Prevention of Mental Health Difficulties for Children Aged 0–3 Years: A Review

The period of infancy and early childhood is a critical time for interventions to prevent future mental health problems. The first signs of mental health difficulties can be manifest in infancy, emphasizing the importance of understanding and identifying both protective and risk factors in pregnancy and the early postnatal period. Parents are at a higher risk of developing mental health problems during the perinatal period. An understanding of the evidence around prevention and intervention for parental anxiety and depression is vital to the process of prevention of early mental health disorders in infants and young children. Here we review the existing prevention and treatment interventions in the early years focusing on the period from conception to 3 years – the majority targeting parents in order to improve their mental health, and that of their infants. Elements of successful programs for parents include psychoeducation and practical skills training, as well as work on the co-parenting relationship, developing secure attachment, and enhancing parental reflective functioning. While both targeted and universal programs have produced strong effect sizes, universal programs have the added benefit of reaching people who may otherwise not have sought treatment. In synthesizing this information, our goal is to inform the development of integrated models for prevention and novel early intervention programs as early in life as possible.

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Improving physical health of patients with mental health problems

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(11)72939-x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (S2) ◽

pp. 1234-1234

Author(s):

F. Cheema ◽

J. Graham ◽

D. Moffat ◽

C. Gordon

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Primary Care ◽

Community Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Health Monitoring ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Community Mental Health Service ◽

Individual Parameter ◽

Mental Health Difficulties

It is well recognised that individuals with severe mental health difficulties have increased risks of significant physical health problems and that some of the treatments for mental health problems can cause physical health difficulties as side effects. It is also known that people with mental health difficulties do not present themselves regularly for physical health monitoring as suggested by national and international guidelines. We show how a secondary care community mental health service cooperated with primary care general medical services to increase the take up of physical health monitoring by patients with severe and enduring mental health problems.Staff in the community mental health team which served a rural/small urban population identified patients with severe and enduring mental health difficulties or those patients on medications linked to physical problems and contacted the primary care physicians responsible for the patients’ general care with patient details and encouraged patient attendance for physical health monitoring. Physical monitoring included blood pressure, ECG, glucose, thyroid, lipids, height and weight. Post-intervention attendance figures show an increase of 30% in patients attending physical health reviews compared with pre-intervention figures. The intervention has been now rolled out to a larger catchment area of 25000 persons.[Physical health monitoring by individual parameter]

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The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Predicts Concurrent Mental Health Difficulties in a Transdiagnostic Sample of Struggling Learners

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2020.587821 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Annie Bryant ◽

Jacalyn Guy ◽

Joni Holmes ◽

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Health Problems ◽

Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Developmental Problems ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Mental Health Difficulties ◽

Strengths And Difficulties

Children and adolescents with developmental problems are at increased risk of experiencing mental health problems. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is widely used as a screener for detecting mental health difficulties in these populations, but its use thus far has been restricted to groups of children with diagnosed disorders (e.g., ADHD). Transdiagnostic approaches, which focus on symptoms and soften or remove the boundaries between traditional categorical disorders, are increasingly adopted in research and practice. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of the SDQ to detect concurrent mental health problems in a transdiagnostic sample of children. The sample were referred by health and educational professionals for difficulties related to learning (N = 389). Some had one diagnosis, others had multiple, but many had no diagnoses. Parent-rated SDQ scores were significantly positively correlated with parent ratings of mental health difficulties on the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). Ratings on the SDQ Emotion subscale significantly predicted the likelihood of having concurrent clinical anxiety and depression scores. Ratings on the Hyperactivity subscale predicted concurrent anxiety levels. These findings suggest the SDQ could be a valuable screening tool for identifying existing mental health difficulties in children recognized as struggling, as it can be in typically developing children and those with specific diagnoses.

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STAVOVI PREMA OSOBAMA S POTEŠKOĆAMA MENTALNOG ZDRAVLJA

Annual of Social Work ◽

10.3935/ljsr.v28i1.391 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 181-203

Author(s):

Ana Petak ◽

Sanja Narić ◽

Roberta Matković

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Significant Interaction Effect ◽

College And University ◽

Mental Health Support ◽

Mental Health Difficulties ◽

Support Seeking ◽

Health Support ◽

Attitudes Toward Mental Illness

ATTITUDES TOWARD PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH DIFFICULTIES The implementation of modern approaches that seek to deinstitutionalize traditional psychiatric services is hampered by unfavorable attitudes of the community towards people with mental disabilities. Stigma is one of the most important factors that delay seeking help and negatively affects the quality of life of people with mental health problems. The research was conducted to describe attitudes towards people with mental health problems and determine their relationship with socio-demographic variables, information, and personal experience with mental health problems. There were 108 participants aged 21 to 59 (71% female, 64.5% college and university degrees). The Community Attitudes toward Mental Illness scale (CAMI) (Taylor & Dear, 1981) and a survey questionnaire were used online. Participants have generally benevolent attitudes toward all dimensions of the scale. Higher self-assessment of knowledge about mental health problems leads to more favorable attitudes towards authoritarianism, and younger age to less social restraint. Participants with a high school diploma have more negative attitudes towards the dimensions of authoritarianism and benevolence than participants with a university degree. There are no significant differences in attitudes regarding the experience of seeking mental health support, but on the authoritarian dimension, there is a significant interaction effect of being informed and mental health support seeking. The results indicate the importance of further research into the relationship between attitudes and mental health support seeking and the level of being informed on mental health issues. Key words: mental health; mental health difficulties; attitudes; stigmatization

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A-103 Normative Reference Values and Item-Level Symptom Endorsement for the PROMIS® v2.0 Cognitive Function-8-Item Short Form in Adults with Mental Health Problems

Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology ◽

10.1093/arclin/acaa068.103 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 896-896

Author(s):

Marsh J ◽

Iverson G ◽

Connors E ◽

Terry D

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Short Form ◽

Health Problems ◽

Full Sample ◽

Anxiety Group ◽

Depression Group ◽

Health Group ◽

Mental Health Difficulties

Abstract Objective The purpose of the study is to present normative data and reliability statistics for the PROMIS® v2.0 Cognitive Function-8-Item Short Form for the total normative sample and subgroups with mental health problems. Method The PROMIS® v2.0 Cognitive Function 8-Item Short Form measures subjective cognitive difficulties (raw score range = 8–40). We stratified the normative sample from the US general population (n = 1,009; 51.1% women) by gender, self-reported history of a depression or anxiety diagnosis, and recent mental health symptoms (i.e., endorsed frequent anxiety or depression symptoms in the last week) and examined cognitive symptom reporting. Results Those with past or present mental health difficulties obtained lower raw scores on the measure, reflecting greater cognitive symptom reporting. This was apparent in men (all men, M = 31.06, SD = 7.68; depression group, M = 26.74, SD = 8.09; anxiety group, M = 26.95, SD = 7.54; mental health group M = 24.73, SD = 7.79) and women (all women M = 33.23, SD = 7.32; depression group, M = 29.78, SD = 8.57; anxiety group, M = 30.19, SD = 7.81; mental health group, M = 28.60, SD = 8.61). The base rates for endorsing three or more cognitive symptoms was greater in those with mental health problems (men: full sample = 19.7%; depression group = 37.1%; anxiety group = 32.8%; mental health group = 45.7%; women: full sample = 10.1%; depression group = 22.8%; anxiety group = 19.4%; mental health group = 24.8%). Internal consistency, as measured by Cronbach’s alpha, ranged from 0.92 to 0.95. Conclusions The PROMIS® v2.0 Cognitive Function-8-Item Short Form is a reliable measure of subjective cognitive functioning across genders and mental health status. Those with past or present mental health difficulties report a greater number of cognitive symptoms. It may be important to address these difficulties in clinical practice.

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Women and migration

Oxford Textbook of Migrant Psychiatry ◽

10.1093/med/9780198833741.003.0048 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 403-412

Author(s):

Vandita Shanbhag ◽

Madhura Bojappa ◽

Prabha S. Chandra

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Elderly Women ◽

Economic Status ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Health Problems ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

And Migration

Migration affects women and men differently. A discrepancy between gender roles and expectations influence the challenges and coping in immigrants. In this chapter, the importance of understanding migration in a gender-sensitive manner is discussed. Women are likely to have higher rates of psychiatric disorders due to risk factors such as unfavourable socio-economic status, stigma, role burden, and adversities faced during migration. The chapter highlights the protective and risk factors for developing mental health problems in women migrants. Mental health problems in various migrants, such as international, internal, asylum seekers, and vulnerable groups of women such as women in the perinatal period, adolescents and young girls, and elderly women, are discussed. The need to initiate preventive measures before the process of migration and in addition to early detection and intervention for mental health problems by sensitive healthcare providers is emphasized.

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Prevalence of mental health problems in schools: poverty and other risk factors among 28 000 adolescents in England

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.2019.19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 215 (3) ◽

pp. 565-567 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Jessica Deighton ◽

Suzet Tanya Lereya ◽

Polly Casey ◽

Praveetha Patalay ◽

Neil Humphrey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Young People ◽

Conduct Problems ◽

Large Scale ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Community Based ◽

School Based ◽

Mental Health Difficulties

SummaryCurrent mental health provision for children is based on estimates of one in ten children experiencing mental health problems. This study analyses a large-scale community-based dataset of 28 160 adolescents to explore school-based prevalence of mental health problems and characteristics that predict increased odds of experiencing them. Findings indicate the scale of mental health problems in England is much higher than previous estimates, with two in five young people scoring above thresholds for emotional problems, conduct problems or hyperactivity. Gender, deprivation, child in need status, ethnicity and age were all associated with increased odds of experiencing mental health difficulties.Declarations of interestNone.

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Usual care for mental health problems in children with epilepsy: A cohort study

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.15492.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 1907 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alice Welch ◽

Roz Shafran ◽

Isobel Heyman ◽

Anna Coughtrey ◽

Sophie Bennett

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Young People ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Routine Practice ◽

Children And Young People ◽

Mental Health Support ◽

Mental Health Difficulties ◽

Health Support

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic paediatric conditions. Children and young people with epilepsy are at a significantly higher risk of developing mental health problems relative to the general population, yet the majority of these problems are unrecognised and under-treated in clinical practice. Although there is little epilepsy-specific guidance as to what interventions to use, researchers suggest there is no reason why clinicians should not be using the evidence base. Given the poor prognosis of untreated mental health difficulties, this cohort study sought to identify what psychological treatment young people with epilepsy with mental health needs receive in routine practice. Methods: Participants were children and young people aged 3 to 18 attending paediatric neurology clinics. The parents of those children who met threshold for impairing symptoms on the Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire were asked to complete the Development and Well-being Assessment (DAWBA), an online clinical assessment designed to generate psychiatric diagnoses. Participants who met clinical threshold for a disorder according to the DAWBA were provided with a bespoke measure asking questions regarding their experience with treatment for mental health support. Results: 16 of the 46 parents who completed the DAWBA reported that they had experienced previous or current support for their child’s mental health difficulties. The mental health support offered to families was highly variable, inadequate and often not clearly compliant with existing UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for mental health treatment in children and young people. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates the inconsistency and inadequacy of mental health provision for children and young people with epilepsy. Future work should explore reasons for the treatments offered failing to adhere to existing guidance for mental health difficulties in children, as well as possible solutions to this.

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A proposed psychological model for understanding and supporting individuals living with tokophobia

British Journal of Midwifery ◽

10.12968/bjom.2021.29.11.609 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 29 (11) ◽

pp. 609-613

Author(s):

Sarah-Jane Archibald

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Postnatal Period ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Psychological Model ◽

Mental Health Difficulties ◽

Trauma Model ◽

Pregnancy And Birth

Tokophobia is an overwhelming fear of pregnancy and birth that can lead to severe mental health difficulties in the perinatal period. The condition can be experienced by men as well as women and has implications for physical and mental health wellbeing in pregnancy and the postnatal period. Individuals with tokophobia are likely to have experienced previous traumatic events, which can trigger the condition and are also vulnerable to experiencing traumatic stress. This article proposes an adapted psychologically informed trauma model to help health professionals to understand and support pregnant women (and men) living with this condition. The aim of this is to raise awareness of the condition, as well as offer a guide for professionals to support and validate those living with this condition, as well as help them to feel safe and secure with the professional supporting them. It is hoped that this will lead those with tokophobia to experience a sense of safety, calmness, self-efficacy, connectedness and hope in working with professionals supporting them. This may, in turn, lead to them feeling more empowered and connected to becoming a parent and in planning their birth journey for those that are pregnant and living with this condition.

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A meta-analysis examining the association between maternal perfectionism and perinatal depression and anxiety

10.31234/osf.io/2x8jr ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Clare Evans ◽

Jana Kreppner ◽

Peter J Lawrence

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Perinatal Depression ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Perinatal Mental Health ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Prior Review ◽

Mental Health Difficulties

Background: Perfectionism is an important feature of adult psychopathology. In the absence of a prior review of the role of perfectionism in perinatal psychopathology, we aimed to ascertain whether perfectionism was associated with symptoms of maternal perinatal depression and anxiety. Method: We followed PRISMA guidance (PROSPERO: 42019143369 ), estimated weighted effect sizes and tested possible moderators: timing (pre or post- natal), scales used to measure constructs, infant gender, temperament and age; and rated study quality. Results: 14 studies met eligibility criteria. Perfectionism as a whole, and the perfectionistic concerns dimension, were moderately correlated with common maternal perinatal mental health difficulties r= 0.32 (95% Confidence Interval = 0.23 to 0.41). In sub-group analyses, perfectionistic concerns were associated with depression (r=.35, 95% CI = 0.26 – 0.43). We found no evidence of significant moderation of associations. Limitations: Included studies had methodological and conceptual limitations. Studies inconsistently examined both perfectionistic concerns and strivings, nor anxiety as well as depression. Conclusions: Perfectionism, especially perfectionistic concerns, appears to be an important feature of common maternal perinatal mental health problems. While further research is warranted, screening and identification of perfectionism in the perinatal period may help focus resources for intervention, reducing the prevalence of perinatal mental health difficulties.

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Maternal mental health

Oxford Textbook of Global Health of Women, Newborns, Children, and Adolescents ◽

10.1093/med/9780198794684.003.0025 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 122-125

Author(s):

Robert Stewart ◽

Selena Gleadow Ware

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Workers ◽

Maternal Mental Health ◽

Psychosocial Interventions ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Health Problems ◽

Middle Income ◽

Mother And Child ◽

Gender Based

This chapter describes the high burden of mental health problems affecting women in the perinatal period, their impact on both the mother and child, and approaches to prevention and management, with a particular focus on low and middle-income countries. It outlines the main clinical conditions, including postpartum psychosis and perinatal depression. It summarises key biological and psychosocial aetiological factors, including the link with gender-based inequality. It explains that suicide is a leading cause of indirect maternal death and presents the evidence that perinatal mental health problems can impact on foetal and infant growth and development. It argues the importance of taking a broad bio-psycho-social approach to prevention and treatment, and highlights evidence-based psychosocial interventions that can be delivered by community health workers in low-resource settings.

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