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An uneasy dwelling: the story of the Philadelphia Association community houses
- Author:
- GORDON Paul
- Publisher:
- PCCS Books
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Place of publication:
- Ross-on-Wye
The Philadelphia Association has been providing places of asylum for over 40 years. Hundreds of men and women, whether formally designated ‘mentally ill’, or experiencing serious emotional distress, have entered a PA community house and been allowed to “go through whatever they have to go through”, in their own time and in their own way, free from the interventions of psychiatry or family. Despite the longevity and the radically different nature of the project, little has been written about the work. This book is an attempt to correct that. It is in part a history of the houses but also an account of how the houses work today and an exploration of their underpinning ethos. The most famous of the houses was the first, Kingsley Hall, which opened in 1965 and which has come to have an almost iconic status in the world of what has come to be called critical psychiatry. More than 15 houses have been run under PA auspices. In the past the PA was most closely identified with one of its founders, the highly public figure RD Laing. This book is an attempt to explain more about the PA and reveal misperceptions.
Psyche, soma, and science studies: new directions in the sociology of mental health and illness
- Author:
- PICKERSGILL Martyn D.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 19(4), August 2010, pp.382-392.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
This article aims to introduce science and technology studies (STS) to mental health stakeholders, particularly sociologists of mental health, and to encourage dialogue between disciplines and communities. STS is explicitly concerned with the relationship between science and society and centres on the sociological, anthropological, philosophical, historical and political analysis of science and technology and, increasingly, medicine. The author first discusses the core concerns of STS and then some of the existing contributions STS has made to mainstream medical sociology are outlined, with emphasis on genetics, medicine and society. This is used to provide insights into how STS and the sociology of mental health might better engage with one another and illustrates some of the scholarly gains that can emerge. Existing research situated at the intersections of STS and the sociology of mental health is analysed. The author concludes that an emphasis on the sociology of psychiatric knowledge and application, drawing on STS, the sociology of mental health, and inclusive of the insights of both mental health professionals and service users, has considerable potential to afford intellectual, practical and political benefit for scholarly and practitioner communities and to those living with psychopathology.
Referrers' use and views of specialist mental health services for deaf children and young people in England
- Authors:
- BERESFORD Bryony, CLARKE Sue, GRECO Veronica
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 19(2), April 2010, pp.193-201.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Previous studies have shown that deaf children are at an increased risk of mental health problems than hearing children. While generic child and adolescent mental health services do not have the expertise to work with these children, three teams in England are currently providing specialist services for these children. As such, this study aimed to investigate referrers' views of these specialist services, using a combination of interviews and a postal survey. Overall, findings indicated that referrers were satisfied with the service and identified the features of the service which supported positive outcomes for users. However, access was a significant problem. Referrers suggested developments to the service should incorporate preventive work and cascading of skills to other professional groups. In conclusion, deaf children require expert services in deafness and mental health, and the results indicate the specialist services are achieving this. However, issues of access and widening its remit are desirable ways forward in future development of the service.
Oxford textbook of women and mental health
- Editors:
- KOHEN Dora, (ed.)
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 333p.
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
This textbook includes essays from 57 contributors and covers the growing field in psychiatry of gender and mental health. It reports on epidemiological data showing increased frequency in different clinical aspects of psychiatric disorders in women. The psychosocial, social, cultural, and endocrinological factors which contribute to diagnoses specific to women are discussed, along with the societal, parental and personal consequences of their problems. Part 1 explores fundamental aspects of women and mental health, such as stigma and stereotyped attitudes, gender-based violence, ethnicity, biological differences, lesbianism, attachment, maternal mental health and women as carers. Part 2A describes clinical aspects of anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder aetiology and treatment; women in forensic institutions; and the social care needs of women. Part 2B covers perinatal psychiatric disorders in depth, with Parts 2C and 2D looking at substance misuse and eating disorders, respectively. Part 3 includes chapters on past-traumatic stress disorder, self-harm and suicide, and medically unexplained symptoms in women. Part 4 covers parental psychiatric disorders during and after pregnancy. Part 5 looks at women with learning disabilities. Part 6 summarises legislation, policy and the law.
Pharmacotherapy for borderline personality disorder: Cochrane systematic review of randomised trials
- Authors:
- LIEB Klaus, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 196(1), January 2010, pp.4-9.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This review aimed to evaluate the evidence of effectiveness of pharmacotherapy in treating different facets of the psychopathology of borderline personality disorder. A Cochrane Collaboration systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised comparisons of drug v. placebo, drug v. drug, or single drug v. combined drug treatment in adult patients with borderline personality disorder was conducted. Primary outcomes were overall disorder severity as well as specific core symptoms. Secondary outcomes comprised associated psychiatric pathology and drug tolerability. Twenty-seven trials were included in which first- and second-generation antipsychotics, mood stabilisers, antidepressants and omega-3 fatty acids were tested. Most beneficial effects were found for the mood stabilisers topiramate, lamotrigine and valproate semisodium, and the second-generation antipsychotics aripiprazole and olanzapine. However, the robustness of findings is low, since they are based mostly on single, small studies. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors so far lack high-level evidence of effectiveness. The current evidence from randomised controlled trials suggests that drug treatment, especially with mood stabilisers and second-generation antipsychotics, may be effective for treating a number of core symptoms and associated psychopathology, but the evidence does not currently support effectiveness for overall severity of borderline personality disorder. Pharmacotherapy should therefore be targeted at specific symptoms.
Key concepts in mental health
- Author:
- PILGRIM David
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 216p.
- Place of publication:
- London
- Edition:
- 2nd ed.
Drawing together perspectives from sociology, psychiatry, psychology and ethics, this book aims to cover the central concepts and debates shaping contemporary views about mental health and illness. It covers theories and understandings of mental health and mental health problems, the structure and organisation of mental health service delivery, and the social context of mental health. It is designed for student and trainee health professionals, including clinical psychologists, social workers, nurses, counsellors and psychotherapists.
A witness seminar: the development of old age psychiatry in Britain, 1960-1989. Themes, lessons and highlights
- Authors:
- HILTON Claire, ARIE Tom, NICOLSON Malcolm
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(6), June 2010, pp.596-603.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
A medical history witness seminar is a form of oral history, where people associated with a particular health care development meet with former colleagues to discuss, reflect and present their account of key changes with which they had involvement. This article describes one such meeting, and creates a record of the development of old age psychiatry in Britain, as seen through the eyes of some of the people who participated in building it, from its inception until it was officially recognised as a specialty by the Department of Health in 1989. The group discussions were in the format of a witness seminar, which was audio-recorded and transcribed, and witnesses also provided written biographical information. While early old age psychiatrists had often encountered opposition from other health care professionals and managers, their experiences were demonstrating just how much could be achieved in improving the lives of older mentally ill people. This paper describes how they conveyed their enthusiasm for their work in both clinical and university settings. Clinical creativity, support when working in professional isolation, and dealing with opposition benefited from both the development of the Group for the Psychiatry of Old Age at the Royal College of Psychiatrists and from close links with existing geriatric medicine.
No health without public mental health: the case for action
- Author:
- ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 46p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This statement sets out the Royal College of Psychiatrists' position on public mental health and outlines the contribution that public mental health makes to a wide range of health and social outcomes for individuals and society. It argues that the government should prioritise public mental health as part of public health policy, and sets out key points and features that should be part of a public mental health strategy. The document contains the following sections: epidemiology and impact of mental illness, mental health and inequalities, economic costs of mental illness, mental health underlies physical health, effects of positive mental health and well-being, interventions to reduce mental illness and promote mental well-being, and cost-effectiveness of prevention and promotion.
DSM-V and the stigma of mental illness
- Authors:
- BEN-ZEEV Dror, YOUNG Michael A., CORRIGAN Patrick W.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 19(4), August 2010, pp.318-327.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
The relationship between diagnostic labels and stigma is examined in the context of the forthcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). Three types of negative outcome are considered in detail: public stigma, the phenomenon of large social groups endorsing stereotypes about, and subsequently acting against a stigmatised group; self stigma, the loss of self-esteem and self-efficacy that occurs when people internalise public stigma; and label avoidance, when sufferers do not seek out or participate in mental health services in order to avoid the impact of a stigmatised label. The authors illustrate how a clinical diagnosis may exacerbate these forms of stigma through socio-cognitive processes of groupness, homogeneity and stability. Initial draft revisions recently proposed by the DSM-V work groups are briefly discussed from the framework of mental illness stigma. The authors believe that the initial drafts of DSM-V show a trend of greater transparency and movement toward more dimensional approaches to diagnosis which may help reduce stigma in the future, but also include several proposals that may have a negative impact on stigma.
Mental health social work and the bureau-medicalisation of mental health care: identity in a changing world
- Authors:
- NATHAN Jack, WEBBER Martin
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice, 24(1), March 2010, pp.15-28.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Social work in the United Kingdom has become increasingly specialised over the last 30 years, reinforced by the recent division of local authority social service departments into children’s and adults departments. Psychiatry seems to be moving towards ‘bureau-medicalisation’ – a combination of the medical model and organisational imperative. This article looks at the roots of these developments and one possible trajectory toward a generic mental health practitioner. The authors, providing a rationale for mental health social work (MHSW), argue against the temptation to modernise mental health care by seeing the demise of MHSW and creating a generic mental health practitioner. A case is made for the unique role of the mental health social worker, requiring a redefinition of MHSW. Because of the recent changes in the National Health Service, the authors propose that, instead of moving to the generic mental health practitioner, MHSW has a key role to play in providing a challenge to this generic model, through having an identification with both the institution it represents and representing the service users' relationship to that institution. The authors suggest that no other professional body carries this unique role.