scholarly journals Verso il superamento dell’Ospedale Psichiatrico Giudiziario: l’umanizzazione del trattamento degli infermi di mente socialmente pericolosi

2015 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Caputo
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Psychiatric Hospital ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Security Measures ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Law ◽  
New Vision ◽  
Point Of Intersection ◽  
Social Dangerousness

L’accertamento della pericolosità sociale dei soggetti affetti da vizio di mente, totale o parziale, che hanno commesso un reato, costituisce il punto di incontro di due scienze che hanno finalità e modalità operative completamente differenti: il diritto e la psichiatria. Da circa qualche decennio, la psichiatria ha offerto una lettura completamente differente della malattia mentale, rompendo il rigido binomio presuntivo di infermo di mente-socialmente pericoloso e vincendo importanti battaglie nel trattamento di questi soggetti. Ciò nonostante le misure di sicurezza destinante ai soggetti infermi di mente ritenuti socialmente pericolosi in seguito alla commissione di un reato, tra le quali, in particolare, l’Ospedale Psichiatrico Giudiziario, hanno completamente disatteso ogni nuovo modo di concepire il trattamento della malattia mentale da parte della psichiatria, caratterizzandosi, invece, per il solo carattere custodialistico. La legge n. 81 del 2014 prova a correggere il tiro rendendo il trattamento dei soggetti infermi di mente più umano. ---------- The social dangerousness verification of subjects with mental illness and author of a crime is the point of intersection between two sciences characterized by different aims and different operative moods: law and psychiatry. In the last years, psychiatry has offered a new vision of mental illness, surmounting the rigid presumptive binomial concerning mentally ill-social dangerousness, and making important achievements about the treatment of this subjects. However, the security measures for mentally ills considered socially dangerousness after the commission of a crime, especially judicial psychiatric hospital, have not considered the new way of addressing the treatment of mental illness from psychiatry, keeping custody character. The law no. 81 of 2014 tries to resolve this problem, humanizing the treatment of mentally ills.

Understanding the Nature of Stigma Communication Associated With Mental Illness in Africa

2018 ◽  
pp. 20-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Gichuhi Kimotho
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Social Costs ◽  
Mental Illness Stigma ◽  
Social Constructions ◽  
Illness Beliefs ◽  
Stigma And Discrimination ◽  
The Social

Besides health and social costs, mentally ill, often, are also victims of stigma and discrimination, among many communities in Africa. Cultural beliefs, stereotypes are some of the social constructions used to perpetuate mental illness stigma. The purpose of this study was to describe the nature of stigma communication associated with mental illness, beliefs and stereotypes underpinning mental illness stigma. Generally, the findings indicate nature of mental illness stigma communication is an intersection of stigma messages, cultural beliefs, and stereotypes associated with mental illness. Cultural beliefs associated with mental illness are inextricably intertwined with the perceived causes of mental illness (which include curses, witchcraft, cultural misdemeanor, and possession by spirits or demons). Symptoms of mental illness (mainly aggression and nudity) mark the mentally ill as different and expose them to labeling by the rest of the community. Generally, the mentally ill are stereotyped as aggressive, symbol of shame, and unpredictable.

The History of Unreason

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Samuel Teague ◽  
Peter Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Construction ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Historical Narrative ◽  
Individual Responsibility ◽  
Socially Constructed ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health And Illness ◽  
History Of

This chapter reflects on the importance of the historical narrative of mental illness, arguing that Western countries have sought new ways to confine the mentally ill in the post-asylum era, namely through the effects of stigma and medicalization. The walls are invisible, when once they were physical. The chapter outlines how health and illness can be understood as socially constructed illustrating how mental health has been constructed uniquely across cultures and over time. To understand this process more fully, it is necessary to consider the history of madness, a story of numerous social flashpoints. The trajectories of two primary mental health narratives are charted in this chapter. The authors argue that these narratives have played, and continue to play, an important role in the social construction of mental illness. These narratives are “confinement” and “individual responsibility.” Drawing on the work of Michel Foucault and Roy Porter, the authors describe how Western culture has come to consider the mentally ill as a distinct, abnormal other.

The Mentally Ill in Your Caseload

2016 ◽  
pp. 409-420
Author(s):  
Donald W. Winnicott
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Emotional Development ◽  
The Social ◽  
Dynamic Psychology ◽  
The Individual

In this talk delivered to social workers, Winnicott brings his understanding of professional psychiatry, with its attempts to treat severe mental illness using a more humane approach, together with his belief in dynamic psychology—the emotional development of the individual derived from the study of psychoanalysis—into a closer connection with one another. He charts a brief outline of psychoanalysis and interprets the psychoses through it. He sees the importance of early environmental factors in mental illness and the possible effects of this on maturation. He comments on depression both normal and psychotic in type, on his theories of personalization, of feeling real, and, through early dependence, the gradual growth of the functioning self. He also gives an empathic view of the role of the social worker in the difficult work of treating acute mental ill health.

Stigma towards psychiatric disorders in a sample of depressed females in two different communities

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S400-S400
Author(s):  
M. Elsheikh ◽  
H. Haltenhof ◽  
M.H. Bahary
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Traditional Beliefs ◽  
Clinical Interviewing ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Understanding Of Illness

IntroductionStigma and discrimination experienced by persons suffering from mental illness, unlike other medical conditions, recognized as a barrier in countries rich and poor, and in countries with well-developed mental health services and those with limited services. It was hypothesized that depression may affect patients’ attitude towards mental illness “public stigma” as well as self-stigmatization and that there will be a difference between Egyptians and Germans.AimsThis study sets out to identify and compare public–and self-stigma among depressed women in two different communities.ObjectivesTo test findings from transcultural comparative study of two patient groups of depressed women from two different communities. Participants were 50 adult females diagnosed with depression from Egypt and Germany.MethodParticipants completed after clinical interviewing and diagnosis with depression two questionnaires: the inventory of attitude towards mental illness (Shokeer, 2002) and the explanatory model interview catalogue EMIC (Weis et al., 2001).ResultsAnalysis indicates that positive attitudes towards mental illness were more for the German respondents than for the Egyptians. There were significant differences between the two groups in the causal attributions of mental illness. Psychotherapy was widely accepted in the two groups as a helpful method for treatment of mental illness.ConclusionIt was concluded that the traditional beliefs affect the understanding of illness causality and that the subjective experience of depression may affect attitude towards mental illness and mentally ill people. The effect of the social desirability is discussed.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Mentally Ill Mothers and Their Children

1988 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bågedahl-Strindlund ◽  
G. Undén
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Welfare ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Mental Disturbance ◽  
Social Welfare Services ◽  
The Social ◽  
Psychiatric Department ◽  
Observation Period

177 cases of parapartum mental illness and 173 matched obstetric controls were studied retrospectively from the perspective of the social welfare services (SWS). Data covering five years before the index partus until five to seven years thereafter, were studied. Parapartum mentally ill women were known to the SWS to a much greater extent (75%) than their matched controls (33%). They also presented more severe environmental problems than their matched controls. Within the index sample the largest number of adverse factors known to the SWS was found in the addicts and NTI (neuroses and temporary insufficiencies) groups. The dysfunction in the families appeared to be constant throughout the observation period. A large proportion of the index children (32%) had been placed in foster care or adopted. When the index women had applied to the SWS during the first postpartum year the social workers were informed of the fact that she had contacted a psychiatric department in 8 out of 10 cases. However, only in half of these cases had regular collaboration taken place. Collaboration was far more frequent when the mother suffered from severe mental illness than when she was suffering from a less severe mental disturbance.

scholarly journals Legal status of persons with mental illness in Serbia

2004 ◽  
Vol 132 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 448-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandar Jovanovic
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Psychiatric Treatment ◽  
Security Measures ◽  
Moral Integrity ◽  
General Law ◽  
Legal Competence ◽  
Forensic Psychiatric

In this study, legal status of the mentally ill has been discussed in the context of Serbian legislation. The topics covered are the following: 1) the admission of persons with mental illness to psychiatric institution, 2) general (legal) competence, 3) marital relations of persons with mental illness, 4) legal definitions of sanity and security measures of medical character. Serbia still has no general law on mental health which would be in accordance with European standards, and the existing legislation which deals with the rights of persons with mental illness is, to a large extent, incomplete and obsolete. The author appeals for passing the law on mental health which should: a) follow modern trends in psychiatry concerning the protection of human rights with the basic goal to protect society and mentally ill persons, b) to protect the professional and moral integrity of psychiatrists, c) to provide ethically and professionally acceptable authorization for the use of force, if necessary, in order to prevent criminal acts and/or self-injuries in patients suffering from severe psychical disorders, d) to conceptualize forensic psychiatric treatment (the security measures, corrective psychiatry) and the programs of rehabilitation as an integral part of the community mental health protection system.

scholarly journals The family as a place of education. Between a school-centred focus on education and family needs

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 93-113
Author(s):  
Ulrike Loch
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Family Needs ◽  
Even Start ◽  
Family Coping ◽  
Educational Discourse ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Family ◽  
Child And Youth Welfare

The results of the PISA studies over recent years have revealed the social selectivity of the scholastic education system. Based on my empirical research on families with mentally ill parents, I show how, for the children involved, social exclusion begins before they even start school; how the parents' mental illness is seen to affect the children, and what support the families in question require. This shows how important it is to take family coping situations into account in the educational discourse on the child and youth welfare services and formal education systems.

Self-recovery in schizophrenia: Insight from autobiographical narratives of patients

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (S2) ◽  
pp. S26-S26
Author(s):  
F. Berna ◽  
M.C. Allé ◽  
J. Potheegadoo ◽  
C. Kber ◽  
P. Schneider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
The Self ◽  
Traumatic Experience ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Experimental Setting ◽  
The Social ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
New Directions

The self or identity is often seriously challenged by the emergence of psychotic symptoms. A first reason for that is most likely due to the traumatic experience caused by the sudden emergence of hallucinations or persecutory ideas that challenge both the representation of oneself and that of the world and others. A second reason is linked to the social consequences of having a mental illness and of being assigned with the label of “mentally ill or disabled person”. A third relates to the patients’ cognitive impairment that alters their ability to take distance from these self-challenging events, to give a meaning to these experiences and to build coherent narratives of their life that integrate a great variety of personal experiences such as turning points or unpleasant events. For these reasons, recovering from a severe mental illness is a process through which the self evolves by integrating the lessons of past personal events, building new representations of oneself and looking to new directions for future projects. Excerpts of patients’ narratives collected in experimental setting will be presented in order to illustrate how indexes of recovery can be measured in self-narratives and how they help identifying the steps of self-recovery that have been identified in qualitative research on patients with schizophrenia .

Attitudes of Psychiatric Patients and their Relatives to Involuntary Treatment

1991 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas H.S. Adams ◽  
R. Julian Hafner
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Psychiatric Hospital ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Involuntary Treatment ◽  
Psychiatric Outpatient ◽  
Handicapped People ◽  
Negative Statements

In 1979 a Guardianship Board assumed responsibility in South Australia for the welfare of those mentally ill or handicapped people unable to look after their own health or safety, or to manage their own affairs. This study examines the attitudes to guardianship and involuntary treatment of 79 patients referred to the Board from a psychiatric hospital, all of whom were under guardianship at the time of the study. Forty-seven of their relatives took part in the project, which included measures of patients' psychiatric symptoms and relatives' punitiveness. Although almost 70% of patients objected to Guardianship in principle, they made more positive than negative statements about it. Nearly 60% rated involuntary treatment, including medication, as helpful. Patients reported a level of psychiatric symptoms less than half of that of a psychiatric outpatient sample. Relatives were strongly in favour of Guardianship, stating frequently that it allowed an improved relationship between themselves and the patient. Patients who believed that they were suffering from a mental illness were comparatively happy about being under Guardianship, and a belief that the patient was mentally ill was significantly associated with reduced ex-trapunitiveness in relatives.

scholarly journals The Legacy of a Story: Commemoration and the Double-Narrative of Jeffrey Arenburg and Brian Smith

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Walker
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Collective Memory ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Political Efficacy ◽  
Individual Experience ◽  
Local Television ◽  
Mental Health Legislation ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health Legislation

This article examines a recent amendment to Ontario's mental health legislation that was named "in memory" of Brian Smith, a local television personality killed by Jeffrey Arenburg, a person diagnosed with a mental illness. Rather than evaluating the socio-legal validity of "Brian's Law", it critically attends to the emergent "narrative of commemoration" that helped consolidate collective memory of the event. The genesis of the legislation is traced through public documents that support the "storying" of the murder, inquest, and legislative debate, including the "mythologizing" of Smith and the derisive story of Arenburg. Both representations are essential to the social and political efficacy of this "double-narrative" and the formal process of commemoration. The "legacy" of Brian Smith as exemplar of moral and social responsibility depends upon the alternative public conception of Arenburg, as mentally ill and morally ambiguous. Essentially, this narrative reaches beyond individual experience, and even social memory, and becomes enshrined in law as institutional memory.

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