Group-apartments for recovery of people with psychosis in Italy: Democratic therapeutic communities in post-modern social communities

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 213-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Bruschetta ◽  
Raffaele Barone
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Therapeutic Communities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Stigma Of Mental Illness ◽  
Democratic Life ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Support Housing ◽  
Therapeutic Activities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a model of democratic therapeutic community (DTC) for people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and psychotic disorder, namely the Group-Apartment (GA). The authors will describe it in more detail, discussing the ideas which lie behind it, considering the relative cost of treating people in larger residential DTCs and in GAs, outlining findings from the first data gathered on a GA and looking at the usefulness of this model in post-modern societies, with particular reference to Sicily. Design/methodology/approach In brief a GA is a flat, located in an urban apartment building, inhabited by a small group of people. In this paper the authors consider an apartment inhabited by a group of three or four patients with the presence of clinical social workers who work in shifts for several hours a day on all or most days of the week (Barone et al., 2009, 2010). GA is also inspired by the pioneering work of Pullen (1999, 2003), in the UK tradition of the apartment post TC for psychosis. Findings GAs in Italy have become one of the main methods of support housing in recovery-oriented treatment, because it allows the empowerment of the users and fights against the stigma of mental illness (Barone et al., 2014; Bruschetta et al., 2014). The main therapeutic activities provided in the GA depend on the type of recovery route being supported, on the level of autonomy being developed and on the level of participation in the democratic life of the local community. Originality/value GAs appear better, cheaper and a more appropriate treatment for mental problems in the current financial and social climate than larger institutions. Where they have been tried out, they have been found to be effective, by users and by stakeholders. They exemplify the advantages of the DTC for encouraging recovery, but cost less to run. In accordance with DTC principles, the social democratic process is used not only to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of GAs, but also to build a network to support the development of innovative mental health services and new enabling environments (Haigh et al., 2012).

scholarly journals A brief history of British drug policy: 1850-1950

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-66
Author(s):  
Rowdy Yates
Keyword(s):  
Drug Users ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Therapeutic Communities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sexual Perversion ◽  
The First World War ◽  
History Of ◽  
Legislative Policy ◽  
The Uk ◽  
First World

Purpose As the clamour within the drug treatment field in the UK – and throughout much of Europe – increases, leading agencies are arguing for a review of the current legislation and a change in focus away from criminal justice and towards a more public health understanding of addiction. Therapeutic communities have found themselves united with many drug users-led campaigns to argue for a wholesale restructuring of the legislative, policy and funding arrangements which recognises the role of recovery-oriented interventions within the mix. Given these on-going debates, it is perhaps useful to understand how the current arrangements were established [1]. Design/methodology/approach In 1850s, the sale of opium – like alcohol – was largely unregulated. It was widely used, in a variety of preparations, by all classes for medical and non-medical purposes. A pennyworth of opium was as likely (perhaps more likely) as a pound of potatoes to find its way into the weekly shopping basket. Findings By the 1920s, the Fu Manchu novels of Sax Rohmer – with their tales of innocent English virgins being seduced into crime and sexual perversion by an evil Chinese genius who lurked within the opium dens of Edwardian Britain – had redefined opium as a drug of the outside, the deadly, an agent in the enslavement of innocence. Originality/value This dramatic change was largely brought about by the introduction of an array of new medications and a move away from traditional “herbal” remedies. This change was accelerated by the experiences of the First World War and underpinned by the print media and laid the foundations of the legislation and policy of the present day.

Social plastic at work: structure for dialogues in a therapeutic community

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-11
Author(s):  
Zsolt Zalka
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Process ◽  
Therapeutic Community ◽  
Specific Effect ◽  
Therapeutic Communities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Norms And Values ◽  
Normative Dimension ◽  
Collective Agent ◽  
Work Structure ◽  
Therapeutic Activities

Purpose – Reports about therapeutic communities usually focus on specific therapeutic activities: the various ways of the community functioning correctively, the communal-personal dynamics of the community, the dramaturgically graspable problems and the operating and integrative function of the staff. There is relatively little attention paid to the features of the structure composed of the systems of norms and values of these communities. The purpose of this paper is to focus on this normative dimension of the culture of a therapeutic community. Design/methodology/approach – The authors wish to show this focus with the developmental process of the system of values, rules and norms of the therapeutic community of Thalassa House in Budapest, thinking mainly in self-psychological and ethical paradigm. Findings – The way of operating values, norms and rules – the systems of metanorms – creates the cognitive matrix in which members of the community are both acting and perceiving parties, simultaneously suffering and interpreting the communal occurrence of self-pathologies. It develops the cooperative potential of the community along this “ethical” dimension. In the view, the structure of rules, norms and values operated in the culture of relationships of the community, as a consciously elaborated collective agent, has a specific effect in the healing of self-pathologies. Originality/value – In the view, the efficiency of the actuation of norms depends primarily on the emergence of metanorms, that is of the ”how” of the application of norms. The values of the metanorms can be found both in the circumstances of the birth of self-according to the attachment theory and in the world of dialogical ethics.

Autogenic Training – a self-help technique for children with emotional and behavioural problems

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 152-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Klott
Keyword(s):  
Body Awareness ◽  
Effective Therapy ◽  
Autogenic Training ◽  
Behavioural Problems ◽  
Therapeutic Communities ◽  
Emotional And Behavioural Problems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Self Help ◽  
The Uk

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss Autogenic Training as an effective therapy for children with behavioural and emotional problems. The technique offers children in therapeutic communities strategies in dealing better with stress- and anxiety-related problems. The resulting increased body awareness and ability for self-reflection can also lead to a better engagement in other forms of therapy, decrease anxieties, reduce levels of frustration, increase self-esteem, decrease the fight/flight feeling and supports the work in therapeutic communities. Design/methodology/approach – International literature and the author's experience are reviewed to provide a better understanding of the technique and its potential in therapeutic communities. The paper explores creative ways of modifying the technique aiming to help children engage in the autogenic process. Findings – The paper concludes that Autogenic Training is an effective therapy and self-help technique for children with emotional and behavioural problems in therapeutic communities. Originality/value – Autogenic Training is well known in other European countries and often used as a first intervention in therapeutic settings for children and adults. There seems to be a clear lack of literature, papers and understanding of the technique in the UK. The paper addresses this deficit.

scholarly journals “Saying yes to everything”: Slung Low’s mission in a time of rapid change

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-218
Author(s):  
Rachel Perry
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Research Collaboration ◽  
Rapid Change ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Interpretive Study ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose This study explores what it means to be a mission-driven arts organisation (MDAO) in the UK. Drawing on literature relating to artistic risk and rupture, mission and vision, and arts participation, the purpose of this paper is to shed light on how Slung Low, a theatre organisation with a core staff of five, creates large and complex initiatives and seeks to make a difference to its local community. Design/methodology/approach Using a case study approach, this interpretive study makes use of qualitative data to offer context-specific knowledge about how MDAOs create new initiatives including: interviews with members of the Slung Low team; attendance at company meetings; analysis of internal organisational documents, company website and artistic director’s blog; and articles about Slung Low from the local, national and theatre industry press. Data was gathered through a research collaboration with Slung Low which is supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Findings The results offer fresh insight into how MDAOs take a positive approach to rupture and rapid change. The study finds that by embracing risk and committing to an ambitious and provocative mission, small-scale arts organisations can achieve artistic, cultural and social objectives which far exceed their size. Research limitations/implications This paper offers an organisational perspective on the research questions and so participants were not interviewed on this occasion. However, the participant view will be the subject of further research with Slung Low. Originality/value This research paper provides insight into one of the UK’s most innovative theatre companies during a period of monumental change, and advances knowledge on mission-driven organisations by offering reflections on what it means to be an arts organisation which places rupture, risk and usefulness at the heart of its mission.

scholarly journals Developing business students’ employability skills through working in partnership with a local business to deliver an undergraduate mentoring programme

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Spence ◽  
Denis Hyams-Ssekasi
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Employability Skills ◽  
Content Type ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Local Business ◽  
The Uk

Purpose – Working collaboratively with local business is vitally important in the delivery of higher education (HE) in further education (FE). The purpose of this paper is to explore an effective way of engaging local employers to enhance the employability skills of students through a closely monitored and supported mentoring relationship. The project was developed in order to address the employability needs of final year business students at a HE facility offered by a college situated in the North West of England. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative data were collected through the use of reflective journals and a series of focus groups with mentors and mentees. Findings – Overall both mentors and mentees reported positive responses to the mentoring scheme. From the mentees point of view self-confidence, employability skills and networks were enhanced. Mentors reported satisfaction in contributing to the local community. Challenges were found in matching mentors with appropriate mentees. A perceived poor match negatively affected the relationship. Mentors reported that mentees lacked career direction and seemed to have limited understanding of what was expected in the mentoring process. Research limitations/implications – The scope of this study is one mentoring scheme in one institution and therefore has limited generalisability. However, there are implications for the development of further mentoring schemes in other institutions in the UK and beyond. Originality/value – This mentoring scheme was carried out in FE that offers HE courses in a northern town with above average levels of unemployment and with a diverse ethnic population. The scheme involves senior managers volunteering to support business undergraduates.

The potential of prison-based democratic therapeutic communities

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie Bennett ◽  
Richard Shuker
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Therapeutic Community ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Therapeutic Communities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Sexually Violent ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
The Uk

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the work of HMP Grendon, the only prison in the UK to operate entirely as a series of democratic therapeutic communities and to summarise the research of its effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach The paper is both descriptive, providing an overview of the work of a prison-based therapeutic community, and offers a literature review regarding evidence of effectiveness. Findings The work of HMP Grendon has a wide range of positive benefits including reduced levels of disruption in prison, reduced self-harm, improved well-being, an environment that is experienced as more humane and reduced levels of reoffending. Originality/value The work of HMP Grendon offers a well established and evidenced approach to managing men who have committed serious violent and sexually violent offences. It also promotes and embodies a progressive approach to managing prisons rooted in the welfare tradition.

Framing outcomes of post-diagnostic psychosocial interventions in dementia: the Adaptation-Coping Model and adjusting to change

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawn Brooker ◽  
Rose-Marie Dröes ◽  
Shirley Evans
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Content Type ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Coping Model ◽  
The Uk

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the Adaptation-Coping Model developed by Dröes in the Netherlands to frame the process of optimal adjustment for people diagnosed with dementia. This model is not well-known in English-speaking countries, but appears to have much to offer practitioners and researchers. As part of a large EU research project (MeetingDem) the authors translated and utilised this model in piloting the Dutch Meeting Centre Support Programme in the UK. This is a local community place-based approach to post-diagnostic psychosocial support. It is aimed at people diagnosed with dementia alongside their families and has proven benefits. Design/methodology/approach The Adaptation-Coping Model underpins the support provided by the Meeting Centre Programme. The model and its translation into the UK context are described. Focus groups were undertaken with people living with dementia (n=9) and family carers (n=6) at the UK Meeting Centre pilot. Examples from these focus groups are provided in order to illustrate different aspects of the model. Findings The translated Adaptation-Coping (adjusting to change) Model provides a way for service users (people with dementia and families) to conceptualise their journey with dementia post-diagnosis, and potentially provides service providers and researchers with aims for treatment and support. Research limitations/implications These are initial observations based on a UK pilot service. Originality/value Ways of conceptualising psychosocial support for people living with dementia often do not get translated between countries. This model has been successfully utilised within the Netherlands for many years. This paper highlights the opportunity to build on this in English-speaking countries.

scholarly journals “Honour”-based violence in a British South Asian community

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roxanne Khan ◽  
Shamam Saleem ◽  
Michelle Lowe
Keyword(s):  
South Asian ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Forced Marriage ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Health Service Provision ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore attitudes towards, and victimisation experiences of, “honour”-based violence (HBV) in a reportedly vulnerable population in the UK. Design/methodology/approach A convenience sample of 216 participants were recruited from a local community in England; the majority were young (mean age=21.93), Indian or Pakistani (85 per cent), Muslim (96 per cent), females (67 per cent). Findings Although gender differences were found for attitudes towards one aspect of HBV (namely, forced marriage), these were not significant. While HBV victimisation affected only a small proportion of this sample, when it was reported, the effects were serious and included anxiety, attempted suicides and running away from home. This highlights the need to identify and safeguard vulnerable groups without stigmatising whole communities. Originality/value These findings contribute to the scarce literature available on HBV in British communities, and highlight a need for culturally aware emergency and health service provision.

Are prison-based therapeutic communities effective? Challenges and considerations

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jade Richardson ◽  
Valentina Zini
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Therapeutic Communities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Effective Form ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Probation Service ◽  
Narrative Literature Review ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to detail the impact and efficacy of Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service ((HMPPS) Therapeutic Communities (TCs) (both democratic and hierarchical). This paper outlines recent developments in the TC literature, to provide readers with an up-to-date overview of the outcomes of prison-based TC treatment, while highlighting the strengths and challenges of this treatment approach. Trends within the research are discussed, and the authors draw attention to any gaps in the current knowledge. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a narrative literature review approach to review the most current literature around the effectiveness of prison-based TCs in HMPPS. Academic literature published predominantly from 2010 onwards is discussed because of limited literature review publications on this topic post-2010. To obtain literature, searches of relevant databases were conducted, and/or clinical leads at prison sites were contacted for relevant publications. Findings There is a body of research which demonstrates that TCs are an effective form of treatment for people with an offending history and personality difficulties. Evidence indicates that Democratic TC treatment plays a part in reducing reoffending rates, as well as improving psychological features. Further research is needed in a number of areas, specifically with female offenders and individuals who undertake treatment in hierarchical TCs in the UK. It is also suggested that TC treatment aftercare may help to further the positive outcomes identified. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no up-to-date review of the impact and efficacy of HMPPS TC treatment. This paper reflects on available research within the current context of TC treatment and provides an original overview of the current UK TC practice. It has value in recommending areas for further research and consideration.

Assessing the effectiveness of the “I Can Feel Good” programme mindfulness module for a group of detained intellectually disabled patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 299-310
Author(s):  
Rachel Craven ◽  
Lyn Shelton
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Regulation ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Behaviour Problem ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Intellectually Disabled ◽  
Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Parametric Testing ◽  
The Uk

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the Mindfulness module of the “I Can Feel Good” programme, an adapted dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) informed skills programme for a group of intellectually disabled offenders (IDOs). Design/methodology/approach The programme module was delivered to a group of five male IDOs detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (Revised 2007) at an intellectual disability (ID) rehabilitation hospital based in the UK. The mindfulness module was 12 sessions in length, and it was evaluated using the emotional problems scale (EPS) and the cognitive and affective mindfulness scale-revised (CAMS-R) self-assessment and observational scale. These measures were administered pre- and post-module and used the staff report scales as a primary source of evaluation. Findings Non-parametric testing revealed that there was a reduction in scores post module on the externalising behaviour problem scale of the EPS and increased scores on the CAMS-R observational scale, which would indicate clinical improvement in the IDO’s behavioural presentation, although it was not statistically significant. The internalising behaviour problem scale showed increased signs of anxiety post module, this could be related to increased self-awareness. The CAMS-R self-reported measure indicated reduced mindfulness qualities following the module. Originality/value The results indicate that following the mindfulness module, there was a reduced level of challenging behaviour displayed by the patients with increased signs of emotional regulation. There was also an observed reduction in symptoms of depression and low self-esteem post module.

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