Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Test-retest reliability of PsyCheck: a mental health screening tool for substance use treatment clients
- Authors:
- JENNER Linda, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Dual Diagnosis, 6(4), 2013, pp.168-175.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The PsyCheck screening tool was designed for use by non-mental health specialists to detect common mental health problems. In order to examine the test-retest reliability of the PsyCheck screening tool, 50 drug users in Melbourne were given the Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ; PsyCheck version) in their first three months of treatment at two time points, between five and nine days apart. The results suggest that the SRQ (PsyCheck version) has good test-retest reliability and confirms that the SRQ (PsyCheck) is a stable and reliable instrument for use within drug treatment settings. The implications of the use of screening tools not validated within alcohol and drug treatment setting are discussed. (Edited publisher abstract)
Do maternal and paternal mental illness and substance abuse predict treatment outcomes for children exposed to violence?
- Authors:
- RISSER Heather J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Care in Practice, 19(3), 2013, pp.217-220.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study examined whether having a parent with a mental illness or a parent who abuses substances predicts treatment outcomes for children receiving community-based services for exposure to violence. From 2001 to 2011, data were collected from 492 children from one-and-a-half to seven years old and their primary caregivers enrolled in Safe From the Start services. Results indicated significant improvements pre-intervention to post-intervention in child emotional and behavioural problems, as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). One-way bivariate analyses indicated that children of mothers or fathers with a mental illness and children of mothers who abused substances had higher CBCL scores at intake. Repeated-measures analyses of variance revealed a main effect such that maternal and paternal mental illness and maternal substance abuse were associated with poorer CBCL scores. The only parental risk factor to moderate the association between treatment and CBCL scores was paternal mental illness. Treatment was associated with greater improvement in CBCL scores for children of fathers with, relative to those without, mental illness, and the effect was due to higher CBCL scores at intake for children of fathers with mental illness rather than lower outcome scores. Results suggest that Safe From the Start services which provide early intervention can be effective in improving children's emotional and behavioural functioning. Additionally, the effectiveness of services appears to be robust to parental risk factors such as mental illness and substance abuse.
Characteristics and rates of mental health problems among Indian and White adolescents in two English cities
- Authors:
- DOGRA Nisha, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 203(1), 2013, pp.44-50.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
A cross-sectional survey with oversampling of Indian adolescents aged 13-15 years of age was used to establish the prevalence rates of mental health problems in ethnic Indian adolescents in England. These were compared with matched White adolescents living in the same areas. The sample size was 2900 (71% response rate) with 1087 (37%) Indian and 414 (14%) White adolescents. Ethnically Indian adolescents had lower rates of all types of mental health problems (5% v. 13% and 21% v. 30% for abnormal Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire scores, respectively) and substance misuse (18% v. 57%, 5% v.15% and 6% v. 9% for regular alcohol, smoking and drug use, respectively), with the exception of eating disorders, compared with their White counterparts. The odds of an abnormal score on the mental health questionnaires were worse for White compared with Indian children irrespective of sociodemographic variables. Factors relating to how Indian adolescents are parented or their social support networks may be influencing their mental health and may warrant further investigation. (Edited publisher abstract)
Religion, spirituality and mental health: results from a national study of English households
- Authors:
- KING Michael, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 202(1), 2013, pp.68-73.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Data collected from interviews with 7403 people who participated in the third National Psychiatric Morbidity Study in England were analysed to examine associations between a spiritual or religious understanding of life and psychiatric symptoms and diagnoses. Of the participants 35% had a religious understanding of life, 19% were spiritual but not religious and 46% were neither religious nor spiritual. Religious people were similar to those who were neither religious nor spiritual with regard to the prevalence of mental disorders, except that the former were less likely to have ever used drugs or be a hazardous drinker. Spiritual people were more likely than those who were neither religious nor spiritual to have ever used or be dependent on drugs, and to have abnormal eating attitudes, generalised anxiety disorder, any phobia or any neurotic disorder. They were also more likely to be taking psychotropic medication. The study concludes that people who have a spiritual understanding of life in the absence of a religious framework are vulnerable to mental disorder. (Edited publisher abstract)
Gender differences, mental health and substance mis-use amongst prisoners
- Author:
- CLULEY Emma
- Journal article citation:
- Probation Journal, 60(3), 2013, pp.361-366.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This research analysis is part of the Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) longitudinal survey of 1435 newly sentenced prisoners in England and Wales in 2005 and 2006. The sample consisted of 1303 male and 132 female prisoners and looks at the mental health and substance mis-use of male and female prisoners. (Publisher abstract)
Psychiatrists’ attitudes toward individuals with substance use disorders and serious mental illness
- Authors:
- AVERY Jonathan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 9(4), 2013, pp.322-326.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Objective: The attitudes of psychiatrists toward individuals with highly stigmatized conditions such as substance use disorders and serious mental illness may influence treatment effectiveness. These attitudes may be influenced by factors including previous specialty training and current practice patterns. This study examined the attitudes of addiction and community psychiatrists toward individuals with diagnosed schizophrenia, polysubstance dependence, comorbid schizophrenia and polysubstance dependence, and depression. Methods: A web-based survey link was sent to the electronic mailing lists of addiction and community psychiatry associations. Results: A total of 84 respondents identified themselves as either addiction (n = 54) or community (n = 30) psychiatrists. The majority were male (70% of addiction and 57% of community psychiatrists) with an average age of 56.0 (SD = 11.86) and 52.7 (SD = 11.8), respectively. Addiction psychiatrists had less stigmatising attitudes than community psychiatrists for individuals with polysubstance dependence (p < .0001), while community psychiatrists had less stigmatising attitudes than addiction psychiatrists for those with schizophrenia (p < .0001). Attitudes toward individuals with dual diagnosis did not vary significantly by psychiatrist group, but both addiction and community psychiatrists had more stigmatising attitudes for individuals with dual diagnosis (p < .0001). Conclusions: These findings suggest that even psychiatrists working with highly stigmatised groups of individuals may continue to hold stigmatising attitudes toward people with other diseases. Future work is needed to further assess stigmatising attitudes among psychiatrists and the impact of these attitudes on quality of care, as well as interventions such as specialised education and training to reduce such stigma among psychiatrists. (Publisher abstract)
Factors leading African Americans and Black Caribbeans to use social work services for treating mental and substance use disorders
- Authors:
- CHENG Tyrone C., ROBINSON Michael A.
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Work, 38(2), 2013, pp.99-109.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This secondary analysis of 5,000 African Americans and black Caribbeans explored how their use of social work services to address mental and substance use disorders was associated with the disorder involved as well as their perceived need for services, belief system, family resources, proximity to services, social–structural factors, and demographic characteristics. The sample was extracted from a national data set. Results of multinomial logistic regression showed that use of social work services was increased by dual diagnosis, substance use disorder alone, and mental disorder alone; by deteriorating mental health; by perceived stigma in treatment use; by welfare receipt and insurance coverage for mental health services; and by college graduation. Results also showed that use of services outside social work was promoted by dual diagnosis, substance use disorder alone, and mental disorder alone; by deteriorating mental health; by experience of racial discrimination; by insurance coverage for mental health services; by college education or graduation; and by female gender and increasing age. The findings' implications for social work intervention and education are discussed. (Publisher abstract)
Recovery in mental health and substance misuse services: a commentary on recent policy development in the United Kingdom
- Authors:
- ROBERTS Marcus, BELL Andy
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Dual Diagnosis, 6(2), 2013, pp.76-83.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article examines the extent to which the two visions of recovery - recovery in mental health and substance misuse services - now being developed in the UK are consistent with each other and question what impact the development of parallel approaches will have on people at the intersections between them. The paper looks first at the origins and current implementation of the two approaches and then examines the commonalities and differences in the context of what they might mean for people using both sets of services simultaneously. The article finds the ideas behind Recovery in mental health and substance misuse services have some differences but significant common ground in focusing on improving quality of life. It points to the need to understand recovery in both services from the perspectives of those who have a dual diagnosis and need support from each service. The paper could be used to develop new approaches to supporting people with a dual diagnosis with a consistent Recovery focus. (Edited publisher abstract)
Use of mental health services by survivors of intimate partner violence
- Authors:
- EDMOND Tonya, BOWLAND Sharon, YU Mansoo
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Mental Health, 11(1), 2013, pp.34-54.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The purpose of this study was to assess current rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, alcohol, and substance abuse among a sample of 50 abused women and to examine the types of services survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) had used in the previous 12 months. Participants were recruited from a legal advocacy programme. In addition, the authors sought to understand how the presence of substance abuse, PTSD, and/or depression affects access and utilisation of services by IPV survivors. Fifty-four per cent of these IPV survivors were experiencing either PTSD, clinical depression, or both. While women with either PTSD or depression used a significantly larger number of services overall, the majority had not used any mental health services, even though they frequently reported services were accessible. Given the high rates of PTSD and depression in this sample, these abused women were clearly not receiving adequate mental health care. Many reported having trouble accessing housing, legal services, crisis lines, and medical care services that are fundamental to safety. The authors concluded that practitioners working with abused women should assess for PTSD and depression.
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.