Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Socioeconomic inequalities in common mental disorders and psychotherapy treatment in the UK between 1991 and 2009
- Authors:
- JOKELA Markus, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 202(2), 2013, pp.115-120.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
To examine differences in socioeconomic status in common mental disorders and use of psychotherapy provided by the public and private sector in the UK between 1991 and 2009 the responses to annual population-based British Household Panel Survey were examined. During these years, 28 054 men and women responded to annual surveys by the nationally representative, population-based British Household Panel Survey (on average 7 measurements per participant; 207 545 person-observations). In each year, common mental disorders were assessed with the self-reported 12-item General Health Questionnaire and socioeconomic status was assessed on the basis of household income, occupational status and education. Higher socioeconomic status was associated with lower odds of common mental disorder and of being treated by publicly provided psychotherapy, but higher odds of being a client of private psychotherapy. The status difference in publicly provided psychotherapy treatment was more pronounced at the end of follow-up than at the beginning of the follow-up period. The findings for occupational status and education were similar to those for household income. The use of publicly provided psychotherapy has improved between 1991 and 2009 among those with low socioeconomic status, although social inequalities in common mental disorders remain. (Edited publisher abstract)
Online counseling and therapy for mental health problems: a systematic review of individual synchronous interventions using chat
- Authors:
- DOWLING Mitchell, RICKWOOD Debra
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Technology in Human Services, 31(1), 2013, pp.1-21.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The rapid growth of online services provided by psychologists, counsellors, and social workers means it is becoming critical to ensure that these interventions are supported by research evidence. This systematic review looks at the outcomes of individual synchronous online chat counselling and therapy which is said to closely match face-to-face therapy. A broad literature search produced only six relevant studies. Together they showed that although there is emerging evidence supporting the use of online chat, the overall quality of the studies is poor; few were randomised control trials. All six studies revealed a significant positive effect of online chat counselling: two found that it was equivalent to face-to-face help; one found that it was better than telephone delivered care; one that it was equivalent to a phone delivered service; one that it was better than a wait-list control; and one that it was effective but less so than a phone delivered service. Online chat appears to be effective despite the relatively slow pace of the sessions and the absence of face-to-face cues. The authors suggest that this may be due to the anonymity and invisibility that can be gained through textual conversation. They point to an urgent need for further research to support the widespread implementation of this form of mental health service delivery.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: QS39
- Author:
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND CARE EXCELLENCE
- Publisher:
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
This quality standard covers the diagnosis and management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children aged 3 years and older, young people and adults. The standard comprises seven statements that describe high quality care for service users. These are: children and young people with symptoms of ADHD are referred to a specialist for an assessment; adults with symptoms of ADHD who have not had a diagnosis in childhood are referred to a specialist for an assessment; adults who had ADHD when they were younger and who still have symptoms of ADHD are referred to general adult psychiatric services; parents and carers of children and young people with symptoms of ADHD who meet NICE eligibility criteria are offered a referral to a parent training programme to help them manage their child’s behaviour; children and young people with moderate ADHD are offered a referral to a psychological group treatment programme; people with ADHD who are starting medication have their initial medication dose adjusted by a specialist, who should also check how well the medication is working; and people who are taking medication to treat ADHD have their medication reviewed by a specialist at least once a year. (Edited publisher abstract)
Cost-effectiveness of an improving access to psychological therapies service
- Author:
- MUKURIA Clara
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 202(3), 2013, pp.220-227.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
To determine the cost-effectiveness of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) at the Doncaster demonstration site (2007–2009) an economic evaluation to compare costs and health outcomes for patients at the IAPT demonstration site with those for comparator sites was conducted. The IAPT site had higher service costs and was associated with small additional gains in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) compared with its comparator sites, resulting in a cost per QALY gained of £29 500 using the Short Form (SF-6D). Sensitivity analysis using predicted EQ-5D scores lowered this to £16 857. Costs per reliable and clinically significant (RCS) improvement were £9440 per participant. Improving Access to Psychological Therapies provided a service that was probably cost-effective within the usual National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) threshold range of £20 000–30 000, but there was considerable uncertainty surrounding the costs and outcome differences. (Edited publisher abstract)
A pilot study of yogic meditation for family dementia caregivers with depressive symptoms: effects on mental health, cognition, and telomerase activity
- Authors:
- LAVRETSKY H., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28(1), 2013, pp.57-65.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study examined the effects of brief daily yogic meditation, Kirtan Kriya, on mental health, cognitive functioning, and immune cell telomerase activity in family dementia caregivers with mild depressive symptoms. Participants performed Kirtan Kriya or passively relaxed to music for 12 minutes each day for eight weeks. Of 49 recruited subjects, 45 were randomised and 39 completed the intervention: 23 subjects in the meditation group and 16 subjects in the relaxation group. The severity of depressive symptoms, mental and cognitive functioning were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Telomerase activity was measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBC). The meditation group showed significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms and greater improvement in mental health and cognitive functioning compared with the relaxation group. In the meditation group, 65.2% showed 50% improvement on the Hamilton Depression Rating scale and 52% of the participants showed 50% improvement on the Mental Health Composite Summary score of the Short Form-36 scale compared with 31.2% and 19%, respectively, in the relaxation group. The meditation group showed 43% improvement in telomerase activity compared with 3.7% in the relaxation group. Brief daily meditation by family dementia caregivers may improve mental and cognitive functioning and lower depressive symptoms. This improvement is accompanied by an increase in telomerase activity suggesting improvement in stress-induced cellular aging.
The cost of treating substance use disorders: individual versus family therapy
- Authors:
- MORGAN Triston B., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Family Therapy, 35(1), 2013, pp.2-23.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aim of this US study was to examine the cost of substance use disorders treatment in a large healthcare organisation. The longitudinal study used 4 years of data from Cigna (a US healthcare insurer) about treatment costs in mental health outpatient services claims, and examined data about individuals aged 12 years and older with a diagnosis of a substance use disorder. The article describes the methodology and statistical analysis and presents the results, with detailed statistical tables. It reports that family therapy used the least number of sessions when treating substance use disorders, followed by individual therapy and mixed therapy, and that family therapy was the least costly of the 3 types and had better recidivism rates. Recognising the context of an economy largely driven by healthcare costs, it concludes that family therapy is a favourable treatment option, given its low cost to healthcare insurance companies.
Ensuring ill health is not all in the mind
- Author:
- STANTON Emma
- Journal article citation:
- Health Service Journal, 7.2.13, 2013, pp.32-33.
- Publisher:
- Emap Healthcare
The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme is a national initiative aimed at improving access to routine evidence-based treatments for people with common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. This article looks at the initial objectives of the programme, existing outcome and performance data and reviews the success of the programme.
Self-harm: QS34
- Author:
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND CARE EXCELLENCE
- Publisher:
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
This quality standard covers the initial management of self-harm and the provision of longer-term support for children and young people (aged 8 years and older) and adults (aged 18 years and older) who self-harm. The standard comprises eight statements that describe high-quality care for people who have self-harmed. These focus on: compassion, respect and dignity; initial assessments; comprehensive psychosocial assessments; monitoring; safe physical environments; risk management plans; psychological interventions; and moving between services. (Edited publisher abstract)
We still need to talk: a report on access to talking therapies
- Author:
- MIND
- Publisher:
- MIND
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 40
- Place of publication:
- London
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 puts mental health on a par with physical health; and the current Mandate to NHS England requires NHS England to achieve parity of esteem between mental and physical health. The We Need to Talk coalition calls for the NHS in England to offer a full range of evidence based psychological therapies to all who need them within 28 days of requesting a referral, even sooner when someone is in need of urgent access when n a mental health crisis. This report outlines why psychological therapies are important and cost-effective. It presents findings of a survey of more than 1600 people with mental health problems who have used psychological therapies, also two focus groups of 10 participants from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities. Among findings are that more than half have been waiting 3 months or more for treatment; 58% were not offered choice in the type of therapies they received; and only one in ten felt that their cultural needs were taken into account by the services they were offered. It includes case studies of the role of local voluntary organisations in service provision. (Edited publisher abstract)
National summary of the results for the 2013 community mental health survey
- Author:
- CARE QUALITY COMMISSION
- Publisher:
- Care Quality Commission
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 21
- Place of publication:
- London
This national summary provides key findings from the 2013 survey of people who use community mental health services, and highlights statistically significant differences between 2012 (the last time the survey was carried out) and 2013. The 2013 survey involved 58 NHS trusts in England (including combined mental health and social care trusts, Foundation Trusts and community healthcare social enterprises that provide mental health services). Responses were received from more than 13,000 service users, a national response rate of 29%. Service users aged 18 and over were eligible for the survey if they were receiving specialist care or treatment for a mental health condition and had been seen by the trust between 1 July 2012 and 30 September 2012. The survey finds that the care people receive in the community needs to improve. Of particular concern is people’s lack of involvement in their care plans or having their views taken into account when deciding which medication to take. (Edited publisher abstract)