Search results for ‘Subject term:"severe mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Violent and non-violent crime against adults with severe mental illness
- Author:
- KHALIFEH H.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 206(4), 2015, pp.275-282.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Background: Little is known about the relative extent of crime against people with severe mental illness (SMI). Aims: To assess the prevalence and impact of crime among people with SMI compared with the general population. Method: A total of 361 psychiatric patients were interviewed using the national crime survey questionnaire, and findings compared with those from 3138 general population controls participating in the contemporaneous national crime survey. Results: Past-year crime was experienced by 40% of patients v. 14% of controls (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.8, 95% CI 2.0–3.8); and violent assaults by 19% of patients v. 3% of controls (adjusted OR = 5.3, 95% CI 3.1–8.8). Women with SMI had four-, ten- and four-fold increases in the odds of experiencing domestic, community and sexual violence, respectively. Victims with SMI were more likely to report psychosocial morbidity following violence than victims from the general population. Conclusions: People with SMI are at greatly increased risk of crime and associated morbidity. Violence prevention policies should be particularly focused on people with SMI. (Publisher abstract)
Considering a personal budget
- Authors:
- MCPIN FOUNDATION, RETHINK MENTAL ILLNESS
- Publisher:
- Rethink Mental Illness
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 6
- Place of publication:
- London
This is one of six guide for mental health professionals who support someone with a severe mental illness who has, or is thinking about applying for, a Personal Budget. It is drawn from the real experiences of people with a severe mental illness, their family members and mental health practitioners. The guide covers: who would benefit from a personal budget, the risks, what makes a successful application, managing expectations and addressing concerns. (Original abstract)
Psychiatric and psychosocial correlates of sexual risk behavior among adults with severe mental illness
- Authors:
- MEADE Christina S., SIKKEMA Kathleen J.
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 43(2), April 2007, pp.153-169.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Persons with severe mental illness (SMI) are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. This study examined multivariate correlates of sexual risk among 152 adults with SMI receiving outpatient psychiatric treatment. Structured interviews assessed psychiatric, psychosocial, and behavioural risk factors. The majority was sexually active (65%), and many reported unprotected intercourse (73%), multiple partners (45%), and sex trading (21%) in the past year. Logistic regression models found that sexual behaviours were differentially associated with non-psychotic disorder, psychiatric symptoms, substance abuse, childhood sexual abuse, romantic partnership, and social support. Findings underscore the need for targeted HIV prevention interventions that address psychiatric and psychosocial risk factors.
Fear and freedom
- Author:
- LEASON Katie
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 14.04.05, 2005, pp.32-34.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Two recent homicides by psychiatric patients Peter Bryan and John Barrett have sparked fresh public worries over safety. Asks whether these killings could have really been avoided and whether the new legislation would make a difference.
Victimisation in adults with severe mental illness: prevalence and risk factors
- Authors:
- MOOIJ Leselotte D. de, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 207(6), 2015, pp.515-522.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Background: Patients with a severe mental illness (SMI) are more likely to experience victimisation than the general population. Aims: To examine the prevalence of victimisation in people with SMI, and the relationship between symptoms, treatment facility and indices of substance use/misuse and perpetration, in comparison with the general population. Method: Victimisation was assessed among both randomly selected patients with SMI (n = 216) and the general population (n = 10 865). Results: Compared with the general population, a high prevalence of violent victimisation was found among the SMI group (22.7% v. 8.5%). Compared with out-patients and patients in a sheltered housing facility, in-patients were most often victimised (violent crimes: 35.3%; property crimes: 47.1%). Risk factors among the SMI group for violent victimisation included young age and disorganisation, and risk factors for property crimes included being an in-patient, disorganisation and cannabis use. The SMI group were most often assaulted by someone they knew. Conclusions: Caregivers should be aware that patients with SMI are at risk of violent victimisation. Interventions need to be developed to reduce this vulnerability. (Publisher abstract)
Self-harm in first-episode psychosis
- Authors:
- PATEL Kamlesh, UPTHEGROVE Rachel
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatric Bulletin, 33(3), March 2009, pp.104-107.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
Suicide in schizophrenia remains frequent. One of the best predictors of suicide, previous self-harm, is increasing in young people. The aim of this case-note review was to investigate the frequency of a history of self-harm for individuals presenting to psychiatric services with a first episode of psychosis in our local area and study their demographic characteristics. Patients aged 16-35 years, residents in Birmingham, experiencing psychosis and accepted by early intervention services were included in the study. A history of self-harm was found in 32% of the cohort. The predominant method of self-harm was self-laceration. In univariate analyses, age and gender were significant predictors of self-harming behaviour. The rate of self-harm among those with first-episode psychosis is high. Efforts to reduce the rate of completed suicide in psychotic illness need to focus on this risk, which often predates contact with psychiatric services. This emphasises again the need for early detection and intervention in psychotic illness.
Promoting treatment adherence in assertive community treatment
- Authors:
- ANGELL Beth, MAHONEY Colleen A., ISHIBASHI MARTINEZ Noriko
- Journal article citation:
- Social Service Review, 80(3), September 2006, pp.485-526.
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
Treatment adherence is a fundamental challenge for programs that serve people with serious mental illness. Assertive community treatment (ACT) is a comprehensive treatment approach that is designed to mitigate adherence barriers. Although ACT is recognized as an evidence-based practice, the model has been criticized as paternalistic and coercive in its approach to promoting adherence. This article examines the ways that service providers in two ACT programs in the United States promote treatment adherence in standard practice. The study conceptualizes the adherence-promoting behaviours of ACT providers as social influence strategies. It uses qualitative methods and a grounded dimensional analysis approach to examine the ways in which ACT providers grapple with and manage nonadherence.
Outdoor recreation as an occupation to improve quality of life for people with enduring mental health problems
- Author:
- FRANCES Kathy
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69(4), April 2006, pp.182-186.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This report reviews available evidence to illustrate that outdoor recreation can be used as a viable therapeutic medium for people with enduring mental health problems. It illustrates how outdoor recreation is in keeping with government mental health promotion strategies and that, if outdoor recreation is considered as an occupational role, it can facilitate positive self-identity and enhance quality of life for people with enduring mental health problems. The term 'outdoor recreation' encompasses activities that take place in an outdoor environment, including walking, hiking, orienteering and cycling, and more adventurous activities such as climbing, kayaking, canoeing and sailing.
Too little fear can kill you. Staying alive as a social worker
- Author:
- SMITH Martin
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice, 20(1), March 2006, pp.69-81.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This paper provides a psychodynamic exploration of risk assessment of service users who might represent a danger to others and, in particular, to the social workers involved in their care and treatment. Substantive quotations from participants in a qualitative research study enquiring into experiences of fear in social work and counselling are provided and discussed in the light of psychodynamic theory. Fear is seen to be of crucial and life-enhancing significance while not listening to the ‘survival signals’ transmitted from fear responses is shown to be potentially dangerous, even fatal. The need for workers to locate themselves accurately on the continuum of the depressive/paranoid-schizoid position is highlighted throughout as is the need for them to appear to disturbed and disturbing service users as whole people rather than part objects. The importance of clearing a space through the fear to think about what is happening between service user and worker is emphasised and the parts played by the eyes and the emotions in this are also considered. The paper concludes with the contention that workers should aim to cultivate an attitude of appropriate fearfulness as this is a helpful albeit complex balance worth striving for.
Cannabis and psychosis
- Author:
- FERGUSSON David M.
- Journal article citation:
- British Medical Journal, 21.01.06, 2006, pp.172-175.
- Publisher:
- British Medical Association
The UK government is considering reclassifying cannabis because of concerns about links with mental health problems. This article brings together evidence from epidemiological studies and neuroscientific studies to look at the evidence.