Symptoms Of Mental Ill-health Research Articles

Mental Health Literacy of Depression: Gender Differences and Attitudinal Antecedents in a Representative British Sample

BackgroundPoor mental health literacy and negative attitudes toward individuals with mental health disorders may impede optimal help-seeking for symptoms of mental ill-health. The present study examined the ability to recognize cases of depression as a function of respondent and target gender, as well as individual psychological differences in attitudes toward persons with depression.MethodsIn a representative British general population survey, the ability to correctly recognize vignettes of depression was assessed among 1,218 adults. Respondents also rated the vignettes along a number of attitudinal dimensions and completed measures of attitudes toward seeking psychological help, psychiatric skepticism, and anti-scientific attitudes.ResultsThere were significant differences in the ability to correctly identify cases of depression as a function of respondent and target gender. Respondents were more likely to indicate that a male vignette did not suffer from a mental health disorder compared to a female vignette, and women were more likely than men to indicate that the male vignette suffered from a mental health disorder. Attitudes toward persons with depression were associated with attitudes toward seeking psychological help, psychiatric skepticism, and anti-scientific attitudes.ConclusionInitiatives that consider the impact of gender stereotypes as well as individual differences may enhance mental health literacy, which in turn is associated with improved help-seeking behaviors for symptoms of mental ill-health.

Mental health in Alberta grain farmers using pesticides over many years

Exposure to organophosphates and certain other pesticides has been related to symptoms of mental ill-health. There is particular interest in whether exposure over many years may result in chronic ill-health. To relate lifetime history of pesticide exposure to symptoms and medical records of mental ill-health in elderly grain farmers in Alberta. Two populations of grain farmers were identified for study: cohort A (n = 5986), members of an Alberta farm organization in 1983; cohort B (n = 4781), grain farmers registered with the provincial department of agriculture. In 2002-03 both groups completed a questionnaire on lifetime history of pesticide use, physician diagnosed disease and recent neuropsychological symptoms. Durations of exposure to seven pesticide components were calculated and a factor score extracted from responses to the symptom questionnaire. For a sub-cohort surviving to 2009 medical records for mental ill-health were identified. Records and symptom scores were related to pesticide exposures allowing for confounding. From cohort A, 1348 and cohort B, 1078 were alive and interviewed (median age 63 years; median duration in farming 40 years): 1371 were linked to the medical records database. Mental ill-health symptom scores were related to duration of exposure to phenoxy compounds (but not to other pesticides) and to mental ill-health in medical records. Those with mental ill-health in hospital discharge records were more likely to have been exposed to phenoxy compounds for ≥35 years. The relationship of long-term exposure to phenoxy herbicides and neuropsychiatric symptoms was unexpected but not explained by measured confounders.

The importance of childhood and adulthood aspects of gendered life for adult mental ill-health symptoms--a 27-year follow-up of the Northern Swedish Cohort.

BackgroundThe increasing gender equality during the 20th century, mainly in the Nordic countries, represents a major social change. A well-established theory is that this may affect the mental health patterns of women and men. This study aimed at examining associations between childhood and adulthood gendered life on mental ill-health symptoms.MethodsA follow-up study of a cohort of all school leavers in a medium-sized industrial town in northern Sweden was performed from age 16 to age 42. Of those still alive of the original cohort, 94% (n = 1007) participated during the whole period. Gendered life was divided into three stages according to whether they were traditional or non-traditional (the latter includes equal): childhood (mother’s paid work position), adulthood at age 30 (ideology and childcare), and adulthood at age 42 (partnership and childcare). Mental ill-health was measured by self-reported anxious symptoms (“frequent nervousness”) and depressive symptoms (“frequent sadness”) at age 42. The statistical method was logistic regression analysis, finally adjusted for earlier mental ill-health symptoms and social confounding factors.ResultsGenerally, parents’ gendered life was not decisive for a person’s own gendered life, and adulthood gender position ruled out the impact of childhood gender experience on self-reported mental ill-health. For women, non-traditional gender ideology at age 30 was associated with decreased risk of anxious symptoms (76% for traditional childhood, 78% for non-traditional childhood). For men, non-traditional childcare at age 42 was associated with decreased risk of depressive symptoms (84% for traditional childhood, 78% for non-traditional childhood). A contradictory indication was that non-traditional women in childcare at age 30 had a threefold increased risk of anxious symptoms at age 42, but only when having experienced a traditional childhood.ConclusionAdulthood gender equality is generally good for self-reported mental health regardless of whether one opposes or continues one’s gendered history. However, the childcare findings indicate a differentiated picture; men seem to benefit in depressive symptoms from embracing this traditionally female duty, while women suffer anxious symptoms from departing from it, if their mother did not.

Change in stress outcomes following an industrial dispute in the ambulance service: a longitudinal study.

A longitudinal study to assess change in the symptoms of strain following an industrial dispute was carried out in a North of England ambulance service. A cohort of ambulance staff was surveyed over three stages: during the dispute; during the process of reorganizing the service; and during the implementation of a new operating structure. Dependent variables included measure of job satisfaction and mental and physical health. Independent variables included measures of the type A behaviour pattern, locus of control, source of perceived pressure and coping techniques. The results failed to support the main hypothesis as the symptoms of strain measured did not show any reduction after the dispute. Job dissatisfaction increased in the aftermath of the dispute and remained poor during the implementation of change. Symptoms of mental and physical ill-health showed no reduction following the dispute but symptoms of mental ill-health increased as organizational change was implemented. The high level of 'externality' shown by ambulance staff partially accounted for both these increases. It is proposed that the manner in which the aftermath of the dispute and ensuing organizational change were managed gave an increasingly limited scope for influence.

Lay explanations of symptoms of mental ill health in Kuwait.

The cognitive schemas of 208 subjects were elicited in relation to 12 hypothetical symptoms which are most commonly presented by patients suffering from psychiatric disorder. Three types of explaining schemas were recognised as physical, psychosocial and supernatural explanations. Somatic symptoms tended to have physical explanations and emotional symptoms tended to have psychosocial explanations although both are known in clinical practice to indicate psychiatric disorder and to disappear together when the disorder recovers. Supernatural explanations were most likely in elderly males and in extended families. Symptoms associated with supernatural cognitive schemas fit in with the cultural background and not with the level of modern education achieved.

Occupational stress in health service workers in the UK

AbstractLevels of occupational stress were examined in 1176 employees of all occupational groups within one large UK health authority. In comparison with the most recently established normative group of workers from non‐health care sectors, health workers reported significantly greater pressure at work but scored lower on measures of Type A behaviour pattern and employed coping strategies more frequently. The health care workers reported, in contrast with previous studies, fewer symptoms of mental ill‐health and similar levels of job satisfaction. Job satisfaction and psychosomatic ill‐health were related to sickness absence among health workers. Approximately one in 12 health workers had stress symptoms of equal magnitude to patients attending clinical psychology outpatient clinics. The major occupational groups within the health worker sample were compared on stress measures. General managers were found to report the lowest levels of pressure, were high on Type A (nearly as high as doctors), were found to be the most ‘internal’ in their perceived locus of control, had the lowest levels of ill‐health symptoms, the highest levels of job satisfaction and the lowest sickness absence rate. Nurses reported the highest levels of pressure. Ancillary staff and scientists and technicians, on the other hand, had very low levels of job satisfaction and high sickness absence.

Illness behaviour in mental ill-health in Kuwait

Two hundred and eight individuals were interviewed in order to study the behaviour they adopt in relation to the most common somatic and emotional symptoms of mental ill-health. Illness behaviour included ignoring, brooding, self-help and consultation of others. Older individuals tended more frequently to resort to meditation, native healers and doctors. Males consulted doctors more than females. Brooding was more frequent in well educated subjects. A group of married expatriates who left their wives in their original countries were the most likely to consult doctors. Education and marital status were the most predictive of brooding and self-help behaviour. Self-help was the most commonly adopted illness behaviour. The results are explained in terms of the social and cultural background of the individuals studied because this influences their methods of expressing distress and their action in relation to symptoms.

Neurotic illness as grounds for medical priority for rehousing

Applicants for rehousing on account of non-psychotic mental illness were surveyed to ascertain the effect of rehousing and compared with a group of controls. Amongst council house tenants requesting rehousing, symptoms of mental ill-health were found in 60 out of 64 who had claimed medical priority and 18 out of 26 controls who had not. Both groups showed similar improvements after rehousing.