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What's in a name? Views on psychiatric services for older people
- Authors:
- KELLY Fionnuala, REIDY Julianne, SWANWICK Gregory
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatric Bulletin, 30(3), March 2006, pp.97-100.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
The aim of this study was to provide a name for a psychiatric service for older people in Dublin. A total of 296 individuals (167 doctors, 129 workshop attendees) were surveyed regarding their views on a name for the service. ‘Age-related psychiatry’ was a universally popular term. It was chosen by 43% of general practitioners, 56% of hospital doctors and 44% of the workshop attendees, as one of their top three choices. ‘Psychiatry of old age’, ‘geriatric psychiatry ‘and ‘psychogeriatrics’ were unpopular with all three groups. Names can gradually become stigmatising over time. This applies to the terms for ‘old ‘and ‘psychiatry’. In this survey all groups surveyed rejected some of the terms in widespread clinical use.
Social distance towards a person with Alzheimer's disease
- Author:
- WERNER Perla
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20(2), February 2005, pp.182-188.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study examined determinants of behavioral discrimination (i.e. social distance) against persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Face-to-face interviews were conducted with a total of 206 Jewish Israeli adults (mean age = 59.7) using an experimental vignette methodology, varying in the severity of the disease. Information regarding participants' preferences for social distance from a person with AD was elicited. The effects of emotional reactions, perceptions of dangerousness of the person depicted in the vignette, personal experience with the disease, and perceptions about the susceptibility of developing AD were examined. Results of the study provide partial support for an extended version of the attribution model, in that prosocial feelings were found to decrease the behavioral discrimination against the person described, whereas feelings of rejection increased the discrimination. A direct, unmediated effect of the severity of the disease on social distance was found, as well as a direct effect of familiarity with someone with the disease. Findings of this study stress the importance of increasing government and advocacy initiatives that would provide the lay public with accurate knowledge about the disease, its symptoms, and treatments. These campaigns should be aimed at clarifying misconceptions and communicating empathetic feelings towards people diagnosed with AD.
Positive ageing: from the political to the personal
- Author:
- ROBERTSON Guy
- Journal article citation:
- Working with Older People, 16(4), 2012, pp.149-153.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The author asserts that ageism is the backdrop against which most older people live their lives. His paper examines published research from social gerontology on the impact of negative attitudes on longevity and health and then incorporates research from positive psychiatry to produce some practical personal development approaches based on synthesis of the two. The literature suggests that negative attitudes, largely fed by societal ageism, can significantly reduce longevity. Altering a person's “explanatory style” (their view of their place in the world; whether they think they are valuable, deserving or worthless) can produce significant health and wellbeing benefits. The latter is proposed as a means of countering the former. However, whilst each element is grounded in robust research evidence, there is as yet no dedicated research to show that the proposed “combined intervention” will have the intended impact. A methodology is proposed for enabling individuals to examine their negative attitudes towards their own ageing and then use a variety of psychological techniques to ameliorate or replace them with more positive ones, which it is argued, will lead to greater health and wellbeing.
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.
Reducing stigma and discrimination against older people with mental disorders: a technical consensus statement
- Authors:
- GRAHAM Nori, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(8), August 2003, pp.670-678.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This technical consensus statement is jointly produced by the Old Age Psychiatry section of the World Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization, with the collaboration of several NGOs and the participation of experts from different Regions. It is intended to be a tool for: promoting debate at all levels on the stigmatisation of older people with mental disorders; outlining the nature, causes and consequences of this stigmatisation; and promoting and suggesting policies, programmes and actions to combat this stigmatisation.
Stigma and discrimination against older people with mental disorders in Europe
- Author:
- LIMA Carlos A. de Mendonca
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(8), August 2003, pp.679-682.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The European Office of the World Health Organization (WHO/EURO) has established a Task Force On Destigmatization. Upon the release of the Technical Statement on Old Age Psychiatry Reducing stigma and discrimination against older people with mental disorders, the Task Force run a small survey in two European subregions to investigate the extent of stigma and discrimination with reference to the elderly person affected from a psychiatric disorder in the countries of those subregions. WHO/EURO mental health counterparts completed a short questionnaire inquiring on the inclusion of epidemiological studies on the elderly in their country's research program; the time devoted to the teaching to old age psychiatry during psychiatric residence; the degree of coverage of services for the elderly person and their caregivers; and the extent of stigma present in society with regard to three psychiatric disorders. Stigma and discrimination seem to be present both in the health sector and among the public at large. The development of effective health and social facilities to support older persons with mental disorders should be a high priority of any strategy to reduce stigma and discrimination. These facilities should coordinate their efforts with those of other sectors of society to reach the highest possible impact.
Emotional reactions of lay persons to someone with Alzheimer's disease
- Authors:
- WERNER Perla, DAVIDSON Michael
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 19(4), April 2004, pp.391-397.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Information about the nature of public reactions to people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) can help reduce stigmatization associated with the disease. The aim of this study was to examine emotional reactions to persons with AD, and its correlates. A total of 150 Jewish Israeli adults (mean age=59.9) were interviewed face-to-face regarding their emotional reactions to people with AD using a vignette methodology. Only a third of the participants gave the correct label. The person described in the vignette elicited more positive than negative emotions. Gender and perceived threat were the most important factors associated with emotional reactions. Findings suggest the need to expand the efforts to increase the recognition of AD by lay persons, and to address the negative emotions of several risk groups, such as male adults and those with greater concern about developing the disease.