Psychopharmacology and Mental Health Practice: An Important Alliance

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 196-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Kaut
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Psychiatric Treatment ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Contextual Analysis ◽  
Mental Health Practitioners ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Mental Health Assessment ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Drug Treatments

Many mental health professionals are concerned about an increasingly "medicalized" society, driven in part by significant growth in biomedical research and biological perspectives on psychological disorders. The modern medical era, which has endorsed reductionism as the principal way of viewing many health conditions, offers many options for treating psychiatric diagnoses. Pharmacology is a major influence in psychiatric treatment decisions, and despite questions by mental health practitioners about reliance on drugs (Murray, 2009), psychopharmacology provides helpful alternatives. However, pharmacological options for mental health concerns should not be considered in isolation, and the use of drug treatments for cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disorders warrants careful contextual analysis. Mental health practitioners are encouraged to view pharmacology within a comprehensive sociohistorical framework that recognizes the value of a reductionist perspective as part of psychology's rich cognitive and behavioral contributions to contemporary mental health assessment and intervention.

Evaluation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianni Pirelli
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Mental Health Practitioners ◽  
Forensic Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Assessment ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Inpatient Settings ◽  
Forensic Mental Health Assessment

In this chapter, the authors address evaluations across settings and contexts, such as mental health screenings conducted in community, outpatient, and inpatient settings, with particular attention to the considerations necessary for evaluators, including the need to develop and maintain firearm-specific and cultural competence. They present considerations associated with seven firearm-related subcultures that medical and mental health practitioners are likely to encounter with some regularity. They also speak to the importance of researchers, academics, and students developing such competence. They outline the concept of forensic mental health assessment and demonstrate how certain firearm-specific evaluations are a type of this. They provide considerations related to evaluating civilians applying for firearm permits and those seeking reinstatement of gun rights in forfeiture matters. They review the various models of risk assessment and a firearm-specific framework for conducting these evaluations: the Pirelli Firearm-10. Considerations for law enforcement and related professions are also presented.

Mental Health Professionals' Evaluations of the Integral Intake, A Metatheory-Based, Idiographic Intake Instrument

2008 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andre Marquis ◽  
Janice Holden
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Integral Theory ◽  
Mental Health Counseling ◽  
Mental Health Practitioners ◽  
Health Counseling ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Health Experts ◽  
Better Than

This study assessed mental health experts' comparative evaluations of the two existing published idiographic intake instruments, the Adlerian-based Life-Style Introductory Interview (LI) and the Multimodal Life History Inventory (MI), along with Marquis' (2002; in press) newly developed Integral Intake (II), grounded in Ken Wilber's (1999d) integral theory. Fifty-eight counseling/psychotherapy educators and experienced mental health practitioners perused the three instruments and then used the author-developed Evaluation Form to respond to open-ended questions, as well as to rate and rank them on 11 dimensions: the instrument's overall helpfulness, comprehensiveness, and efficiency, and 8 fundamental dimensions of clients (thoughts, emotions, behaviors, physical aspects, culture, environmental systems, spirituality, and what is most meaningful to them). Respondents evaluated the LI consistently worst, and the II better than the MI on all three instrument dimensions and four of the eight client dimensions. We discuss the II's potential to become a standard in the field of mental health counseling.

Forward psychiatry – early intervention for mental health problems among UK armed forces in Afghanistan

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 66-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Jones ◽  
N.T. Fear ◽  
S. Wessely ◽  
G. Thandi ◽  
N. Greenberg
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Mental Health Practitioners ◽  
Operational Environment ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Aeromedical Evacuation ◽  
Health Practitioners

AbstractBackgroundThis observational study examined return to duty (RTD) rates following receipt of early mental health interventions delivered by deployed mental health practitioners.MethodIn-depth clinical interviews were conducted among 975 UK military personnel referred for mental health assessment whilst deployed in Afghanistan. Socio-demographic, military, operational, clinical and therapy outcomes were recorded in an electronic health record database. Rates and predictors of EVAC were the main outcomes examined using adjusted binary logistic regression analyses.ResultsOverall 74.8% (n = 729) of personnel RTD on completion of care. Of those that underwent evacuation home (n = 246), 69.1% (n = 170) returned by aeromedical evacuation; the remainder returned home using routine air transport. Predictors of evacuation included; inability to adjust to the operational environment, family psychiatric history, previously experiencing trauma and thinking about or carrying out acts of deliberate self-harm.ConclusionDeployed mental health practitioners helped to facilitate RTD for three quarters of mental health casualties who consulted with them during deployment; psychological rather than combat-related factors predicted evacuation home.

The social representation of mental ill-health in communities of mental health practitioners in the UK and France

1998 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 663-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Morant
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Social Representation ◽  
Mental Health Practitioners ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Expert Status ◽  
Professional Practitioners ◽  
The Uk

As society's practical experts on mental ill-health, mental health professionals work at the interface between politics, “expert” theories of mental illness and their lay equivalents in common sense. This paper describes research conducted from the perspective of social representations theory exploring the basic understanding of mental ill-health amongst communities of mental health practitioners in the UK and France. Professionals construct notions of mental ill-health articulated around three central themes of difference, distress and disruption, and adopt social rather than medical models of their work. Despite their expert status, professionals' representations are fraught with uncertainties that are lived out in eclectic treatment strategies. This research highlights the role of interactions between politics, professional practitioners and lay representations in contemporary societal constructions of mental ill-health.

Assessment of Egg and Sperm Donors

2017 ◽  
pp. 660-666
Author(s):  
Adam J. Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Mental Health Practitioners ◽  
Egg Donation ◽  
Sperm Donors ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Niche Area

The assessment of egg and sperm donors is an important area of niche practice for mental health professionals. With the appropriate training, mental health practitioners can offer these much-needed services to prospective parents who are using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to deal with infertility. Due to the invasiveness of these procedures, as well as their physical and emotional ramifications, many clinics and hospitals require a psychological evaluation of any individual who provides egg donation or becomes a gestational carrier or surrogate. This chapter describes the details of this niche area of practice and how the author developed an interest in it. The author covers its joys and challenges, the business aspects of this area of practice, guidance on developing this niche area of practice, and resources to assist in this process.

If You Build It, They Will Never Come

2019 ◽  
pp. 42-46
Author(s):  
Jeffrey E. Barnett ◽  
Jeffrey Zimmerman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Mental Health Clinicians ◽  
Treatment Needs ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
Mental Health Assessment ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Mental Health Practices

Some individuals may fear that the days of successful private mental health practices are over. This myth could not be further from the truth. This chapter highlights important data on the need for competent mental health professionals and the dearth of qualified mental health clinicians in many communities. Specific mental health services where there is a great need, where there often is not much competition for qualified clinicians, and where managed care is not involved are described. How to assess the mental health assessment and treatment needs of one’s local community and how to fit the services one offers into meeting these needs is explained. Specific strategies are offered for developing a viable and financially successful private mental health practice that is responsive to community needs and sustainable over time.

Training in cognitive-behavioural therapy for mental health professionals: a pilot study of videoconferencing

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 300-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare S Rees ◽  
Donelle Gillam
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Mental Health Practitioners ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Knowledge Test ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Health Practitioners

A foundation course in cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) was developed specifically for delivery via videoconferencing at 256 kbit/s. A two-part, 20-week programme was evaluated at seven sites, with a total of 12 participants, in rural and remote Western Australia. Eleven of the participants completed a pre- and post-training knowledge test. There was a significant improvement in their knowledge of CBT after training. Ten participants also completed a satisfaction questionnaire. The majority were satisfied with the training they received and stated that the training had given them greater confidence in their ability to use CBT with their patients. This study lends support to the use of videoconferencing in the training of rural and remote mental health practitioners.

Fitness and Competency Issues in Canadian Criminal Courts: Elucidating the Standards for Mental Health Professionals

1994 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 198-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen E. Whittemore ◽  
James R.P. Ogloff
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Legal Issue ◽  
Mental Health Practitioners ◽  
Criminal Courts ◽  
Criminal Proceedings ◽  
Legal Proceedings ◽  
Health Practitioners

The issue of competency arises at various stages of criminal proceedings in an effort to protect those individuals who are unable to participate in the legal process. The competency question is a legal issue ultimately decided by a judge. However, mental health professionals are often called upon to provide insight into an individual's level of competence. To date, the standards by which an individual is found competent have remained far from clear. This creates a problem for clinicians who are requested to make competency evaluations. This article addresses the competency issues as they arise at various stages of legal proceedings in order to determine the standards that are applied by the courts. Furthermore, given the importance placed on mental health evaluations of competency, the role of mental health practitioners will be addressed as it pertains to the competency question at each juncture in the criminal justice system.

A comparison of mental health assessment of mentally ill offenders by mental health professionals

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 790-790
Author(s):  
H. Najim ◽  
J. Childs
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Mentally Ill Offenders ◽  
The West ◽  
Standard Format ◽  
Mental Health Assessment ◽  
The United Kingdom

BackgroundCriminal justice mental health teams were established in The United kingdom in the late nineties of the last century following the publication of the Reed Report 1991.Two teams were established in South Essex following the geographical locality of each team. Basildon and Thurrock and Southend.MethodsAn evaluation form was devised to record all essential areas of assessment.Twenty five assessment of each team were picked and evaluated randomly over a period of a three months. A comparison was done between the assessment of the two teams.ResultsReferring agency one from the west didn’t mention itThree of the west didn’t have the index offence;One of the east and two of the west didn’t have past forensic history.Three of the west and one of the east didn’t have risk assessment.One of the west didn’t have summary of concernsThree of both didn’t mention whether other professionals involved or not.DiscussionComparison between different teams is important to make sure that there is a standard format for assessment and whether it is used in all assessments.It has been shown that assessments are very good in general in both teams. There are some areas which need to be addressed and managed.12% of patients on the west didn’t have risk assessment which is very risky.ConclusionThis comparison has highlighted areas we need to take care off especially risk assessment and liaising with other agencies in managing theses very special group of patients.

Firearms and cultural competence: considerations for mental health professionals

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianni Pirelli ◽  
Philip Witt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cultural Competence ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Practitioners ◽  
Conceptual Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Forensic Practice ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Health Practitioners

Purpose Although cultural competence is gaining increased attention among mental health practitioners, such primarily has centered on race, religion, ethnicity, language, and nationality. Thus far, there has been relatively little recognition of specific socialized subcultures aside from the aforementioned groups, and virtually no discussion regarding those associated with various firearm-related subcultures. This topic is particularly relevant to mental health practitioners, as positions on firearm use and ownership frequently split across political party lines, and mental health professionals and academics are more likely to espouse liberal rather than conservative views. It follows that practitioners may understand little about firearms culture and, therefore, are at increased risk for biased decision making when working with clients for whom firearms have relevance. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This paper takes a conceptual approach to reviewing potential areas of bias in both clinical and clinical-forensic practice in the US context. Findings The authors detail the prevalence of firearm-related issues in the USA, contextualize firearm-related issues in forensic treatment and evaluation scenarios, delineate a number of firearm subgroups, and recommend considerations for mental health professionals to develop cultural competence as it relates to firearms and associated subcultures. Originality/value This is an original conceptual study of cultural competence and various firearm-related subcultures.

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