Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Life events as a risk factor for psychological problems in individuals with intellectual disabilities: a critical review
- Authors:
- HULBERT-WILLIAMS L., HASTINGS R.P.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 52(11), November 2008, pp.883-895.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Stressful life events such as bereavement, moving house and changing jobs have repeatedly been implicated as risk factors for mental and physical ill health. Since the 1940s, researchers have demonstrated the negative effects of stressful life events, refined methods of recording such events and investigated the relative impact of different types of event. These investigations have generally not extended to include people with intellectual disabilities. A narrative review of research on life events as they occur to people with intellectual disabilities was conducted and the evidence that life events function as a risk factor for psychological problems critically assessed. Evidence was reviewed for an association between life events and a range of outcome variables, including affective disorders, challenging behaviour, psychosis and psychological problems more generally. The methodology behind the current evidence base was critiqued and a number of methodological advances that would help to strengthen it discussed. There is reasonable evidence that life events are associated with psychological problems, and that there is some tentative evidence that life events play a causal role, although to date, no relationship with psychosis in people with intellectual disabilities has been demonstrated. Life events are likely to be pertinent in clinical work with people with intellectual disabilities.
Mental disorder among refugees and the impact of persecution and exile: some findings from an out-patient population
- Authors:
- LAVIK Nils Johan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 169, December 1996, pp.726-732.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Presents the results of a study which aims to describe the type and degree of mental disorder in an out-patient population of refugees living in exile in a culturally different host country. Analyses the relationships between psychiatric symptoms and dysfunction and between socio-demographic background, type of persecution and conditions in exile. The results confirm earlier findings that refugees constitute a population at risk for mental disorder. Past traumatic stressors and current existence in exile constitute independent risk factors. However, stressors other than those discussed appear to be important also, particularly with regard to psychotic symptoms.
Stress: are we coping?
- Author:
- MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
- Publisher:
- Mental Health Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Pagination:
- 35
- Place of publication:
- London
Reports on the prevalence of stress in the UK, its implications and what can be done to manage and reduce stress at an individual and wider community and societal level. It reports on the results of a survey of 4,169 adults in the UK in 2018, which found that in the past year almost three quarters of people had felt so stressed that they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope. It explains that although not a mental health problem in itself, stress can often lead to depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide. It can also lead to physical health problems. The report makes seven recommendations to help create a stress-free UK. These include for health and social care professionals to assess and address the psychological and other stressors experienced by people living with long-term physical health conditions, for people presenting to a 'first point of contact' service in distress to receive a compassionate and trauma-informed response. (Edited publisher abstract)
Schedule control and mental health: the relevance of coworkers’ reports
- Authors:
- HURTADO David A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Work and Family, 18(4), 2015, pp.416-434.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Although some studies suggest that schedule control might promote mental health, research has over-relied on self-reports, which might explain why the evidence is inconclusive and mixed. This study introduces an analytical approach based on coworkers’ reports (in lieu of self-reports) in order to better characterise the organizational nature of schedule control, and to address biases of self-reports (e.g. reverse causation or confounding). Following job demand-control theoretical principles, in this cross-sectional study of 1229 nurses nested in 104 hospital units, the hypothesis that psychological distress (a risk factor for mental illness) would be lower for nurses where coworkers reported higher levels of schedule control at their units was tested. Results showed that increments in coworkers’ reports of schedule control at their units were associated with lower risk of psychological distress, even after accounting for self-reports of schedule control, which were not associated with this outcome. In conclusion, relying only on self-reports might conceal mental health effects of schedule control, so future research ought to include organisational and individual measures and perspectives of schedule control. Using coworkers' reports is a pertinent strategy to better signal the potential health effect of schedule control, especially when biased self-reporting is suspected. (Edited publisher abstract)
Pediatric mental health problems and associated burden on families
- Authors:
- HOUTROW Amy J., OKUMURA Megumi J.
- Journal article citation:
- Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 6(3), September 2011, pp.222-233.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study investigated mental health problems in children to identify disparities, and to quantify and identify correlates of family burden. A sample from the US National Survey of Children's Health included 85,116 children, aged 3 to 17 years. Findings revealed that the prevalence of mental health problems among the sample was 18%, with older boys, living in or near poverty, with mothers with poor mental health being at greater risk. Twenty eight per cent of families with children with mental health problems reported family burden. Correlates of family burden included white race, severity, older age, higher income, non-two-parent family structure and having a mother with a mental health problem. Childhood mental health problems were common, and disproportionally affect children with fewer family and health care resources. The authors concluded that understanding those highest at risk for mental health problems and family burden could assist clinicians with appropriate support systems.
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.
Psychosocial predictors of somatic symptoms in adolescents of parents with HIV: a six-year longitudinal study
- Authors:
- BURSCH B., et al
- Journal article citation:
- AIDS Care, 20(6), July 2008, pp.667-676.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The objective of this study was to identify salient parent and adolescent psychosocial factors related to somatic symptoms in adolescents. As part of a larger intervention study conducted in New York, 409 adolescents were recruited from 269 parents with HIV. A longitudinal model predicted adolescent somatization scores six years after baseline assessment. Adolescent somatic symptoms were assessed at baseline and at 3-month intervals for the first two years and then at 6-month intervals using the Brief Symptom Inventory. Baseline data from adolescents and parents were used to predict adolescent somatic symptoms. Variables related to increased adolescent somatic symptoms over six years included being younger and female; an increased number of adolescent medical hospitalizations; more stressful life events; adolescent perception of a highly rejecting parenting style; more parent-youth conflict; no experience of parental death; and parental distress over their own pain symptoms. The findings extend the literature by virtue of the longitudinal design; inclusion of both parent and child variables in one statistical model; identification of study participants by their potentially stressful living condition rather than by disease or somatic symptom status; and inclusion of serious parental illness and death in the study.
Toward an integration of social and biological research
- Author:
- MCCUTCHEON Viva V.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Service Review, 80(1), March 2006, pp.159-179.
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
Accumulating evidence about the effects of genetics on mental disorders has given rise to calls to incorporate knowledge of gene-environment interactions into social work teaching, research, and practice. Social workers must become aware of the interplay between genes and environments in order to optimize research, prevention, and treatment. This article presents three conceptual frameworks for integrating genetic and environmental evidence and for organizing knowledge from once-distinct disciplines into a unified framework. Recent evidence for gene-environment interactions is presented to demonstrate the importance of integrating knowledge across disciplinary boundaries.
A preliminary study of perceived stress in adults with intellectual disabilities according to self-report and informant ratings
- Authors:
- LUNSKY Yona, BRAMSTON Paul
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 31(1), March 2006, pp.20-27.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Stress is a major risk factor for mental health problems in individuals with intellectual disabilities, however few studies on stress have been conducted that take into account the perspective of both the person with the disability and the caregiver. The present study evaluated an informant version of the Lifestress Inventory, and compared it to the self-report version. Seventy individuals with intellectual disability paired with their caregivers completed the Lifestress Inventory, the Inventory of Negative Social Interactions and the Birleson Depression Scale. Informant and self-report ratings on the Lifestress Inventory were internally reliable, showed modest agreement with each other and correlated with the Negative Social Interactions and Depression measures. The most troublesome stressors reported by informants and self-reports differed, however, and families tended to agree more with self-reports than did staff informants. The informant version of the Lifestress Inventory is a suitable parallel instrument but not a replacement for self-reports.
Depression of older age
- Author:
- COPELAND J.R.M.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 174, April 1999, pp.304-306.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This article introduces the first set of publications from the EURPDEP collaboration, presented in five accompanying papers this issue. The EURODEP Consortium is a Concerted Action Programme funded by the European Commission (EC) with the following objectives: to study the variation of the prevalence of depression in Europe among people aged 65 and over; to compare the clinical features and the mode of presentation of depression in each centre; and where possible to study the social support networks, adverse life events, daily life stresses and other risk factors and the reasons for failure to receive treatment in primary care.