Search results for ‘Subject term:"physical illness"’ Sort:
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Children's physical health complaints after exposure to intimate partner violence
- Authors:
- LAMERS-WINKELMAN Francien, SCHIPPER J. Clasien De, OOSTERMAN Mirjam
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Health Psychology, 17(4), November 2012, pp.771-784.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
An association between exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and children's physical health is not well determined. This study examined whether children exposed to IPV have higher risks for physical health complaints compared to children in a general population sample. Participants included primary caregivers of 275 child witnesses, aged 6 to 12, of IPV referred to several specialised mental health or child welfare institutes throughout the Netherlands who reported on children's somatic complaints using 21 items of the Child Behaviour Checklist reflecting sleeping, eating, pain complaints, and self-harm. Findings revealed that, compared to a population sample, child witnesses more often experienced health complaints, in particular, more eating, sleeping, and pain problems and more self-harm. Few differences in health complaints were found between child witnesses with and without additional adverse experiences of maltreatment. The authors concluded that early attention to everyday health complaints in children exposed to IPV might prevent more serious health problems in the future.
Self-perception of aging and acute medical events in chronically institutionalized middle-aged and older persons with schizophrenia
- Authors:
- CHENG Sheung-Tak, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 27(9), September 2012, pp.907-913.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Despite having a much shorter life expectancy, persons with schizophrenia are ageing along with the general population; those reaching 55 years or over is expected to double in the next 20 years in the USA. The aim of this study was to examine how self-perceptions of aging affect physical health status and service utilisation in people with a chronic history of schizophrenia. The study participants were 83 persons aged 40 years and over with schizophrenia residing in a long-stay care home. The participants received assessments in body mass index, functional health, and global mental status, and responded to measures of self-perception of aging. Acute events that required medical attention were recorded for the following 3 months. During this period, 7 participants (8.4%) had acute medical events. These acute medical events were predicted by physical conditions, cognitive impairment, and negative self-perception of ageing. Only mobility and negative self-perception of ageing had independent effects on the occurrence of acute medical events, with the effects of the latter being much stronger. Positive aging self-perception, body mass index, and smoking were unrelated to medical events. The article concludes that how older people with schizophrenia perceive their aging process, which is expected to regulate health behaviour and help-seeking, is an important factor in the development of acute medical events.
Therapeutic activities and psychological interventions by cognitive behavioural and psychodynamic therapists working with medically unexplained symptoms: a qualitative study
- Author:
- LUCA Maria
- Journal article citation:
- Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 12(2), 2012, pp.118-127.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS), or signs of physical malfunction that cannot be accounted for by a physical disorder, weighs heavily on NHS resources and are difficult for psychological therapists to work with. The belief of some MUS clients that their symptoms are purely physical perpetuates this difficulty. The aim of this paper is to report on therapeutic activities and psychological interventions used to treat MUS clients by experienced cognitive behavioural and psychodynamic therapists. Twelve in-depth, semi-structured, qualitative interviews with psychotherapists, recruited from 2 NHS Departments, were conducted. Interview transcripts were analysed using grounded theory. The findings showed that therapists from 2 modalities share the following activities and interventions: working together with clients; sensitive, empathic responding and building trust; being flexible with techniques; keeping an open mind; and multi-disciplinary cooperation. They also use a number of modality specific interventions which differentiate them from their colleagues. While the therapists spoke of the difficulty that experienced in engaging MUS clients psychologically, they also felt that working together with clients produced more positive outcomes.
Self-rated health as a moderator of the relation between functional impairment and depressive symptoms in older adults
- Authors:
- JAHN Danielle R., CUKROWICZ Kelly C.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(3), April 2012, pp.281-287.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
A variety of risk factors have been linked to depression. The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between functional impairment, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms. Previous research has indicated that self-rated health and functional impairment each contribute to depressive symptoms. This study sought to determine if self-rated health moderates the relation between functional impairment and depressive symptoms in a sample of older adults. A community sample of 106 adults aged 60 and above was recruited from primary care clinics; 98 of these participants had usable data. The participants completed self-report questionnaires that assessed depressive symptoms, functional impairment, and self-rated physical health. The finding showed that self-rated health moderated the relation between functional impairment and depressive symptoms. For participants with poor self-rated health, greater functional impairment was associated with greater depressive symptoms. The paper concludes that patient perceptions of health may be protective against depressive symptoms for those with functional impairment.
Evaluation of the Statement of Fitness for Work: qualitative research with employers and employees: research report
- Authors:
- LALANI Mumtaz, et al
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Work and Pensions
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 84p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Statement of Fitness for Work (fit note) was introduced in April 2010, replacing the previous medical statement (the sick note). The aim of the change was to enable people who were off sick to return to work as quickly as possible. Like the sick note, the fit note allows the doctor to state that the person is not fit for work. However, it adds a second possibility, ‘may be fit for work’, and for details of the functional effects of the patient’s condition to be recorded so changes can be made to the work environment or job role. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and outcomes of the fit note from the perspectives of employers and employees. The study involved interviews with 98 employer representatives and 87 employees from 54 organisations. The findings suggest that the fit note is likely to have reduced sickness absence by improving employers’ management of sickness absence and facilitating earlier returns to work. It is likely to have had more effect in: smaller organisations; organisations where adjustments were not previously made; organisations without previous formal employer/employee discussion procedures on sickness absence; and organisations without occupational health or other specialist health resources. A need for improvements in some employers’ approaches was identified. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Evaluation of the Statement of Fitness for Work: qualitative research with employers and employees: research summary
- Authors:
- LALANI Mumtaz, et al
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Work and Pensions
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Statement of Fitness for Work (fit note) was introduced in April 2010, replacing the previous medical statement (the sick note). The aim of the change was to enable people who were off sick to return to work as quickly as possible. Like the sick note, the fit note allows the doctor to state that the person is not fit for work. However, it adds a second possibility, ‘may be fit for work’, and for details of the functional effects of the patient’s condition to be recorded so changes can be made to the work environment or job role. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and outcomes of the fit note from the perspectives of employers and employees. The study involved interviews with 98 employer representatives and 87 employees from 54 organisations. The findings suggest that the fit note is likely to have reduced sickness absence by improving employers’ management of sickness absence and facilitating earlier returns to work. It is likely to have had more effect in: smaller organisations; organisations where adjustments were not previously made; organisations without previous formal employer/employee discussion procedures on sickness absence; and organisations without occupational health or other specialist health resources. A need for improvements in some employers’ approaches was identified. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Phenomenology of depression in older compared with younger adults: meta-analysis
- Authors:
- HEGEMAN J. M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 200(4), April 2012, pp.275-281.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Late-life depression may present differently to early-life depression. Conceptual and methodological limitations and the inherent subjectivity of narrative reviews have made it difficult to draw firm conclusions. This study was designed to investigate the effect of age on the phenomenology of major depression. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO for studies examining the relation between age and phenomenology of major depression according to RDC, DSM and ICD criteria. Inclusion criteria required age groups to be compared at the single-item level using the 17-, 21- or 24-item versions of the Hamilton Rating Scale. A meta-analysis was undertaken for each item of the 17-item scale. Eleven papers met the inclusion criteria. When compared with younger depressed adults, older adults demonstrated more agitation, hypochondriasis and general as well as gastrointestinal somatic symptoms, but less guilt and loss of sexual interest. The authors conclude that the experience of late-life depression differs only in part from that of early-life depression. Older people may have a more somatic presentation, whereas feelings of guilt and loss of sexual function may be more prevalent in younger people.
Psychological distress as a key component of psychosocial functioning in community-dwelling older people
- Authors:
- SCHNITTGER Rebecca I. B., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(1-2), January 2012, pp.199-207.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Psychological distress is a critical issue affecting the quality of life in older adults with implications for both mental and physical health. The aim of this study was to explore the key components of psychosocial functioning in older adults with a focus on identifying the constituents of psychological distress. Another aim was to examine the relationship between these components and health outcomes such as frailty. The study was conducted at the Technology Research for Independent Living Clinic, a comprehensive geriatric assessment facility in Dublin. As part of a structured clinical assessment, 579 participants completed 9 primary psychosocial measures as well as a broad range of health and demographic secondary assessments. Principal factor analysis identified 3 core dimensions of the construct of psychosocial functioning. The first is related to a core internal component of psychological distress. The 2 other components are related to external and physiological functioning, specifically social support networks and sleep. These components, particularly psychological distress, were found to be associated with health outcomes associated with frailty.
Work as a health outcome in the devolved nations: how Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland tackle sickness-related worklessness
- Authors:
- WESTON Mark, MANNING Julia
- Publisher:
- 2020 Health
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 31p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The proportion of adults in Britain who are unable to work because of health problems has more than tripled since the 1970s, at an estimated annual cost to the economy of over £100 billion. This report gathers lessons from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for tackling sickness-related unemployment in England. It describes the challenge of unemployment due to ill health and highlights the scale of the problem in England. The report notes that a large part of the responsibility for improving England’s performance on sickness-related unemployment lies with the newly established Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs). It describes the policy context in each of the devolved nations and discusses the policies put in place to tackle sickness-related unemployment. The report assesses the strengths of policy-making and implementation in the devolved nations and considers the lessons for policy-makers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including: the value of leadership; working together; consistent communications; the value of evidence; engaging health services; and taking a long-term view. The report makes recommendations, based on these lessons, for those aiming to reduce sickness-related unemployment in England
A systematic review of issues around antenatal screening and prenatal diagnostic testing for genetic disorders: women of Asian origin in western countries
- Author:
- YU Juping
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 20(4), July 2012, pp.329-346.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
In the UK, the incidence of some birth defects is higher in babies of Asian women than in those from other ethnic groups, which coincides with evidence that Asian women are less likely to undergo antenatal screening. This review examined the literature on issues around antenatal screening and prenatal diagnostic testing for genetic disorders among Asian women in western countries. Databases were searched for the period of 1995 and 2010, uncovering 2. Overall, while Asian women were found to hold favourable attitudes towards testing, they reported a poorer understanding of testing than white women, and were less able to make informed choices. Asian women in the UK and Australia were found to be less likely than their white counterparts to have undergone prenatal diagnosis, while such differences were not found in the USA and Canada. The authors concluded that an understanding of factors that informed women’s decision-making would help health professionals provide women with more culturally sensitive information and support that they may additionally need.