Serious Mental Health Problems (serious + mental_health_problem)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Postpartum depression: what we know

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 12 2009
Michael W. O'Hara
Abstract Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious mental health problem. It is prevalent, and offspring are at risk for disturbances in development. Major risk factors include past depression, stressful life events, poor marital relationship, and social support. Public health efforts to detect PPD have been increasing. Standard treatments (e.g., Interpersonal Psychotherapy) and more tailored treatments have been found effective for PPD. Prevention efforts have been less consistently successful. Future research should include studies of epidemiological risk factors and prevalence, interventions aimed at the parenting of PPD mothers, specific diathesis for a subset of PPD, effectiveness trials of psychological interventions, and prevention interventions aimed at addressing mental health issues in pregnant women. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 65:1,12, 2009. [source]


HIV prevention for people with serious mental illness: a survey of mental health workers' attitudes, knowledge and practice

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 4 2009
Elizabeth Hughes
Aim., The aim of this survey was to investigate the attitudes, knowledge and reported practice (capabilities) of mental health workers concerning humanimmunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases in people with serious mental illness. Background., People with serious mental illness are at increased risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Mental health workers have a key role to play in promoting sexual health in this population, but it is unclear how they perceive their role in this work and whether they have the capabilities to deliver sexual health promotion. Design., Cross sectional survey. Methods., A questionnaire was devised and distributed to 650 mental health workers working in a London (UK) NHS mental health service. Results., A response rate of 44% was achieved. Overall, workers reported positive attitudes to sexual health promotion and were knowledgeable about risk behaviours and risk factors for HIV infection. Adherence to glove wearing was good. However, participants' knowledge about HIV/AIDS in people with schizophrenia was poor and most reported they were not engaged in sexual health promotion activities with people with serious mental illness. Glove wearing was predicted by those who had drug and alcohol training and clinical experience and knowledge of risk factors was predicted by previous health promotion training. No other demographic factors predicted any of the other subscales. Conclusion., Mental health workers require training to provide skills for health promotion regarding sexual health and HIV in people with serious mental health problems. In addition, there needs to be more research on risk behaviours. Relevance to clinical practice., The development of effective interventions to reduce this behaviour. [source]


The development and evaluation of a telepsychiatry service for prisoners

JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 4 2004
S. LEONARD bsc rn (mm) dip ndip b&fdip ptsdcounselling
The introduction of increasingly sophisticated telecommunication systems seems to offer opportunities to respond to some of the key problems around structural and spatial inequalities in access to health care. There is evidence which suggests that serious mental health problems are common among prisoners and psychiatric comorbidity is the norm. Many prisoners have complex mental health needs, but more often than not these remain unaddressed. Telepsychiatry is one strategy to improve the accessibility and quality of mental health care in the prison setting. This paper firstly reviews the current prison health care system and then describes a research study which is focused on the development and evaluation of a telepsychiatry service for prisoners. This study has investigated what is lost or gained in a psychiatric assessment when it is conducted via telepsychiatry. The researcher compared the inter-rater reliability between two raters interviewing 80 participants in an observer/interviewer split configuration in telepsychiatry and same room settings. The measure used was the Comprehensive Psychopathology Rating Scale. Prisoners and prison staff also took part in semi-structured interviews which focused on their satisfaction and acceptability of the telepsychiatry service. A cost comparison of the telepsychiatry service with the existing visiting service was conducted. This paper outlines the study design and focuses on the potential impact that telepsychiatry may have upon the practice setting. [source]


Employment, social inclusion and mental health

JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 1 2000
J. Evans bsc econ (hons) rmn dip (psychosocial management of psychosis)
Whereas unemployment is clearly linked to mental health problems, employment can improve quality of life, mental health, social networks and social inclusion. Yet in the UK only 15% of people with serious mental health problems are employed , despite an overwhelming consensus from surveys, case studies and personal accounts that users want to work. This paper aims to challenge common misconceptions surrounding employment, work and mental health problems. Drawing on a range of research evidence and legislative guidance it discusses significant barriers to work and proposes feasible solutions. The need for mental health staff and services to become involved in the provision of work opportunities is considered, as is the vital role they can play in changing communities. The potency of work as a vehicle for improving the social inclusion and community tenure of people with mental health problems is highlighted. [source]