Pre-existing Mental Health Problems Research Articles

THE EFFECT OF WORK STATUS AND WORKING CONDITIONS ON MENTAL HEALTH IN FOUR OECD COUNTRIES

This study aims to assess empirically whether being employed or returning to work is beneficial for all in terms of mental health, especially for those who already suffer from a longstanding illness or disability. We use longitudinal surveys from Australia, Canada, Switzerland and the UK to estimate panel data models that link decisions regarding labour market choices to health developments. To allow for state dependence of mental health, a dynamic panel model is used. The longitudinal analysis shows that non-employment generally is worse for mental health than working. The mental-health payoff to employment varies depending on the type of employment contract and working conditions. In particular, the mental health benefits for inactive individuals who obtain a non-standard job appear to be smaller than for those moving into standard employment arrangements, even after controlling for pre-existing mental health problems.

Factors Predicting Crisis Counselor Referrals to Other Crisis Counseling, Disaster Relief, and Psychological Services: A Cross-Site Analysis of Post-Katrina Programs

An important aspect of crisis counseling is linking survivors with services for their unmet needs. We examined determinants of referrals for disaster relief, additional crisis counseling, and psychological services in 703,000 crisis counseling encounters 3-18 months after Hurricane Katrina. Referrals for disaster relief were predicted by clients' losses, age (adults rather than children), and urbanicity. Referrals for additional counseling and psychological services were predicted by urbanicity, losses and trauma exposure, prior trauma, and preexisting mental health problems. Counseling and psychological referrals declined over time despite continuing mental health needs. Results confirm large urban-rural disparities in access to services.

Expulsion of Burundian refugees from Tanzania: experiences with the use of the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings

The IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings were helpful in organizing mental health and psychosocial support services for Burundians who were expelled from Tanzania. Key aspects of the guidelines were the restoration of social support for people in acute distress, the use of Psychological First Aid, and the provision of care for those with pre-existing mental health problems.

Experts Provide Insights Into Emerging Field of Brain and Spine Repair

often lacked funding and staff trained to implement trauma-focused programs (Jaycox LH et al. Psychiatr Serv. 2007;58[10]:1339-1343). Ideally, teachers and other school personnel would receive precrisis training in posttrauma interventions, she said. RAND offers information describing programs to help children recover from traumatic experiences (http://www.rand.org /pubs/technical_reports/TR413/). Disaster recovery efforts can provide an opportunity to train school mental health staff in trauma response and establish a mental health presence where none had existed, said Sheryl Kataoka, MD, MSHS, assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. About 10 months after the hurricanes, she and colleagues interviewedandconducted focus groups with 45 master’s level clinicians and crisis counselors based at public, private, and parochial schools in New Orleans. Manyyoungstershadexperienceddomesticviolenceorother traumasprior to thehurricane, thementalhealth specialists reported. Some children had preexisting mental health problems that were exacerbated by the storm. Services and treatment following a disaster, Kataoka stressed,oftenneedtoaddressmuchmore than the immediate crisis.

Pre-existing mental health problems in medical students: a retrospective survey

Background: The undergraduate medical course is demanding. Each year, a small number of students ‘struggle’, for academic or other reasons. Recent studies at Nottingham reported anecdotal evidence that those who struggle disclose a much higher incidence of psychological distress than those who do not struggle.Aims: The study aimed to assess whether a group of students with mental health problems were more likely to have a pre-admission history of similar problems.Methods: Three year-cohorts of medical students were classified as struggling or not on the course, and whether they disclosed mental health problems during their course. The Nottingham Occupational Health Service carried out a confidential review of pre-admission health questionnaires.Results: Students who struggled on the course and disclosed mental health problems were more likely to have a relevant pre-admission history. One third of those with a positive history disclosed a further significant episode.Conclusions: Existing pastoral care mechanisms may need to be enhanced in order to identify and support potentially vulnerable students.

Posttraumatic stress symptoms in Navy personnel: Prevalence rates among recruits in basic training

Individuals in the military are often required to endure high levels of stress as a result of demanding operational requirements or deployments. Individuals who enter the military with pre-existing mental health problems such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are likely to be at heightened risk of adverse reactions to military stressors. The present study documents the prevalence of PTSD symptoms among new Navy recruits and compares the prevalence of PTSD symptomology among recruits to prevalence rates that have been reported for comparable civilian populations. Results suggest that 15 percent of new Navy recruits are experiencing measurable symptoms of posttraumatic stress. Prevalence of these symptoms among Navy recruits is comparable to that among civilian adolescent and young adult populations.

The Impact of 9/11 on Patients in New York City's Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

Objectives: This article assesses the impact of the attacks on 9/11 in New York City on drug use, relapse, and mental health from the perspective of drug users and patients in substance abuse treatment programs. Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with 16 administrators and 75 randomly selected patients at 15 substance abuse treatment programs in New York City from December 2002 to April 2003. Results: Drug use and relapse was a significant issue on and after 9/11. While Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was related to drug use, other preexisting mental health problems were not. Men were more likely to relapse than women; however, women were more emotionally affected by events following 9/11. Conclusions: The attacks on 9/11 may have contributed to relapse among drug users and exacerbated existing mental health problems among patients with a history of concurrent drug use and mental illness.

Exit counseling

A referral for counseling—including exit counseling—is intended to improve the patient's quality of life, provide education, and improve couple and individual functioning. The patient must feel relaxed and trust the therapist—and so must the medical professional. Currently, the vast majority of counseling for infertile couples focuses on patients (1) entering treatment; (2) having difficulty coping with medical treatments; (3) with pre-existing mental health problems; and (4) considering third party reproduction. Exit counseling is not as common an arena of infertility counseling, but one that is receiving increasing attention. Patients should consider ending treatment when (1) their therapeutic options have been exhausted; (2) their resources have depleted (or near depleted); (3) other aspects of the couples life are adversely affected; (4) there is evidence of poor quality of life; (5) there is a serious illness and/or condition jeopardizing health of one or both partners; and/or (6) advancing age and increasing difficulty achieving pregnancy. Whether exit counseling is provided by medical caregivers or mental health professionals, the circumstances of the counseling are fundamental. Some clinics require exit counseling for all patients, thereby minimizing stigma and providing support and education regardless of whether the patient is pregnant or ending treatment without a successful pregnancy. By contrast, exit counseling may be the result of treatment failure or other patient circumstances, such as patient request for counseling to provide assistance with making the transition to non-treatment or decision-making. A summary of therapeutic interventions will be provided as well as an overview of To Whom, When, and How to refer for exit counseling.