Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Does information about neuropsychiatric diagnoses influence evaluation of child sexual abuse allegations?
- Authors:
- LAINPELTO Katrin, ISAKSSON Johan, LINDBLAD Frank
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 25(3), 2016, pp.276-292.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study aimed at investigating if attitudes toward children with neuropsychiatric disorders influence evaluations concerning allegations of child sexual abuse. Law students (n = 107) at Stockholm University, Sweden, were presented a transcript of a mock police interview with a girl, 11 years of age. This interview was based on a real case, selected as a “typical” example from these years concerning contributions from the interviewer and the alleged victim. After having read the transcript, the students responded to a questionnaire concerning degree of credibility, if the girl talked about events that had really occurred, richness of details, and if the narrations were considered truthful and age-adequate. Fifty-four of the students were also told that the girl had been given the diagnoses of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and Asperger syndrome. Students who were informed about the diagnoses gave significantly lower scores concerning credibility of the interviewee. To a lesser degree they regarded her narrations as expressions of what had really occurred and considered her statements less truthful. Furthermore, they found that the narrations contained fewer details. Finally, they found the girl less competent to tell about abuse. We conclude that a neuropsychiatric disorder may infer risks of unjustified skeptical attitudes concerning trustworthiness and cognitive capacity. (Publisher abstract)
Is 'dual diagnosis' a useful term?
- Author:
- PETERSEN Trudi
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 16.9.98, 1998, pp.56-57.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
Asks whether the term 'dual diagnosis' is helpful to clients with mental illness who also have a substance use problem.
Effectiveness and confusion of the Time to Change anti-stigma campaign
- Authors:
- ABRAHAM Abu, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatrist (The), 34(6), June 2010, pp.230-233.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
The study aimed to assess whether the Time to Change mental health awareness campaign promotional materials were likely to have any effect on public attitudes towards mental illness. Postcards, leaflets and bookmarks promoting the campaign were posted to 250 participants recruited from a representative panel of members of the public. A fortnight later a questionnaire was sent to assess the impact the campaign materials had. One hundred and ninety six individuals responded. Results showed that only 23% of participants recognised the Time to Change logo after two weeks and only 20% correctly reported that one in four people were affected by mental health problems when presented with five alternative responses. Almost as many participants thought the campaign was promoting a British political party rather than discrimination against mental illness. The authors conclude that a single exposure to Time to Change campaign materials is unlikely to be effective. The title of the campaign is also likely to be confused with political campaigning in Britain.
The role of stigma in the quality of life of older adults with severe mental illness
- Authors:
- DEPLA Marja F. I. A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20(2), February 2005, pp.146-153.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Stigma and discrimination against older people with mental illness is a seriously neglected problem. (1) To investigate whether stigmatisation of older adults with mental disorder is associated with the type of residential institution they live in or the type of disorder they suffer and (2) to assess the role of stigma experiences in their quality of life. A cross-sectional study was carried out of 131 older adults with severe mental illness, recruited in 18 elder care homes operating supported living programmes and in eight psychiatric hospitals throughout the Netherlands. Stigmatisation was assessed with an 11-item questionnaire on stigma experiences associated with mental illness. Quality of life was assessed with the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA). To better ascertain the role of stigma, we also assessed in comparison the relationship of social participation to quality of life. Some 57% of the respondents had experienced stigmatisation. No association emerged between residential type or disorder type and the extent of stigma experiences. Stigmatisation did show a negative association with quality of life, a connection stronger than that between social participation and quality of life. A feeling of belonging, as contrasted with being excluded, is at least as important for the quality of life of older people with severe mental illness as their actual participation in the community.
Living with risk: mental health service user involvement in risk assessment and management
- Authors:
- LANGAN Joan, LINDOW Vivien
- Publisher:
- Policy Press,|Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 59p.
- Place of publication:
- Bristol
This research is about the involvement in risk assessment and management of mental health service users considered by professionals to pose a potential risk to other people. The research was carried out due to concerns that the voices of these service users are not being heard in research, policy or practice. Many service users were aware that they could pose a risk to other people when experiencing psychosis and they wanted help to reduce the chances of this happening. Full and frank discussion of risk to others was difficult for many professionals. Some people could not be asked to participate in the study because they did not know they were considered to be a risk to other people. Reasons for talking about risk to others included the user's right to know what is written about them, and increased trust between user and professional, with the potential for collaborative risk management. Reasons against talking about risk to others included increasing stigma and distress; this prompted disengagement from services, and fears for personal safety. Levels of agreement between service users and professionals about risk and how to respond to it ranged from full agreement to very little or none. Service user involvement in risk assessment and management was variable and depended upon individual professional initiative. Few professionals were undertaking systematic risk assessment or risk management plans. Some service users influenced the support they received but, generally, users' main role was to accept or reject what was offered. Professionals had less room to accommodate user views where the risks were considered too high. Little use was made of advocates, and users were not provided with a full picture of the different supports available. Medication and supported housing emerged as key issues for potential tension and disagreement between service users and professionals. Serious gaps and inaccuracies were sometimes found in information held about service users that potentially put themselves and others at risk.
Mental health service users and their involvement in risk assessment and management
- Author:
- JOSEPH ROWNTREE FOUNDATION
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- York
This research is about the involvement in risk assessment and management of mental health service users considered by professionals to pose a potential risk to other people. The research was carried out due to concerns that the voices of these service users are not being heard in research, policy or practice. Many service users were aware that they could pose a risk to other people when experiencing psychosis and they wanted help to reduce the chances of this happening. Full and frank discussion of risk to others was difficult for many professionals. Some people could not be asked to participate in the study because they did not know they were considered to be a risk to other people. Reasons for talking about risk to others included the user's right to know what is written about them, and increased trust between user and professional, with the potential for collaborative risk management. Reasons against talking about risk to others included increasing stigma and distress; this prompted disengagement from services, and fears for personal safety. Levels of agreement between service users and professionals about risk and how to respond to it ranged from full agreement to very little or none. Service user involvement in risk assessment and management was variable and depended upon individual professional initiative. Few professionals were undertaking systematic risk assessment or risk management plans. Some service users influenced the support they received but, generally, users' main role was to accept or reject what was offered. Professionals had less room to accommodate user views where the risks were considered too high. Little use was made of advocates, and users were not provided with a full picture of the different supports available. Medication and supported housing emerged as key issues for potential tension and disagreement between service users and professionals. Serious gaps and inaccuracies were sometimes found in information held about service users that potentially put themselves and others at risk.