Causes Of Mental Illness Research Articles

Knowledge and Attitude of Pharmacy Students toward People with Mental Illnesses and Help-Seeking: A Cross-Sectional Study from Saudi Arabia

People with mental illnesses (MIs) face several challenges in addition to their disease. People’s negative views of those with MIs impact patients’ decisions to seek professional help. The aims of this study were to assess pharmacy students’ attitudes toward people with MIs and seeking help for mental health, as well as their knowledge about the causes of MIs. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on pharmacy students at Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. Out of the 460 distributed questionnaires, 330 complete questionnaires were received, giving a response rate of 71.7%. Overall, the mean total score for attitude towards people with MIs was 60.16 ± 10.48 (maximum attainable score: 105). In this study, 51.12% believed that people with MIs are more likely to harm others than a person without MIs and 66.9% mentioned that they did not trust the work of a mentally ill person as part of their work team. However, only 35.45% believed that it is difficult for mentally ill individuals to follow social rules. In terms of attitudes toward help-seeking, the mean total score of was 12.83 ± 3.16 out of the maximum score of 25. In addition, the mean total score for knowledge about causes of mental illness was 2.92 ± 1.76 out of the maximum score of 8. The participants reported that MIs could be due to genetic inheritance (56%), substance abuse (54.5%), or brain disease (66.1%). The findings showed that there are some negative attitudes toward people with MIs and negative attitudes towards seeking help for mental health. In addition, some misconceptions about the causes of MIs are prevalent. Consequently, the incorporation of more topics concerning mental health in pharmacy curricula could help improve the awareness of and knowledge about mental health.

Views and Perceptions toward Mental Illness: A Qualitative Study from a Rural, Agricultural Community in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Community’s perception toward mental illness is a major determinant of stigma and discrimination toward mental illness, ignorance, delayed help-seeking attitude, and treatment options. Conceptions of mental illness are often influenced by sociocultural structures and health literacy among communities. Despite the increased burden of mental health problems, little is known about knowledge and perception of the public toward mental illness in rural communities in Sri Lanka. A community-based qualitative study was conducted in a rural, agricultural community in the district of Anuradhapura, in North-Central province of Sri Lanka to explore perception and attitudes toward mental illness. Eight individual, in-depth, semi-structured interviews and one group interview were conducted among a convenient sample of 15 lay community members. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis method. Participants described their views and perceptions toward conceptualizing mental illness under four themes, namely, causes of mental illness, complementary treatment methods, stigma and social discrimination, and supporting factors for mental well-being. Poverty, bad relationships, and beliefs influenced by sociocultural and religious background were considered as the main causes of mental illness. Misconceptions, stigma, and discrimination of mentally ill people and their families delayed help-seeking behavior and caused barriers to mental health-care provision. There is a strong need for increasing mental health literacy and awareness among people in rural communities. People’s sociocultural and religious beliefs should take into account when caring for mentally ill people and their family members.

First psychotic episode as first manifestation of lyme disease: Case report

IntroductionLyme disease (LD) is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) and has been reported to be associated with various psychiatric presentations.ObjectivesTo report a case with LD and to highlight the importance of differential diagnosis in a first psychotic episode.MethodsCase report and non-systematic review of the literature.Results A woman aged 31 was admitted to the psychiatric department, after a car accident with a mortal victim, due to a first psychotic episode with visual hallucinations, disorientation in time and space, persecutory and grandiosity delusions. She had a personal psychiatric history of obsessive-compulsive disorder and no previous admission to an inpatient Unit. On psychotropic drugs the condition failed to improve, and subsequently neurological symptoms developed. EEG abnormalities prompted a lumbar puncture. In the CSF a strong plasma cell reaction with atypical cells was observed. The enzyme immunoassay for Borrelia burgdorferi was positive and after treatment with penicillin the psychiatric and neurological signs and symptoms remitted. Screening assessment followed by a thorough history, comprehensive psychiatric clinical exam, review of systems, mental status exam, neurological exam and physical exam relevant to the patient’s complaints and findings with clinical judgment, pattern recognition and knowledgeable interpretation of laboratory findings facilitates diagnosis. Psychotropics and antibiotics may help improve functioning and prevent further disease progression.ConclusionsLD is relatively rare, but awareness of the association between LD and neuropsychiatric presentations can improve understanding of the causes of mental illness and result in more effective prevention, diagnosis and treatment.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Assessment of knowledge of mental illness in a non-clinical population of tunisian students

IntroductionStigma, including beliefs about mental illness, can operate in different cultures in different ways, making Western theoretical bases considered “universal” on the stigmatization of theories not applicable to non-Western cultures; hence the need for international studies on this subject.ObjectivesThis work aimed to assess knowledge of mental illness, available treatments and recovery in a non-clinical sample of Tunisian university students.MethodsIn a cross-sectional descriptive study from October 1 to November 30, 2019, we evaluated 714 students from 3 Tunisian public universities using the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule scale (MAKS).ResultsWe found that 34.2% of students did not agree that drugs can be an effective treatment for people with mental health issues, while 76.4% agreed on the effectiveness of psychotherapy. In addition, 34.3% did not consider drug addiction as a mental illness and 21.9% did not consider depression as a mental illness. We objectified a significant correlation of the MAKS score with gender (p=0.019), living environment (p=0.001), high academic level of father (p=0.000) and mother (p=0.027) and presence of personal psychiatric history (p=0.013).ConclusionsAwareness and information campaigns aimed at developing the general public’s knowledge of the scientific, medical and psychosocial causes of mental illness and the means of management should be established.

English

BACKGROUND In many rural communities, the cause of mental illness is attributed to black magic, spirit possession of past sin and the coastal region of Karnataka is not exempted from it. The natives of this region ascribe the cause of mental illness to the spirit or demigod, and they seek the help of traditional healers such as spirit dancers for the recovery. This help-seeking behaviour of the people results in delay in seeking psychiatry care and affects the recovery of the person with mental health problems. Therefore, this study explores the opinion of clients undergone traditional healing for mental health problems and the results of the study could contribute to planning an appropriate health promotion activity to promote community mental health. METHODS The present study was explorative, undertaken in the Udupi district of Karnataka state, which explores the views of the respondents about the cause of mental health problem and the outcome of traditional healing for their problems. Altogether 200 clients visiting traditional healers for mental health care were interviewed based on the snowball sampling technique and the interview schedule was used as a tool to gather the data. RESULTS Of the 200 respondents interviewed, 27.5 percent were adults (31 to 40 years), while 43.1 percent were unemployed. Black magic was found to be the major cause for mental health problems among 25.5 percent of the respondents; whereas, 26 percent of the respondents felt recovered completely after undergoing traditional healing for mental health problems. CONCLUSIONS The recognition of mental health problems is very much essential for people with mental health problems to seek professional help. This could help mental health professionals to diagnose illness at the very beginning and provide better mental health care. However, the explanatory model of the patients needs to be taken into consideration while providing modern medical care. KEY WORDS Black Magic, Mental Illness, Serpent Worship, Spirt Dancer, Traditional Healers

MANAS (MIND) AND MANOVIKARA (MENTAL DISORDER) IN AYURVEDA: A REVIEW

Ayurveda is thought to be ‘The Science of Life’, and therefore the follow involves the care of physical and mental health of creature. Ayurveda isn’t solely restricted to body or physical symptoms however conjointly provide comprehensive data concerning mental and social health. Three factors are basically responsible for the origin of any kind of disease, these are Asatmaindriyartha Samyoga (excessive utilization or non-utilization or improper utilization of sense faculties), Prajnaparadha (Intellectual blasphemy) and Parinama (time). Balanced Doshas of mind regulates the emotion while disturbed Doshas of mind plays an important role in the pathogenesis of mental diseases. The increasing level of stress in today’s time gives a huge surge of Manovikara (mental disorder). In Ayurveda many references of Manas (mind) and treatment of Manovikara (mental disorder) are available which would be easy to understand and rewarding the field of treatment. Role of Swastavritta including Daivavyapasraya, Satwavajay, Naisthiki chikitsa and Yoga are very important in the management of Manovikara. In modern era we are at the grasp of Raja and Tama which are the root cause of mental disorder. So, it is necessary to understand the Manovikara (mental disorder), its causes, symptoms, prevention and management. Present article is a review article contains review of Manas (Mind) and Manovikara (Mental disorder) in Ayurveda.

PILOT STUDY - A STUDY IN SELECTED HOSPITALS TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TRILOGY IN REDUCING ANXIETY AND WORRIES IN DEPRESSED PATIENTS

ABSTRACT India is the most depressed country in the world, according to the world health organisation. Depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in primary care settings. The NMHS provides information on prevalence, disability, treatment gap and socioeconomic impact associated with depressive disorders among adults in India. The crude prevalence rate of mood disorder was estimated to vary from as low as 0.5 to as high as 78 per 1000 population. One in six people aged 10-19 years is suffering from depression. Globally, depression is one of the leading causes of mental illness, suicide and disability among adolescents. Outcomes: - The overall comparison in experimental group among tests regarding level of anxiety that paired sample ‘t’ test was calculated to significant difference in within group to test scores of level of anxiety in experimental group revealed that there was a highly statistically significant difference found in the level of anxiety in outcome scores between pre and post-1 test in experimental. The overall mean difference between pre test (29.3±5.77) and post test -1 (20.13±3.74) group with mean difference was 9.2. The obtained ‘t’ value was 10.94 with p<0.001 which was statistically highly significant difference between pre test and post test -1. The overall mean difference between pre test (29.3±5.77) and post test -2 (18.9±6.95) groups with mean difference was 10.4. The obtained ‘t’ value was 10.56 with p<0.001 which was statistically highly significant difference between pre and post-2. The overall mean difference between pre test (29.3±5.77) and post test -3 (14.6±7.95) groups with mean difference was 14.73. The obtained ‘t’ value was 12.41 with p<0.001 which was statistically highly significant difference between pre test and post test -3. Conclusion:-Hence, Comparison of overall interpretation regarding level of anxiety in experimental group depicts that, there was significant difference found between t

ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE OF FIRST DEGREE RELATIVES REGARDING HOME CARE OF PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to “Assess the knowledge of first degree relatives regarding home care of psychiatric patients in Gwalior Mansik Arogyashala. This topic focuses primarily the adaptation of the research method for the study. Research methodology gives a bird’s eye view of the entire process of tackling a research problem in a scientific and systematic way. Family members play a major role in providing care giving assistance to elderly persons and their families this include both the provision of direct and indirect care. Mental illness is an age old problem of mankind. It is documented in all cultures around the world in the oldest literature. Till recently, the actual cause of mental illness was not known and there were few effective treatment methods. Mental patients were often a source of disturbance to others. Mental health, rather than just those suffering from a mental illness, should be a problem for all of us. Care of a psychiatric patient based on non-residential psychiatric services in mental asylum that provide rehabilitation or care for people affected by a mental illness or psychiatric disabilities. Key Words: Mental illness, effective treatment, design, and sample, home care, psychiatric.

Level of Perceived Stigma Among Caregivers of Persons with Severe Mental Illness in Jimma City, Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study

<i>Background</i>: Stigma associated with mental illness is a psychosocial consequence that causes indescribable suffering for the victim. Therefore this study aimed to assess the magnitude and factors associated with level of perceived stigma among caregivers of persons with severe mental illness in Jimma city, Ethiopia. <i>Methods</i>: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a face-to-face interview from September 20 to October 20/2012 G.C. Family interview schedule was used to assess perceived stigma. A total of 289 participants were recruited using a consecutive sampling technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 software. <i>Results</i>: The most frequently endorsed item was having felt grief or depression because of having a mentally ill family member or relative (96.5%). The mean stigma score was 17.8±6.9 and the majority of the respondents (54.7%) had a high stigma score. Caregivers/Family members who were spouse to the patient (AOR=4.25, 95%CI: 1.12–16.13) and longer duration of illness (AOR=3.60, 95%CI: 1.42– 9.44) were associated with higher stigma. But a person with mental illness who had verbal/physical violent behavior towards caregivers/family members and other people at the time of the illness (AOR=0.34, 95%CI: 0.17–0.70) and among those family members who attributed the cause of mental illness as the loss of properties and unsuccessful life (AOR=0.27, 95%CI: 0.08-0.89) at p=0.032. Were associated with low stigma respectively. <i>Conclusions</i>: Perceived stigma was found to be a common problem among caregivers of persons with severe mental illness. Becoming spouse of the person, duration of illness, patient with violent behavior and, those caregivers who attributed the cause of mental illness as the loss of properties and unsuccessful life were significantly associated with perceived stigma.

Stigmatization of mental illness among health workers in JOS University Teaching Hospital

Background: It has been suggested that those more knowledgeable about mental illness are less likely to endorse negative or stigmatizing attitudes. The objectives of the study was to determine stigma toward mental illness among health care providers and to determine their knowledge and beliefs about mental illness. Materials and Method: The investigation was a descriptive and cross-sectional study on a stratified and randomly selected sample population of 308 Health workers at the Jos University Teaching Hospital. Questionnaires were used to elicit responses from the respondents, using the Community Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill (CAMI) scale. Information was also obtained on Knowledge and beliefs about possible causes of mental illness. Results: The result of the study showed that stigmatizing attitudes to the mentally ill are widely held even among health care providers. Although the respondents appeared to be knowledgeable about the possible role of psychosocial and genetic factors in causation of mental illness, 3.8% of them believed that mental illness could be caused by witches/wizards, 3.4% thought it could be a consequence of Devine punishment or curse. Conclusion: This study offers insights into how health care providers regard people with mental illness that may be helpful in designing appropriate training or re-training programs in Nigeria and other low-income African Countries.

Teenagers and Precision Psychiatry: A Window of Opportunity

Objective: Precision medicine raises hope for translating genetic-based knowledge about psychiatric risks into mental health benefits by motivating health-related, risk-reducing behaviors. Teenagers (ages 14–17) are an important age-group to engage in preventive efforts but, their views about psychiatric genetics are understudied. Method: An online survey with a nationally representative sample of teenagers (n = 417) was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 2 handouts, 1 emphasizing the genetic underpinnings of psychiatric conditions; the other agency-oriented and focusing on gene-environment interactions. Survey questions queried their views about behavioral changes in response to psychiatric genetic risk information and expressed willingness to undertake them. Participants’ decision-making characteristics (i.e., self-efficacy, empowerment, intolerance of uncertainty, and sensation-seeking) were assessed at baseline. Results: Teenagers strongly valued the information provided and its potential usefulness for their mental health. Information about psychiatric genetics alone impacted views about the causes of mental illness. Contrary to our hypothesis, the type of handout did not impact participants’ expressed willingness to make behavioral changes to reduce their risk of developing a psychiatric condition, but their sense of empowerment played a key role in their responses. Conclusion: Educating teenagers about gene-environment interactions may help facilitate the translational efforts of precision psychiatry. Research with teenagers across racial/ethnic groups, especially those with family histories, is needed to better understand the factors that impact teenagers’ empowerment in psychiatric genomic settings and to identify measures, including the best enablers of empowerment (e.g., educators, parents), which would allow them to reap the benefits of precision psychiatry.

Knowledge and Attitude toward Depression among Adolescents Attending Secondary Schools in an Urban Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria: A cross sectional survey

Background: Globally, depression is the fourth leading cause of mental illness and disability among adolescents (15–19 years). This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitude toward depression among adolescents attending secondary schools. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study among 257 adolescents attending secondary schools in an urban area of Lagos State. Multistage sampling technique was used to identify appropriate schools, and a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire that contained a vignette depicting depression was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: Overall, 257 students participated in the study. The mean age was 15.8 ± 1.3 years. Majority (91.5%) had prior knowledge about depression. The most common sources of information were from school (38.9%), family and friends (23.3%), and social media (20.6%). Majority (87.9%) correctly recognized depression in the vignette. Attempted suicide and social withdrawal from friends (71% and 67.3%, respectively) were less recognized as symptoms of depression. Similarly, only 36.2% recognized depression as a real medical condition. Students in science (76.9%) had better knowledge about depression than students in arts (43.5%) and commerce (43.8%) (P = 0.006). The teacher was considered as the primary access to care compared to the need for specialized care. Majority of the respondents had positive attitudes toward depression and 75.4% believed that people with depression should not be stigmatized. Conclusion: This study showed important gaps in knowledge of causes, symptoms, and the need for professional or psychiatric care of depression. It highlights the need to promote mental health literacy in schools.

Pharmacological studies using iPSC-derived neurons from patients with schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is characterized by positive symptoms, negative symptoms and cognitive dysfunction. Although the abnormal neuronal development, impaired synaptic functions and impaired neural circuit functions are suggested to be the causes of psychiatric disorders, the molecular and cellular etiology of schizophrenia remains largely unclear. iPS-related technologies can be powerful for not only understanding the molecular and cellular etiology of schizophrenia but also drug discovery research. In 2011, the first iPS cells derived from patients with schizophrenia harboring a DISC1 mutation were generated. Subsequently, many iPS cells from patients with schizophrenia were established for understanding the molecular and cellular disease phenotypes of the differentiated neuronal cells. For replicating disease phenotypes with iPSC-derived neuronal cells, it is important to develop the differentiation strategies for generating cell-type specific cultures of various types of neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Especially, scalable cultures of iPSC-derived neuronal cells are valuable platforms for drug discovery research. In this review, the focus has been made on the iPSC differentiation technology, pharmacological and drug discovery studies with iPSC-derived neurons from patients with schizophrenia. Continued advancement of the iPSC-related technologies and research will help the success in central nervous system drug discovery and development.

Attitudes of medical students in Saudi Arabia towards mental illness and their beliefs regarding its causes and treatability.

The stigmatization of people with mental illness is a worldwide problem. The authors aimed to assess stigmatizing attitudes among medical students at a university in Saudi Arabia towards mental illness and to evaluate the association of psychiatric education and planned medical specialty with stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs concerning the treatability and etiology of mental illness. A cross-sectional survey of currently enrolled medical students at Sulaiman Al Rajhi University was conducted through convenience sampling using a 52-item questionnaire. Factor analysis identified four unique factors representing attitudes and beliefs towards mental illness. ANOVA and Chi-square tests were used to evaluate the differences in attitude among students at different levels and other variables associated with these factors. Altogether 245 students (46.7 %) responded to the survey. Completion of a classroom psychiatry course, but not a clinical clerkship, was associated with a stronger belief in the effectiveness of the treatment of both medical and mental illnesses (p = 0.031) as well as greater acceptance of the biopsychosocial model of the etiology of mental illness (p = 0.001). Students interested in pursuing a surgical career had weaker beliefs in the effectiveness of treatment of mental illnesses as compared to students interested in other minor specialties (p = 0.002). While attitudes towards socializing with people with mental illness did not differ significantly with different levels of psychiatric education, beliefs about treatability and biopsychosocial etiology seem to be strengthened after a classroom psychiatry course but not further reinforced after the clinical clerkship.

Examining causal attributions for depression, alcohol use disorder, and schizophrenia in a diverse sample of international students at U.S. universities

Objectives International students face increased vulnerability for mental health challenges, but underutilize counseling compared to their domestic peers. We examined beliefs regarding the causes of mental illness, known as attributions, which may impact treatment-seeking and stigma. Participants: Surveys were collected from 680 international students at U.S. universities. Methods: We sent invitations to a computer-based survey disseminated via international student email lists. The survey explored mental health attributions for depression, alcohol use disorder, and schizophrenia. Results: Attributions differed significantly by disorder. Depression and alcohol use were attributed to social stress and perceived as controllable and influenced by personal weakness and lifestyle choices. Schizophrenia was often attributed to hereditary/biological causes. Differences also emerged based on the participants’ acculturation, region of origin, and religiosity. Conclusions: Attributions influence perceptions of mental illness and may lead to stigma. Providers should incorporate discussions of attribution in student outreach and counseling to address potential impacts on care-seeking.

Knowledge, attitude and behaviours toward mental illness and help-seeking in a large nonclinical Tunisian student sample.

Mental disorders are widespread among students. However, mental health help-seeking remains low. Several reviews and meta-analyses have shown that the main barrier to seeking help from mental health professionals is stigma. This paper aimed to assess stigma in a sample of students, and its association with help-seeking intentions and comfort with disclosing a mental illness. The 'Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill', the 'Mental Health Knowledge Schedule', and the 'Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale' were administered to a total of 714 college students (62.2% female; mean age=20.9). We found that 43.8% of students agreed that one of the main causes of mental illness is a lack of self-discipline and willpower, 21.9% did not consider depression as a mental illness, and 39.6% felt that they would be 'unlikely' or 'very unlikely' to seek the help of a health professional for mental health problems. Females had higher scores in help-seeking intentions (p < .001) and knowledge of mental illness (p=.019). Students' age negatively correlated with knowledge (p < .001, r=-.147). Pearson correlations indicated that help-seeking intentions positively correlated with more favourable future intentions of being in contact with a person with a mental illness (p< .001, r= .103) and greater mental health knowledge (p< .001, r= .163); and that comfort with disclosing significantly and negatively correlated with attitudes (p < .001, r=-.125). To date, few young people see mental health professionals as a preferred source of support, and action is needed to change this perception or reform mental health services to make them more attractive to this age group.

Philippe Pinel and the foundations of modern psychiatric nosology.

Philippe Pinel (1745-1826) played a major role in the foundation of modern psychiatric nosology. Much of his contribution, historically contextualized within the enlightenment generally and post-Revolutionary France more specifically, can be summarized through five themes in his background, education and writings. First, he applied an inductive, enlightenment-informed natural science approach to classification adapted from the biological sciences, which he had studied, and applied this to large samples of mentally ill individuals in Parisian asylums, frequently referring to 'varieties' and 'species' of insanity. Second, Pinel's classificatory approach rejected metaphysical and highly speculative etiologic theories in favor of a Baconian inductive approach utilizing observational data. Third, Pinel advocated repeated assessments of patients over time, feasible given long in-patient stays. Fourth, trained in philosophy, Pinel relied on philosophically informed models of the mind and of insanity. Fifth, Pinel extensively utilized faculty psychology to understand and classify mental illness. He anticipated further developments of nineteenth-century psychiatric nosology by challenging the then-dominant intellectualist models of insanity, adopting a humanistic-informed emphasis on the importance of symptoms alongside signs, arguing that passions could be the primary cause of mental illness, and trying to infer causal inter-relationships in psychiatric patients between disturbances in affect and understanding.

\u201cCrazy person is crazy person. It doesn\u2019t differentiate\u201d: an exploration into Somali views of mental health and access to healthcare in an established UK Somali community

BackgroundMental health conditions have been shown to disproportionately affect those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. Somali communities globally have relatively high levels of mental illness, but low levels of mental health service use, with numerous barriers to care identified.This study was conducted in an established UK Somali community in the South West of England and aimed to explore community beliefs and views about the causes of mental illness, treatment for mental illness, and access to medical services in general. Participants were asked about how mental health and illness are understood and conceptualised, along with the cultural meaning of mental illness and its manifestations in relation to men, women and young people.DesignUsing a community-based participatory research design, in partnership with local Somali community organisations, the research team conducted four focus groups with a total of 23 participants aged over 18. Open-ended questions were used to facilitate discussion. Transcripts were analysed thematically.ResultsThe participants discussed the role of migration and associated stress from the civil war and how that could contribute to mental illness.Participants tended to view the symptoms of mental illness as physical manifestations such as headaches and to describe a strong community stigma where those with mental health conditions were viewed as “crazy” by others. Barriers to accessing healthcare included language barriers, waiting times and a mistrust of doctors. Various ideas for improvements were discussed, including ideas to reduce stigma and ideas for community initiatives.ConclusionCultural considerations and reducing stigma are vital in improving understanding of mental illness and improving access to mental health services, along with building relationships and trust between the Somali community and health care workers.

Can reading too much make me run mad? Exploring students’ assumptions and academic performance

Objectives To determine the prevalence of the assumption that ‘reading too much’ could cause madness (i.e., severe mental illness) among medical, nursing, and community health students, and also explore the relationship between these students’ status on this assumption and their academic performance. Methods This study was a cross-sectional study conducted among a convenient sample of medical, nursing, and community health students (n = 122) studying within the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital campus, Sokoto, Nigeria. Study tool was a paper questionnaire, which obtained information on the demographic profile, awareness of ‘madness’, assumption that ‘reading too much’ is a cause of madness, and self-rating of the participants’ academic performance in their current course of study. Data collected was analysed using the SPSS version 20 software. Test of associations between variables were done using Chi square test. Results The mean age of the 122 respondents was 27.3 years, majority (61.5%) of them were males, and 53.3% were medical students. More than half of the surveyed nursing students (54.2%) and community health students (55.6%), unlike the surveyed medical students (24.6%), had the assumption that reading too much could make them run mad. There was no statistically significant relationship between the assumption that ‘reading too much’ is a cause of mental illness and academic performance of the respondents. Conclusion Assumption that reading too much could cause madness is a fairly common phenomenon among the surveyed tertiary school students, irrespective of their level of academic performance. There exists the need to disabuse the minds of tertiary school students from the assumption that reading too much could make one run mad.

Addressing a Structural Cause of Mental Disorders with an Economic Policy Reform

This paper contributes to the etiology of several mental disorders by taking into consideration the social and personal influence the economy has on each individual. Within the neoliberal paradigm, involuntary unemployment is used as a policy tool to achieve price stability. Hence, permanent existence of involuntary unemployment is inherent to neoliberal economic policy. While research suggests a strong negative impact of involuntary unemployment on mental health, this paper argues that unemployment within the neoliberal paradigm in many ways even worsens the anyhow negative impact. In light of the destructive forces of involuntary unemployment combined with an individualistic zeitgeist as well as in light of the benefits associated with continuous access to meaningful employment, this paper suggests the implementation of a Job-Guarantee as a means to address a structural cause of mental disorders, particularly depression and anxiety.