Normality, subjectivity and mental health: A genealogy of Danish psychiatry, 1938–2017

2019 ◽  
pp. 136345931987410
Author(s):  
Malene Broch Clemmensen ◽  
Simo Køppe
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
The Subject

The increasing prevalence of mental disorders together with the uncertain validity of psychopathological diagnostics challenges psychiatry as the primary home of studying, diagnosing and treating mental health problems and developing mental healthcare. This marks an emerging paradigmatical shift towards ‘alternative’ mental health perspectives. With the ambition of attending authoritatively in definitory practices, contemporary scholars of psychology, sociology, anthropology and philosophy call for an interdisciplinary approach to mental health, with a predominant focus on the subject. We argue that a paradigmatical shift of mental health requires structural–historical considerations of the foundations upon which subjectivity has been and still is manifested through psychiatry. On this basis, we critically investigate fluctuating psychiatric discourses on subjectivity, normality and pathology. We conducted a genealogical analysis of 13 psychiatric sources (1938–2017) focusing on ‘Psychopathy’ as a fluctuating diagnosis. We elucidate how subject concepts in psychiatry develop in parallel to subject concepts in society and culture, exemplified through convincing similarities between psychopathic symptoms and neoliberal ideals. Considerations like these, offer scholars valuable bases for mental health research and debate, and also valuable insights to healthcare professionals.

scholarly journals Depressive Symptoms, Help-Seeking, and Barriers to Mental Healthcare Among Healthcare Professionals in Lithuania

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Daniel Rogoža ◽  
Robertas Strumila ◽  
Eglė Klivickaitė ◽  
Edgaras Diržius ◽  
Neringa Čėnaitė
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Patient Health

Background: Previous research suggests that healthcare professionals (HCPs) experience high levels of work-related psychological distress, including depressive symptoms. Due to the stigma of mental health problems and other barriers, HCPs are likely to be hesitant to seek appropriate mental healthcare. We aimed to explore these phenomena among HCPs in Lithuania.Methods: A web survey inquiring about depressive symptoms, help-seeking, and barriers to mental healthcare was conducted. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). 601 complete questionnaires were included in the analyses. The barriers to help-seeking were identified using the inductive content analysis approach. Descriptive, non-parametric, and robust statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.Results: Most of the respondents have reported depression-like symptoms over the lifetime, although only about a third of them sought professional help. Of those, roughly half preferred a private specialist. The stigma and neglect of mental health problems were the most common barriers to help-seeking. Around half of the HCPs believed that seeking mental healthcare can imperil their occupational license. About a quarter of the HCPs screened positive for clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Statistically significant differences in the PHQ-9 score were found between categories of healthcare specialty, marital status, religious beliefs, workplace, and years of work as a HCP. Fewer years of work and younger age were associated with the higher PHQ-9 score.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that HCPs in Lithuania may be inclined not to seek appropriate mental healthcare and experience poor mental health, although stronger evidence is needed to verify these findings. 

To The Question of Destigmatization of Psychiatry and Mentally III Persons In The Modern Society

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S523-S523
Author(s):  
S. Vladimirova ◽  
V. Lebedeva ◽  
E. Gutkevich ◽  
A. Semke ◽  
N. Bokhan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health Research Institute ◽  
Mentally Ill Persons

In recent decades, new medications have been developed that entailed possibility of rehabilitation and socialization of mentally ill persons.PurposeTo consider a phenomenon of destigmatization of mentally ill persons on the example of the analysis of screening-questioning in mental health service.MethodsRandomized screening-questioning of participants of Open Doors Day in the clinics of Mental Health Research Institute (Tomsk, Russia) in connection with World Mental Health Day in October, 2015.ResultsOne hundred and forty-six residents of Tomsk and inhabitants of the Tomsk Region as well as other cities visited Mental Health Research Institute. 76,5% of them visited mental health service for the first time. More than a half of visitors (51%) was the most able-bodied age group – 20-50 years old; elderly people – 20%. According to many-year observation of authors of the work, there is a gradual destigmatization of people with mental health problems. Process of destigmatization will develop further, and mass media should also be engaged in it. One more moment should be emphasized – reduction of self-stigmatization. Though people do not still aim to seek for psychiatric help at the appropriate institutions (they prefer to visit the psychiatrist of the catchment area policlinic), they after all started recognizing presence of the problem, understanding the need of its overcoming, and possibility of its correction.ConclusionThe attitude of society towards people with mental health problems and towards psychiatry reasonably changes, and this promotes further development in the field of help to patients and their relatives.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Attitudes towards mental disorders and emotional empathy in mental health and other healthcare professionals

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 101-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina Gateshill ◽  
Kate Kucharska-Pietura ◽  
John Wattis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Similar Degree ◽  
Emotional Empathy ◽  
Significant Difference

Aims and methodTo compare attitudes towards mental disorders in professionals working in mental health and professionals working in different areas of medicine. Levels of emotional empathy in both groups were also investigated. In total, 58 mental healthcare professionals and 60 non-mental healthcare professionals completed our attitudes towards mental disorders questionnaire and Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale.ResultsThe results reveal generally positive attitudes towards people with mental disorders in both groups. Non-mental healthcare professionals regarded people with a mental disorder as significantly more dangerous and unpredictable than did mental healthcare professionals. There was no statistically significant difference in emotional empathy between the two groups. Both groups cited illicit drug use as one of the most significant causes of mental disorder.Clinical implicationsMental healthcare professionals and non-mental healthcare professionals show broadly similar attitudes and a similar degree of empathy towards people with a mental disorder. However, non-mental healthcare professionals regard people with mental health problems as significantly more dangerous and unpredictable. There is scope for further research including examining the effects of educational interventions.

scholarly journals Ethical challenges in mental health research with focus in Nepal

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-11
Author(s):  
Pratik Khanal ◽  
Sajana Maharjan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Vulnerable Population ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Ethical Guidelines

People with mental health problems are considered as vulnerable population by national ethical guidelines of health research in Nepal. There are different ethical challenges in research involving people with mental health problems. Ethical challenges are related to study design, autonomy, beneficence and nonmaleficence, justice, respect for the environment and consent taking process. Respecting the human rights of those with mental health problems is necessary during research and this requires research stakeholders to be responsible.

scholarly journals Applications of artificial intelligence technologies on mental health research during COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Mahbub Hossain ◽  
E. Lisako J. McKyer ◽  
Ping Ma
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Latent Dirichlet Allocation ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Complex Data ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Vector Machines

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted mental health globally. It is essential to deploy advanced research methodologies that may use complex data to draw meaningful inferences facilitating mental health research and policymaking during this pandemic. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies offer a wide range of opportunities to leverage advancements in data sciences in analyzing health records, behavioral data, social media contents, and outcomes data on mental health. Several studies have reported the use of several AI technologies such as vector machines, neural networks, latent Dirichlet allocation, decision trees, and clustering to detect and treat depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other mental health problems. The applications of such technologies in the context of COVID-19 is still under development, which calls for further deployment of AI technologies in mental health research in this pandemic using clinical and psychosocial data through technological partnerships and collaborations. Lastly, policy-level commitment and deployment of resources to facilitate the use of robust AI technologies for assessing and addressing mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tobacco smoking and mental disorders in Australian adolescents

2021 ◽  
pp. 000486742110096
Author(s):  
David Lawrence ◽  
Sarah E Johnson ◽  
Francis Mitrou ◽  
Sharon Lawn ◽  
Michael Sawyer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Tobacco Smoking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Current Smoking ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Current Tobacco

Objectives: This study aimed to (1) examine the strength of the association between mental disorders/mental health problems, risk behaviours and tobacco smoking among Australian adolescents, (2) compare rates of tobacco smoking among Australian adolescents with major depressive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and/or conduct disorder in 2013/14 vs 1998, and (3) identify the extent to which an association between tobacco smoking and mental health problems among adolescents can be attributed to non-mental health risk factors. Methods: The study utilised data from the first (1998) and second (2013/14) child and adolescent components of the National Surveys of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Both surveys identified nationally representative samples of Australian young people aged 4–17 years, living in private dwellings. Information was collected from parents and 13- to 17-year-olds about mental disorders, mental health problems, risk behaviours and tobacco smoking. Results: In the 2013/14 survey, the rate of current tobacco smoking among those with a mental disorder was 20% compared to 5% in those without a mental disorder. Rates were highest for young people with conduct disorder (50%), major depressive disorder (24%) and anxiety disorders (19%). In 2013/14, 38% of current tobacco smokers had a mental disorder and 32% reported self-harm and/or suicidal ideation vs 10% and 5%, respectively, among adolescents who had never smoked. Females with mental disorders or reporting self-harm or suicidal ideation had higher rates of current smoking than males. Other significant factors associated with current smoking included school-related problems, binge eating and having had more than one sexual partner. Conclusion: While smoking rates in 13- to 17-year-olds with mental disorders had declined since 1998, the strength of the association between mental disorders and smoking had increased, especially among females. Our findings highlight the need to address the tobacco smoking among adolescents with mental disorders, particularly females.

Religion and Spiritual Advice as Surrogate Care Provision for Mental Health Problems in the ESEMED Survey

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
V. Kovess ◽  
R. de Graaf ◽  
J.M. Haro ◽  
R. Bruffaerts ◽  
F. Gilbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Religious Affiliation ◽  
Religious Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
Seeking Help

Objective:To complete missing information on the influence of spiritual and religious advisors as informal providers for mental health problems in Europe.Methods:Recourse to religious practice or belief when coping with mental health problems was evaluated using data from the ESEMED survey. This was a stratified, multistage, clustered-area probability sample survey of mental health carried out in six European countries which included 8796 subjects. Between countries differences in sociodemographic characteristics, religious affiliation, and prevalence of mental disorders and management of mental disorders were evaluated.Results:Religion appears to play a limited role in coping with mental health problems in Europe. Only 7.9% of individuals seeking help for such problems turned to a religious advisor. This proportion differed between countries from 13% in Italy, 12.5% in Germany, 10.5% in the Netherlands, 5.8% in France, 4.7% in Belgium to 4% in Spain. In addition, seeking help exclusively from religion was reported by only 1.3% of subjects. Practicing religion at least once a week and considering religion as important in daily life were predictors of using religion versus conventional health care only. Use of religion was not influenced by gender and age. Non-Christian respondents and individuals with alcohol disorders were more likely to use religion. In Spain, the use of religion is much lower than average.Conclusions:Unlike the situation in the United States, organised religion does not provide alternative informal mental health care in Europe. At best, it could be considered as an adjunct to conventional care.

scholarly journals Preconception prediction of expectant fathers' mental health: 20-year cohort study from adolescence

BJPsych Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Spry ◽  
Rebecca Giallo ◽  
Margarita Moreno-Betancur ◽  
Jacqui Macdonald ◽  
Denise Becker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Common Mental Disorder ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Expectant Fathers

We examined prospective associations between men's common mental disorders in the decades prior to offspring conception and subsequent paternal antenatal mental health problems. Data came from a prospective intergenerational cohort study which assessed common mental disorder nine times from age 14 to 29 years, and in the third trimester of subsequent pregnancies to age 35 years (N = 295 pregnancies to 214 men). Men with histories of adolescent and young adult common mental disorders were over four times more likely to experience antenatal mental health problems. Future research identifying modifiable perinatal factors that counteract preconception risk would provide further targets for intervention.Declaration of interestNone.

scholarly journals Natural kinds of mental disorder

Synthese ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sander Werkhoven
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Natural Kinds ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Abnormal Behaviour ◽  
Diagnostic Categories ◽  
Socially Constructed

AbstractAre mental disorders (autism, ADHD, schizophrenia) natural kinds or socially constructed categories? What is at stake if either of these views prove to be true? This paper offers a qualified defence for the view that there may be natural kinds of mental disorder, but also that the implications of this claim are generally overestimated. Especially concerns about over-inclusiveness of diagnostic categories and medicalisation of abnormal behaviour are not addressed by the debate. To arrive at these conclusions the paper opens with a discussion of kind formation in science, followed by an analysis of natural kinds. Seven principled and empirically informed objections to the possibility of natural kinds of mental disorder are considered and rejected. The paper ends with a reflection on diagnostics of mental health problems that don’t fall into natural kinds. Despite the defence of the possibility of natural kinds of mental disorder, this is likely to be the majority of cases.

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