Mutual Biases Underlying the Problematic Relationship between Older Adults and Mental Health Providers: Any Solution in Sight?

2002 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana Laganà ◽  
Sheri Shanks
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Mental Health Provider ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers

As the size and diversity of the older population increases, mental health providers will be called upon to deliver high-quality services to the elderly. However, many of these professionals hold negative attitudes toward the elderly; psychotherapy conducted with older adults by clinicians with such biases could represent a waste of time and energy, as well as money, for these clients. This article reviews studies conducted within the past three decades on the biases held by mental health professionals (primarily psychiatrists and psychologists) toward older patients and vice versa. It also discusses possible solutions to the conflicts within the elderly-mental health provider relationship, based on the contributions made by professionals from various health care disciplines on this topic. Moreover, this article takes into account various ethnicity-related issues that are often at play in the relationship in question, and provides research and clinical recommendations for the enhancement of the quality of this relationship. It is time to find successful and interdisciplinary ways to improve how older adults and mental health professionals deal with one another. These efforts should creatively enhance the quality of the mental health services offered to older patients, in addition to dispelling age-related myths and corresponding obstacles to the utilization of these needed services by older adults.

scholarly journals Putting meaning into medicine: why context matters in psychiatry

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 292-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Carpenter-Song
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Illness Experiences ◽  
Care Demands

Mainstream psychiatry emphasises controlling symptoms by taking medications. This approach ignores the role of context in shaping illness experiences and how people engage with mental health professionals. The focus on symptom control and medication management also narrows the function of the psychiatrist. This editorial argues that knowledge of patients’ lives is important for providing empathic care that is oriented to the outcomes that matter to patients. In addition, care that attends to the person-in-context motivates and sustains mental health providers by putting meaning back into medicine. Truly patient-centred care demands pushing back against the reductionism of contemporary psychiatry to thoughtfully engage with the complexities of patients’ lives.

An Investigation of Self-Assessment Bias in Mental Health Providers

2012 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 639-644 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Walfish ◽  
Brian McAlister ◽  
Paul O'Donnell ◽  
Michael J. Lambert
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Clinical Skills ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Positive Assessment ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Assessment Bias

Previous research has consistently found self-assessment bias (an overly positive assessment of personal performance) to be present in a wide variety of work situations. The present investigation extended this area of research with a multi-disciplinary sample of mental health professionals. Respondents were asked to: (a) compare their own overall clinical skills and performance to others in their profession, and (b) indicate the percentage of their clients who improved, remained the same, or deteriorated as a result of treatment with them. Results indicated that 25% of mental health professionals viewed their skill to be at the 90th percentile when compared to their peers, and none viewed themselves as below average. Further, when compared to the published literature, clinicians tended to overestimate their rates of client improvement and underestimate their rates of client deterioration. The implications of this self-assessment bias for improvement of psychotherapy outcomes are discussed.

The Use of the Media in Marketing a Private Practice

2017 ◽  
pp. 338-345
Author(s):  
Nancy A. McGarrah
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Private Practice ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Media ◽  
Media Work

This chapter describes the ways mental health professionals in private practice can use the media for marketing their practice as well as for educating the public. The processes for engaging in media work are addressed and the concept of being an “expert” in this field is explained. Ethics issues are emphasized, such as what mental health professionals can and cannot say in interviews. Specific guidance for providing effective interviews and ideas for receiving applicable training are given. Media-trained mental health providers can assist with interview preparation and answer questions about ethics and media work.

Malpractice

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Piel ◽  
Phillip J. Resnick
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Clinicians ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Intentional Actions ◽  
Malpractice Claims ◽  
Legal Concepts

A lawsuit for professional malpractice is an occupational hazard feared by many psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors in the mental health field. Most actions against mental health clinicians are based on the concept of negligence. Medical negligence occurs when health care professionals fail to adhere to the standard of professional care, resulting in harm to a patient. Mental health professionals may also face legal action for certain intentional actions that cause injury to a patient. This chapter reviews the core legal concepts underlying malpractice claims against mental health clinicians. Presented here are the topics that are most likely to be the basis of liability suits against mental health providers. The chapter concludes with some strategies that mental health professionals can use to reduce the risk of malpractice liability.

Beliefs and Practices of Christian Psychotherapists regarding Non-Sexual Multiple Relationships

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 330-344
Author(s):  
Randolph K. Sanders ◽  
John Eric Swenson ◽  
Gregory R. Schneller
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Ethical Dilemma ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Multiple Relationships ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Beliefs And Practices ◽  
Faith Based

A group of 362 Christian mental health professionals were surveyed regarding their beliefs about and their practices concerning non-sexual multiple relationships (NSMR's). On each of 28 items, respondents were asked to indicate the degree to which they engaged in the multiple relationship behavior and the degree to which they believed each behavior to be ethical. In addition to multiple relationship situations faced by most mental health providers, a number of the items dealt specifically with multiple relationships that arise in faith-based environments or with religious clients. Among other things, results indicated that Christian therapists who worked in church-based settings were more likely to engage in NSMR's than were therapists in other settings. Moreover, respondents indicated that non-sexual multiple relationships were the most frequent ethical dilemma they faced in practice. Implications of the findings for the training of Christian therapists and for therapists who work in faith-based settings are discussed.

Addressing COVID-19 Worry and Social Isolation in Home-Based Primary Care

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Elizabeth Weiskittle ◽  
Michelle Mlinac ◽  
LICSW Nicole Downing
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Home Based Primary Care ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Socially Isolated

Social distancing measures following the outbreak of COVID-19 have led to a rapid shift to virtual and telephone care. Social workers and mental health providers in VA home-based primary care (HBPC) teams face challenges providing psychosocial support to their homebound, medically complex, socially isolated patient population who are high risk for poor health outcomes related to COVID-19. We developed and disseminated an 8-week telephone or virtual group intervention for front-line HBPC social workers and mental health providers to use with socially isolated, medically complex older adults. The intervention draws on skills from evidence-based psychotherapies for older adults including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Problem-Solving Therapy. The manual was disseminated to VA HBPC clinicians and geriatrics providers across the United States in March 2020 for expeditious implementation. Eighteen HBPC teams and three VA Primary Care teams reported immediate delivery of a local virtual or telephone group using the manual. In this paper we describe the manual’s development and clinical recommendations for its application across geriatric care settings. Future evaluation will identify ways to meet longer-term social isolation and evolving mental health needs for this patient population as the pandemic continues.

scholarly journals The Emergency Assessment and Management of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-99
Author(s):  
Sindhu A. Idicula ◽  
Amy Vyas ◽  
Nicole Garber
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Outpatient Clinics ◽  
Psychiatric Diagnoses ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Levels Of Care ◽  
Self Injury ◽  
History Of ◽  
Inpatient Units

Background and Goals: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a common presenting issue mental health providers experience in all levels of care from outpatient clinics to inpatient units. It is common among adolescents seen in emergency settings, either as a presenting problem or as a covert condition that may not be detected unless specifically assessed for. The presence of NSSI increases the risk of suicide. This article aims to help the clinician develop a better understanding of NSSI – what it may entail, the prevalence, and the motivations for why young people engage in it. Methods: We review the reasons adolescents injure themselves, the link between NSSI and psychiatric diagnoses and suicide, the assessment of NSSI, and treatment planning, with emphasis on ways to screen for NSSI and interventions that can be implemented in the Emergency Department. We illustrate the complexity of NSSI with the case of a young patient with a complex psychiatric history and an extensive history of self-injury. Results and Discussion: Despite the seeming intractability of NSSI, a number of evidencebased treatments exist. Treatment primarily involves specialized forms of psychotherapy, but interventions can be implemented in the ED that will reduce the immediate risk of NSSI while more definitive intervention is awaited. Conclusion: Mental health consultations in the ED should always include screening for NSSI. Mental health professionals in the ED can play an important role in the detection and treatment of this condition..

Quality of service and commitment to tobacco dependence treatment for individuals living with mental disorders in France: A pilot study

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110429
Author(s):  
João M Castaldelli-Maia ◽  
Priscila D Gonçalves ◽  
Danielle R Lima ◽  
Helena F Moura ◽  
Gisèle Apter
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Quality Of Service ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Tobacco Dependence ◽  
Treatment Quality ◽  
Tobacco Treatment

Background: There are remarkably high smoking rates in patients living with mental disorders (PLWMD), and the absence of a specific treatment policy for smoking cessation for these patients worldwide. The present study aimed to (i) investigate the quality of service and commitment to tobacco dependence treatment, and (ii) produce high-quality French versions of the Index of Tobacco Treatment Quality (ITTQ) and Tobacco Treatment Commitment Scale (TTCS). Methods: ITTQ and TTCS were used to assess French mental health professionals ( n = 80). Both scales were translated from their original language following standard procedures (i.e. forward translation). Descriptive analysis for total score, each factor and item were calculated for the entire sample, followed by subgroup analysis by gender, and role of the practitioner. Results: Nurses presented higher levels of both treatment commitment and treatment quality in their mental health care units, compared to psychiatrists, and residents. Overall, counseling offering was low and there was a perception that it is unfair to take tobacco away from PLWMD. In the other hand, there were high levels of smoking assessment and perceptions that nicotine dependence should be included in drug treatment programs. Conclusions: There is a gap in tobacco treatment implementation for French PLWMD. The present pilot study alerts about the problem, and should stimulate larger studies validating such measures for wide use with French-speaking mental health professionals. French nurses presented higher levels of both treatment commitment and quality, and could be in a leadership position for such implementation. Encouraging the implementation of tobacco counseling within conventional mental health treatment is critical to improve cessation rates among this population. There is a potential for the sustainability of tobacco treatment interventions since the levels of commitment observed here were higher than in previous studies conducted abroad.

Psychological Assessment and Treatment of Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Psychological Assessment ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Skill Assessment ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Comprehensive Text

Mental health practitioners are encountering an ever-growing number of older adults and so an up-to-date and comprehensive text addressing the special considerations that arise in the psychological assessment and treatment of this population is vital. This accessible handbook does just that by introducing the key topics that psychologists and other health professionals face when working with older adults. Each area is introduced and then the special considerations for older adults are explored, including specific ethical and healthcare system issues. The use of case examples brings the topics further to life. An important feature of the book is the interweaving of diversity issues (culture, race, sexuality, etc.) within the text to lend an inclusive, contemporary insight into these important practice components. The Pikes Peak Geropsychology Knowledge and Skill Assessment Tool is included in an appendix so readers can test their knowledge, which will be helpful for those aiming for board certification in geropsychology (ABGERO). This an ideal text for mental health professionals transitioning to work with older clients, for those wanting to improve their knowledge for their regular practice, and for trainees or young clinicians just starting out.

Psychosocial concerns in a context of prolonged political oppression: Gaza mental health providers’ perceptions

2022 ◽  
pp. 136346152110629
Author(s):  
Marwan Diab ◽  
Guido Veronese ◽  
Yasser Abu Jamei ◽  
Rawia Hamam ◽  
Sally Saleh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Clinical Work ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Psychological Burden ◽  
Psychosocial Conditions

In this qualitative exploratory study, we investigated the perspectives of mental health providers in Gaza, Palestine, regarding the primary concerns of their clients who are exposed to low-intensity warfare and structural violence. We conducted qualitative interviews with 30 psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, and psychiatrists providing services to communities in Gaza. Participants were asked to discuss their clients’ most commonly occurring mental health problems, diagnoses, and psychosocial conditions. Thematic analysis identified one superordinate theme (Impact of the Blockade on Mental Health and Quality of Life) and four second-order themes (Concerns about Social Problems, General Concerns about Quality of Life, Concerns about the Mental Health of the Community, and Concerns Related to Children's Mental Health). Participants indicated that the social and political dimensions of mental health and the economic, educational, and health-related consequences of the ongoing blockade of Gaza were the main determinants of psychological burden among their clients. Findings demonstrated the importance of adopting an approach to mental health that includes understanding psychological indicators in a broader framework informed by human rights and social justice. Implications for research and clinical work are discussed, including the role of investments in social capital that may provide individuals with access to resources such as social support, which may in turn promote overall mental health.

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