Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 17
The Better Life Program: effects of group skills training for persons with severe mental illness and substance use disorders
- Authors:
- GRAWE Rolf W., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 16(5), October 2007, pp.635-634.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Despite the widespread use of group interventions for treating dual disorders, few standardized programs have been empirically validated. This study evaluated a manualized group skills training intervention for clients with dual disorders, the Better Life Program, in order to determine its feasibility and changes in substance abuse and mental health outcomes. Patients with dual disorders at nine centres in Norway participated in a pilot study using a within-subjects pre- and post test design. The program required an average of 37 sessions to complete and was provided as a supplement to standard mental health care. The aim of the program is to reduce substance misuse through providing information, motivational enhancement, skills training to develop rewarding relationships, relapse prevention, and establishing healthy leisure activities. Among the 82 patients who began treatment, 63 (83%) completed it. Treatment completers showed significant reductions in substance misuse and improvement in global functioning, but did not change in general symptom distress. This pilot study supports the feasibility of the Better Life Program, and suggests that it may improve substance misuse and mental health outcomes. Further research is warranted to evaluate the effects of this program using controlled research designs.
"Less is best" a group-based treatment programme for persons with personality disorders
- Author:
- HURDLE Donna
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work with Groups, 23(4), 2001, pp.71-80.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Personality disorders are among the most difficult of mental disorders for which to provide effective interventions. Using a group work model that emphasizes skill-building, problem-solving and community integration can enable clients with personality disorders to function more adaptively in the community. This article describes a model programme that integrates therapy, educational and socialization groups and is consistent with established social group work models and practices. This group work approach also fits well to a managed care environment, as it is cost-effective and maximizes the number of clients served with limited staff.
The effects of group work with institutionalized elderly persons
- Authors:
- DUYAN Veli, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Research on Social Work Practice, 27(3), 2017, pp.366-374.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Objectives: This research article aims to measure the effects of group therapy on institutionalised elderly in terms of reducing depression and improving psychosocial functioning. Methods: Thirty elderly nursing home residents were recruited, and 16 of them elected to receive group treatment for depression and 14 declined treatment. The Multidimensional Observation Scale for Elderly Subjects and the Geriatric Depression Scale were given to both groups when group work began and again when it ended. Results: Clients who received group treatment experienced reductions in depression and their psychosocial functioning improved. Conclusion: Group work intervention was followed by reductions in the depression levels and improvements in their psychosocial functions among institutionalised elderly clients. (Edited publisher abstract)
Group-based strategies employed in the wartime and post-war treatment of psychological trauma: experience from the war in Croatia
- Authors:
- URLIC Ivan, BRITVIC Dolores
- Journal article citation:
- Clinical Social Work Journal, 40(4), 2012, pp.421-428.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
The authors served as psychiatrists during the recent war in Croatia, 1991–1995. From the onset of this armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia, their group provided mental health and psychiatric care to waves of refugees, displaced persons, soldiers and former prisoners of war. Such care was also provided to civilians living under the threat of warfare. In this endeavor, the Croatian health service received considerable assistance from international non-governmental organisations. Since the war, professionals in the mental health field have continued to provide help, support and various kinds of treatment to people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, coping difficulties and personality changes. Four regional psychotrauma centres (RPCs) have been established in Croatia, together with a network of counseling centres set up as governmental agencies. The Regional Psychotrauma Center of Split (southern Croatia) that serves war veterans and their families will be described herein. Research data is presented and discussed. (Publisher abstract)
Treating co-occurring disorders: a handbook for mental health and substance abuse professionals
- Authors:
- HENDRICKSON Edward L., SCHMAL Marilyn S., EKLEBERRY Sharon C
- Publisher:
- Haworth Press
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 243p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Binghamton, NY
Caseloads that include mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders are becoming more and more common, yet most texts in this area focus on one specific type of disorder. This handbook reflects the reality facing mental health and substance abuse professionals in their daily practices, focusing on how to effectively manage caseloads that include individuals with vastly differing levels of functioning. The book describes the psychiatric and substance use disorders that commonly co-occur and examines the evolution of co-occurring concepts and treatment. It provides an overview of relapse prevention and symptom management models for use with clients with co-occurring disorders and another covering mental health and substance abuse recovery movements. Topics include: conducting comprehensive assessments for individuals with psychiatric and substance use symptoms; providing individual, group, family, and case management interventions for clients of differing levels of function who exhibit psychiatric and substance abuse symptoms; identifying standard interventions for all clients with co-occurring disorders; and measuring change and establishing reasonable treatment outcome performance standards for these clients supervising staff who work with multifarious caseloads.
The effectiveness of an integrated treatment approach for clients with dual diagnoses
- Authors:
- DINITTO Diana M., WEBB Deborah K., RUBIN Allen
- Journal article citation:
- Research on Social Work Practice, 12(5), September 2002, pp.621-641.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Reports on a randomized experiment to test the effectiveness of adding a psychoeducationally oriented group therapy intervention to standard inpatient chemical dependency services for clients dually diagnosed with mental and substance dependence disorders. Outcome variables included drug and alcohol use, participation in self-help support group meetings, incarceration days, psychiatric symptoms, psychiatric inpatient admissions, compliance with prescribed psychotropic medication plans, and composite scores on the Addiction Severity Index. No significant treatment effects were found on any of the outcome variables. The addition of the psychoeducationally oriented group therapy invervention did not add to the effects of standard treatments for dually diagnosed clients.
Turning the tide
- Author:
- BARKER Phil
- Journal article citation:
- Openmind, 106, November 2000, pp.10-11.
- Publisher:
- MIND
Reports on the tidal model, a new model of nursing care which aims to put the needs of the individual service user at the centre.
Late-life depression and functional disability: the role of the goal-focused group psychotherapy
- Authors:
- KLAUSNER Ellen J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 13(10), October 1998, pp.707-716.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This article compares the efficacy of two time-limited group psychotherapies for depression and functional disability in late life. Goal-focused group psychotherapy (GRGP) utilised focused psychoeducation and skills training to assist each patient in the achievement of individualised goals. Reminiscence therapy (RT) emphasised individual life review to facilitate discussion. Finds that whereas both treatment groups improved in depressed mood and disability, GFGP subjects had a far greater change in depressive symptomatology and also improved in the areas of hope, hopelessness, anxiety and social functioning.
Memory maintenance groups in the community
- Author:
- GREGORY Susan
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 59(1), January 1996, pp.25-26.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Describes the use of memory maintenance groups for people in the early stages of dementia who are living at home. The aims of the groups changed to meet client need.
Community, care and quality: a lesson from group psychotherapy - making connections in the face of the drive forwards fragmentation
- Authors:
- LANDAU Naomi, WALLBANK Michael
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice, 9(1), Spring 1995, pp.63-72.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Examines what is meant by the terms 'community', 'care' and 'quality' in current mental health practice. Using their own experience of successful group psychotherapy project, they offer a creative reinterpretation of these core concepts which supposedly underpin the present shift towards community-based services. They argue for a reaffirmation of the mental health practitioner's therapeutic role in helping severely damaged clients to make connections - both within themselves and between themselves and the outside world - at a time when the drive towards fragmentation of service provision poses an additional threat to the precarious mental health of this client group.