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Presents the author's retrospective of his interest in the mental disorders of the aged. Review of studies on brain pathology regarding the types of mental illness that confronted older people; Identification of the frequency of concomittant chronic physical illness with weakness.

Comments on the article "The Natural History of Mental Disorder in Old Age," by Martin Roth, which appeared in a 1955 issue of the "Journal of Mental Science." Definition of affective psychosis; Problems and controversy on mental disorder; Significance of the article to aged with Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Involving consumers in systematic reviews can make them more valuable and help achieve goals around transparency. Systematic reviews are technically complex and training can be needed to enable consumers to engage with them fully. The Cochrane Common Mental Disorders group sought to engage people with lived experience of mental health problems in the Voice of Experience College, three workshops introducing them to systematic review methods and to opportunities to contribute as Cochrane consumers. We aimed to collectively evaluate the College from the perspective of both facilitators and consumers, to critically reflect on the experience, and to identify how the College could be sustained and spread to other review groups. Methods: This study was a longitudinal qualitative and collaborative evaluation, structured around normalisation process theory. Both facilitators and consumers were involved in not only providing their perspectives but also reflecting on these together to identify key learning points. Results: The workshops were positively evaluated as being engaging and supportive, largely due to the relational skills of the facilitators, and their willingness to engage in joint or two‐way learning. The College suffered from a lack of clarity over the role of consumers after the College itself, with a need for greater communication to check assumptions and clarify expectations. This was not achieved due to pandemic disruptions, which nevertheless demonstrated that resources for involvement were not prioritised as core business during this period. Conclusions: Soft skills around communication and support are crucial to effective consumer engagement. Sustaining involvement requires sustained communication and opportunities to reflect together on opportunities and challenges. This requires committed resources to ensure involvement activity is prioritised. This is critical as negative experiences later in the involvement journey can undermine originally positive experiences if contributors are unclear as to what their involvement can lead to. Open discussions about this are necessary to avoid conflicting assumptions. The spread of the approach to other review groups could be achieved by flexibly adapting to group‐specific resources and settings, but maintaining a core focus on collaborative relationships as the key mechanism of engagement. Patient and Public Contribution: Public contributors were collaborators throughout the evaluation process and have co‐authored the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The treatment gap for mental health disorders persists in low- and middle-income countries despite overwhelming evidence of the efficacy of tasksharing mental health interventions. Key barriers in the uptake of these innovations include the absence of policy to support implementation and diverting of staff from usual routines in health systems that are already overstretched. South Africa enjoys a conducive policy environment; however, strategies for operationalizing the policy ideals are lacking. This paper describes the Mental health INTegration Programme (MhINT), which adopted a health system strengthening approach to embed an evidence-based task-sharing care package for depression to integrate mental health care into chronic care at primary health care (PHC). Methods: The MhINT care package consisting of psycho-education talks, nurse-led mental health assessment, and a structured psychosocial counselling intervention provided by lay counsellors was implemented in Amajuba district in KwaZulu-Natal over a 2-year period. A learning health systems approach was adopted, using continuous quality improvement (CQI) strategies to facilitate embedding of the intervention. MhINT was implemented along five phases: the project phase wherein teams to drive implementation were formed; the diagnostic phase where routinely collected data were used to identify system barriers to integrated mental health care; the intervention phase consisting of capacity building and using Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles to address implementation barriers and the impact and sustaining improvement phases entailed assessing the impact of the program and initiation of system-level interventions to sustain and institutionalize successful change ideas. Results: Integrated planning and monitoring were enabled by including key mental health service indicators in weekly meetings designed to track the performance of noncommunicable diseases and human immunovirus clinical programmes. Lack of standardization in mental health screening prompted the validation of a mental health screening tool and testing feasibility of its use in centralized screening stations. A culture of collaborative problem-solving was promoted through CQI data-driven learning sessions. The province-level screening rate increased by 10%, whilst the district screening rate increased by 7% and new patients initiated to mental health treatment increased by 16%. Conclusions: The CQI approach holds promise in facilitating the attainment of integrated mental health care in resource-scarce contexts. A collaborative relationship between researchers and health system stakeholders is an important strategy for facilitating the uptake of evidence-based innovations. However, the lack of interventions to address healthcare workers' own mental health poses a threat to integrated mental health care at PHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health problems amongst university students pose a major public health challenge, and this is particularly the case in Pakistan. Alongside broader societal and cultural pressures, cognitive factors likely also play a role in the development of and resilience to mental health problems and may provide a feasible target for interventions. The current study built on previous research in primarily European samples investigating the relationship between one cognitive factor, positive future‐oriented mental imagery, and mental health, extending this to a sample of university students in Pakistan (N = 1838). In a cross‐sectional design, higher vividness of positive future‐oriented mental imagery was associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms and higher levels of positive mental health amongst participants completing questionnaire measures on paper (N = 1430) or online (N = 408). In the sample completing the measures on paper, these relationships remained statistically significant even when controlling for socio‐demographic and mental health‐related variables. The results provide a foundation for further investigating positive mental imagery as a potential mechanism of mental health and intervention target amongst university students in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Established in March 2020, the C19PRC Study monitors the psychological and socio‐economic impact of the pandemic in the UK and other countries. This paper describes the protocol for Wave 6 (August–September 2021). Methods: The survey assessed: COVID‐19 related experiences; experiences of common mental health disorders; psychological characteristics; and social and political attitudes. Adult participants from any previous wave (N = 3170) were re‐invited, and sample replenishment procedures helped manage attrition. Weights were calculated using a survey raking algorithm to ensure the on‐going original panel (from baseline) was nationally representative in terms of gender, age, and household income, amongst other factors. Results: 1643 adults were re‐interviewed at Wave 6 (51.8% retention rate). Non‐participation was higher younger adults, those born outside UK, and adults living in cities. Of the adults recruited at baseline, 54.3% (N = 1100) participated in Wave 6. New respondent (N = 415) entered the panel at this wave, resulting in cross‐sectional sample for Wave 6 of 2058 adults. The raking procedure re‐balanced the longitudinal panel to within 1.3% of population estimates for selected socio‐demographic characteristics. Conclusions: This paper outlines the growing strength of the publicly available C19PRC Study data for COVID‐19‐related interdisciplinary research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenges experienced by families in western countries, where a parent has a mental illness, are well established. However, research documenting the experiences of Chinese families with parental mental illness appears limited. This study aimed to systematically review qualitative research about the experiences of families, living in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, where parents have a mental illness. Eight databases were comprehensively searched, along with manual search of reference lists. The identified studies were critically appraised and analysed using a thematic synthesis approach. Ten papers were identified, with nine investigating mothers' experiences, one focusing on children's experiences, and none reporting on fathers' experiences. Subsequently, only papers presenting mothers' experiences were included for thematic synthesis. Five primary themes were identified including managing parenting in the context of mental illness; failure to meet one's expectations of motherhood; being burdened by others' expectations; stigma from self, others and service providers; and support obtained and needed. Similar to western mothers, Chinese mothers struggled to balance the demands of parenting and their illness, and experienced stigma associated with being a parent with a mental illness. Western and Chinese mothers' experiences differ in regard to the influence of parents‐in‐law and the division of domestic labour. Future research might investigate Chinese mothers with various mental health diagnoses, the perspectives of Chinese fathers with a mental illness, and the children in these families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this Editorial Perspective, we take a systematic look at the overall nature of the Covid‐19 related research on mental health in children and young people, to gain insight into the major trends in this area of research and inform future lines of investigation, clinical practices, and policies. By means of state‐of‐the‐art scientometric approaches, we identified 3,692 relevant research outputs, mainly clustering around the following themes: (a) mental health consequences of the Covid‐19 pandemic in children and young people; (b) impact of the pandemic on pre‐existing psychiatric disorders; (c) family outcomes (i.e., family violence and parental mental health); and (d) link between physical and mental conditions. Only 23% of the retrieved publications reported new data, the remaining ones being reviews, editorials, opinion papers, and other nonempirical reports. The majority of the empirical studies used a cross‐sectional design. We suggest that future research efforts should prioritise: (a) longitudinal follow‐up of existing cohorts; (b) quasi‐experimental studies to gain insight into causal mechanisms underlying pandemic‐related psychopathology in children and young people; (c) pragmatic randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to test evidence‐based intervention strategies; and (d) evidence‐based guidelines for clinicians and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a history of critique, concentrated discussion and improved assessment processes, neglect continues to be a major challenge for child protection services. This paper draws on findings from a government‐commissioned analysis of 'serious case reviews' (SCRs) in England, arising from incidents of serious child abuse in 2017–2019. There were 235 cases, for which 166 final reports were available. Alongside a quantitative analysis of the whole cohort, we undertook an in‐depth qualitative analysis of 12 cases involving neglect. A key challenge in responding to neglect in its different forms is that it can be so widespread amongst families that practitioners no longer notice its severity or chronicity – it becomes normalised. In this paper we explore two dimensions of the 'paradox of neglect' where it seems to be everywhere and nowhere simultaneously. The first is that neglect is so closely bound up with the prevalence of poverty that little action is taken to address it. The second is that the overwhelming nature of neglect can blind practitioners to other forms of maltreatment that may also be present within a family. Practitioners, now more than ever, need to recognise the dimensions of this paradox to protect children from neglect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical research on migration has mostly concentrated on its economic impacts, with growing but limited focus on its mental health impacts in migrant‐sending communities. Existing studies mainly concentrate on the mental health of remaining household members, mostly establishing cross‐sectional correlations, with mixed findings depending on individual and contextual characteristics. Studies that address potential endogeneity are few and tend to find no significant causal impact of migration on the mental health of remaining family members. However, migration may affect not only the remaining household members but also the entire sending community by changing its demographic, social and economic composition. The aim of this paper is to analyse the overall impact of migration on the mental health of sending communities, considering both the impact of having a migrant family member and of living in a community experiencing net emigration. The paper addresses potential endogeneity through an instrumental variable approach, controlling for confounding factors and examines mental health outcomes beyond depression and stress, assessing also psychosocial difficulties and self‐efficacy. It uses nationally representative data from the 2017 National Health Survey in Chile, a country characterised by high internal mobility, significant mental health issues and concentration of mental healthcare provision in large urban centres. The study finds that living in net emigration municipalities increases the probability of experiencing a major depressive episode, psychosocial difficulties and low self‐efficacy. Results are robust to controlling for endogeneity using past migration rates as an instrument for current migration rates. These findings suggest that smaller, net emigration communities require policy attention, and in particular better mental healthcare provision, to avoid increasing the prevalence of mental health problems and the treatment gap between larger and smaller communities in Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The prevalence of mental health difficulties and the demand for psychological support for students in higher education (HE) appear to be increasing. Online therapy is a widely accessible resource that could provide effective support; however, little is known about such provision. The aim of this study was therefore to answer the research question 'What factors serve to influence higher education students' levels of engagement with online therapy?' Method: A systematic review of qualitative scholarly and peer‐reviewed literature was conducted across 10 databases. Six papers met the inclusion criteria, were assessed for quality and were analysed using thematic synthesis. Findings: Factors that serve to motivate HE students to engage with online therapy included the perception that it might enhance the quality of the therapeutic relationship, that it would facilitate more autonomy in the work, and that it might enable them to be anonymous and avoid face‐to‐face contact. In contrast, demotivating factors were primarily practical in nature. Fitting therapeutic work into their busy lives, technological challenges and persisting mental health stigma proved important factors. Conclusion: This review synthesises the reasons why HE students might engage with or withdraw from online therapy. It highlights that students appear to view online therapy positively, but they can be inhibited by both personal and practical issues. Therapeutic services therefore need to ensure that information about the work they offer online is clear and transparent and that the platforms they work on are secure and stable. Finally, the need for further research, to keep abreast of technological developments, is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical mental health researchers may understandably struggle with how to incorporate biological assessments in clinical research. The options are numerous and are described in a vast and complex body of literature. Here we provide guidelines to assist mental health researchers seeking to include biological measures in their studies. Apart from a focus on behavioral outcomes as measured via interviews or questionnaires, we advocate for a focus on biological pathways in clinical trials and epidemiological studies that may help clarify pathophysiology and mechanisms of action, delineate biological subgroups of participants, mediate treatment effects, and inform personalized treatment strategies. With this paper we aim to bridge the gap between clinical and biological mental health research by (1) discussing the clinical relevance, measurement reliability, and feasibility of relevant peripheral biomarkers; (2) addressing five types of biological tissues, namely blood, saliva, urine, stool and hair; and (3) providing information on how to control sources of measurement variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent decades have witnessed the increased emergence and global application of medicalized meanings and practices related to mental health, with cases of contestation, adoption, as well as resistance observed. Such globalization raises a number of important sociological questions about the nature and consequences of such practices, as well as what they might mean for the changing nature of medicalization. Focusing on a classic case within medicalization studies, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, this paper reviews existing insights on medicalization and mental health diagnosis and treatment in global context, future lines of inquiry, and related challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The March 2024 issue of JCPP Advances features two neuroimaging studies that investigate links between early environmental risk factors for mental health problems, brain development and psychopathology in children and young adults. The papers provide new insights into how adverse environments and negative experiences in childhood increase risk for depression and mental health problems, and how this may or may not be mediated, or moderated, by individual differences in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When we face an equation with an unknown variable, we 'solve for x', using methods that allow us to isolate and identify the unknown. Stigma is a known variable in health care equations, but remains impactful in a variety of ways that are not fully mapped or understood. In other words, stigma is a known unknown: it presents potential obstacles to the delivery of effective health care, but what kind of obstacles, of what size and significance, and for whom is often unclear. This paper investigates what Erving Goffman called the 'stigma situation': 'the situation of the individual who is disqualified from full social acceptance.' The core argument is that to successfully incorporate the experiential knowledge of mental health care service users, we must first solve for stigma—that is, we must determine the nature and scope of its significance, and then mitigate its effects. The present paper begins by demonstrating that stigma in mental health care remains an obstacle worthy of sustained attention. It then discusses typical methods taken in efforts to destigmatize mental illness, and suggests that additional work is needed in the clinical context of mental health care. The pervasiveness and complexity of stigma requires diligence in clinical settings to integrate the experience of mental health care service users and work towards an adequate model of recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Growing evidence of mental disorders among people going through the criminal justice system suggests the potential benefit of courts adding a Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) when sentencing an offender to a Community Order (sentence) in England and Wales. Although available since 2003, MHTRs have not been widely used, and there is little evidence on outcomes. Aim: To conduct the first large‐scale evaluation of mental health outcomes of people with an MHTR as part of their community sentence across multiple sites in England and Wales. Methods: Data were collected from 14 sites in England and Wales about individuals who were given an MHTR as part of a community sentence. They were assessed before and after this. During the MHTR, they received a psychotherapeutic intervention by assistant psychologists in a primary care framework. Measures of psychological distress (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation—Outcome Measure), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder‐7) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire) were completed before the MHTR was implemented and after completion. Results: Where paired sample t‐tests and Wilcoxon signed ranked tests were used, with samples ranging between 309 and 447 individuals, clinically significant changes were obtained for all measures. Most individuals (63%) were identified as experiencing a reliable change in at least two out of the three scales. Finally, a negative linear relationship, between measures at the start of the intervention and reliable change, was identified with higher pre‐measures, indicating that more initial distress, anxiety and/or depression were associated with more sizeable changes. Conclusions: This paper provides the first substantial evidence in support of the MHTR within a primary mental healthcare framework as an effective pathway to reduce mental health problems among individuals under probation supervision as part of a sentence after conviction for a criminal offence. This supports the expansion of the provision across England and Wales. Future research should take account of the non‐completers and explore the relationship between the MHTR, mental health improvements and reoffending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sex work is a common phenomenon, but socially invisible and stigmatized. Due to exposure to work‐related risks, sex workers (SWs) are vulnerable to developing health problems. However, little attention has been paid to their mental health. The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize the existing literature on mental health and to explore risk factors related to psychopathology in sex workers. Methods: A systematic review (CRD42021268990) was conducted on the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and PsycInfo for peer reviewer papers published between 2010 and 2022. The Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to examine the quality of the studies. Of the 527 studies identified, 30 met the inclusion criteria. Results: Mental health problems were prevalent among sex workers. Depression was the most common mental health problem; however, other psychological problems were also high, including anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation. Sex workers are exposed to numerous work‐related risks, including violence and high‐risk sexual behaviors. Despite the high prevalence of mental health problems, SWs often encounter significant barriers to accessing healthcare services. Conclusion: These results suggest the need to focus on preventive measures to promote psychological well‐being among sex workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: (1) To identify patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) which have been used to screen and assess mental health symptoms in studies of youth with skin disease. (2) To critically appraise their evidence base in this population. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted within PubMed and PsycINFO combining search terms for pediatric populations, dermatology, screening and assessment tools, and psychological and psychiatric conditions, to identify PROMs which screened or assessed for mental health symptoms in youth with skin disease. PROMs which had undergone validation within this population were assessed for quality and evidence base using the COSMIN risk of bias tool. Results: One hundred eleven PROMs which assess mental health symptoms in studies of youth with skin disease were identified. These included generic mental health scales which are extensively validated in different populations. Only one PROM, the "Skin Picking Scale—Revised" has undergone specific validation in youth with skin disease. This showed poor quality of evidence for content validity and therefore cannot be recommended. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to identify mental health problems early and treat proactively to improve outcomes in youth with skin disease. This review highlights the current lack of consensus around the best way to assess our patients. It is likely that existing generic mental health methods and PROMS will be appropriate for our needs. More work is required to examine the utility, feasibility, and acceptability of existing generic, validated mental health screening tools in youth with skin disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports an Australian project designed to simultaneously explore and capacity build professional practice when working at the intersection of parental mental health and/or problematic substance use and domestic violence (DV). Data from this paper are derived from two main sources: observations and ethnographic notes obtained during 28 Community of Practice (CoP) meetings and semi‐structured interviews with 28 CoP participants. Participants were front‐line workers from a range of government and non‐government organizations providing services to families experiencing DV across three Australian states who participated in The STACY Project: Safe and Together Addressing ComplexitY. Thematic analysis was employed to examine the research questions: How do professionals and organizations understand and respond to families experiencing DV, parental mental health difficulties and problematic substance use issues? How did practitioners report participation in the STACY Project reorienting professional practice with families experiencing DV, parental mental health difficulties, and substance misuse issues? This paper reports workers' exploration of practice implications. The research found that 'domestic violence blind' practice has become entrenched at the intersections of child protection, substance misuse and mental health problems, but a shared framework could bring practitioners from diverse sectors together to generate new ways of working with these complex problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health chatbots (MHCBs) designed to support individuals in coping with mental health issues are rapidly advancing. Currently, these MHCBs are predominantly used in commercial rather than clinical contexts, but this might change soon. The question is whether this use is ethically desirable. This paper addresses a critical yet understudied concern: assuming that MHCBs cannot have genuine emotions, how this assumption may affect psychotherapy, and consequently the quality of treatment outcomes. We argue that if MHCBs lack emotions, they cannot have genuine (affective) empathy or utilise countertransference. Consequently, this gives reason to worry that MHCBs are (a) more liable to harm and (b) less likely to benefit patients than human therapists. We discuss some responses to this worry and conclude that further empirical research is necessary to determine whether these worries are valid. We conclude that, even if these worries are valid, it does not mean that we should never use MHCBs. By discussing the broader ethical debate on the clinical use of chatbots, we point towards how further research can help us establish ethical boundaries for how we should use mental health chatbots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper applied a critical narrative analysis to narratives of youth self‐identifying as having mental health concerns. Instances of epistemic justice and injustice were identified related to youth's interactions with clinical and educational institutions as well as with parents and peers. Youth experienced instances of institutional ignorance related to their experiences, as well as implicit and explicit silencing of their experiences. Youth also experienced validation from practitioners and teachers who validated their needs and knowledge of their own experiences. Implications for practice and research are discussed around promoting epistemically just practice with youth and in the mental health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the development and psychometric evaluation of a brief self‐report measure (BEACON) to inform universal mental health screening in schools. Items assess symptoms and impairment associated with anxiety and attention/hyperactivity problems (grades 4–11) as well as depression and eating difficulties (grades 6–11), with optional items for suicidality and self‐harm (grades 7–11). Initial item examination based on Item Response Theory (IRT) and classical test theory involved 3844 students in grades 4 through 11 (Study 1) and identified 18 items for grades 4–5 and 31 items for grades 6–11 that fulfilled pre‐set criteria. Study 2 extended testing with 10,479 students in grades 4–11 and added an additional four items assessing impairment associated with eating difficulties for older students (grades 6–11) creating a total of 35 items for grades 6–11. All items, for both grade‐level versions, met the pre‐set criteria for IRT and classical test theory analysis supporting their strength in the measurement of the dimensions of concern. The measure showed good reliability (subscale alphas.87 to.95). Validity was also demonstrated against standard symptom measures, school grades, school absenteeism, and help‐seeking. The BEACON appears to be a psychometrically sound measure to use in the first stage of school‐based screening for mental health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work‐related psychosocial hazards are on the verge of surpassing many other occupational hazards in their contribution to ill‐health, injury, disability, direct and indirect costs, and impact on business and national productivity. The risks associated with exposure to psychosocial hazards at work are compounded by the increasing background prevalence of mental health disorders in the working‐age population. The extensive and cumulative impacts of these exposures represent an alarming public health problem that merits immediate, increased attention. In this paper, we review the linkage between work‐related psychosocial hazards and adverse effects, their economic burden, and interventions to prevent and control these hazards. We identify six crucial societal actions: (1) increase awareness of this critical issue through a comprehensive public campaign; (2) increase etiologic, intervention, and implementation research; (3) initiate or augment surveillance efforts; (4) increase translation of research findings into guidance for employers and workers; (5) increase the number and diversity of professionals skilled in preventing and addressing psychosocial hazards; and (6) develop a national regulatory or consensus standard to prevent and control work‐related psychosocial hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health systems are built on imperfect foundations. Rather than reflect the "dark old days" of psychiatry, mental health systems, still, commit wide‐spread breaches of mental health and human rights laws. During such time, mental health regulators have failed to adequately enforce mental health laws and respond to harms in ways that are transparent and include the community. The Victorian mental health system, with the Mental Health Complaints Commissioner as the principal regulator, provides a case‐in‐point. Following a Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System, the state government will dissolve the current regulator and establish a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, with enhanced powers. This paper argues that this new regulator should adopt a more conscious implementation of restorative justice and responsive regulation, termed here restorative and responsive regulation. Of particular value is the use of restorative practices such as conferences and an augmenting of sentencing circles within a broader responsive regulatory framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Disorganized attachment has been identified as an important factor in the development and maintenance of mental health problems. Further research is required to understand the mechanism by which this attachment pattern predisposes individuals to develop, and maintain, personal and social difficulties and mental health problems utilizing valid and reliable measurement tools. The assessment of adult disorganized attachment is therefore important for both applied psychologists and researchers. Method: We conducted a systematic review using the COSMIN guidelines to identify and critically appraise instruments which measure adult disorganized attachment. A systematic database search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, PsychInfo and CINHAL in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Results: Database searching provided 5757 results, with 18 measures identified across 27 eligible papers which were critically evaluated. Measurement properties were promising for the Childhood Disorganization and Role Reversal Scale, Psychological Treatment Inventory‐Attachment Styles Scale, Attachment Style Questionnaire ‐ Short Form and the Adult Attachment Interview. However, overall, due to inconsistent quality of methodology and reporting of results, it is challenging to reach sufficient conclusions and suggestions regarding the best instrument to use to measure adult disorganized attachment. Conclusion: The Childhood Disorganization and Role Reversal Scale, Psychological Treatment Inventory‐Attachment Styles Scale. Attachment Style Questionnaire‐Short‐Form and Adult Attachment Interview are the best available measures of disorganized attachment in adulthood. This review highlights the need for further psychometric testing of existing measures, or development of new instruments, grounded in sound methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The clinical staging model states that psychosis develops through subsequent stages of illness severity. To better understand what drives illness progression, more extensive comparison across clinical stages is needed. The current paper presents an in‐depth characterization of individuals with different levels of risk for psychosis (i.e., different early clinical stages), using a multimethod approach of cross‐sectional assessments and daily diary reports. Methods: Data came from the Mirorr study that includes N = 96 individuals, divided across four subgroups (n1 = 25, n2 = 27, n3 = 24, and n4 = 20). These subgroups, each with an increasing risk for psychosis, represent clinical stages 0‐1b. Cross‐sectional data and 90‐day daily diary data on psychopathology, well‐being, psychosocial functioning, risk and protective factors were statistically compared across subgroups (stages) and descriptively compared across domains and assessment methods. Results: Psychopathology increased across subgroups, although not always linearly and nuanced differences were seen between assessment methods. Well‐being and functioning differed mostly between subgroup 1 and the other subgroups, suggesting differences between non‐clinical and clinical populations. Risk and protective factors differed mostly between the two highest and lowest subgroups, especially regarding need of social support and coping, suggesting differences between those with and without substantial psychotic experiences. Subgroup 4 (stage 1b) reported especially high levels of daily positive and negative psychotic experiences. Conclusions: Risk for psychosis exists in larger contexts of mental health and factors of risk and protection that differ across stages and assessment methods. Taking a broad, multi‐method approach is an important next step to understand the complex development of youth mental health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This paper presents the recommendations, developed from a 3-year consultation process, for a program of research to underpin the development of diagnostic concepts and criteria in the Substance Use Disorders section of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and potentially the relevant section of the next revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Methods A preliminary list of research topics was developed at the DSM-V Launch Conference in 2004. This led to the presentation of articles on these topics at a specific Substance Use Disorders Conference in February 2005, at the end of which a preliminary list of research questions was developed. This was further refined through an iterative process involving conference participants over the following year. Results Research questions have been placed into four categories: (1) questions that could be addressed immediately through secondary analyses of existing data sets; (2) items likely to require position papers to propose criteria or more focused questions with a view to subsequent analyses of existing data sets; (3) issues that could be proposed for literature reviews, but with a lower probability that these might progress to a data analytic phase; and (4) suggestions or comments that might not require immediate action, but that could be considered by the DSM-V and ICD 11 revision committees as part of their deliberations. Conclusions A broadly based research agenda for the development of diagnostic concepts and criteria for substance use disorders is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Although advocates and providers identify stigma as a major factor in confounding the recovery of people with SUDs, research on addiction stigma is lacking, especially when compared to the substantive literature examining the stigma of mental illness.Methods: A review of key studies from the stigma literature that yielded empirically supported concepts and methods from the mental health arena was contrasted with the much smaller and mostly descriptive findings from the addiction field.Results: Integration of this information led to Part I of this two part paper, development of a research paradigm seeking to understand phenomena of addiction stigma (eg, stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination) and its different types (public, self, and label avoidance).Conclusions and Scientific Significance: In Part II paper (American Journal of Addictions, Vol 26, pages 67-74, this issue), we address how this literature informs a research program meant to develop and evaluate and stigma strategies (eg, education, contact, and protest). Both papers end with recommendations for next steps to jumpstart the addiction stigma portfolio. Here in Part I, we offer one possible list of key research issues for studies attempting to describe or explain addiction stigma. (Am J Addict 2017;26:59-66). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To compare the mental health and neurodevelopmental profiles of school‐age children born very preterm, with and without an anxiety disorder, and to identify neonatal medical, psychosocial, and concurrent neurodevelopmental correlates. Method: A regional cohort of 102 (51 males, 51 females) children born very preterm (mean [SD] gestation at birth=28wks [2], range=23–31wks) was studied from birth to age 9 years alongside a comparison group of 109 (58 males, 51 females) children born at term (mean [SD] gestation at birth=40wks [1], range=38–41wks). At age 9 years, all children underwent a neurodevelopmental evaluation while parents were interviewed using the Development and Well‐Being Assessment to diagnose a range of DSM‐IV childhood psychiatric disorders. Detailed information was also available about the children's neonatal medical course and postnatal psychosocial environment, including maternal mental health and parenting. Results: At age 9 years, 21% (n=21) of very preterm and 13% (n=14) of term‐born children met diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder. Clinically‐anxious children born very preterm were characterized by higher rates of comorbid mental health (odds ratio [OR]=11.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]=3.8–34.7), social (OR=6.2, 95% CI=2.1–18.4), motor (OR=4.4, 95% CI=1.6–12.2), and cognitive (OR=2.6, 95% CI=1.0–7.0) problems than those without an anxiety disorder. Concurrent maternal mental health and child social difficulties were the strongest independent correlates of early‐onset child anxiety disorders. Interpretation: Children born very preterm who developed an early‐onset anxiety disorder were subject to high rates of comorbid problems. Findings highlight the importance of addressing both maternal and child mental health issues to optimize outcomes in this high‐risk population. What this paper addsOne out of five school‐age children born very preterm are likely to meet DSM‐IV diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder.Half of these children born very preterm with an early‐onset anxiety disorder have comorbid attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Other neurodevelopmental correlates of early‐onset anxiety disorders include lower cognitive ability, motor problems, and peer social difficulties.Concurrent maternal mental health and child social adjustment problems were the strongest correlates of early‐onset anxiety disorder risk among children born very preterm. What this paper adds: One out of five school‐age children born very preterm are likely to meet DSM‐IV diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder.Half of these children born very preterm with an early‐onset anxiety disorder have comorbid attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Other neurodevelopmental correlates of early‐onset anxiety disorders include lower cognitive ability, motor problems, and peer social difficulties.Concurrent maternal mental health and child social adjustment problems were the strongest correlates of early‐onset anxiety disorder risk among children born very preterm. This article is commented on by Hunter on page 892 of this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: NEMESIS‐3 (Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study‐3) is a psychiatric epidemiological cohort study of the Dutch general population that replicates and expands on two previous NEMESIS‐studies conducted in 1996–1999 and 2007–2018 respectively. The main aims of NEMESIS‐3 are to provide up‐to‐date information on the prevalence, incidence, course and consequences of mental disorders, their risk indicators, and to study the relevant time trends. This paper gives an overview of the objectives and methods of NEMESIS‐3, especially of the recently completed first wave, and describes the sample characteristics. Methods: NEMESIS‐3 is based on a multistage, stratified random sampling of individuals aged 18–75 years. Face‐to‐face interviews were laptop computer‐assisted and held at the respondent's home. A slightly modified Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) version 3.0 was used to assess both Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders‐IV (DSM‐IV) and DSM‐5 mental disorders. Two follow‐up waves are planned three and six years after baseline. Results: In the first wave, performed from November 2019 to March 2022, 6194 individuals were interviewed: 1576 respondents before and 4618 respondents during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The average interview duration was 91 min and the response rate was 54.6%. The sample consisted of 50.4% women and had a mean age of 47.9 years. The sample was reasonable nationally representative, although some sociodemographic groups were somewhat underrepresented. Conclusions: Despite the COVID‐19 restrictions, we were able to build a large and comprehensive dataset of good quality, permitting us to investigate the latest trends in mental health status, various new topics related to mental health, and the extent to which the pandemic has had an effect on the population's mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The background for this paper is the debate over what role mental illness plays in radicalization to violent extremism. While one camp points to cases of abnormal functioning of perpetrators, another argues that normal psychological mechanisms are central. Through a review of these perspectives, it becomes clear that mental illness cannot be ruled out as an epi‐phenomenon, but is not a necessary condition either. The paper draws on work in psychiatric nosology on dimensional and categorical conceptions of illness and argues that the perspectives in this literature reflect a categorical approach to normal and abnormal functioning. Under a dimensional perspective, findings converge. The paper concludes by showing how this new dimensional approach to the role of mental illness in radicalization has implications for the design of risk assessment tools and leads to the recommendation for stronger inter‐agency cooperation between mental health professionals, social services, and police and intelligence services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant minority of jurisdictions in the United States offer extreme emotional disturbance (EED) as a partial defense to murder. The form of this defense, as established by statute and case law, varies widely among jurisdictions. Empirical research on EED is scant with little guidance to forensic mental health professionals on how to approach and conceptualize potential EED cases. This paper addresses these issues by being the first known published work to (1) set forth a contemporary map of the varying definitions and scope of EED across the United States, (2) translate legal terminology into constructs accessible to forensic evaluators, and (3) provide legal and clinical analyses of sample EED cases to highlight key differences in the form of the defense and the admissibility of evidence between jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This paper aims to examine the maternal and child mental health and parenting outcomes in the context of COVID‐19 pandemic conditions using a sample from Melbourne, Australia – a city exposed to one of the longest lockdowns world‐wide in response to the pandemic. Methods: This study utilises observational data from a prospective, pregnancy cohort, Mercy Pregnancy Emotional Wellbeing Study and includes 468 women and their children followed up in Melbourne to 3–4 years postpartum pre‐COVID pandemic and compared to those followed up during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Results: When compared to mothers followed up at 3–4 years postpartum pre‐pandemic, those followed up during the COVID‐19 pandemic showed higher depressive symptoms with a steep incline in their symptom trajectory (EMMdifference = 1.72, Bonferroni‐corrected P < 0.01, d = 0.35) and had a three times higher risk of scoring 13 or above on the EPDS (aRR = 3.22, Bonferroni‐corrected P < 0.01). Although this increase was not associated with the variation in the duration of exposure to pandemic conditions, the steep increase in depressive symptoms was more pronounced in those with pre‐existing depressive disorders. There was no difference in parenting stress or adjusted childhood mental health symptoms or disorder. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the vulnerability of those with pre‐existing clinical mental health disorders and the need for adequate clinical care for this vulnerable group. Equally, our study indicates the possibility that parenting and early childhood mental health outcomes, at least in the short term, may be resilient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Long psychiatric hospital stays are unpopular with services users, harmful, and costly. Economic pressures alongside a drive for recovery‐orientated care in the least restrictive contexts have led to increasing pressure to discharge people from hospital early. Hospital discharge is, however, complex, stressful, and risky for service users and families. This rapid literature review aimed to assess what is known about early discharge in acute mental health. Searches were conducted in nine bibliographic databases, reference lists, and targeted grey literature sources. Fourteen included papers focused on early discharge in mental health, a population over 18 years with a mental health condition, and reported outcomes on therapeutic care or service delivery. Quality appraisal was undertaken using The Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. The meta‐summary of the literature found that early discharge was neither provided to all inpatients nor limited to the Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment (CRHT) service model internationally. Early discharge interventions required collaborative working and discharge planning. It was not associated with unplanned readmissions and had a small effect on length of stay. Most studies reported service outcomes, whereas health outcomes were underreported. Professionals and service users were positive about early discharge and service users asked for peer support. Carers preferred hospital or day hospital care suggesting their need for respite. Limitations in the scope, detail, and quality of the evidence about early discharge leave an unclear picture of the components of early discharge as an intervention, its effectiveness, cost‐effectiveness, or outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental health issues reported among college‐aged individuals have increased. Prevalence of these issues has an established impact on students' personal, professional, and academic outcomes. Graduate students experience unique stressors that impact their mental health. In particular, engineering graduate students have lower help‐seeking tendencies, which can impact the severity and length of their mental health problems. Purpose: We investigate the literature concerning engineering graduate students' mental health, focusing on academic outcomes, mental health measures, and mental health findings, to highlight gaps in current literature and the need for further research. Scope/Method: Five research databases, EBSCO: CINAHL, EBSCO: PsycINFO, ProQuest: ERIC, PubMed, and Scopus, were searched in a scoping literature review. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied during the screening process. Peer‐reviewed publications (i.e., articles and conference papers) were identified and coded for study focus, keywords, participants and institution(s), journal discipline, study type, methods used, and work referenced, in addition to academic outcomes, mental health measures, and mental health findings. Results: Nineteen of the 4,826 unique studies identified were included in the review. Ten academic outcomes and 13 mental health measures were discussed. Mental health findings were grouped into five themes: social support and sense of belonging; student–advisor relationship; cultural barriers faced by international students; gender and racial stereotypes; and generalized findings. Conclusions: Research on engineering graduate students' mental health is limited. Given that mental health has direct ties to students' well‐being and ultimately their success, engineering education researchers should focus on studying students' experiences, sharing these findings, and communicating best practices for all stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor health in the workforce is costly to employers and the economy. This is partly due to health problems causing people to spend less time at work but is also due to people being less productive while at work. In this paper, we investigate the causes of dysfunctional presenteeism, defined as reduced productivity at work due to health problems. We find that both physical and mental health significantly predict the probability of dysfunctional presenteeism, and the effects of mental health problems seem to be worse than physical health. In comparison, changes to most other characteristics have little or no effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the protocol for a Campbell systematic review. The objectives are as follows: the first objective of the review (Objective 1—Prevalence) is to present a synthesis of the reported prevalence rates of mental health difficulties in terrorist samples. Where sufficient data is available, the synthesis will be sensitive to the heterogeneity of the terrorism phenomenon by exploring the rates of mental health difficulties for different forms of terrorism and for different terrorist roles (e.g., bombing, logistics, finance, etc.). The second objective (Objective 2—Temporality) will synthesise the extent to which mental health difficulties pre‐date involvement in terrorism within prevalence studies. Finally, the third objective (Objective 3—Risk) aims to further establish temporality by examining the extent to which the presence of mental disorder is associated with terrorist involvement by comparing terrorist and non‐terrorist samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Periods of social isolation are associated with loneliness in children and young people, and loneliness is associated with poor mental and physical health. Children and young people with pre‐existing mental health difficulties may be prone to loneliness. Containment of COVID‐19 has necessitated widespread social isolation, with unprecedented school closures and restrictions imposed on social interactions. This rapid review aimed to establish what is known about the relationship between loneliness and mental health problems in children and young people with pre‐existing mental health problems. Methods: We sought to identify all primary research that examined the cross‐sectional and longitudinal associations between loneliness/perceived social isolation and mental health in children and young people with pre‐existing mental health problems. We also aimed to identify effective interventions that reduce the adverse impact of loneliness. A rapid systematic search was conducted using MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Results: Of 4,531 papers screened, 15 included children and young people with pre‐existing mental health conditions. These 15 studies included 1,536 children and young people aged between 6 and 23 years with social phobia, anxiety and/or depression, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Loneliness was associated with anxiety and depression both cross‐sectionally and prospectively in children and young people with mental health problems and neurodevelopmental conditions. We found preliminary evidence that psychological treatments can help to reduce feelings of loneliness in this population. Conclusions: Loneliness is associated with depression and anxiety in children and young people with pre‐existing mental health conditions, and this relationship may be bidirectional. Existing interventions to address loneliness and/or mental health difficulties in other contexts may be applied to this population, although they may need adaptation and testing in younger children and adolescents. Practitioner points: Loneliness is common in children and young people, and during periods of enforced social isolation such as during COVID‐19, children and young people report high levels of loneliness (or increased rates of loneliness).The review showed that loneliness is associated, both cross‐sectionally and prospectively, in children and young people with mental health problems and also in children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder. Thus, loneliness is a possible risk factor of which mental health providers should be aware.Maintaining social contact both by direct and by indirect means, especially through the Internet, could be important in mitigating loneliness.Interventions to address loneliness should be further developed and tested to help children and young people with pre‐existing mental health problems who are lonely by preventing exacerbation of their mental health difficulties, in particular anxiety and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The past year was marked by upheaval, as countries across the globe shut down in the face of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Although the topics for this year's Annual Research Review were decided long before most of had heard of the coronavirus, many readers may find themselves reading the papers in this issue through a pandemic lens. For some authors, the COVID‐19 pandemic and the social unrest that characterized parts of the world where these authors live are likely to have shaped the way they ultimately framed the topics of their reviews. This issue serves as a reminder that it is critical to read science in social and historical context. Our preoccupations as psychologists and psychiatrists reflect our cultural values and societal experiences at a particular time and place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To estimate psychiatric comorbidity in childhood onset immune‐mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID). Methods: The PRISMA guidelines were followed, and the protocol was registered at Prospero (ID: CRD42021233890). Literature was searched in PubMed, PsycINFO and Embase. Original papers on prevalence rates of diagnosed psychiatric disorders and/or suicide in paediatric onset inflammatory bowel disease (pIBD), rheumatic diseases (RD) and autoimmune liver diseases were selected. Pooled prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders (grouped according to ICD‐10 criteria) within the various IMID were calculated using random‐effects meta‐analysis. Risk of bias was evaluated by the Newcastle‐Ottawa scale. Results: Twenty‐three studies were included; 13 describing psychiatric disorders in pIBD and 10 in RD. Anxiety and mood disorders were mostly investigated with pooled prevalence rates in pIBD of 6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 4%–9%) and 4% (95%CI: 2%–8%), respectively, in register‐based studies, and 33% (95%CI: 25%–41%) and 18% (95%CI: 12%–26%), respectively, in studies using psychiatric assessment. In RD, rates were 13% (95%CI: 12%–15%) for anxiety disorders and 20% (95%CI: 15%–26%) for mood disorders based on psychiatric assessment. Conclusion: Anxiety and depression are commonly reported in childhood onset IMID. Physicians should be attentive to mental health problems in these patients as they seem overlooked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health problems have been established as one of the leading causes of the global burden of disease. Approximately a quarter of all people worldwide will experience a mental disorder during their lifetime. With depression and anxiety becoming the leading causes of mental ill health globally, the numbers of people reporting mental health complaints are set to grow. The dramatic increase in reporting and diagnosis of mental health disorders has been in parallel to a decline in the ability to cope with mental health symptoms and a rise in the incidence of self‐harm and suicidal ideation. While mental health assessment and diagnoses are usually the responsibility of general practitioners (family doctors) or psychiatrists, the frontline provision of mental health care is often delegated to counsellors and psychotherapists. Publicly funded counselling and psychotherapy services vary across the globe, but are commonly under‐resourced and lacking in adequate funding. This may lead to insufficient clinical supervision and compressed time to complete continuing professional development, which are both vital for new counsellors and psychotherapists to feel confident in providing care, and to learn new skills. Newly qualified counsellors and psychotherapists may also experience emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion or 'burn‐out'. This position paper aims to critically appraise available cross‐cultural literature on the experiences of 'burn‐out' by newly qualified counsellors and psychotherapists, globally. Finally, we make recommendations for how best to support the mental health and psychological well‐being of newly qualified practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an overview of the topics discussed in the November 1955 issue of the "Journal of Social Issues." The first paper describes more fully the general area of research, the conceptual framework and the design of a project which aims to study the impact of mental illness upon the family. The second paper discusses the courses of consultation and action which are taken to get the patient to treatment. The succeeding article looks at the responses of others who learn of the patient's illness and the anxieties of the family regarding the reactions others. The final paper in the issue summarizes preliminary findings in areas of the research not covered by the previous papers and examines some of the practical implications of the research for mental health programs.

The number of people presenting to EDs with mental health problems is increasing. To enhance and promote the delivery of safe and efficient healthcare to this group, there is a need to identify evidence‐based, best‐practice models of care. This scoping review aims to identify and evaluate current research on interventions commenced or delivered in the ED for people presenting with a mental health problem. A systematic search of eight databases using search terms including emergency department, mental health, psyc* and interventions, with additional reference chaining, was undertaken. For included studies, level of evidence was assessed using the NHMRC research guidelines and existing knowledge was synthesised to map key concepts and identify current research gaps. A total of 277 papers met the inclusion criteria. These were grouped thematically into seven domains based on primary intervention type: pharmacological (n = 43), psychological/behavioural (n = 25), triage/assessment/screening (n = 28), educational/informational (n = 12), case management (n = 28), referral/follow up (n = 36) and mixed interventions (n = 105). There was large heterogeneity observed as to the level of evidence within each intervention group. The interventions varied widely from pharmacological to behavioural. Interventions were focused on either staff, patient or institutional process domains. Few interventions focused on multiple domains (n = 64) and/or included the patient's family (n = 1). The effectiveness of interventions varied. There is considerable, yet disconnected, evidence around ED interventions to support people with mental health problems. A lack of integrated, multifaceted, person‐centred interventions is an important barrier to providing effective care for this vulnerable population who present to the ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This systematic literature review examined the clinical utility of the construct of self‐disgust in understanding mental distress. Specifically, the review assessed whether there is a shared conceptual definition of self‐disgust, the face and construct validity of the quantitative assessment measures of self‐disgust, and the predictive validity of self‐disgust in formulating the development of a range of psychological difficulties. A systematic database search supplemented by manual searches of references and citations identified 31 relevant papers (27 quantitative, 3 qualitative, and 1 mixed). Analysis of qualitative papers indicated a number of shared features in the definition of self‐disgust, including a visceral sense of self‐elicited nausea accompanied by social withdrawal and attempts at cleansing or suppressing aspects of the self. Quantitative assessment measures appeared to capture these dimensions and evidenced good psychometric properties, although some measures may have only partially captured the full self‐disgust construct. Strong relationships were observed between self‐disgust and a range of mental health presentations, in particular, depression, body‐image difficulties, and trauma‐related difficulties. However, these relationships are smaller when the effects of other negative self‐referential emotions were controlled, and stronger conclusions about the predictive validity of self‐disgust are limited by the cross‐sectional nature of many of the studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Joint Commission on the Mental Health of Children (JCMHC) was a sprawling, multidisciplinary project that took shape in the years immediately after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Participants included child psychiatrists, educators, psychologists, social workers, philanthropists and other laypeople and professionals interested in the plight of children. While the original inspiration for the JCMHC was to address the potential for violence from disturbed children and adolescents, its findings and recommendations were an indictment of American society itself in which poor children went hungry, minority children were oppressed and there were not sufficient resources dedicated to the mental health of the nation's population of young people. The task forces and committees of the JCMHC spent significantly more time addressing prevention and mental health rather than mental illness. Two years into the work of the JCMHC, the leadership formed a committee to specifically examine issues related to race. The final report, published in popular book form as Crisis in Child Mental Health, arrived after the unraveling of the liberal consensus that had fueled President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society programs. Most of the proposed solutions for government intervention were ignored by the Nixon administration. The focus on mental health and the willingness to take a critical look at the detrimental effects of racism had represented child psychiatry at that time. In the decades that followed, however, child psychiatrists turned away from issues about prevention, race and environment and instead focused on the problems of mental illness in individual children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary Developments in the Area of Non-recent Child Sexual Abuse: Moving from What Is Wrong with You and What Happened to You, to What Are We Going To Do About It Now? It found that one in 13 adults reported experiencing CSA, with 9% in total reporting contact CSA and 3% non-contact CSA. The knowledge of child sexual abuse (CSA) - the recognition of its prevalence and the reality of its impact - has been lost and found in repeated cycles within society and perhaps particularly within the field of mental health. [Extracted from the article]

Professional accounts of emotional distress originate from within mainstream mental illness discourses and are underpinned by largely conjectural biomedical, brain‐based conceptions of disorder. Alternative, formulation‐based approaches remain delimited by cultural norms and linguistic resources. Service users frequently declare the most ordinary aspects of therapy the most helpful: listening, understanding, and respectfulness; these are not contingent upon the presence of a mental health professional. This paper describes ameliorations in states of emotional distress amongst volunteer trainee mechanics in a bicycle workshop, which has little overtly to do with mental health. Possible explanations for these ameliorations, or 'recoveries', are presented. In an enabling setting that offers the social and material resources conducive to particular ways of being, an applied actor‐network approach is introduced as a practical way to disentangle the concomitant complexities of bicycles and everyday life. This approach to analysing states of distress—introduced here as 'actor‐network therapy'—combines notions of enactment and enhandedness in the appreciation of 'engrenage' – the intriguing intricacy of locally generated, provisional realities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]