History Of Mental Health Problems Research Articles

Understanding Differences in Mental Health History and Behavioral Choices in a Community Sample of Individuals with and without Body Modifications

ABSTRACTThis study investigated the differences in mental health history and social, health, alcohol and substance, and sexual behaviors of individuals with and without body modification in a community sample. Previous research primarily focused on negative behavioral and psychological correlates of body modification practices in college student, juvenile delinquent, inpatient, and incarcerated populations. This tendency does not take into account changes in the demographics and motivations of individuals who obtain body modifications in the last two decades. The Community Body Modification Checklist was developed based on previous studies; reliability and validity for the measure were established using Cronbach’s alpha and factor analysis. The results indicated that individuals with body modifications were not more likely to engage in risky behaviors or report a history of mental health problems when compared to non-modified persons; however, they were more likely to engage in social and health behaviors. These findings may be best explained by the body modification community becoming diversified by the middle class whose meanings, motivations, and usage of tattoos and piercings are unique.

Non-Attendance at initial appointments in an Outpatient Mental Health Centre

IntroductionNon-attendance at initial appointments is an important problem in outpatient settings and has consequences, such as decreased efficient use of resources and delayed attention to patients who attend their visits, and that compromises quality of care.ObjectivesTo identify and describe the characteristics of patients who do not attend the first appointment in an adult outpatient mental health center, located in Barcelona.MethodRetrospective study. The sample was made up from all patients who had a first appointment during 2014 in our outpatient mental health centre. Socio-demographic and clinical data (type of first appointment, reason for consultation, origin of derivation, priority, history of mental health problems) were described. The results were analyzed using the SPSS statistical package.ResultsA total of 272 patients were included. Twenty-six per cent did not attend their first appointment; with mean age 39.75 years and 51.4% were male. Most frequent problems were anxiety (41.7%), depression (26.4%) and psycosis and behavioural problems (11.2%). The origin was primary care (83.3%), social services (4.2%) and emergencies (2.8%). Most of them were not preferent or urgent (86.1%). The 51.4% of non-attendees had history or psychiatric problems and 13.9% nowadays are patients of our mental health centre.ConclusionsIt is important to develop mechanisms that can reduce the incidence of first non-attended appointments. In our case, most of them are attended by primary care so we can establish better communication with our colleagues and try to contact to the patients prior to the date of the appointment.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Psychosocial Factors Associated with Resilience in a National Community-Based Cohort of Australian Gay Men Living with HIV.

HIV-positive gay men may experience multiple sources of adversity and stress, related both to their HIV diagnosis and sexual identity. Most of these men, however, do not experience mental health problems. Little is known about factors that help them achieve resilience in the face of life challenges. This study examined psychosocial factors associated with resilience in a national community-based sample of 357 Australian HIV-positive gay men. Resilience was measured using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Higher levels of resilience were linked with experiencing low or no internalized HIV-related stigma, having no previous history of mental health problems, and a number of socioeconomic indicators. In addition to providing a more complete picture of the mental health of HIV-positive gay men, findings from this study can be used to inform strength-based approaches to mental health prevention and support.

Depression, Abuse, Relationship Power and Condom Use by Pregnant and Postpartum Women with Substance Abuse History.

Substance-abusing pregnant and postpartum women are less likely to maintain consistent condom use and drug and alcohol abstinence, which is particularly concerning in high HIV-prevalence areas. Data from 224 pregnant and postpartum women in substance abuse treatment were analyzed to examine effects of history of substance use, child abuse, and mental health problems on current substance use and condom-use barriers. Mediators were depression, relationship power and social support. Most participants (72.9%) evidenced current depression. Less social support (-0.17, p<0.05) and relationship power (-0.48, p<0.001), and greater depression (-0.16, p<0.05) predicted more condom-use barriers. History of mental health problems predicted condom-use barriers, mediated by recent depression and relationship power (0.15, p<0.001). These findings suggest depression and diminished relationship power limit highest-risk women's ability to negotiate condom use and abstain from substance use, increasing their risk of acute HIV infection and vertical transmission.

Psychological distress among Vietnamese adults attending Vietnamese-speaking general practices in South Western Sydney: prevalence and associations.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of psychological distress among Vietnamese adults attending Vietnamese-speaking general practices and explore possible risk factors in this population.Methods: A cross-sectional survey of Vietnamese adult patients was conducted at 25 general practices with Vietnamese-speaking general practitioners (GPs) in south-western Sydney between October 2012 and February 2013. Patients completed the Kessler (K10) scale and a demographic questionnaire, available in Vietnamese or English. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21.Results: Of the 350 patients invited to participate, 247 completed surveys (response rate 71%). One-quarter (25%) of participants had a very high K10 score for psychological distress, nearly twice that reported in the NSW Health Survey. Participants with high exposure to trauma were at increased risk of psychological distress (odds ratio 5.9, 95% confidence interval 2.4-14.4; P < 0.0001) compared with those with mild or no trauma exposure. Similarly, risk was increased if there was a past history of mental health problems and a lack of personal and social support.Conclusion: The high prevalence of mental health problems in adult Vietnamese people attending Vietnamese-speaking general practices is associated with exposure to trauma. This highlights the importance of personal, social and professional support in effective management. Vietnamese-speaking GPs who see Vietnamese or similar refugee groups should actively seek out a history of exposure to trauma, a past history of mental illness and the existence of support systems.

"Should we talk about it?": A study of the experiences business leaders have of employing people with mental health problems.

Job seekers with mental health problems are more at risk of being excluded from the labour market than those without such problems. Our aim has been to explore the experiences business leaders have of employing people with mental health problems and to investigate whether they can suggest what might be done in order to include more job seekers with mental health problems in their companies. Our empirical sample consisted of in-depth interviews with ten business leaders who were recruited from five public and five private companies. On the one hand business leaders want more openness in the hiring process in relation to any psychological problems job seekers have. On the other hand, employers were unsure whether job seekers would state that they have or have had mental health problems. The study concludes that more attention must be focused on changing business leaders' attitudes and changing unhealthy corporate cultures that create and sustain the idea that people with mental health problems are disabled. In order to reverse the trend of increasing numbers of people with mental health problems being excluded from the labour market, it seems imperative that business leaders develop their understanding of how the workplace can accommodate employees who have a history of mental health problems.

Prediction of perinatal depression from adolescence and before conception (VIHCS): 20-year prospective cohort study

Perinatal depression is a neglected global health priority, affecting 10-15% of women in high-income countries and a greater proportion in low-income countries. Outcomes for children include cognitive, behavioural, and emotional difficulties and, in low-income settings, perinatal depression is associated with stunting and physical illness. In the Victorian Intergenerational Health Cohort Study (VIHCS), we aimed to assess the extent to which women with perinatal depressive symptoms had a history of mental health problems before conception. VIHCS is a follow-up study of participants in the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study (VAHCS), which was initiated in August, 1992, in the state of Victoria, Australia. In VAHCS, participants were assessed for health outcomes at nine timepoints (waves) from age 14 years to age 29 years. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule and the General Health Questionnaire. Enrolment to VIHCS began in September, 2006, during the ninth wave of VAHCS; depressive symptoms at this timepoint were measured with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. We contacted women every 6 months (from age 29 years to age 35 years) to identify any pregnancies. We assessed perinatal depressive symptoms with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) by computer-assisted telephone interview at 32 weeks of gestation, 8 weeks after birth, and 12 months after birth. We defined perinatal depression as an EPDS score of 10 or more. From a stratified random sample of 1000 female participants in VAHCS, we enrolled 384 women with 564 pregnancies. 253 (66%) of these women had a previous history of mental health problems at some point in adolescence or young adulthood. 117 women with a history of mental health problems in both adolescence and young adulthood had 168 pregnancies, and perinatal depressive symptoms were reported for 57 (34%) of these pregnancies, compared with 16 (8%) of 201 pregnancies in 131 women with no preconception history of mental health problems (adjusted odds ratio 8·36, 95% CI 3·34-20·87). Perinatal depressive symptoms were reported at one or more assessment points in 109 pregnancies; a preconception history of mental health problems was reported in 93 (85%) of these pregnancies. Perinatal depressive symptoms are mostly preceded by mental health problems that begin before pregnancy, in adolescence or young adulthood. Women with a history of persisting common mental disorders before pregnancy are an identifiable high-risk group, deserving of clinical support throughout the childbearing years. Furthermore, the window for considering preventive intervention for perinatal depression should extend to the time before conception. National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia), Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, Colonial Foundation, Australian Rotary Health Research and Perpetual Trustees.

Psychotic versus non-psychotic firesetters: similarities and differences in characteristics

Firesetters with psychotic disorders constitute a distinct and important offender group. However, little is known about how psychotic firesetters differ from non-psychotic firesetters. More knowledge is required in order to treat this particular population effectively. Psychotic (n = 30) and non-psychotic (n = 94) firesetters of both sexes referred for pre-trial forensic mental health assessment in the Netherlands were compared on socio-demographic, pathological, judicial and event-related characteristics using binary and multivariate statistical tests. Results showed that psychotic firesetters were older, single and unemployed. They had a more extensive history of mental health problems, associated drug use and impaired self-reliance. Opposed to non-psychotic offenders, physical abuse in childhood and alcohol abuse were less prevalent. They had a more extensive history of prior convictions, committed the arsons more often alone and were less often intoxicated. Treatment implications are discussed as focusing treatment on these differences may contribute to treatment efficacy and prevention of recidivism.

A Romanian Online Platform for Patients with Depressive Disorder Www.Depresiv.Ro

Introduction Major depressive disorder is a disabling condition and nowadays is one of the major causes of morbidity worldwide. The internet is a commonly used source of information related to mental health, with elevated use among those with a history of mental health problems. Consumers frequently use the internet to gather mental health information, indicating they like the '24/7” access to data as well as the anonymity the internet affords. Objectives The goal of this presentation is to point out the challenges our team had to manage in order to create an online platform about depression and the results obtained. Methods The site www.depresiv.ro was created by a multidisciplinary team. It is intended to be simple and with a great visual impact. Results The platform is a reliable information tool for patients, families and also for mental health specialists. It gathers information about depressive disorder and it has an interactive concept with a question and answer module and a screening section that uses a web app with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Conclusions With a monthly traffic of approximately 12000 users and more than 3000 Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales completed in just 3 months it is clear that use of internet could help both patients and caregivers obtaining accurate information about depression. The increasing role of internet as an information source should be used by psychiatrists in order to provide education about this relatively high incidence disorder that is depression.

Working in partnership in the antenatal period: what do child and family health nurses do?

There is strong evidence that comprehensive sustained home visiting programs, commencing antenatally can improve child and maternal outcomes for vulnerable families. Community child and family health nurses, who traditionally engage with families post-birth, are well placed to provide interventions in the antenatal period. There is, however, little information on what home visiting nurses do, particularly in the antenatal period. An Australian trial of sustained nurse home visiting provides the opportunity to explore what child and family health nurses actually do in this new area of antenatal intervention. Nurses completed a checklist following each home visit detailing the interventions undertaken. Descriptive analysis was undertaken to describe the frequency of each of interventions. Factor analysis was undertaken to group the interventions into clusters. Further analysis was undertaken to determine if the clusters of interventions were associated with the frequency of home visits or characteristics of the mothers/families. Four clusters of interventions were identified: comprehensive range of physical and psychosocial care for most families; ongoing management of lower risk needs for mothers who were young, unsupported or had a history of mental health problems; preventive care for first-time mothers; and management of high risk needs (drugs and alcohol and domestic violence) in conjunction with other professionals. The interventions undertaken reflect the conceptual framework of the program. Nurses are delivering a comprehensive range of physical and psychosocial care to most women and families in the antenatal period, with some groups of women receiving additional support related to differing areas of needs.

Chelsea Flower Show 2014: the healing properties of gardening.

The Help for Heroes garden won the coveted ‘People’s Choice Award’ at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, clearly capturing the imagination of the public. It was a beautiful, peaceful space that got me thinking about the healing properties of gardening and whether we GPs should be recommending it to our patients. The garden takes you on a journey past rough granite blocks towards a smoother, more organised endpoint, ‘representing the complex and progressive path of recovery experienced by wounded and sick military personnel and their families’.1 Rather than being dismantled in the customary end of show ‘sell off’, the Help for Heroes garden has a more treasured destination: a recovery centre for injured service personnel in Colchester where it will offer a serene place to contemplate and support the challenging road to recovery. However, it is not just having access to beautiful spaces that is therapeutic to returning troops, but working in the gardens forms part of their rehabilitation process. Using horticulture as therapy is an ancient practice, with 14th-century Irish monks treating ‘troubled fellows’ using spells of gardening and it remained a common activity in institutions and hospitals until the 1960–1970s.2 More recently, horticultural therapy (HT) projects have been identified in a number of countries, involving participation by a variety of vulnerable groups such as those with mental illness, learning difficulties, chronic disease, and those recovering from severe injuries.3–5 Benefits of HT may include increased self-esteem and self-confidence, development of new skills, increased wellbeing, the opportunity for social interaction, and the development of independence.6 Participants frequently report benefits from being outdoors and evidence supports that those with mental illness experience greater benefits from exercising outdoors compared with indoors.7 The use of HT as a resource for primary care is available in some parts of the country. In south-east London, Sydenham Garden is one such example, and was established in 2002 to promote the physical and mental wellbeing of local residents by: ‘... facilitating meaningful creative activities … to deliver therapeutic benefits’.8 ‘Hope on the Horizon’ shines brightly at Chelsea Flower Show! Monday 19 May 2014. Users of the service mostly have a history of mental health problems and can be referred by their GP and other professional or voluntary agencies. A study published in 2012 reported that participants felt that the project improved their wellbeing by providing purposeful activity, an escape from their problems, and improved mood and self-perception.8 When I next see a patient with chronic disease learning to live with their condition, I will think about that garden at Chelsea with its metaphor of hope and transformation. While patients’ experiences of illness are seldom straightforward, evidence suggests that HT may empower them to develop new skills and move forward with their lives with greater confidence and independence.

Heroin and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in a Women’s Treatment Facility: An Exploratory Study

The current study addressed treatment engagement, or lack thereof, for women in a residential substance use treatment facility who had co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and heroin dependency diagnoses. Results indicated that having previous drug treatment was positively related to treatment engagement and children in care was marginally positively related to engagement, while stressors related to employment and education were a detriment to remaining engaged in treatment. Trends in participants’ family history indicated that (1) participants who had received previous mental health treatment, had a family history of mental health problems, and (2) use of multiple substances was marginally associated with a family history of drug use.

The relationship between maternal depressive, anxious, and stress symptoms during pregnancy and adult offspring behavioral and emotional problems.

Prenatal maternal depressive, anxious, and stress symptoms have been found to be associated with child and adolescent behavior problems. In this paper, we investigate their impact on behavior problems and depressive symptoms in adulthood. Participants included 3,099 mother-offspring pairs from the Mater University Study of Pregnancy (MUSP), an Australian based, prebirth cohort study. We used latent class growth analysis (LCGA) with parallel processes to identify trajectories of maternal depressive, anxious, and stress symptoms over four time periods between the mothers' first clinic visit and 5 years postpregnancy. We fitted the estimates from the maternal trajectories in multivariate logistic regression models to predict internalizing and externalizing behavior at age 21. We adjusted for a wide range of prenatal and postnatal factors, including maternal life events, relationship quality, contact with the new born, as well as concurrent maternal depressive and anxious symptoms and father's history of mental health problem. LCGA found seven groups of mothers; one group of mothers exhibited high levels of depressive, anxious, and stress symptoms during pregnancy but not at later time points. Their offspring experienced increased levels of behavior problems and depressive symptoms. This paper provides the first evidence that high levels of maternal subjective depressive, anxious, and stress symptoms experienced in early pregnancy may predict internalizing and externalizing behavior problems and depressive symptoms in young adults.

Social support among releasing men prisoners with lifetime trauma experiences

High rates of lifetime trauma experiences exist among men incarcerated in US state and federal prisons. Because lifetime trauma experiences have been linked to problematic behavioral and psychiatric outcomes for incarcerated populations, trauma-informed interventions could improve post-release well-being of releasing men prisoners with trauma histories. Social support has consistently been found to have a positive impact on trauma-related outcomes in non-incarcerated populations. Therefore, it is reasonable to hypothesize that social support may be an important intervention component for releasing men prisoners with trauma experiences; yet, the relationship between trauma experiences, psychiatric and behavioral factors, and social support has received almost no attention in research with men prisoners. Using a probability sample of 165 soon-to-be-released men, the present study examined differences in certain demographic, criminal justice history, mental health, substance abuse, and social support (type, quality, amount, and source) variables between releasing men prisoners with and without lifetime trauma experiences. Results indicate that men with trauma histories had more negative social support experiences and fewer positive social support resources before prison than their counterparts. Men with trauma histories also had more lifetime experiences with mental health and substance use problems. On further investigation of the subsample of men with trauma histories, those who were older, had substance use disorders, and histories of mental health problems anticipated fewer post-release social support resources. Study findings underscore the nuances of social support for men prisoners with trauma experiences and point to implications for future directions in targeted trauma-informed intervention development for releasing men prisoners.

Prevalence, types, distribution and associations of psychosocial problems among university students in Uganda

The prevalence of psychosocial problems and their associations among University students in Uganda has received very little research attention. Yet, this information is important to provide data to assist in mental health policy formulation for counseling intervention among the vulnerable university students populations in Uganda. The study objective was to investigate the prevalence, types, distribution and associations of psychosocial problems among university students in Uganda. It was part of a larger PhD study that validated an instrument for assessing university students’ psychosocial problems in Uganda. This study employed a descriptive cross sectional survey technique. Five universities participated in a survey conducted during the 2012/13 academic year. Out of 1101 approached students, 976 (88.6%) completed the survey which included a socio-demographic questionnaire, study program characteristics, medical health questionnaire and the University Students Evaluation of Psychosocial Problems (USEPP) instrument which was used to evaluate the psychosocial problems. The prevalence, types and distribution of psychosocial problems among the students was established using descriptive statistics and regression analysis established the relationship between psychosocial problems and the correlates of interest. The estimated prevalence of psychosocial problems among the university students was 36.5%. Students living in off- campus hostels, having chronic medical conditions, and those with a previous history of mental health problems and who perceived their health as poor/fair were at a higher risk of psychosocial problems. These findings highlight to the need to initiate policies to address the students’ psychosocial problems.

Detection and management of depression in adult primary care patients in Hong Kong: a cross-sectional survey conducted by a primary care practice-based research network

BackgroundThis study aimed to examine the prevalence, risk factors, detection rates and management of primary care depression in Hong Kong.MethodsA cross-sectional survey containing the PHQ-9 instrument was conducted on waiting room patients of 59 primary care doctors. Doctors blinded to the PHQ-9 scores reported whether they thought their patients had depression and their management.Results10,179 patients completed the survey (response rate 81%). The prevalence of PHQ-9 positive screening was 10.7% (95% CI: 9.7%-11.7%). Using multivariate analysis, risk factors for being PHQ-9 positive included: being female; aged ≤34 years; being unmarried; unemployed, a student or a homemaker; having a monthly household income < HKD$30,000 (USD$3,800); being a current smoker; having no regular exercise; consulted a doctor or Chinese medical practitioner within the last month; having ≥ two co-morbidities; having a family history of mental illness; and having a past history of depression or other mental illness. Overall, 23.1% of patients who screened PHQ-9 positive received a diagnosis of depression by the doctor. Predictors for receiving a diagnosis of depression included: having higher PHQ-9 scores; a past history of depression or other mental health problem; being female; aged ≥35 years; being retired or a homemaker; being non-Chinese; having no regular exercise; consulted a doctor within the last month; having a family history of mental health problems; and consulted a doctor in private practice.In patients diagnosed with depression, 43% were prescribed antidepressants, 11% were prescribed benzodiazepines, 42% were provided with counseling and 9% were referred, most commonly to a counselor.ConclusionAbout one in ten primary care patients screen positive for depression, of which doctors diagnose depression in approximately one in four. At greatest risk for depression are patients with a past history of depression, who are unemployed, or who have multiple illnesses. Patients most likely to receive a diagnosis of depression by a doctor are those with a past history of depression or who have severe symptoms of depression. Chinese patients are half as likely to be diagnosed with depression as non-Chinese patients. Over half of all patients diagnosed with depression are treated with medications.

A three generation study of the mental health relationships between grandparents, parents and children

BackgroundIt is well known that children of parents with mental illness are at greater risk of mental illness themselves. However the patterns of familial mental health problems across multiple generations in families are less clear. This study aimed to examine mental health relationships across three generations of Australian families.MethodsMental health data, along with a range of family demographic information, were collected from over 4600 families in Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, a nationally representative cohort study. The social and emotional wellbeing of two cohorts of children aged 4–5 years and 8–9 years was measured using the parent-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The mental health of mothers and fathers was measured using the Kessler 6-item K6 scale, and the mental health history of maternal and paternal grandmothers and grandfathers was measured using a dichotomous parent-report item. Multivariate linear regression analyses were used assess the relationships between grandparent and parent mental health and child social and emotional wellbeing at ages 4–5 years and 8–9 years.ResultsBoth cohorts of children had greater mental health distress with higher SDQ scores on average if their mother or father had a mental health problem. For children aged 8–9 years, a history of mental health problems in maternal grandmothers and grandfathers was associated with higher SDQ scores in grandchildren, after controlling for maternal and paternal mental health and other family characteristics. For children aged 4–5 years, only a mental health history in paternal grandfathers was associated with higher SDQ scores.ConclusionsThe mental health histories of both parents and grandparents play an important role in the social and emotional wellbeing of young children.

The experience of hepatitis C treatment for people with a history of mental health problems: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

This qualitative study explores the experience of hepatitis C virus treatment for people with pre-existing mental health problems within a large city hospital. Four men and four women with pre-existing mental health problems who had received hepatitis C virus treatment took part in semi-structured interviews which were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. A central theme of 'Self, stigma and change' was identified which interlinked with three other main themes of 'Coping and responding to treatment', 'Connectedness to others' and 'The impact of information'. These themes and their sub-themes are discussed in relation to existing literature and clinical practice guidelines.

Managing moods and parenting: Perspectives of former system youth who struggle with emotional challenges

Abstract Young adults who were served in public systems of care as children are much more likely than their peers to be parenting in adolescence and young adulthood. They are also more likely than their counterparts to have a history of mental health problems. This study examined the perspectives of young adult parents with mood problems who had been involved in public systems of care before age 18. Qualitative interviews with twenty-eight participants were analyzed to examine the experience of managing moods and parenting. Young parents described how their symptoms impact their parenting and how parenting impacts their coping. They also described the strengths and challenges of using mental health services while parenting. Findings highlight the need to provide interventions that include supports for both parenting and symptom management and for providers to include both tangible and emotional support in their interventions.

Relevance of mental health issues in university student dropouts

A significant proportion of university students drop out of their courses, representing a significant loss of resources in terms of funds invested in them, as well as loss of revenue to universities. To determine whether a history of recent or current mental health problems affected the likelihood of university students dropping out of their studies and, if so, whether additional supportive measures are needed. We scrutinized the occupational health records of a cohort of students enrolled in 2005 to identify whether they had evidence of mental health problems at that time. Additionally, we identified all cohort members who had dropped out of their courses by 2011, thereby identifying students with a history of mental health problems among all those who dropped out. The dates in question were chosen to ensure that the permissible time limit for completing their studies had elapsed at the end of the follow-up period. In total, 1319 student records were surveyed. Of these, 181 students (14%) did not complete their studies. Further, 278 (21%) had evidence of mental health problems at enrolment but students dropping out of courses were not more likely to have had a recent or current mental health problem at the time of enrolling. The presence of mental health problems at the time of course enrolment was not a predictor for subsequently dropping out of the course in question. The findings suggest that existing supportive measures for this group may be adequate.