scholarly journals Five-Year Trend in Issuing Disability Certificates from a General Hospital Psychiatric Unit in South India

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 451-455
Author(s):  
Padmavathi Nagarajan ◽  
Balaji Bharadwaj ◽  
Shivanand Kattimani
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Developmental Disorder ◽  
Disability Evaluation ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Mental Disability ◽  
Clinical Psychologist ◽  
Psychiatric Unit ◽  
The Public

Background: Mental disability is a common condition but is considered as an invisible disability. The disability certificate in psychiatry remains underexplored. Some reasons are issues of confidentiality, stigma, lack of awareness in the public, and the hesitancy in the mental health professionals. We aim to provide a brief profile of patients with mental illness issued disability certificates from a psychiatric unit over a five-year period (2013–2017). Methods: Our retrospective study is based on the data available from the copies of the issued disability certificates from a psychiatric unit that functions in a multispecialty tertiary care teaching government hospital in Southern India. Patients undergoing treatment in psychiatry apply for a disability certificate to the medical superintendent of the hospital. Each applicant undergoes a detailed workup to ascertain the diagnosis, and the mental disability is assessed using Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale (IDEAS). Those with intellectual developmental disorder (IDD) are assessed by a clinical psychologist for quantifying intelligence quotient, based on which the disability certificate is issued. Data were extracted and analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: Over five years, 258 disability certificates were issued. A total of 218 were for mental illness and 40 were for IDD. Schizophrenia was the commonest primary diagnosis. There was no gender predominance, nor the influence of gender on different domains of IDEAS except on work domain dysfunction due to mental illness. The validity period was not mentioned in 81% of the issued certificates for mental illness. Conclusions: This descriptive study found a lower number of certificates issued from the psychiatric unit. Schizophrenia remains the main psychiatric diagnosis for which a disability certificate was issued. We did not assess the utilization pattern of the issued certificates.

Children's Attitudes toward Mental Illness as Assessed by the Opinions about Mental Illness Scale

1985 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 251-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Franchot Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Elementary School Age ◽  
The Public ◽  
Children's Attitudes ◽  
Attitudes Toward Mental Illness ◽  
Opinions About Mental Illness

Research on attitudes toward mental illness held by the public, by mental health professionals and personnel, and by psychiatric patients and their families is substantial. Little attention has been given to children's attitudes toward mental illness and the mentally ill, so this exploratory-descriptive study examined the developmental trends of children's attitudes toward the mentally ill. An adaptation of the Opinions About Mental Illness Scale was given to 512 elementary school age children who were placed in Grades 2, 4, 6, and 8. It was determined that with increasing grade/age children took a less authoritarian attitude toward the mentally ill and viewed mentally ill persons as more like themselves. Children rook an increasingly parernalistic view of the mentally ill, were less likely to see mental illness as an illness like any other, perceived mental patients as less of a threat to society and needing fewer restrictions. Finally, with increasing age/grade children perceived mental illness as less likely attributable to inadequate, deprived or interpersonal experiences. Results were discussed in terms of a relatively increased “positive attitude” and the relative acceptance and rejection of the mentally ill.

scholarly journals Attitude of Non-Mental Health Professionals Towards Mental Illness in a Tertiary Care Center

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (02) ◽  
pp. 23-28
Author(s):  
Nishad P. M. A. ◽  
Dilshana N. B. ◽  
Anil Kakunje ◽  
Ravichandra K. ◽  
Kamran Chisty
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Psychiatric Illness ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Primary Objective

BACKGROUND Mental and behavioral disorders are major health problems. Stigma can prevent the care and treatment of the mentally ill. There is a gross underestimation of psychiatric comorbidities among patients by non-mental health professionals. A positive attitude of these health professionals has a crucial role in the treatment of patients suffering from psychiatric illness. The primary objective of the study is to study the attitude of various nonmental health professionals towards mental illness. METHODS It is a crosssectional descriptive study, conducted in a private medical college in Mangalore, Karnataka in India. The study had 76 participants consisting of doctors and nurses. Instruments used were a semi-structured demographic proforma and Mental illness: Clinicians Attitude Scale - Version 4 (MICA-4). MICA-4 is a 16- item scale used for assessing attitude towards mental illness. RESULTS The total number of subjects included was 76 among which doctors constituted 57 and nurses 19. As the experience and age of the participants increased, a shift to the positive attitude towards psychiatric illness was noted. Specialist doctors had a higher positive attitude compared to non-specialist medical graduates and nurses. CONCLUSIONS It is essential to have structured training in psychiatry for all health care professionals.

Attitude of Non-Mental Health Professionals Towards Mental Illness in a Tertiary Care Center

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (02) ◽  
pp. 23-28
Author(s):  
Nishad P. M. A. ◽  
Dilshana N. B. ◽  
Anil Kakunje ◽  
Ravichandra K. ◽  
Kamran Chisty
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Psychiatric Illness ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Primary Objective

BACKGROUND Mental and behavioral disorders are major health problems. Stigma can prevent the care and treatment of the mentally ill. There is a gross underestimation of psychiatric comorbidities among patients by non-mental health professionals. A positive attitude of these health professionals has a crucial role in the treatment of patients suffering from psychiatric illness. The primary objective of the study is to study the attitude of various nonmental health professionals towards mental illness. METHODS It is a crosssectional descriptive study, conducted in a private medical college in Mangalore, Karnataka in India. The study had 76 participants consisting of doctors and nurses. Instruments used were a semi-structured demographic proforma and Mental illness: Clinicians Attitude Scale - Version 4 (MICA-4). MICA-4 is a 16- item scale used for assessing attitude towards mental illness. RESULTS The total number of subjects included was 76 among which doctors constituted 57 and nurses 19. As the experience and age of the participants increased, a shift to the positive attitude towards psychiatric illness was noted. Specialist doctors had a higher positive attitude compared to non-specialist medical graduates and nurses. CONCLUSIONS It is essential to have structured training in psychiatry for all health care professionals.

scholarly journals Rethinking Schizophrenia in the Light of New Evidence: Thirty Years after the Vermont Longitudinal Study of Persons with Severe Mental Illness

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 199
Author(s):  
Alberto Fergusson ◽  
Miguel Gutierrez-Pelaez
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
The Public ◽  
Empirical Correction ◽  
The World ◽  
The Mind ◽  
New Evidence

Despite new evidence, procedures, client testimony, and movements around the world, old myths regarding schizophrenia still prevail among both the public and mental health professionals.  Thirty years have passed since the mind-blowing publication in 1987 of the Vermont Longitudinal Study of Persons with Severe Mental Illness (Harding, Brooks, Ashikaga, Straus, & Breier), which led to Harding and Zahniser’s 1994 article, Empirical Correction of Seven Myths about Schizophrenia with Implications for Treatment.  We need to systematically review what we know and what we do not know in the light of new evidence.  We need to find ways  to communicate  the knowledge derived from academic research on schizophrenia and psychosis to professionals working with this population, and to people with schizophrenia and their families. Thus can we begin to break down the rock-solid prejudices that have been rooted in humanity for centuries.

EPA guidance on how to improve the image of psychiatry and of the psychiatrist

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 423-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Bhugra ◽  
N. Sartorius ◽  
A. Fiorillo ◽  
S. Evans-Lacko ◽  
A. Ventriglio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Media

AbstractStigma against mental illness and the mentally ill is well known. However, stigma against psychiatrists and mental health professionals is known but not discussed widely. Public attitudes and also those of other professionals affect recruitment into psychiatry and mental health services. The reasons for this discriminatory attitude are many and often not dissimilar to those held against mentally ill individuals. In this Guidance paper we present some of the factors affecting the image of psychiatry and psychiatrists which is perceived by the public at large. We look at the portrayal of psychiatry, psychiatrists in the media and literature which may affect attitudes. We also explore potential causes and explanations and propose some strategies in dealing with negative attitudes. Reduction in negative attitudes will improve recruitment and retention in psychiatry. We recommend that national psychiatric societies and other stakeholders, including patients, their families and carers, have a major and significant role to play in dealing with stigma, discrimination and prejudice against psychiatry and psychiatrists.

Public Acceptance/Rejection of Insanity–-mental Illness Legal Defenses for Defendants in Criminal Homicide Cases

1992 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarence E. Tygart
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
Public Acceptance ◽  
The Public ◽  
Political Conservatism

A representative sample of public opinion was investigated concerning the processes by which the public accepts/rejects homicide defendants’ mental illness legal defenses. Lesser acceptance of a mental illness defense was associated with: (1) political conservatism; (2) traditional or orthodox religious beliefs; and (3) a “free will” rather than a “determinism” philosophical stance. Mental health professionals were accorded little influence in the public's determination of their positions on the mental illness defense. However, for those who did not have strong opinions on the mental illness defense, mental health professionals were defined generally as having significant influence on their decisions.

Unfitness to Plead in England and Wales

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudi Fortson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Learning Disability ◽  
Developmental Disorder ◽  
Criminal Offence ◽  
Legal Process ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Criminal Jurisdiction ◽  
Communication Impairment ◽  
The Law ◽  
Law Commission

This chapter examines the legal and practical issues encountered by practitioners when dealing with unfitness to plead litigation. As the Law Commission for England and Wales has pointed out, defendants charged with a criminal offence may be unfit to plead or to stand trial for a variety of reasons, including difficulties resulting from mental illness, learning disability, developmental disorder, or communication impairment. Two issues are considered: (i) how might those defendants who are unfit be accurately identified; and (ii) what steps should be taken by legal practitioners and by the courts of criminal jurisdiction to cater for the interests of vulnerable defendants, victims, and society, and to maintain the integrity of the legal process as one that is fair and just? The chapter evaluates the reform proposals of the English Law Commission and assesses how the law could be improved for all those who are involved in dealing with the unfit to plead.

Failure of a moral enterprise: Attitude of the public toward mental illness.

1970 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore R. Sarbin ◽  
James C. Mancuso
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
The Public

scholarly journals Overuse of Health Care in the Emergency Services in Chile

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3082
Author(s):  
Ximena Alvial ◽  
Alejandra Rojas ◽  
Raúl Carrasco ◽  
Claudia Durán ◽  
Christian Fernández-Campusano
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
The Public ◽  
Healthcare Network ◽  
Use Of Emergency Services ◽  
Low Coverage ◽  
Different Levels

The Public Health Service in Chile consists of different levels of complexity and coverage depending on the severity and degree of specialization of the pathology to be treated. From primary to tertiary care, tertiary care is highly complex and has low coverage. This work focuses on an analysis of the public health system with emphasis on the healthcare network and tertiary care, whose objectives are designed to respond to the needs of each patient. A review of the literature and a field study of the problem of studying the perception of internal and external users is presented. This study intends to be a contribution in the detection of opportunities for the relevant actors and the processes involved through the performance of Triage. The main causes and limitations of the excessive use of emergency services in Chile are analyzed and concrete proposals are generated aiming to benefit clinical care in emergency services. Finally, improvements related to management are proposed and the main aspects are determined to improve decision-making in hospitals, which could be a contribution to public health policies.

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