Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Classes and consequences of multiple maltreatment: a person-centered analysis
- Authors:
- BERZENSKI Sara R., YATES Tuppett M.
- Journal article citation:
- Child Maltreatment, 16(4), November 2011, pp.250-261.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Most research on the consequences of childhood maltreatment reports differential outcomes of specific maltreatment subtypes such as physical abuse or emotional abuse. However, maltreatment experiences often occur in combination. This study investigated multiple maltreatment experiences in a sample of 2,637 undergraduate students in the US who reported on childhood maltreatment and current adjustment. Findings revealed that specific patterns of multiple maltreatment had different associations. Emotional abuse, alone or in combination with other maltreatment types, was especially noticeable for psychopathology, while a combination of physical and emotional abuse was most strongly associated with conduct-related problems such as substance use or risky sexual behaviour. These findings have both practical and empirical significance for understanding and classifying experiences of maltreatment. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Childhood maltreatment and the structure of common psychiatric disorders
- Authors:
- KEYES Katherine M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 200(2), February 2012, pp.107-115.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Exposure to childhood maltreatment has been shown to increase risk for many psychiatric disorders. This non-specific pattern of risk may mean that childhood maltreatment increases vulnerability to numerous specific psychiatric disorders through diverse, specific mechanisms or that childhood maltreatment engenders a generalised liability to dimensions of psychopathology. The aim of this study was to estimate the associations of childhood maltreatment with underlying dimensions of internalising and externalising psychopathology and with specific disorders. Data were drawn from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, a nationally representative survey of 34,653 US adults. Analysis revealed that the association between childhood maltreatment and psychiatric disorders operates through latent liabilities to experience internalising and externalising psychopathology. Important gender differences emerged with physical abuse associated only with externalising liability in men, and only with internalising liability in women. Neglect was not significantly associated with latent liability levels. The findings indicate that the prevention of maltreatment may have a wide range of benefits in reducing the prevalence of many common mental disorders.
Young adult outcomes and mental health problems among transition age youth investigated for maltreatment during adolescence
- Authors:
- SOUTHERLAND Dannia, CASANUEVA Cecilia E., RINGEISEN Heather
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 31(9), September 2009, pp.947-956.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This American study examines the young adult outcomes of a nationally representative cohort of transition age youth who were involved with the Child Welfare System (CWS) during adolescence. The demographic and psychosocial characteristics, risk of mental health problems, and developmental milestones related to young adult outcome among these transition age youth are reported. The effect of risk for mental health problems on young adult outcomes, over and above other psychosocial risk factors were also examined. Many youth were living in poverty, getting married early and already parenting, involved with the criminal justice system and had high levels of mental health need. Being at risk for a mental health problem increased the likelihood of criminal justice system involvement for these youth. Youth transitioning to adulthood with a history of CWS involvement appear to be at risk for negative developmental outcomes. Findings are consistent with previous findings and highlight the risks associated with the transition to adulthood for youth who were involved with the CWS in adolescence.
The relationship between childhood abuse and adult suicidal behavior among rural former mental health patients
- Authors:
- RICHARDS Karen E., MOLINA Irma A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 4(1/2), 2007, pp.61-78.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Research on the relationship between adult suicidal behaviour and abuse in childhood is examined as the background to a study of historical data for 1999-2005 from an outpatient mental health centre in the rural USA. Suicidal ideation and attempts were found to be significantly correlated to all types of self-reported childhood abuse. Of the 200 patients, 24 reported mental abuse, 76 physical abuse and 83 sexual abuse. Adult suicide ideation was reported by 137 and adult suicide attempts by 137. The limitations of the study, such as the use of self-report data throughout, are noted and it is recommended that future studies should use validated, objective measures. However, the authors also advise that the taking of a psychosocial history, including childhood abuse, should be a routine part of assessing the risk factors for suicidality among clients of community mental health services.(Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Evidence of potentially harmful psychological treatments for children and adolescents
- Author:
- MERCER Jean
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 34(2), 2017, pp.107-125.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This paper applies the concept of potentially harmful psychotherapies (PHTs; Lilienfeld, Perspectives on Psychological Science 2(1):53–70, 2007) to concerns about potentially harmful treatments for children and adolescents (PHTCs). The author proposes that such treatments can be identified by methods derived from the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study and from the NIS-4 study of abuse and neglect, as well as by their plausibility or congruence with established child development theory and research. Five psychological treatments for children and adolescents that have been reported as harmful are examined, using evidence from published materials, journalists' reports, legal documents and Internet sites. Details of treatment and outcomes are compared to relevant ACE and NIS-4 criteria and to plausibility, and empirical support for the treatments is examined. The examined treatments use methods that would be considered adverse childhood experiences or abusive or neglectful care events if they occurred outside a therapeutic setting. Most, but not all, lack empirical support of effectiveness and are incongruent with established information about child development. Risks associated with PHTCs can thus be identified through close examination before children are exposed to them and harmed. Prevention or reduction of PHTC use may be possible. Public and professional education about PHTCs are essential parts of child protection in this context and are arguably an ethical obligation of both social workers and psychologists. (Edited publisher abstract)
Childhood emotional maltreatment and mental disorders: results from a nationally representative adult sample from the United States
- Authors:
- TAILLIEU Tamara L., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 59, 2016, pp.1-12.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Child maltreatment is a public health concern with well-established sequelae. However, compared to research on physical and sexual abuse, far less is known about the long-term impact of emotional maltreatment on mental health. The overall purpose of this study was to examine the association of emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and both emotional abuse and neglect with other types of child maltreatment, a family history of dysfunction, and lifetime diagnoses of several Axis I and Axis II mental disorders. Data were from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions collected in 2004 and 2005 (n = 34,653). The most prevalent form of emotional maltreatment was emotional neglect only (6.2%), followed by emotional abuse only (4.8%), and then both emotional abuse and neglect (3.1%). All categories of emotional maltreatment were strongly related to other forms of child maltreatment (odds ratios [ORs] ranged from 2.1 to 68.0) and a history of family dysfunction (ORs ranged from 2.2 to 8.3). In models adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, all categories of emotional maltreatment were associated with increased odds of almost every mental disorder assessed in this study (adjusted ORs ranged from 1.2 to 7.4). Many relationships remained significant independent of experiencing other forms of child maltreatment and a family history of dysfunction (adjusted ORs ranged from 1.2 to 3.0). The effects appeared to be greater for active (i.e., emotional abuse) relative to passive (i.e., emotional neglect) forms of emotional maltreatment. Childhood emotional maltreatment, particularly emotionally abusive acts, is associated with increased odds of lifetime diagnoses of several Axis I and Axis II mental disorders. (Publisher abstract)
Do childhood adversities cluster in predictable ways? A systematic review
- Authors:
- JACOBS Jennifer, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 7(2), 2012, pp.103-115.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Childhood adversities have frequently been linked to a range of difficulties throughout the lifespan including mental health problems, poor physical health and substance abuse. Prior research has found that it is uncommon for adversities to occur in isolation, with exposure to multiple adversities being the norm. The aim of this study was to systematically review prior research which has investigated whether childhood adversities occur in predictable clusters. Following a systematic search of the published research, 12 studies meeting the selection criteria were identified. Eleven of these studies found that childhood adversities did cluster in predictable ways. The number of clusters or factors found ranged from 2 to 7. However, the structure and composition of these clusters were highly inconsistent across the studies. This inconsistency may be due to variation in the number and type of adversities examined, in the definition of ‘childhood’, in the methodologies and criteria used to identify childhood adversities and in the analyses applied to the data. It was suggested in several of the studies that adversities centring on family functioning were most salient in predicting future mental health and behavioural difficulties. Suggestions are provided for future research.
Premorbid risk markers for chronic fatigue syndrome in the 1958 British birth cohort
- Authors:
- CLARK Charlotte, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 199(4), October 2011, pp.323-329.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Although little is known about the aetiology of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), there is some suggestion that premorbid mood disorders may have a role. This study examined childhood and early adult adversity, ill health and physical activity as premorbid risk markers for CFS/ME by 42 years, taking psychopathology into account. The data were drawn from the 1958 British birth cohort, a prospective study from birth to 42 years (n = 11 419). The outcomes were self-reported CFS/ME (n = 127) and operationally defined CFS-like illness (n = 241) at 42 years. Adjusting for psychopathology, parental physical abuse, childhood gastrointestinal symptoms and parental reports of many colds were independently associated with self-reported CFS/ME. Female gender and premorbid psychopathology were the only risk markers for CFS-like illness, independent of comorbid psychopathology. This authors believe that these results confirm the importance of premorbid psychopathology in the aetiological pathways of CFS/ME, and replicate retrospective findings that childhood adversity may play a role in a minority.
Child abuse and autonomic nervous system hyporesponsivity among psychiatrically impaired children
- Authors:
- FORD Julian D., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 34(7), July 2010, pp.507-515.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This study was designed to assess the association of stress-related changes in autonomic nervous system activity with a history of either or both physical or sexual abuse among children and adolescents who briefly experienced a mildly painful non-interpersonal stressor (a routine blood draw). Documented incidents of abuse were recorded for the sample of 262 children at a residential treatment centre in Massachusetts serving high risk and seriously emotionally disturbed children and adolescents. Changes in heart rate and blood pressure were assessed before and after the blood draw. The results suggested that a history of physical, but not sexual, abuse is associated with stressor-related autonomic nervous system down-regulation in psychiatrically impaired children, and that stressor-related autonomic hyporesponsivity secondary to physical abuse may contribute to the impairment of severely emotionally disturbed children.
Cumulative risk exposure and mental health symptoms among maltreated youth placed in out-of-home care
- Authors:
- RAVIV Tali, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 34(10), October 2010, pp.742-751.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Maltreated children placed in out-of-home care are at high risk for exhibiting symptoms of psychopathology by virtue of their exposure to numerous risk factors. Research examining cumulative risk has consistently found that the accumulation of risk factors increases the likelihood of mental health problems. The goal of the current study was to elucidate the relation between cumulative risk and mental health symptomatology. The study consisted of a sample of 252 maltreated youths aged 9-11 who were placed in out-of-home care in the Denver metro area counties. The participants were interviewed to determine their exposure to 18 measures of risk and their mental health functioning. Analyses confirmed the high-risk nature of this sample and identified 7 salient risk variables. The cumulative risk index comprised of these 7 indicators was a strong predictor of mental health symptoms, differentiating between children who scored in the clinical range with regard to mental health symptoms and those who did not. Finally, the data supported a linear model in which each incremental increase in cumulative risk was accompanied by an increase in mental health problems.