Legal Aspects of Chronic Mental Illness

Author(s):  
Raveesh B. N. ◽  
Barre Vijaya Prasad ◽  
Meghamala S. Tavaragi

People with a chronic mental illness or disability have been identified as a group suffering multiple disadvantages. Law interacts with mental disorder to protect society from the dangerous consequences of mental disorder. The legal interaction with mental disorder includes both civil and criminal issues. A paradigm shift has given a new perspective to the care of mental disorders and has led to the review of mental health legislations worldwide in general, India in particular. This chapter will discuss the interaction of law and psychiatry, rights of persons with mental disorder and the gap in implementation of these laws.

2007 ◽  
Vol 191 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Fone ◽  
Frank Dunstan ◽  
Ann John ◽  
Keith Lloyd

BackgroundThe relationship between the Mental Illness Needs Index (MINI) and the common mental disorders is not known.AimsTo investigate associations between the small-area MINI score and common mental disorder at individual level.MethodMental health status was measured using the Mental Health Inventory of the Short Form 36 instrument (SF-36). Data from the Caerphilly Health and Social Needs population survey were analysed in multilevel models of 10 653 individuals aged 18–74 years nested within the 2001 UK census geographies of 110 lower super output areas and 33 wards.ResultsThe MINI score was significantly associated with common mental disorder after adjusting for individual risk factors. This association was stronger at the smaller spatial scale of the lower super output area and for individuals who were permanently sick or disabled.ConclusionsThe MINI is potentially useful for small-area needs assessment and service planning for common mental disorder in community settings.


Author(s):  
Sarah Ashworth ◽  
Krista Jansen ◽  
Lydia Bullock ◽  
Paul Mooney

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe a feasibility study into the development and pilot of a psychoeducational group for people with intellectual disability and co-morbid mental disorder (including mental illness and personality disorder) within forensic settings. Design/methodology/approach “Mind Matters”, a psychoeducational programme for people with an intellectual disability and co-morbid mental disorders is a group based programme in a medium secure hospital, adapted and developed to be suitable for people with intellectual disability therapist multidisciplinary approach was key to its development. An open group on a 16-bedded ward for individuals with mild to moderate intellectual disability and co-morbid mental illness was delivered over a six-week period. Findings The group was positively received in pilot by participants and members of the clinical teams. Attendance and engagement of participants were key measures of the success of the programme. In addition to the apparent increased social skills and motivation to engage with future psychological intervention. Practical implications The authors believe that this approach benefitted both the group members and staff on ward, reinforcing strategies for maintaining positive mental health. It also stimulated engagement, discussion about mental disorders including mental illness, personality disorder and intellectual disabilities. Originality/value This paper shows how a psychoeducational approach to mental disorder and mental health in individuals with an intellectual disability is possible, beneficial and well received.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 001-005
Author(s):  
Tutut Pujianto ◽  
Retno Ardanari Agustin

Mental health is an integral part of health, and a condition that affects the physical, mental, and  social  development  of  the  individual  optimally.  Mental  disorder  is  disturbances  in:  cognitive, volition, emotion (affective), and actions (psychomotor). Mental disorder is a collection of abnormal circumstances, whether physically related, or mentally. It is divided into two groups, namely: mental disorder  (neurosis)  and  mental  illness  (psychosis).  Mental  disorder  is  caused  by  some  of  the  above causes affected simultaneously or coincidence occurs. The purpose of this study was to increase the role of family and society in the treatment of mental disorder patients which was consequently could reduce the number of mental disorders patients This research used obsevational design with descriptive analy- sis. The subjects were family members who treat mental disorder patients as much as 16 respondents. The data collection was done in October 2012. The family role data grouped into appropriate and inappro- priate  category.  The  research  found  that  11  people  (68.75%)  in  the  category  of  inappropriate,  and appropriate by 5 people (31.25%), with average family role of 63.19%. The higher of inappropriate category was because 9 respondents (56.25%) in the age of elderly (> 50 years). This condition caused a decrease in the ability to perform daily activities, including health treatment. There were 4 patients who have been treated for 7-14 years, so the family feels accustomed to the condition of the patient. There were 8 people (50%) in productive age treated the patients, so it could not be done continuously. Based on these conditions, there should be efforts to increase knowledge and willingness of the patients and families, in caring for patients with mental disorders. The examples of such activities were to consult with the nearest health employees, and report to the health worker if there is a risky condition immedi- ately.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-81
Author(s):  
AA Mamun Hussain ◽  
Shahana Qais ◽  
MMR Khan

This study aims at finding the presence of psychiatric illness of the santals, an ethnic minorities of the northern part of Bangladesh and their belief towards mental illness. Among the 77 patients, 39 (50.64%) were male and 38 (49.35%) were female. The majority of the respondents were in between the age of 16-35 years. Most (80%) believed that possession by Bonga/Kali caused the illness. In the present study, 45 (59.74%) had major mental disorder, 18 (23.37%) had minor mental disorders and 13 (16.88%) had psychotic disorder due to general medical condition (viz. Epilepsy). Observations suggest that change of awareness and perception regarding mental disorder, should be a high priority, as right mental health is one of the key component of total delivery of health care.TAJ 2011; 24(2): 76-81


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 304-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa J Green ◽  
Stacy Tzoumakis ◽  
Kristin R Laurens ◽  
Kimberlie Dean ◽  
Maina Kariuki ◽  
...  

Objective: We examined associations between developmental vulnerability profiles determined at the age of 5 years and subsequent childhood mental illness between ages 6 and 13 years in an Australian population cohort. Methods: Intergenerational records from New South Wales (NSW) Government Departments of Health and Child Protection spanning pre-birth to 13 years of age were linked with the 2009 Australian Early Development Census records for 86,668 children. Mental illness indices for children were extracted from health records between 2009 and 2016 (child’s age of 6–13 years). Associations between mental disorder diagnoses and membership of early childhood risk groups, including those with established ‘special needs’ (3777, 4.3%) at school entry, or putative risk classes delineated via latent class analysis of Australian Early Development Census subdomains – referred to as ‘pervasive risk’ ( N = 3479; 4.0%), ‘misconduct risk’ ( N = 5773; 6.7%) or ‘mild generalised risk’ ( N = 9542; 11%) – were estimated using multinomial logistic regression, relative to children showing ‘no risk’ ( N = 64,097; 74%). Poisson regression models estimated the relative risk of a greater number of days recorded with mental health service contacts among children in each Australian Early Development Census risk group. Adjusted models included child’s sex, socioeconomic disadvantage, child protection contacts and parental mental illness as covariates. Results: The crude odds of any mental disorder among children aged 6–13 years was increased approximately threefold in children showing pervasive risk or misconduct risk profiles at the age of 5 years, and approximately sevenfold in children with special needs, relative to children showing no risk; patterns of association largely remained after adjusting for covariates. Children with special needs and the misconduct risk class used mental health services over a greater number of days than the no risk class. Conclusion: Patterns of early childhood developmental vulnerability are associated with subsequent onset of mental disorders and have the potential to inform interventions to mitigate the risk for mental disorders in later childhood and adolescence.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e041371
Author(s):  
Alyssa Howren ◽  
J Antonio Aviña-Zubieta ◽  
Deborah Da Costa ◽  
Joseph H Puyat ◽  
Hui Xie ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between having arthritis and the perceived need for mental healthcare and use of mental health support among individuals with mental disorders.DesignA cross-sectional analysis using data from Canadian Community Health Survey—Mental Health (2012).SettingThe survey was administered across Canada’s 10 provinces using multistage cluster sampling.ParticipantsThe study sample consisted of individuals reporting depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.Study variables and analysisThe explanatory variable was self-reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis, and outcomes were perceived need for mental healthcare and use of mental health support. We computed overall and gender-stratified multivariable binomial logistic regression models adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity, income and geographical region.ResultsAmong 1774 individuals with a mental disorder in the study sample, 436 (20.4%) reported having arthritis. Arthritis was associated with increased odds of having a perceived need for mental healthcare (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.71, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.77). In the gender-stratified models, this association was increased among men (aOR 2.69, 95% CI 1.32 to 5.49) but not women (aOR 1.48, 95% CI 0.78 to 2.82). Evaluation of the association between arthritis and use of mental health support resulted in an aOR of 1.50 (95% CI 0.89 to 2.51). Individuals with arthritis tended to use medications and professional services as opposed to non-professional support.ConclusionComorbid arthritis among individuals with a mental disorder was associated with an increased perceived need for mental healthcare, especially in men, underscoring the importance of understanding the role of masculinity in health seeking. Assessing the mental health of patients with arthritis continues to be essential for clinical care.


2021 ◽  
pp. 000486742110096
Author(s):  
David Lawrence ◽  
Sarah E Johnson ◽  
Francis Mitrou ◽  
Sharon Lawn ◽  
Michael Sawyer

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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 530-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa J Green ◽  
Stacy Tzoumakis ◽  
Kristin R Laurens ◽  
Kimberlie Dean ◽  
Maina Kariuki ◽  
...  

Objective: Detecting the early emergence of childhood risk for adult mental disorders may lead to interventions for reducing subsequent burden of these disorders. We set out to determine classes of children who may be at risk for later mental disorder on the basis of early patterns of development in a population cohort, and associated exposures gleaned from linked administrative records obtained within the New South Wales Child Development Study. Methods: Intergenerational records from government departments of health, education, justice and child protection were linked with the Australian Early Development Census for a state population cohort of 67,353 children approximately 5 years of age. We used binary data from 16 subdomains of the Australian Early Development Census to determine classes of children with shared patterns of Australian Early Development Census–defined vulnerability using latent class analysis. Covariates, which included demographic features (sex, socioeconomic status) and exposure to child maltreatment, parental mental illness, parental criminal offending and perinatal adversities (i.e. birth complications, smoking during pregnancy, low birth weight), were examined hierarchically within latent class analysis models. Results: Four classes were identified, reflecting putative risk states for mental disorders: (1) disrespectful and aggressive/hyperactive behaviour, labelled ‘misconduct risk’ ( N = 4368; 6.5%); (2) ‘pervasive risk’ ( N = 2668; 4.0%); (3) ‘mild generalised risk’ ( N = 7822; 11.6%); and (4) ‘no risk’ ( N = 52,495; 77.9%). The odds of membership in putative risk groups (relative to the no risk group) were greater among children from backgrounds of child maltreatment, parental history of mental illness, parental history of criminal offending, socioeconomic disadvantage and perinatal adversities, with distinguishable patterns of association for some covariates. Conclusion: Patterns of early childhood developmental vulnerabilities may provide useful indicators for particular mental disorder outcomes in later life, although their predictive utility in this respect remains to be established in longitudinal follow-up of the cohort.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-82
Author(s):  
Heather Welsh ◽  
Gary Morrison

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 for people with learning disabilities in Scotland, in the context of the recent commitment by the Scottish Government to review the place of learning disability (LD) within the Act. Design/methodology/approach All current compulsory treatment orders (CTO) including LD as a type of mental disorder were identified and reviewed. Data was collected on duration and type of detention (hospital or community based) for all orders. For those with additional mental illness and/or personality disorder, diagnoses were recorded. For those with LD only, symptoms, severity of LD and treatment were recorded. Findings In total, 11 per cent of CTOs included LD as a type of mental disorder. The majority of these also included mental illness. The duration of detention for people with LD only was almost double that for those without LD. A variety of mental illness diagnoses were represented, psychotic disorders being the most common (54 per cent). Treatment was broad and multidisciplinary. In all, 87 per cent of people with LD only were prescribed psychotropic medication authorised by CTO. Originality/value There has been limited research on the use of mental health legislation for people with learning disabilities. This project aids understanding of current practice and will be of interest to readers both in Scotland and further afield. It will inform the review of LD as a type of mental disorder under Scottish mental health law, including consideration of the need for specific legislation.


Synthese ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sander Werkhoven

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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