Development of the workplace inclusion questionnaire (WIQ)

Aims: To develop a questionnaire to examine attitudes among employees and managers to include people with various health problems into their work group, and to test the questionnaire in one relevant population within the labour market. Methods: A questionnaire was developed through a process involving discussions in a scientific forum and pilot testing with group discussions. The final questionnaire, which was tested in a survey study of managers and employees in 33 Norwegian kindergartens ( N=485), contained 10 short case stories followed by questions concerning workplace inclusion. The case stories described individuals with musculoskeletal and mental disorders, as well as individuals with potentially stigmatising behavioural history and lifestyle, and control cases. Risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to compare the case stories. Cases with high risk ratios had an increased risk of not being included compared to a control case. Results: Attitudes for workplace inclusion varied between the different case stories. Cases portraying mental illness had the highest risk ratios, indicating that employees and managers are less likely to include people with mental illness than people with musculoskeletal illness. Furthermore, unspecific or chronic illness had higher risk ratios than specific and acute illness. The most important barriers also varied between case stories. Conclusions: The workplace inclusion questionnaire fulfills the need for a quantitative measure of attitudes to include individuals with various health problems into the workplace. Comparison of risk ratios showed clear differences between case stories, indicating that the workplace inclusion questionnaire is a valuable tool to measure the variance in workplace inclusion.

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Plagues, pandemics and epidemics in Irish history prior to COVID-19 (coronavirus): what can we learn?

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/ipm.2020.25 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 37 (4) ◽

pp. 269-274 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

B. D. Kelly

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Good Communication ◽

Irish History ◽

People With Mental Illness ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Broad Array ◽

Spanish Flu ◽

Current Outbreak ◽

Poor Outcomes ◽

The 19Th Century

Objectives:This paper seeks to provide a brief overview of epidemics and pandemics in Irish history and to identify any lessons that might be useful in relation to psychiatry in the context of COVID-19.Methods:A review of selected key reports, papers and publications related to epidemics and pandemics in Irish history was conducted.Results:Viruses, epidemics and pandemics are recurring features of human history. Early Irish sources record a broad array of plagues, pandemics and epidemics including bubonic plague, typhus, cholera, dysentery and smallpox, as well as an alleged epidemic of insanity in the 19th century (that never truly occurred). Like the Spanish flu pandemic (1918–20), COVID-19 (a new coronavirus) presents both the challenge of the illness itself and the problems caused by the anxiety that the virus triggers. Managing this anxiety has always been a challenge, especially with the Spanish flu. People with mental illness had particularly poor outcomes with the Spanish flu, often related to the large, unhygienic mental hospitals in which so many were housed.Conclusions:Even today, a full century after the Spanish flu pandemic, people with mental illness remain at increased risk of poor physical health, so it is imperative that multi-disciplinary care continues during the current outbreak of COVID-19, despite the manifest difficulties involved. The histories of previous epidemics and pandemics clearly demonstrate that good communication and solidarity matter, now more than ever, especially for people with mental illness.

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Diabetic retinopathy screening in persons with mental illness: a literature review

BMJ Open Ophthalmology ◽

10.1136/bmjophth-2020-000437 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. e000437 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Elinor Rhian Bradley ◽

Vijay Delaffon

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Diabetic Retinopathy ◽

Literature Review ◽

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening ◽

People With Mental Illness ◽

Preventative Health ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Additional Support ◽

Health Programmes ◽

Retinopathy Screening

People living with severe mental illness (SMI) have an increased risk of developing diabetes and are less likely to spontaneously report physical health concerns; they may therefore derive greater benefit from attending screening to prevent diabetic retinopathy.We conducted a literature review to consider the uptake of diabetic retinopathy screening (DRS) in people with mental illness.People with a diagnosis of SMI and those with self-reported mental ill-health have reduced attendance at DRS, within the context of poorer compliance with general diabetic care. Anxiety and depression were noted as barriers in attending DRS.People living with SMI require additional support to benefit from preventative health programmes such as DRS. Further research could support a better understanding of barriers to attendance, allowing effective support systems to be developed.

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The development and results of the European Mental Health Integration Index (2014)

Journal of Public Mental Health ◽

10.1108/jpmh-07-2015-0030 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 205-210

Author(s):

Peter John Huxley

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Best Practice ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Community Mental Health Services ◽

Health Problems ◽

Community Services ◽

Content Type ◽

People With Mental Illness ◽

Mental Health Integration

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on the development and results of the Mental Health Inclusion Index. Design/methodology/approach – Data gathering and interviews with key policy makers in 30 countries in Europe (the EU28 plus Switzerland and Norway). Data gathered enabled the production of an 18 indicator benchmarking index ranking the 30 countries based on their commitment to integrating people with mental illness. Findings – The main findings were: mental illness exacts a substantial human and economic toll on Europe, and there is a substantial treatment gap, especially for people with common mental health problems. Germany’s generous social provision and strong healthcare system put it number one in the Mental Health Integration Index. The UK and Scandinavian states come next. The lowest-scoring countries in the index are from Europe’s south-east, where there is a long history of neglect of mental illness and poorly developed community services. One needs to understand that the leading countries are not the only ones providing examples of best practice in integrating those with mental illness. Employment is the field of greatest concern for people with mental illness, but employment is also the area with the most inconsistent policies across Europe. A distinction can be made between countries whose policies are aspirational and those where implantation is support by substantial and most importantly sustained, resource investment. Europe as a whole is only in the early stages of the journey from institution- to community-based care. Lack of data makes greater understanding of this field difficult, and improvement can only be demonstrated by repeated surveys of this kind, based on more substantial, comprehensive and coherent information. Research limitations/implications – Usual caveats about the use of surveys. Missing data due to non-response and poverty of mental health inclusion data in many European countries. Practical implications – The author reflects on the findings and considers areas for future action. The main implications are: better services result from substantial, but most importantly, sustained investment; and that employment is most important to people with mental health problems, but is one of the most inconsistent policy areas across Europe. Social implications – Supports the need for consistent investment in community mental health services and more consistent employment policies in Europe. Originality/value – This survey is the first of its kind in Europe, and was conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit in London, and sponsored by Janssen.

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Barriers, attitudes, confidence, and knowledge of nurses regarding metabolic health screening and intervention in people with mental illness: a pilot study from Uganda

African Health Sciences ◽

10.4314/ahs.v19i3.30 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 2546-2554

Author(s):

Davy Vancampfort ◽

Andrew Watkins ◽

Philip B Ward ◽

Michel Probst ◽

Marc De Hert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Health Screening ◽

Metabolic Health ◽

African Countries ◽

People With Mental Illness ◽

Increased Risk ◽

High Workload ◽

Sub Saharan

Background: People with mental illness are at an increased risk for developing cardio-metabolic disorders. Routine screening following pharmacotherapy is however unacceptably low in sub-Saharan African countries with less than 1% adequately screened. It is unknown whether this is due to a lack of adequate competences.Objectives: The aim of this pilot study was to assess the barriers, attitudes, confidence, and knowledge of nurses regarding metabolic health, prevention and treatment in Uganda.Methods: Twenty-eight nurses (39% female, 30.9±6.9 years) completed the Metabolic – Barriers, Confidence, Attitudes and Knowledge Questionnaire and the physical activity prescription rate item of the Exercise in Mental Illness Questionnaire.Results: More than 75% had a positive attitude towards metabolic screening and intervention and more than 50% were confident in providing smoking cessation advice, and physical activity and nutritional counseling. However, 57% stated that their heavy workload prevented them from doing health screening and promotion activities. There was a negative correlation (ρ=-0.54, P=0.003) between the frequency of physical activity prescription and the perception of the inability of patients to change.Conclusion: The present findings suggest that nurses are generally supportive of metabolic health screening and intervention but their high workload prevents them from implementing metabolic health interventions.Keywords: Exercise, diet, metabolic syndrome, screening, smoking.

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COVID-19 Vaccination Rates in a Cohort Study of Patients With Mental Illness in Residential and Community Care

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.805528 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Victor Mazereel ◽

Tom Vanbrabant ◽

Franciska Desplenter ◽

Johan Detraux ◽

Livia De Picker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Care Center ◽

Psychosocial Care ◽

Vaccination Rate ◽

Vaccine Uptake ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Vaccination Rates ◽

People With Mental Illness ◽

Increased Risk

Background: Patients with mental illness are at increased risk for COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality. Vaccination against COVID-19 is important to prevent or mitigate these negative consequences. However, concerns have been raised over vaccination rates in these patients.Methods: We retrospectively examined vaccine uptake in a large sample of Belgian patients admitted to or residing in a university psychiatric hospital or community mental health care setting between 29th of March 2021 and 30th of September 2021 in the Flanders Region. All patients were offered vaccination. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with vaccine uptake.Results: 2,105 patients were included in the sample, of which 1,931 agreed to be vaccinated, corresponding with a total vaccination rate of 91.7%. Logistic regression showed an effect of the diagnosis “other disorders” (OR = 0.08, CI = 0.005–0.45), age (OR = 1.03, CI = 1.02–1.04) and residing in the psychosocial care center (OR = 0.50, CI = 0.32–0.80) on vaccination status.Conclusion: Vaccine uptake among people with mental illness is high and comparable to the general population, when implementing a targeted vaccination program.

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Assessment of pharmacy student attitudes and beliefs toward patients with mental illnesses on inpatient psychiatric units

Mental Health Clinician ◽

10.9740/mhc.2020.01.005 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Lauren A. Diefenderfer ◽

Courtney Iuppa ◽

Carrie Kriz ◽

Leigh Anne Nelson

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Student Attitudes ◽

Pharmacy Practice ◽

Psychiatric Hospitals ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Mental Illnesses ◽

Pharmacy Students ◽

Survey Study ◽

People With Mental Illness ◽

Multicenter Survey

Abstract Introduction People with mental illness continue to face stigma, despite these illnesses being common. Previous studies have demonstrated reduced stigma in pharmacy students after various exposures and education, although results have been mixed. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of an advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) in psychiatric pharmacy on students' stigma toward patients with mental illness using the Opening Minds Stigma Scale for Healthcare Providers (OMS-HC) at 2 psychiatric hospitals. Methods This was a prospective, multicenter survey study of pharmacy students on an APPE rotation at an inpatient psychiatric hospital conducted during 3 academic years. Prior to starting and upon completion of their rotation, participants completed the OMS-HC and provided demographic and rotation information. Results A total of 26 students participated in the prerotation survey, with 88.5% (n = 23) completing the postrotation survey. The primary outcome showed a significant decrease in total OMS-HC score (Z = −2.376, P = .017), indicating a decreased level of stigma at rotation completion. Analysis of the OMS-HC subscales for attitudes toward people with mental illness and attitudes toward self-disclosure of a mental illness also yielded significant decreases (Z = −2.425, P = .015; Z = −2.462, P = .014, respectively). Discussion This study showed that APPE rotations at inpatient psychiatric hospitals may help reduce stigma among pharmacy students. Pharmacy schools should consider increasing access to and encouraging completion of psychiatric pharmacy rotations to help reduce stigma prior to graduation.

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Cues for different diagnostic patterns of interpersonal violence in a psychiatric sample: an observational study

10.21203/rs.2.12758/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Dalila Talevi ◽

Alberto Collazzoni ◽

Alessandro Rossi ◽

Paolo Stratta ◽

Monica Mazza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Mood Disorder ◽

Personality Disorders ◽

Interpersonal Violence ◽

Mental Illnesses ◽

Health Concern ◽

People With Mental Illness ◽

Violent Behaviors ◽

Increased Risk

Abstract Background. Interpersonal violence has increased as a health concern especially in the psychiatry practice over the last decades; nevertheless, most patients with stable mental illness do not present an increased risk of violence and a mental disorder is not a necessary or sufficient cause of violent behaviors. People with mental illness endorse more often a number of risk factors for violence that could confound this association, such as young age and male gender. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of age, gender, and diagnosis on reported levels of interpersonal violence in a sample of people with severe mental illnesses. Methods. The sample was composed of 160 inpatients: 73 with psychosis, 53 with mood disorder and 34 with personality disorder. All patients enrolled in the study were assessed for experiences of victimization and perpetration of interpersonal violence using the Karolinska Interpersonal Violence Scale interview. Demographic variables were also collected. Results. Violence negatively correlated with age. Compared to males, females were exposed to higher degree of violence (for both victimizations in childhood and adulthood), whereas males were more involved in the perpetration of violence (only for perpetration in childhood). Among diagnoses, personality disorders are associated with higher levels of interpersonal violence. An interaction effect of gender and diagnosis was also observed for expression of violence in adulthood. Distinct patterns of interpersonal violence did emerge for the diagnostic entities with mood disorder showing a victimization pattern, personality disorders a perpetration pattern and psychoses a less defined pattern. Conclusions. The main finding is that psychoses, mood disorders and personality disorders have different patterns of violent experiences when combined with age and gender. This study offers a step towards a better understanding of the extent to which gender and age could affect violent behaviors. Moreover, study findings may increase the comprehension of the reason why some mental disorders, compared to others, are more associated with the risk of victimization or perpetration of violence. These patterns could have pathophysiological or pathoplastic meaning addressing clinical and diagnostic trajectories interacting with other intervening risk factors.

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Temperature-related deaths in people with psychosis, dementia and substance misuse

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.111.100404 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 200 (6) ◽

pp. 485-490 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Lisa A. Page ◽

Shakoor Hajat ◽

R. Sari Kovats ◽

Louise M. Howard

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Substance Misuse ◽

Primary Diagnosis ◽

Time Series Regression ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

People With Mental Illness ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Hot Weather ◽

Public Health Strategies

BackgroundClimate change is expected to have significant effects on human health, partly through an increase in extreme events such as heatwaves. People with mental illness may be at particular risk.AimsTo estimate risk conferred by high ambient temperature on patients with psychosis, dementia and substance misuse.MethodWe applied time-series regression analysis to data from a nationally representative primary care cohort study. Relative risk of death per 1° increase in temperature was calculated above a threshold.ResultsPatients with mental illness showed an overall increase in risk of death of 4.9% (95% CI 2.0–7.8) per 1° increase in temperature above the 93rd percentile of the annual temperature distribution. Younger patients and those with a primary diagnosis of substance misuse demonstrated greatest mortality risk.ConclusionsThe increased risk of death during hot weather in patients with psychosis, dementia and substance misuse has implications for public health strategies during heatwaves.

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A whole-of-population study of the prevalence and patterns of criminal offending in people with schizophrenia and other mental illness

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291712002887 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 43 (9) ◽

pp. 1869-1880 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

V. A. Morgan ◽

F. Morgan ◽

G. Valuri ◽

A. Ferrante ◽

D. Castle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Substance Use ◽

Substance Use Disorders ◽

Psychiatric Illness ◽

Diagnostic Category ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Case Register ◽

People With Mental Illness ◽

Increased Risk ◽

History Of

BackgroundLarge epidemiological studies are needed to better understand the prevalence and profile of offending by people with mental illness. This study used a whole-of-population design to examine the prevalence, type and pattern of offending across all psychiatric diagnoses, including schizophrenia, compared to the general population.MethodWe used whole-of-population longitudinal record-linked data for a cohort of all Western Australians born 1955–1969 to determine arrest history over the period 1985–1996 and to ascertain recorded history of psychiatric illness. Of the cohort, 116 656 had been arrested and 40 478 were on the psychiatric case register.ResultsThe period prevalence of arrest for people with any psychiatric illness was 32.1%. The highest arrest prevalence, by diagnostic category, was for substance use disorders (59.4%); the prevalence for schizophrenia was 38.7%. Co-morbid substance use disorders significantly increased risk of arrest in people with schizophrenia. The prevalence of mental illness among offenders was 11.1%: 6.5% of offenders had substance use disorders and 1.7% had schizophrenia. For the majority of offenders with a psychiatric illness, first arrest preceded first contact with mental health services; for schizophrenia only, this proportion was increasing over time. The mean percentage annual change in the number of arrests during 1985–1996 rose significantly for offenders with a psychiatric illness other than schizophrenia and dropped significantly for those with no mental illness. Compared to non-psychiatric offenders, offenders with schizophrenia were more likely to offend alone, to offend in open places and to target strangers.ConclusionsOur findings open the way to an informed approach to the management of offenders with mental illness.

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Predictors of help-seeking behaviour in people with mental health problems: a 3-year prospective community study

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-021-03435-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Carolin M. Doll ◽

Chantal Michel ◽

Marlene Rosen ◽

Naweed Osman ◽

Benno G. Schimmelmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Community Study ◽

People With Mental Illness ◽

Help Seeking Behaviour ◽

Anticipated Stigma

Abstract Background The majority of people with mental illness do not seek help at all or only with significant delay. To reduce help-seeking barriers for people with mental illness, it is therefore important to understand factors predicting help-seeking. Thus, we prospectively examined potential predictors of help-seeking behaviour among people with mental health problems (N = 307) over 3 years. Methods Of the participants of a 3-year follow-up of a larger community study (response rate: 66.4%), data of 307 (56.6%) persons with any mental health problems (age-at-baseline: 16–40 years) entered a structural equation model of the influence of help-seeking, stigma, help-seeking attitudes, functional impairments, age and sex at baseline on subsequent help-seeking for mental health problems. Results Functional impairment at baseline was the strongest predictor of follow-up help-seeking in the model. Help-seeking at baseline was the second-strongest predictor of subsequent help-seeking, which was less likely when help-seeking for mental health problems was assumed to be embarrassing. Personal and perceived stigma, and help-seeking intentions had no direct effect on help-seeking. Conclusions With only 22.5% of persons with mental health problems seeking any help for these, there was a clear treatment gap. Functional deficits were the strongest mediator of help-seeking, indicating that help is only sought when mental health problems have become more severe. Earlier help-seeking seemed to be mostly impeded by anticipated stigma towards help-seeking for mental health problems. Thus, factors or beliefs conveying such anticipated stigma should be studied longitudinally in more detail to be able to establish low-threshold services in future.

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