics for social work. There is evidence-based research to support the use selective and indicated strategies for suicide prevention, yet, universal prevention approaches are also needed. However, the extent to which the broader contexts of suicide have been examined remains largely absent from the literature. This article presents findings from a systematic review of articles published between 2009 and 2021, focusing what types of empirically evaluated suicide prevention programs effectively prevent and reduce suicidality in older adults. Using the PICO and PRISMA guidelines, a final sample of 8 articles were reviewed in this systematic review. The articles were categorized into three types of programs: 1) primary and home health care, 2) community-based outreach, and 3) counseling. The articles also examined the involvement of social workers in these programs. Following a description of the articles, the authors assess each study using the GRADE rating system. Lastly, the authors discuss the role of the social worker in mental health promotion and prevention strategies. (Edited publisher abstract)
Prevention programmes for children of parents with a mood/anxiety disorder: systematic review of existing programmes and meta‐analysis of their efficacy
- Authors:
- HAVINGA Petra J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 60(2), 2021, pp.212-251.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objectives: To systematically describe the characteristics and techniques of prevention programmes for children of parents with mood/anxiety disorders. In addition, recruitment approaches and difficulties were identified and a meta‐analysis was conducted to examine the efficacy of these prevention programmes. Methods: Randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of a prevention programme for children (6–25 years) of parents with mood and/or anxiety disorders were included. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, PsychINFO, and CENTRAL from the earliest record to March 2019. In addition, programme manuals of identified prevention programmes were requested for a content analysis. Results: Twenty‐two articles containing eight unique prevention programmes involving 1,325 subjects were identified. Programmes varied in the number and types of techniques, but all provided psychoeducation. Results suggested that recruitment via clinicians was more successful than recruitment via health maintenance organization databases. In a meta‐analysis, a significant risk difference was found in favour of prevention programmes on the risk of developing a depressive/anxiety disorder in offspring at short‐term (9–18 months follow‐up; RR = 0.37, 95% CI [0.21; 0.66]) and long‐term follow‐up (24 months or longer follow‐up; RR = 0.71, 95% CI [0.57; 0.87] and on symptom levels in offspring at post‐intervention (SMD = −0.19, 95% CI [−0.36; −0.02]) and at 12‐months follow‐up (SMD = −0.31, 95% CI [−0.57; −0.06]). Conclusions: The prevention programmes combined psychoeducational elements with skills training and/or cognitive‐behavioural therapy elements. The recruitment process and the content of these programmes are sometimes insufficiently described. Nevertheless, they appear to be effective, indicating a need to further examine how these programmes exactly work and for whom. (Edited publisher abstract)
Preventing and responding to depression, self-harm, and suicide in older people living in long term care settings: a systematic review
- Authors:
- GLEESON Helen, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 23(11), 2019, pp.1467-1477.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objective: The well documented demographic shift to an aging population means that more people will in future be in need of long term residential care. Previous research has reported an increased risk of mental health issues and suicidal ideation among older people living in residential care settings. However, there is little information on the actual prevalence of depression, self-harm, and suicidal behavior in this population, how it is measured and how care homes respond to these issues. Method: This systematic review of international literature addressed three research questions relating to; the prevalence of mental health problems in this population; how they are identified and; how care homes try to prevent or respond to mental health issues. Results: Findings showed higher reported rates of depression and suicidal behavior in care home residents compared to matched age groups in the community, variation in the use of standardised measures across studies and, interventions almost exclusively focused on increasing staff knowledge about mental health but with an absence of involvement of older people themselves in these programmes. Conclusion: The research discusses the implications of these findings in the context of addressing mental health difficulties experienced by older people in residential care and future research in this area. (Edited publisher abstract)
Mental health promoting Interventions for the unemployed: a systematic review of applied techniques and effectiveness
- Authors:
- KOOPMAN Moniek Y., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 19(4), 2017, pp.202-223.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Unemployment is associated with a diminished mental health. Interventions to improve mental health for the unemployed exist. However, there is no clear overview with respect to the content and effectiveness of these interventions. A systematic search was conducted and, included studies that targeted unemployed adults, described an intervention and reported mental health as an outcome measure. After screening, 24 studies remained, which contained 21 different interventions. These interventions could be classified into three categories: occupational skills training interventions, psychological interventions and combined interventions. The majority of the studies reported significant short-term effects on mental health, but in most cases evidence of sustained effects was lacking or not assessed. There is promising evidence that interventions combining occupational skills and resilience training are effective in promoting mental health. However, there is a need for high-quality research on the intervention effects on the mental health of the (long-term) unemployed. (Publisher abstract)
The effectiveness of workplace counselling: a systematic review
- Author:
- McLEOD John
- Journal article citation:
- Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 10(4), December 2010, pp.238-248.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Presents the findings of a review on the effectiveness of workplace counselling which examined English language studies published between 1980 and 2005. Workplace counselling is defined here as being internally delivered at work, or externally through, for example, employer financed Employee Assistance Programmes, or sourced independently by employees. Findings are analysed in terms of client satisfaction, psychological functioning, the meaning of work, work behaviour, and negative outcomes. The results showed general effectiveness in alleviating psychological problems, significantly altered sickness absence, and had a moderate effect on attitudes to work. The author discusses his concerns with methodological issues and calls for additional research in order to reiterate that workplace counselling is an evidence based example of good practice.
Effects of school-based interventions on mental health stigmatization: a systematic review
- Authors:
- SCHACHTER Howard M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 2(18), 2008, Online only
- Publisher:
- BioMed Central
This review focuses on the benefits and harms of school-based interventions directed at individuals aged 18 or younger and designed to prevent or eliminate the stigmatisation of people with mental health problems. Forty relevant studies were identified but were of inadequate quality to provide robust conclusions. Interpretation of this evidence, combined with input from experts of various kinds, suggests that interventions designed to promote the development of empathy and, in turn, an orientation towards social inclusion and inclusiveness, are likely to be the most effective. These need to be contact-based (e.g. with a mother and baby for younger children, and with people experiencing mental health difficulties for older children), and delivered frequently from the earliest years. Curricula need to be developed with children and young people, and the piloting and evaluation of interventions needs to be conducted using gold standard methods, preferably cluster randomised controlled trials.