Search results for ‘Subject term:"severe mental health problems"’ Sort:
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La femme fatale: the female psychopath in fiction and clinical practice
- Author:
- LOGAN Caroline
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Review Journal, 16(3), 2011, pp.118-127.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The phenomenon of the psychopath; what is it like to be married to a psychopath, governed by one, the victim of one or even to be one, evokes both fascination and revulsion. The male psychopath has tended to dominate fiction and film as well as the scientific literature. Studies in women are few; consequently, psychopathy is not routinely assessed in women and the harmful potential of some can be overlooked leading to failures in the management of risk. This paper explores how psychopathic women manifest the traits of their disorder. The first two sections of the paper bring the reader up to date with what is known today. While the third part focuses on the representation of women in fiction who demonstrate psychopathic traits. A number of works are identified. Three texts are described in detail and their female characters and storylines explored. Gender differences and practice implications are highlighted. Specifically, the paper explores the nuanced ways in which women execute their harmful conduct on others and their most likely relationships with the victims of their aggression; comparisons with men are drawn throughout. The author suggests that the study of psychopathic women in fiction is an invaluable adjunct to empirical research as a way of understanding the phenomenology of psychopathy in this group.
A sojourn at the villa
- Author:
- HOPKINS Graham
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 17.03.20, 2005, pp.40-41.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Reports on Ella Villa, a high support home in west London, which gives women with complex mental health needs a chance to live in the community.
How men and women in recovery give meaning to severe mental illness
- Author:
- SCHON Ulla-Karin
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 18(5), October 2009, pp.433-440.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
An important factor in the recovery from mental health problems is not necessarily the cure or absence of symptoms, but involves a sense of mastery over the illness. It requires the creation of new meaning out of the illness experience. This paper investigated such recovery meaning with reference to severe mental illness, and how this new meaning facilitates recovery. Thirty men and women were interviewed regarding meaning-making with respect to mental illness. Findings indicated that, throughout the process of making-meaning, the perceived reason for the illness emerged as the core category. Four response patterns were found when analysing the material, and three of the four groups restructured the meaning of their illness more favourably. The author concluded that the results highlight the need for further research into recovery achievements connected to meaning-making, and changes in attitudes towards mental health problems. However, one further area that needs to be researched is meaning-making in which gender is considered in relation to the individual's situation.
Oxford textbook of women and mental health
- Editors:
- KOHEN Dora, (ed.)
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 333p.
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
This textbook includes essays from 57 contributors and covers the growing field in psychiatry of gender and mental health. It reports on epidemiological data showing increased frequency in different clinical aspects of psychiatric disorders in women. The psychosocial, social, cultural, and endocrinological factors which contribute to diagnoses specific to women are discussed, along with the societal, parental and personal consequences of their problems. Part 1 explores fundamental aspects of women and mental health, such as stigma and stereotyped attitudes, gender-based violence, ethnicity, biological differences, lesbianism, attachment, maternal mental health and women as carers. Part 2A describes clinical aspects of anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder aetiology and treatment; women in forensic institutions; and the social care needs of women. Part 2B covers perinatal psychiatric disorders in depth, with Parts 2C and 2D looking at substance misuse and eating disorders, respectively. Part 3 includes chapters on past-traumatic stress disorder, self-harm and suicide, and medically unexplained symptoms in women. Part 4 covers parental psychiatric disorders during and after pregnancy. Part 5 looks at women with learning disabilities. Part 6 summarises legislation, policy and the law.
Intimate partner violence and sexual assault among women with serious mental illness: a review of prevalence and risk factors
- Authors:
- VAN DEINSE Tonya B., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work, 19(6), 2019, p.789–828.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Summary: As compared with the general population, women with serious mental illness experience higher rates of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and are at a greater risk of future victimization, post-traumatic stress disorder, exacerbated symptoms of mental illness, and other negative health outcomes. Despite substantial research, the field lacks clear, consistent guidance for intervention development. To this end, this review aims to move the field beyond its focus on prevalence by providing a comprehensive and concise summary that compares and assesses the findings, quality, and scope of 10 systematic reviews (reviewing 168 studies) pertaining to prevalence and risk factors of intimate partner violence and/or sexual assault among women with serious mental illness. Findings: The systematic reviews in this study indicate wide variation exists in the prevalence rates of intimate partner violence among women with serious mental illness. Differences are attributable to inconsistent definitions of key concepts across studies, differences in inclusion and exclusion criteria, type of disability, and type of violent victimization. Fewer than half of the studies focus on risk factors for violent victimization among women with serious mental illness, which contributes to the lack of viable interventions for this population. Application: The implications discussed in this study address best practices for screening and assessment, opportunities for intervention modification, standardization of definitions of core concepts, and the importance of examining the service challenges from the perspective of clients and service providers. The study offers an organizing framework to advance the field’s focus on risk and protective factors toward developing effective interventions and treatment strategies. (Edited publisher abstract)
"I hope I can make it out of there": perceptions of women with severe mental illness on the
- Authors:
- MANUEL Jennifer I., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 48(3), June 2012, pp.302-308.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study explores the experience of women with severe mental illness in transition from psychiatric hospital care to the community. Three focus groups were conducted among women with severe mental illness from transitional residences at two state psychiatric hospitals in the USA. Focus group transcripts and notes were coded according to women’s perceived challenges and facilitators of transition. Participants described several challenges including fear of insufficient treatment support, safety concerns, social isolation, stigma, and lack of resources to meet daily needs. The supports that women described as important were an orientation to the neighborhood and residence, access to treatment support with flexibility, and connection to social supports.
Coping with compulsion: women's views of being on a community treatment order
- Author:
- GIBBS Anita
- Journal article citation:
- Australian Social Work, 63(2), June 2010, pp.223-233.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The New Zealand Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 allows for the compulsory community treatment of people deemed to have a serious mental illness. This paper presents the experiences of 10 women who were either currently on a Community Treatment Order (CTO) or had recent experience of being on a CTO. The aims of the study were to explore the benefits and limitations of being on a CTO; support and relationships; and discharge experiences. The data was taken from an earlier interview-based study undertaken in the early 2000s of 42 people with serious mental illness about their experiences of CTOs. Of the 42 people, 10 were women. Analysis of the original interview data revealed how these women experienced both benefits and limitations under conditions of compulsory community treatment. The women's key workers, clinicians, and nominated family members were also interviewed. The findings indicate that women considered the overall advantages of CTOs to outweigh the disadvantages. Advantages included: greater access to treatment and respite care in hospital; and an increased sense of safety and reassurance for women and their families. Disadvantages included: some restrictions, such as where women resided; feelings of stigma; and having to comply with treatment with the threat of being returned to hospital if they did not. Overall, CTOs made a significant impact on the lives of the 10 women but they also allowed the women to remain out of hospital long enough to rebuild their lives and maintain their close relationships.
Refuge or rehabilitation? Assessing the development of a women's empowerment center for people with severe mental illness
- Authors:
- WHITLEY Rob, HARRIS Maxine, ANGLIN Jerri
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 44(4), August 2008, pp.253-260.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Recent calls for psychiatric services to focus upon psychosocial recovery for people with severe mental illness has led to a renewed interest in recovery communities. Hence, Community Connections (Washington DC) set up a Women’s Empowerment Center as an intentional recovery community. The aim of this paper is to qualitatively chronicle the development of this centre to assess emerging challenges. Focus groups and participant observation were conducted regularly over a 16-month period. Analysis suggested three emerging challenges (i) concern regarding unmet practical and physical needs (ii) the struggle to establish internal rules and corrective mechanisms (iii) frustration regarding differential participation.
Should women be a special case when it comes to services for psychosis?
- Author:
- SPURRELL Mark
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, October 2008, pp.23-26.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
This article examines the specific needs of women with psychotic illness. The distinct differences in terms of mood symptoms, physical health issues, post-traumatic issues and social loss through disruptions of family and home are highlighted. The article then considers the need for specific care programmes.
Auditory and visual hallucinations in a sample of severely mentally ill Puerto Rican women: an examination of the cultural context
- Authors:
- LOUE Sana, SAJATOVIC Martha
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Religion and Culture, 11(6), September 2008, pp.597-608.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The content, interpretation, and structure of hallucinations experienced by individuals with severe mental illness are influenced by the culture of the individuals who experience them. This study analyzed the content of visual and auditory hallucinations of 53 Puerto Rican women in northeastern Ohio with a diagnosis of a severe mental illness (SMI) who were participating in a study of HIV risk among Hispanic women with SMI. Compared to non-hallucinators, hallucinators had lower global assessment of functioning scores and greater suicidality. Hallucinations reflected three themes: religious themes, command hallucinations, and unidentifiable voices. Hallucinators' subjective experience of their hallucinations ranged from a sense of security to significant distress. Participants developed a wide range of strategies to deal with threatening hallucinations. Provider response to individuals' experience appeared to impact the quality of the patient-provider relationship. The authors recommend the inclusion of religious history in the initial assessment of individuals. This will assist the provider in making an accurate diagnosis, distinguishing between religious beliefs and those that reflect underlying pathology, and in increasing the level of cultural competence of the care provided. Religious and spiritual beliefs that provide a source of hope and strength for the patient can be utilized to expand and enhance the patient's coping strategies.