Addressing Faulty Prescribing Practices of Psychotropic Medication Among Court-Involved Children and Adolescents

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-63
Author(s):  
Nancy G. Calleja ◽  
Ann M. Dadah
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Psychotropic Medication ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Prescribing Practices ◽  
Public System ◽  
The Public ◽  
Court Involved

Recent data have illustrated the increasing use of psychotropic medication among children and the disproportionality of use among court-involved children and adolescents and have raised serious concerns among mental health professionals. As a result of advocacy efforts by practitioners and researchers promoting awareness of the issue, child welfare professionals and legislators have begun taking steps to address the issue at both the public system and state levels. This article examines the results of recent advocacy efforts to address this issue to date, explores the complexity of factors that continue to influence the problem, and offers specific strategies for counselors and other mental health professionals to employ in resolving the problem.

scholarly journals It is ethical to diagnose a public figure one has not personally examined

2018 ◽  
Vol 213 (5) ◽  
pp. 633-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Gartner ◽  
Alex Langford ◽  
Aileen O'Brien
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
British Journal ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Public Figure ◽  
Duty To Warn ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Figures ◽  
The Press

SummaryShould psychiatrists be able to speculate in the press or social media about their theories? John Gartner argues the risk to warn the public of concerns about public figures overrides the duty of confidentiality; whereas Alex Langford suggests this is beyond the ethical remit of psychiatric practice.Declaration of interestA.O'B is joint debates and analysis Editor of the British Journal of Psychiatry. J.G. is the founder of Duty To Warn, an association of mental health professionals who advocate the president's removal under the 25th Amendment on the grounds that he is psychologically unfit and dangerous.

The Public's Ability to Recognize Mental Disorders and their Beliefs about Treatment: Changes in Australia Over 8 Years

2006 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony F. Jorm ◽  
Helen Christensen ◽  
Kathleen M. Griffiths
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Psychiatric Ward ◽  
Treatment Beliefs ◽  
The Public ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Treatment Changes

Objective: A national survey of Australian adults in 1995 showed a low level of recognition of mental disorders and beliefs about treatment that were often discordant with those of professionals. The present study aimed to find out whether recognition and treatment beliefs have changed over 8 years. Method: A national survey of 2001 adults in 2003–2004 included the same questions as the 1995 survey. These interview questions were based on a vignette of a person with either depression or schizophrenia. Results: Over the 8 years, the public showed better recognition of depression and schizophrenia and gave more positive ratings to a range of interventions, including help from mental health professionals, medications, psychotherapy and psychiatric ward admission. Conclusions: The Australian public's beliefs have changed over 8 years to be more like those of mental health professionals. This change may have positive implications for helpseeking and treatment concordance.

What to do about depression? Help-seeking and treatment recommendations of the public

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Holzinger ◽  
H. Matschinger ◽  
M.C. Angermeyer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Antidepressant Medication ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
First Century ◽  
The Public ◽  
Treatment Of Depression

Aims.Several population studies on beliefs about depression carried out in western countries during the 1990s have shown that the public clearly favors psychotherapy over antidepressant medication. The present study examines whether this phenomenon still exists at the end of the first decade of the twenty-first century.Materials and Methods.In 2009, a telephone survey was conducted among the population of Vienna aged 16 years and older (n = 1205). A fully structured interview was administered which began with the presentation of a vignette depicting a case of depression fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV for a moderate depressive episode.Results.Psychotherapists were most frequently endorsed as source of professional help. Antidepressant medication still was more frequently advised against than recommended. Respondents familiar with the treatment of depression tended to be more ready to recommend to seek help from mental health professionals and to endorse various treatment options, particularly medication.Conclusion.At the end of the first decade of this century, there still exists a large gap between the public's beliefs and what mental health professionals consider appropriate for the treatment of depression. Therefore, further effort to improve the public's mental health literacy seems necessary.

Children, Psychiatrists and the Courts: Understanding the Ambivalence of the Legal Profession: Part I - General Principles

1994 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
pp. 526-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Bala
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Legal Profession ◽  
Expert Witnesses ◽  
Legal Professionals ◽  
Court Proceedings ◽  
Court Process

Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals are frequently involved as expert witnesses in court proceedings related to children and adolescents. Their testimony may be based on a therapeutic relationship, but frequently arises because of an assessment conducted specifically for the court process. This two part paper discusses some of the issues that arise when child psychiatrists are involved as expert witnesses in litigation, with specific focus on their role in child custody, sexual abuse and young offender cases. It also offers some practical advice for those who may be called as witnesses. There is controversy in the legal profession about the role of mental health professionals in the court process. While there is recognition of their expertise, there is also a concern about not wanting to have experts usurp the role of the courts. Legal professionals also question the “objectivity” of experts, and the reliability of their opinions. Frequently the opinions of psychiatrists about children and adolescents involved in litigation have inherently speculative and value based dimensions, and not “scientific”. Participation in the court process by mental health experts is nevertheless a vitally important role, providing information, analysis and recommendations about what are often very difficult societal decisions. Part two of this paper starts on page 531.

scholarly journals Viral time capsule: a global photo-elicitation study of child and adolescent mental health professionals during COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia D. Herrington ◽  
Ashley Clayton ◽  
Laelia Benoit ◽  
Cecil Prins-Aardema ◽  
Madeline DiGiovanni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
International Association ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Child And Adolescent ◽  
Child And Adolescent Psychiatry ◽  
Photo Elicitation ◽  
Snowball Sampling

Abstract Objective To examine, through photo-elicitation, the personal and professional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health professionals working with children and adolescents around the globe. Methods We invited the submission of images collected about the pandemic between May and August 2020. We encouraged participants to yoke personal reflections or voice memos to their images. Using snowball sampling, we began with two invitations, including one to the graduates of a mentorship program continuously hosted since 2004 by the International Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP). We analyzed de-identified images and anonymized transcripts through iterative coding using thematic analysis informed by rich picture analysis and aided by NVivo software. Results We collected submissions from child and adolescent mental health professionals (n = 134) working in 54 countries spread across the five continents. We identified four overarching domains with component themes that revealed both the commonality and the uniqueness of the pandemic experience around the globe: (1) Place (adjusting to emptiness and stillness; shifting timeframes; blending of spaces); (2) Person (disruption to life rhythms; emotional toll; positives of the pandemic); (3) Profession (changing practices; outreach efforts; guild pride—and guilt); and (4) Purpose (from pandemic to syndemic; from lamenting to embracing; planning toward a better tomorrow). Conclusions Photo-elicitation provided a disarming and efficient means to learn about individual, regional, and global similarities and differences regarding the professionals charged with addressing the mental health needs of children and adolescents around the globe. These findings may help inform practice changes in post-pandemic times.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document