Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Dual diagnosis of substance abuse and severe mental illness: the scope of the problem
- Author:
- BUCKLEY Peter F.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 3(2), 2007, pp.59-62.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This short paper notes, on the basis of US data, that mental illness and substance abuse co-occur at an alarmingly high rate. Causes may include self-medication, genetic vulnerability, environmental factors or lifestyle, underlying shared origins, or a common neural substrate. The consequences of co-occurring substance abuse include poor medication compliance, physical co-morbidities and poor health, poor self-care, increased suicide or aggression, increased risky sexual behaviour and a higher risk of incarceration. Appropriate screening, assessment and integrated mental health and addiction services for dual diagnosis are key components of care for this complex patient group. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Identifying need for mental health services in substance abuse clients
- Authors:
- MERICLE Amy A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 8(31), July 2012, pp.218-228.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Given the prevalence and consequences of their co-occurrence, it is important that clients’ needs for services to address both substance use and mental health problems are accurately assessed. This study examined correspondence between client-reported psychiatric symptoms and client and counsellor ratings of need for mental health treatment and explored characteristics associated with underrating. The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) was used with 3,972 clients entering outpatient substance abuse treatment across the U.S. While agreement between symptoms and ratings of need for mental health treatment was fairly high, there was a substantial amount of underrating. Approximately 54% of clients had at least some psychiatric problems and 30% of these clients underrated their need for mental health services. Counsellors also underrated need for mental health services in 32% of clients who reported psychiatric problems, even though 36% of them indicated that obtaining treatment for mental health problems was important to them. Two factors were linked to this underrating. Clients with psychiatric problems and a drug disorder were more likely than clients without a drug disorder to underrate their need (as were counsellors), and clients with psychiatric problems who were assessed at programs licensed by an outside agency were less likely to underrate their need (as were counsellors). The authors stress the importance of counsellors receiving training, supervision, and support to help them asses their clients’ need to access mental health care.
Therapeutic communities for psychosis: philosophy, history and clinical practice
- Editors:
- GALE John, REALPE Alba, PEDRIALLI Enrico, (eds.)
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 272p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This book offers a global insight into the renewed interest in the use of therapeutic communities for the treatment of psychosis, as complementary to pharmacological treatment. Twenty nine authors from 14 different countries describe their work. The book is divided into three parts which cover the historical and philosophical background of therapeutic communities and the treatment of psychosis in this context; treatment settings and clinical models; and alternative therapies and extended applications. It is intended as a resource for all mental health professionals, targeting readers from a number of disciplines including psychiatry, psychology, social work, psychotherapy, and group analysis.
Supporting the mental health of children in care: evidence based practice
- Author:
- McCALL Suzanne
- Editors:
- GUISHARD-PINE Jeune, COLEMAN-OLUWABUSOLA Gail
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 248
- Place of publication:
- London
Combining research with practice findings, this book brings together contributions from a range of experts on improving the mental health of children in care. Chapters describe the difficulties children in care often experience, such as vulnerability to self-harm, substance misuse or inappropriate sexual behaviour. Chapters also explore therapeutic interventions, such as art therapy or integrative therapy, which can be used to address the root of these behaviours. The book also makes recommendations for further training for foster carers, for reinforcing professional support networks and for all agencies to have a developed understanding of cultural considerations when working with children in care. The book will be especially useful for psychologists, psychiatrists, CAMHS professionals and social workers working with children and young people in care. (Edited publisher abstract)
Smartphones for smarter delivery of mental health programs: a systematic review
- Authors:
- DONKER Tara, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15(11), 2013, Online only
- Publisher:
- JMIR Publications
Objective: To systematically review the research evidence supporting the efficacy of mental health mobile phone applications (apps) for mobile devices (such as smartphones and tablets) for all ages. Methods: A comprehensive literature search (2008-2013) in MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, PsycTESTS, Compendex, and Inspec was conducted. Trials that examined the effects of mental health apps (for depression, anxiety, substance use, sleep disturbances, suicidal behavior, self-harm, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, stress, and gambling) delivered on mobile devices with a pre- to posttest design or compared with a control group were included. The control group could consist of wait list, treatment-as-usual, or another recognized treatment. Results: In total, 5464 abstracts were identified. Of those, 8 papers describing 5 apps targeting depression, anxiety, and substance abuse met the inclusion criteria. Four apps provided support from a mental health professional. Results showed significant reductions in depression, stress, and substance use. Within-group and between-group intention-to-treat effect sizes ranged from 0.29-2.28 and 0.01-0.48 at posttest and follow-up, respectively. Conclusions: Mental health apps have the potential to be effective and may significantly improve treatment accessibility. However, the majority of apps that are currently available lack scientific evidence about their efficacy. The public needs to be educated on how to identify the few evidence-based mental health apps available in the public domain to date. Further rigorous research is required to develop and test evidence-based programs. Given the small number of studies and participants included in this review, the high risk of bias, and unknown efficacy of long-term follow-up, current findings should be interpreted with caution, pending replication. Two of the 5 evidence-based mental health apps are currently commercially available in app stores. (Edited publisher abstract)
Mental health of women detained by the criminal courts: visit and monitoring report
- Author:
- MENTAL WELFARE COMMISSION FOR SCOTLAND
- Publisher:
- Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 52
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
This report details findings from themed visits on the care and treatment women with mental health problems receive when imprisoned or detained by the criminal courts in Scotland. Visits took place between May and September 2013 and a total of 51 women were interviewed (30 women across five prisons and 21 women in eight hospital). Issues examined included use of drugs and alcohol; children and family contact; and domestic violence and abuse. The experiences of women varied considerably. The report also highlights the different experiences that women receive once they are in the hospital system and the need for better community support to prevent the need for detention. Recommendations include: improved mental health assessment for those charged with violent and disruptive behaviour; better coordination between addition and mental health services; supporting mothers in prison to maintain contact with their children, and improving community support for women experiencing mental health problems. (Original abstract)
Substance abuse recovery after experiencing homelessness and mental illness: case studies of change over time
- Authors:
- HENWOOD Benjamin, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 8(31), July 2012, pp.238-246.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The authors examined how consumers with dual diagnosis who were formerly homeless, but now living in supportive housing, understand their recovery from substance abuse or dependence. Their aims were to discover what can be learned about substance misuse recovery from consumers considered to be doing well, how past substance abuse fits into their present-day narratives, and how policies of harm reduction versus abstinence are considered to affect recovery efforts. As part of a federally funded study in New York, 38 individuals (84% male, mean age 51 years) who met criteria for having achieved a measure of success in mental health recovery were purposively sampled from two supportive housing agencies; one using harm reduction and the other an abstinence model. In-depth interviews and case study analysis were used to focus on substance abuse recovery in the larger context of participants’ lives. Recovery from substance abuse was depicted as occurring either through discrete decisions or gradual processes; achieving recovery was distinct from maintaining recovery. Themes related to achievement included: pivotal events and people; maturation; institutionalisation. Central themes to maintaining recovery were: housing; self-help; the influence of significant others. These findings revealed a complex picture of overcoming substance abuse that largely took place outside formal treatment and was heavily dependent on broader contexts.
Safe as houses
- Author:
- SCOTT Gael
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, March 2012, pp.12-13.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Homelessness is linked to both poor mental health and offending, with one often compounding the other. Previous research has suggested that 43% of prisoners with mental health problems had no fixed address on leaving prison. This article considers whether the ‘Housing First’ model used in the United States could provide better outcomes than traditional models in the United Kingdom for securing stable accommodation for offenders with mental health problems. The Housing First model is based on the premise that housing is a basic human right, placing clients with complex needs directly into independent tenancies. This stands in contrast to the traditional approach in the UK, based on a ‘treatment first’ philosophy, where people progress through different levels of transitional housing before being placed in independent housing. There is a growing view that the ‘treatment first’ approach does not necessarily support the recovery of people with complex needs, and some providers in the UK have already begun to look at alternative models of housing support. Turning Point Scotland in Glasgow has launched a 3-year pilot of the Housing First approach, targeting people with drug or alcohol problems. Evaluation of this pilot will assess the extent to which it improves outcomes for service users.
Untold problems: a review of the essential issues in the mental health of men and boys
- Author:
- WILKINS David
- Publisher:
- Men's Health Forum
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 50p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This review considers mental health from a male perspective and explores how good mental health can be achieved and maintained. It also looks at the kinds of mental health problems that men and boys experience and asks how services can most effectively respond. Although women are diagnosed with the most common mental health problems significantly more often than men, a number of indicators of poorer mental health, such as suicide, substance misuse and homelessness, are more common in males, suggesting that male mental health problems are not being identified and tackled as well as they might. This review is divided into 3 main sections. The first section considers the male role in family and society, including the breadwinner role and the performance of boys at school. The section on men’s mental health and anti-social behaviour considers violent behaviour, male prisoners, and alcohol and drug misuse. The last section considers specific conditions including suicide and under-diagnosed depression, and the mental health of men from the following specific groups: black and ethnic minority groups; gay men; and ex-servicemen. The review concludes that men often have mental health needs that are distinct from those of women and which are particularly associated with the lived experience of being male.
The mental health of men and boys
- Authors:
- WILKINS David, KEMPLE Mariam
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, April 2010, pp.21-25.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
There has been little work that considers the specific mental health needs of men, despite statistics showing that the rates of suicide, substance abuse, violent crime, personality disorders, rough sleeping, and permanent exclusion from school are all higher in males. However, 2 reports have recently been published on this subject. During Mind Week 2009, Mind published 'Get It Off Your Chest', which suggested that mental distress in men is often a hidden problem and that services do not meet male mental health needs as well as they might. In January 2010, the Men’s Health Forum published 'Untold Problems', a review of the most important issues in the mental health of men and boys. This article highlights the key findings and conclusions from these 2 reports looking at, for example, men’s attitudes towards seeking help for mental health problems, the link between age and men’s mental health, providing the right sort of mental health services for men, the male role in family and society, poor educational performance by boys, anti-social behaviour, alcohol abuse, and suicide. It concludes that evidence suggests that men often have mental health needs that are distinct from those of women and which are particularly associated with the lived experience of being male. The findings of these pieces of research are to be developed into a document containing guidance for mental health professionals. Interested parties are invited to express their own views and suggest ideas for inclusion in the document.