Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Complementary medicines in psychiatry: review of effectiveness and safety
- Authors:
- WERNEKE Ursula, TURNER Trevor, PRIEBE Stefan
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 188(2), February 2006, pp.109-121.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This article reviews the complementary medicines routinely encountered in psychiatric practice, their effectiveness, potential adverse effects and interactions. Electronic and manual literature search on the effectiveness and safety of psychotropic complementary medicines. Potentially useful substances include ginkgo and hydergine as cognitive enhancers, passion flower and valerian as sedatives, St John’s wort and s-adenosylmethionine as antidepressants, and selenium and folate to complement antidepressants. The evidence is less conclusive for the use of omega-3 fatty acids as augmentation treatment in schizophrenia, melatonin for tardive dyskinesia and 18-methoxycoronaridine, an ibogaine derivative, for the treatment of cocaine and heroin addiction. Systematic clinical trials are needed to test promising substances. Meanwhile, those wishing to take psychotropic complementary medicines require appropriate advice.
A systematic examination of the nature and content of vignettes in schizophrenia research
- Authors:
- ALDERSEY Heather Michelle, HUYNH Doan Chinh, WHITLEY Rob
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 25(3), 2016, pp.189-196.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: Vignettes are often used in psychiatric research, yet there are few systematic studies on their content, creation, and use. Aims: This article describes a study of: (a) how researchers create vignettes in research on schizophrenia and (b) how these vignettes portray individuals with schizophrenia. Method: The authors conducted a systematic search of the PubMed database for articles between 2008 and 2012 that used vignettes to measure attitudes about schizophrenia. They analysed the identified vignettes using a tool developed in reference to DSM criteria. Results: Within the vignettes, 98% of individuals portrayed demonstrated delusions, 91% demonstrated hallucinations and 29% demonstrated disorganised speech. The majority of vignettes portrayed individuals under 25 years and when both genders were not depicted, researchers chose to depict men much more frequently than women (41% vs. 8%). A majority of articles did not use original vignettes (55%), and many of the articles (53%) contained vignettes created by one team of researchers. Most vignettes did not include positive language or recovery-oriented information. Conclusions: This study highlights a need for critical thought on vignette development and utilisation, especially as psychiatry is now moving towards a recovery-based understanding of mental illness. (Edited publisher abstract)
People with physical impairments and mental health support needs: a critical review of the literature
- Author:
- MORRIS Jenny
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 53p.
- Place of publication:
- York
This report reviews the literature on the mental health support needs of people with physical impairments. The review is divided into two parts. The first part reviews research literature concerned with psychology, psychiatry and rehabilitation services. The second part of the review looks at what is known about the mental health support needs and experiences of people with physical impairments from a social model perspective. It was the first stage of a research project. (Edited publisher abstract)
The interface between learning disability and old age psychiatry: two specialties travelling alone or travelling together?
- Authors:
- BENBOW Susan Mary, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Review Journal, 16(1), March 2011, pp.25-35.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Despite existing policy, there is little guidance on what quality of care and equity of service provision for people with learning difficulties and mental health problems might look like. To address this gap, the Royal College of Psychiatrists set up a group to look at the interface between old age psychiatry and learning disability. It also commissioned a survey of learning disability and old age psychiatrists to investigate their experience of working across the interface between the two specialities - this paper is based on the final report. It presents findings from the survey and sets out eight recommendations to further the work: guidelines on interface working; joint training opportunities; working with social/health care commissioners; development of interface protocols; awareness of other care professionals; development of service models; sharing of expertise; and inclusion of users and carers from the interface area. The authors concluded that, while there were no clear ideas on how services should be provided to older people with a learning disability who also develop a mental health problem, the need for collaboration between the two fields was convincing.
Don't seize the day hospital! Recent research on the effectiveness of day hospitals for older people with mental health problems
- Authors:
- HOE Juanita, ASHAYE Kunle, ORRELL Martin
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20(7), July 2005, pp.694-698.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Day hospital (DH) care remains a core component of mental health services for older people. However, there has been an ongoing debate about the effectiveness and value for money of DHs in comparison to day centres (DC). This article reviews recent research on the effectiveness of day hospitals for older people with mental health problems. A systematic search of relevant research literature over the last decade using the major electronic healthcare databases examining the quality and effectiveness of mental health DHs for older people. In the last decade the evidence for the effectiveness of DHs has continued to increase, but still lags behind research on DHs in general adult psychiatry and geriatric medicine. The review found that DHs appear effective at assessing and meeting needs and that a systematic approach to evaluating quality can be used to improve services. Recent research supports the effectiveness of day hospitals, but further studies are needed in order to provide a more robust evidence base.
Presentations and management of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the elderly: a need for investigation
- Author:
- BUSUTTIL Walter
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 19(5), May 2004, pp.429-439.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
With an aging population increasing presentations of cases of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be expected to old age services. While progress has been made in recent years in relation to the understanding and development of aetiological theories, classification, assessment and management strategies and protocols in the adult population, similar advances have lagged behind for the elderly. The aim was to review the adult literature regarding PTSD and discuss how this might apply to an elderly population. An attempt is made to highlight a better awareness of the field of psychological trauma in the elderly in the hope of stimulating debate and research. A review of the adult literature is conducted relating to classification, aetiology, demographic features, vulnerability, assessment, clinical management including psychotherapy and medications and how these may apply to the elderly. Little has been published in this field that directly relates to the elderly. The adult literature allows insight into understanding how PTSD may present in the elderly, and how they may be managed. Further specific research is needed in the elderly in order to facilitate a better understanding of PTSD that present in this unique population. This will lead to better clinical assessment, management and treatment provision.
Effects of reminiscence and life review on late-life depression: a meta-analysis
- Authors:
- BOHLMEIJER Ernst, SMIT Filip, CUIJPERS Pim
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(12), December 2003, pp.1088-1094.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of reminiscence and life review on late-life depression across different target groups and treatment modalities. Twenty controlled outcome studies were retrieved from Psychlit, Medline and Dissertation Abstracts. For each study a standardised effect size, d, was calculated and a random-effects meta-analysis was conducted. An overall effect size of 0.84 (95% Confidence Intervals (CI)=0.31-1.37) was found, indicating a statistically and clinically significant effect of reminiscence and life review on depressive symptomatology in elderly people. This effect is comparable to the effects commonly found for pharmacotherapy and psychological treatments. The effect was larger in subjects with elevated depressive symptomatology (d=1.23) as compared to other subjects (d=0.37). Other characteristics of the subjects or interventions were not found to be related to increased or decreased effect sizes. Reminiscence and life review are potentially effective treatments for depressive symptoms in the elderly and may thus offer a valuable alternative to psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy. Especially in non-institutionalised elderly people - who often have untreated depression - it may prove to be an effective, safe and acceptable form of treatment. Randomized trials with sufficient statistical power are necessary to confirm the results of this study.
Psychotic symptoms and violence toward others : a literature review of some preliminary findings; part two, hallucinations
- Author:
- BJORKLY Stal
- Journal article citation:
- Aggression and Violent Behavior, 7(6), November 2002, pp.605-615.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
According to the clinical impressions of a number of authors and mental health professionals, an increased risk of violence is associated with the presence of hallucinations and in particular command hallucinations. In contrast to this, some empirical studies have reported that there is no evidence of such a relationship. The present review examines the role of hallucinations in violence toward others. Possible empirical evidence for a violence-escalating interaction between delusions and hallucinations is also analyzed. Among the main findings were: There appears to be no evidence that auditory command hallucinations are dangerous per se. However, there is some evidence that voices ordering acts of violence toward others may increase compliance and thereby be conducive to violent behavior. Finally, the evidence for or against the existence of a possible violence-escalating interaction between delusions and hallucinations is inconclusive.
Psychotic symptoms and violence toward others : a literature review of some preliminary findings; part one, delusions
- Author:
- BJORKLY Stal
- Journal article citation:
- Aggression and Violent Behavior, 7(6), November 2002, pp.616-631.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
The main scope of this article is to delineate some findings from a review of the literature concerning the possible impact of delusions on violence toward others by psychiatric patients. According to this review, studies on a possible association between delusions and increased risk of violence are scarce, but steadily growing, and have shown some interesting results. However, since delusions are also common in nonviolent psychiatric patients, there is emerging evidence that our attention should be directed to specific hallmarks of delusions that indicate an increased risk of violence.
Use of drugs in child and adolescent psychiatry
- Authors:
- KAPLAN Carole A., HUSSAIN Sharafat
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 166, March 1995, pp.291-298.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The prescription of psychotropic drugs for children is a sensitive and highly contentious subject which may explain their apparent lack of uniformity and consistency in clinical practice. Through a review of the literature finds out that in recent years there have been considerable research in this field, and a clearer picture of the benefits and limitations of drug use in children is emerging.