Measures Of Mental Disorders Research Articles

Population Models of the Mental Health of the Population of Russia: Assessment of the Influence of Living Conditions and Psychiatric Care Resources

Objectives. To develop and use population models for the mental health of the population of Russia to analyze the relationships between measures of mental disorders and mental care resources, taking cognizance of medical-demographic and social-economic factors in the period 1992–2015. Materials and methods. Sources of information were: 1) Russian medical statistical data on the main measures of the mental health of the population of Russia and mental health resources; 2) state statistical data on the demographic and social-economic position of the population of Russia in this period. Studies used systematic data analysis and correlation and regression analysis. Results and conclusions. Linear and nonlinear models were obtained with high levels of significance for assessing the influences of social-economic, medical-demographic (population size, life expectancy, migration, mortality), and the resource factors of the service (particularly manpower) on the dynamics of the main measures (prevalence, incidence) of mental health in the population. Decreases in the prevalence and incidence of mental health in the Russian population seen here resulted particularly from a deficit in care service personnel.

Personality, Psychopathology, and the Neurotransmitter Attributes Questionnaire (NAQ)

In this study, 901 participants completed an anonymous Internet-based survey, including a new instrument, the Neurotransmitter Attributes Questionnaire (NAQ), indicating possible dysfunction of the serotonergic or dopaminergic circuits. NAQ items were derived from questions prescribing professionals commonly ask new patients whose symptoms call for psychopharmacological treatments, sometimes in combination with psychosocial interventions. Rasch modeling was used to establish item quality, subscale reliability, and unidimensionality. In addition, the items in each subscale were found reliable when judged by three blind raters who were experienced psychopharmacologists. Standard measures of mental disorders and self-reported diagnoses were used to validate the NAQ subscales. These questions that form the subscales on the NAQ may be helpful when determining the class of medication likely to be most effective. Variations in mood and anxiety-disordered patients call for a case-specific approach to pharmacological treatment. Some patients are best helped by serotonergic agonists, others have a better outcome from treatment with dopaminergic agonists, and some patients seem to be best served by a combination of both. The NAQ was designed to aid decision-making early in treatment, potentially leading to greater compliance and better outcome. The NAQ may be used to standardize protocols in outcome research, and in addition, it may provide a new perspective on personality studies.

Rates of Sexual Victimization in Prison for Inmates With and Without Mental Disorders

Rates of Sexual Victimization in Prison for Inmates With and Without Mental Disorders

Psychosocial problems of bereaved families of HIV-infected hemophiliacs in Japan

This study sought to investigate the psychosocial difficulties faced by bereaved families of HIV-infected hemophiliacs in Japan, with the goal of clarifying appropriate ways to offer them support. Interviews were conducted with 46 family members from 36 families, and a written survey was mailed to 392 families. Valid responses from 225 families (307 family members) were analyzed (response rate 57.4%). We found that even at a mean 7–9 years after their family member's death, the bereaved continued to express deep feelings of sorrow and grief, and further, expressed strong feelings of resentment, anger, guilt and regret, anxiety over discrimination, and loneliness. Notably, 95% of the mothers endorsed feeling “sorry for giving birth to a hemophiliac child”. Additionally, even after their family member's death, approximately 70% of the respondents continued to restrict their daily activities due to stigmatization or anxiety over discrimination. Finally, 59% of the respondents were found to have posttraumatic stress disorder-like symptoms according to the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and 46% were found, according to General Health Questionnaire-12 (a measure of mental disorder) criteria, to suffer mental health problems. These results indicate that bereaved families of HIV-infected hemophiliacs in Japan have special characteristics and psychosocial needs, and still suffer significant psychosocial difficulties years after the bereavement.

Sexual orientation and mental health in a birth cohort of young adults

This paper sought to examine the relationship between sexual orientation and mental health in a New Zealand birth cohort studied to age 25 years. The analysis is based on a sample of 967 participants (469 males; 498 females) in the Christchurch Health and Development Study. As part of this study information was gathered on: (a) measures of sexual orientation, same-sex behaviour and sexual attraction obtained at ages 21 and 25 years; (b) measures of mental disorders and suicidal behaviours over the interval 21-25 years; (c) measures of childhood and family background. Latent class analysis was used to combine indicators of sexual orientation, same sex behaviour and attraction to form an empirically based classification of sexual orientation. The best-fitting model classified the sample into three groups: exclusively heterosexual orientation (87.6%); predominantly heterosexual but with same-sex inclinations or experience (9.6%); predominantly homosexual (2.8%). Proportionately more women than men were classified as predominantly heterosexual (14.2% v. 4.8% respectively) or predominantly homosexual (3.9% v. 1.5% respectively). Cohort members with a predominantly homosexual orientation had rates of mental disorder and suicidal behaviours that were between 1.5 and 12 times higher than for those with an exclusively heterosexual orientation. These associations persisted after adjustment for confounding. The associations between sexual orientation and mental health were more marked for males than females. CONCLUSIONS. The findings suggest a continuum of sexual preferences amongst young adults. Variations in sexual orientation were clearly associated with mental health. These associations tended to be stronger for males.

Links Between Creativity and Mental Disorder

A link between mental disorder and decreased ability is commonly assumed, but evidence to the contrary also exists. In reviewing any association between creativity and mental disorder, our aim is not only to update the literature but also to include an epidemiological and theoretical discussion of the topic. For literature retrieval, we used Medline, PsycINFO, and manual literature searches. Studies are numerous: most are empirical, many having methodological difficulties and variations in definitions and concepts. There is little consensus. However, some trends are apparent. We found 13 major case series (over 100 cases), case-control studies, or population-based studies, with valid, reliable measures of mental disorders. The results of all but one of these studies supported the association, at least when concerning particular groups of mental disorders; the findings were somewhat unclear in two studies. Most of the remainder that are not included in our more detailed examination also show a fragile association between creativity and mental disorder, but the link is not apparent for all groups of mental disorders or for all forms of creativity. In conclusion, evidence exists to support some form of association between creativity and mental disorder, but the direction of any causal link remains obscure.

Aging widows and widowers: are there mental health differences?

Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin resigned shortly after the death of his wife. A classic portrait of the grieving widower, his despondency did not surprise mental health professionals. One psychiatrist explained that "Women take bereavement better than men because the widow keeps her domain" while the widower tends to become disoriented. This article examines the perception that men, specifically aging men, are more emotionally distressed than aging women by their spouse's death. A literature review reveals little evidence from behavioral or psychological studies to support the perception, along with mixed evidence of higher male mortality rates in some age groups. Data from a random probability community mental health survey are presented. Prevalence rates for the bereaved are significantly greater than are married rates for only one of the five measures of mental disorders. Widows report significantly more overall distress and depression, but these differences disappear when gender is examined, along with other sociodemographic variables in regression analyses. Clearly, these findings and those from studies of elders, do not support the perception that aging widowers experience more emotional problems during bereavement than do aging widows. Perceptions and mental health policies should be revised to reflect the reality of more similarities than differences among aging widows and widowers.