Restraint and the Question of Validity

2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brodie Paterson ◽  
Joy Duxbury
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Current Literature ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
Ongoing Debate ◽  
Weak Support ◽  
Psychopolitical Validity

Restraint as an intervention in the management of acute mental distress has a long history that predates the existence of psychiatry. However, it remains a source of controversy with an ongoing debate as to its role. This article critically explores what to date has seemingly been only implicit in the debate surrounding the role of restraint: how should the concept of validity be interpreted when applied to restraint as an intervention? The practice of restraint in mental health is critically examined using two post-positivist constructions of validity, the pragmatic and the psychopolitical, by means of a critical examination of the literature. The current literature provides only weak support for the pragmatic validity of restraint as an intervention and no support to date for its psychopolitical validity. Judgements regarding the validity of any intervention that is coercive must include reference to the psychopolitical dimensions of both practice and policy.

scholarly journals Jinn and mental health: looking at jinn possession in modern psychiatric practice

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (9) ◽  
pp. 290-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Dein ◽  
Abdool Samad Illaiee
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Working Relationships ◽  
Religious Professionals ◽  
Collaborative Working ◽  
The Uk

SummaryThis article focuses on jinn possession and mental illness in Islam. After discussing spirit possession generally and its classification in DSM-5, we present an overview of several studies examining the role of jinn in mental distress in Muslims in the UK. A case study which exemplifies jinn possession is presented and the clinical implications of the findings are discussed. We argue for collaborative working relationships between Islamic religious professionals and mental health professionals. Finally, we discuss potential areas for future research.

scholarly journals Sacred Medicine: Indigenous Healing and Mental Health

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Lucana ◽  
John Elfers
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Connection To Nature ◽  
The Us ◽  
Generational Trauma

This participatory action research was designed to create guidelines and strategies to improve the delivery of mental health services to immigrants from Central and South America to the US. The demand for appropriate strategies for addressing the mental health needs of this population is increasing. This study recruited 17 traditional healers and their clients in the US and Peru to share their understanding of mental health needs, the conditions for which someone might seek treatment, and those aspects of traditional cosmology and practice that could inform modern approaches. The findings identified patterns of generational trauma still evident from colonialism, the need to respect the traditional worldview of immigrants in relation to diagnosis of mental distress, connection to nature and place, and the role of community and ancestors to the process of healing and recovery. Recommendations for practitioners to be a bridge between traditional and modern approaches to mental health are offered.

Mental health recovery is social

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 110-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Holttum
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Identity ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Main Component

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to summarise two 2014 research papers that highlight the role of social interactions and the social world in recovery in the context of mental distress. Design/methodology/approach – The author summarise two papers: one is about two theories from social psychology that help us understand social identity – our sense of who we are. The other brings together and looks at the similarities and differences between ten different therapies that can be called resource-oriented – that is, they focus on people's strengths and resources rather than what is wrong with them. Findings – The paper on social identity gives a convincing case for incorporating teaching about social identity – and the social groups to which people belong – into the training of mental health professionals. The paper on resource-oriented therapies suggests that social relationships are a main component of all ten therapies examined. This second paper suggested a need for more research and theory relating to resource-oriented therapies. Social identity theory could help address this issue. Mental health services may be able to help people more by focusing on their established and desired social identities and group-belonging, and their strengths, than is usual. Originality/value – These two papers seem timely given the growing recognition of the role of social factors in the development and maintenance of mental distress. More attention to social factors in recovery could help make it more self-sustaining.

Adversity in Childhood and Mental Health in Adulthood: The Role of Social Capital

2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-113
Author(s):  
Francesca Borgonovi ◽  
M. Carmen Huerta
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Low Risk

The study examines whether social capital fosters resilience among individuals who are at a high risk of developing mental distress in adulthood. Results suggest that social capital is not associated with a reduction in the probability that high-risk individuals will experience mental distress, while one form of social capital, membership in groups and associations, appears to play a protective role among low-risk individuals. Overall, our research suggests that policies aimed at increasing social capital would not be able to reduce the gap in mental health between disadvantaged individuals and the rest of the population.

Mental health issues among indigenous communities and the role of traditional medicine

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 289-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Cianconi ◽  
Cokorda Bagus Jaya Lesmana ◽  
Antonio Ventriglio ◽  
Luigi Janiri
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cochrane Library

Introduction: Mental health in indigenous communities is a relevant issue for the World Health Organization (WHO). These communities are supposed to live in a pure, clean and intact environment. Their real condition is far different from the imaginary; they are vulnerable populations living in difficult areas, exposed to pollution, located far from the health services, exposed to several market operations conducted to extract natural resources, facing criminal groups or illegal exploitation of land resources. These factors may have an impact on mental health of indigenous population. Methods: We reviewed all papers available on PubMed, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library until December 2018. We focused on those factors affecting the changes from a traditional to a post-modern society and reviewed data available on stress-related issues, mental distress affecting indigenous/aboriginal communities and the role of Traditional Medicine (TM). We reviewed articles from different countries hosting indigenous communities. Results: The incidence of mental distress and related phenomena (e.g. collective suicide, alcoholism and violence) among indigenous populations is affected by political and socio-economic variables. The mental health of these populations is poorly studied and described even if mental illness indicators are somewhat alarming. TM still seems to have a role in supporting affected people and may reduce deficiencies due to poor access to medical insurance/coverage, psychiatry and psychotherapy. It would be helpful to combine TM and modern medicine in a healthcare model to face indigenous populations’ health needs. Conclusion: This review confirms the impact of societal changes, environmental threats and exploitation of natural resources on the mental health of indigenous populations. Global Mental Health needs to deal with the health needs of indigenous populations as well as psychiatry needs to develop new categories to describe psychopathology related to social variance as recently proposed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5).

Evidence, Science, and Ethics in Talk-Based Healing Practices

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Phillips ◽  
John Z. Sadler
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Philosophy Of Psychiatry ◽  
Evidence Based Practices ◽  
Clinical Counseling

This chapter considers the role of knowledge and evidence in comparing and contrasting the ethics of non-clinical counseling (NCC) and mainstream mental health care as practiced by psychiatry, clinical psychology, and social work. As helping traditions which mostly eschew diagnostic categorization and approach mental distress from different values, practices, and metaphysical standpoints, the three NCC traditions considered here are found to be prone to errors of omission, e.g., not knowing what one does not know. While mainstream mental health is also subject to these errors, the mainstream’s allegiance to evidence-based practices leaves it prone to neglecting the crucial role of the clinician in dialogue with the patient. The authors conclude by arguing for wider appreciation of the contributions of clinical interpretation from the philosophy of psychiatry.

Mental Health and the Role of Religious Context among Inmates in State and Federal Prisons: Results from a Multilevel Analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah Drakeford
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Multilevel Analysis ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Religious Practice ◽  
Curvilinear Relationship ◽  
Religious Activities ◽  
Religious Context ◽  
Federal Prisons ◽  
Using Data

Inmates confined to correctional institutions are exposed to stressors that induce psychological distress. One factor that may be important for inmate mental health is religion. Accordingly, scholars have examined the role of participation in religious activities on inmate mental health. Yet, the role of the religious concentration of prisons on inmate mental health remains unexamined, in spite of research showing that religious contexts impact adjustment to prison. Using data from the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities, this paper presents a multilevel analysis of mental health and religion. The results indicated a mostly positive yet slightly inconsistent relationship between individual religious practice and mental distress. Findings regarding the religious context of prisons indicated a curvilinear relationship whereby inmates in highly religious and highly nonreligious prisons were less likely to report mental distress, while inmates in facilities more evenly mixed between religious and irreligious inmates were most likely to report distress. These findings yield insight into the operation of religion within total institutions.

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