Putting meaning into medicine: why context matters in psychiatry

Mainstream psychiatry emphasises controlling symptoms by taking medications. This approach ignores the role of context in shaping illness experiences and how people engage with mental health professionals. The focus on symptom control and medication management also narrows the function of the psychiatrist. This editorial argues that knowledge of patients’ lives is important for providing empathic care that is oriented to the outcomes that matter to patients. In addition, care that attends to the person-in-context motivates and sustains mental health providers by putting meaning back into medicine. Truly patient-centred care demands pushing back against the reductionism of contemporary psychiatry to thoughtfully engage with the complexities of patients’ lives.

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An Investigation of Self-Assessment Bias in Mental Health Providers

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/02.07.17.pr0.110.2.639-644 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 110 (2) ◽

pp. 639-644 ◽

Cited By ~ 135

Author(s):

Steven Walfish ◽

Brian McAlister ◽

Paul O'Donnell ◽

Michael J. Lambert

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Clinical Skills ◽

Mental Health Providers ◽

Health Providers ◽

Self Assessment ◽

Positive Assessment ◽

And Performance ◽

Assessment Bias

Previous research has consistently found self-assessment bias (an overly positive assessment of personal performance) to be present in a wide variety of work situations. The present investigation extended this area of research with a multi-disciplinary sample of mental health professionals. Respondents were asked to: (a) compare their own overall clinical skills and performance to others in their profession, and (b) indicate the percentage of their clients who improved, remained the same, or deteriorated as a result of treatment with them. Results indicated that 25% of mental health professionals viewed their skill to be at the 90th percentile when compared to their peers, and none viewed themselves as below average. Further, when compared to the published literature, clinicians tended to overestimate their rates of client improvement and underestimate their rates of client deterioration. The implications of this self-assessment bias for improvement of psychotherapy outcomes are discussed.

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The Use of the Media in Marketing a Private Practice

Handbook of Private Practice ◽

10.1093/med:psych/9780190272166.003.0027 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 338-345

Author(s):

Nancy A. McGarrah

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Private Practice ◽

Mental Health Providers ◽

Health Providers ◽

The Public ◽

The Media ◽

Media Work

This chapter describes the ways mental health professionals in private practice can use the media for marketing their practice as well as for educating the public. The processes for engaging in media work are addressed and the concept of being an “expert” in this field is explained. Ethics issues are emphasized, such as what mental health professionals can and cannot say in interviews. Specific guidance for providing effective interviews and ideas for receiving applicable training are given. Media-trained mental health providers can assist with interview preparation and answer questions about ethics and media work.

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Malpractice

10.1093/med/9780199387106.003.0008 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer L. Piel ◽

Phillip J. Resnick

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Mental Health Clinicians ◽

Mental Health Providers ◽

Health Providers ◽

Intentional Actions ◽

Malpractice Claims ◽

Legal Concepts

A lawsuit for professional malpractice is an occupational hazard feared by many psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors in the mental health field. Most actions against mental health clinicians are based on the concept of negligence. Medical negligence occurs when health care professionals fail to adhere to the standard of professional care, resulting in harm to a patient. Mental health professionals may also face legal action for certain intentional actions that cause injury to a patient. This chapter reviews the core legal concepts underlying malpractice claims against mental health clinicians. Presented here are the topics that are most likely to be the basis of liability suits against mental health providers. The chapter concludes with some strategies that mental health professionals can use to reduce the risk of malpractice liability.

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Mutual Biases Underlying the Problematic Relationship between Older Adults and Mental Health Providers: Any Solution in Sight?

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.2190/1lte-f1q1-v7hg-6bc9 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 55 (3) ◽

pp. 271-295 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Luciana Laganà ◽

Sheri Shanks

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Older Patients ◽

The Elderly ◽

Mental Health Provider ◽

Mental Health Providers ◽

Health Providers

As the size and diversity of the older population increases, mental health providers will be called upon to deliver high-quality services to the elderly. However, many of these professionals hold negative attitudes toward the elderly; psychotherapy conducted with older adults by clinicians with such biases could represent a waste of time and energy, as well as money, for these clients. This article reviews studies conducted within the past three decades on the biases held by mental health professionals (primarily psychiatrists and psychologists) toward older patients and vice versa. It also discusses possible solutions to the conflicts within the elderly-mental health provider relationship, based on the contributions made by professionals from various health care disciplines on this topic. Moreover, this article takes into account various ethnicity-related issues that are often at play in the relationship in question, and provides research and clinical recommendations for the enhancement of the quality of this relationship. It is time to find successful and interdisciplinary ways to improve how older adults and mental health professionals deal with one another. These efforts should creatively enhance the quality of the mental health services offered to older patients, in addition to dispelling age-related myths and corresponding obstacles to the utilization of these needed services by older adults.

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Beliefs and Practices of Christian Psychotherapists regarding Non-Sexual Multiple Relationships

Journal of Psychology and Theology ◽

10.1177/009164711103900404 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 330-344

Author(s):

Randolph K. Sanders ◽

John Eric Swenson ◽

Gregory R. Schneller

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Ethical Dilemma ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Multiple Relationships ◽

Mental Health Providers ◽

Health Providers ◽

Beliefs And Practices ◽

Faith Based

A group of 362 Christian mental health professionals were surveyed regarding their beliefs about and their practices concerning non-sexual multiple relationships (NSMR's). On each of 28 items, respondents were asked to indicate the degree to which they engaged in the multiple relationship behavior and the degree to which they believed each behavior to be ethical. In addition to multiple relationship situations faced by most mental health providers, a number of the items dealt specifically with multiple relationships that arise in faith-based environments or with religious clients. Among other things, results indicated that Christian therapists who worked in church-based settings were more likely to engage in NSMR's than were therapists in other settings. Moreover, respondents indicated that non-sexual multiple relationships were the most frequent ethical dilemma they faced in practice. Implications of the findings for the training of Christian therapists and for therapists who work in faith-based settings are discussed.

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The future role of the psychiatrist in Europe – a UEMS perspective

Die Psychiatrie ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1670734 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 11 (01) ◽

pp. 35-42

Author(s):

M. Hermans

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

General Interest ◽

Future Role ◽

Personal Opinion ◽

The Future ◽

The Subject ◽

The Many

SummaryThe author presents his personal opinion inviting to discussion on the possible future role of psychiatrists. His view is based upon the many contacts with psychiatrists all over Europe, academicians and everyday professionals, as well as the familiarity with the literature. The list of papers referred to is based upon (1) the general interest concerning the subject when representing ideas also worded elsewhere, (2) the accessibility to psychiatrists and mental health professionals in Germany, (3) being costless downloadable for non-subscribers and (4) for some geographic aspects (e.g. Belgium, Spain, Sweden) and the latest scientific issues, addressing some authors directly.

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The Emergency Assessment and Management of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents

Adolescent Psychiatry ◽

10.2174/2210676609666190618162558 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 92-99

Author(s):

Sindhu A. Idicula ◽

Amy Vyas ◽

Nicole Garber

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Outpatient Clinics ◽

Psychiatric Diagnoses ◽

Mental Health Providers ◽

Health Providers ◽

Levels Of Care ◽

Self Injury ◽

History Of ◽

Inpatient Units

Background and Goals: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a common presenting issue mental health providers experience in all levels of care from outpatient clinics to inpatient units. It is common among adolescents seen in emergency settings, either as a presenting problem or as a covert condition that may not be detected unless specifically assessed for. The presence of NSSI increases the risk of suicide. This article aims to help the clinician develop a better understanding of NSSI – what it may entail, the prevalence, and the motivations for why young people engage in it. Methods: We review the reasons adolescents injure themselves, the link between NSSI and psychiatric diagnoses and suicide, the assessment of NSSI, and treatment planning, with emphasis on ways to screen for NSSI and interventions that can be implemented in the Emergency Department. We illustrate the complexity of NSSI with the case of a young patient with a complex psychiatric history and an extensive history of self-injury. Results and Discussion: Despite the seeming intractability of NSSI, a number of evidencebased treatments exist. Treatment primarily involves specialized forms of psychotherapy, but interventions can be implemented in the ED that will reduce the immediate risk of NSSI while more definitive intervention is awaited. Conclusion: Mental health consultations in the ED should always include screening for NSSI. Mental health professionals in the ED can play an important role in the detection and treatment of this condition..

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