Thesis--Stanford University. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Bibliography: leaves 194-204.

Thesis--Indiana University. / Vlta. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--Wisconsin. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 535-550).

Thesis--Indiana University. / Vlta. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--Stanford University. / Bibliography: leaves 194-204.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Bibliography. Also availablevia the Internet.

Until recently, there has been only limited interest in the role of the family in the treatment and rehabilitation of the mentally ill. Although it is generally conceded that the interest and support of the family, except in some unusual cases, is of considerable help in the patient's treatment, little attention has been devoted to the subject of visits to mental hospital patients by relatives and friends. As a consequence, little is known about the specific effects of such visits and the types of patients who receive visitors. The present study examines mental-hospital visiting in terms of the therapeutic value of visits for patients, with attention directed to how visits by relatives assist social workers in providing treatment services to patients, and what determines how frequently a patient is visited. The material required for this investigation was obtained by a questionnaire distributed to Social Workers in the psychiatric facilities at Essondale and Weyburn Saskatchewan. This information was supplemented by conducting personal interviews with a small sample of patients and another of visiting relatives in the Provincial Mental Hospital, Essondale. Reference has also been made to a previous study of mental hospital visiting conducted at Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Terms such as "disculturation" and "desocialization" have been used to describe the submissiveness, loss of interest and deterioration of personal habits which may result from prolonged institutional residence. The introductory chapter reviews these effects, points up the need for maintaining the patient's contact with the family to help counteract these unintended consequences, examines the social worker's investment in maintaining the support of the family, and demonstrates how the hospital has changed its attitude from one of limited acceptance of visiting relatives to a much greater realization of their potentialities. The core material compiled from the questionnaire interviews, and reference to other surveys is analyzed under three headings: (a) visits of questionable value, (b) positive contributions, and (c) social worker's utilization of visits (Chapter II). The determinants of visiting are assessed by reference to (a) the causes of infrequent visiting, (b) the characteristics of frequently and infrequently visited patients, and (c) other comparable surveys of visited and unvisited patients (Chapter III). The conclusions are that visits can make a positive contribution to the patient's treatment. However, there are some situations in which their value is questionable; for example, visits may not be indicated when the patient is acutely ill, not accustomed to living in hospital, the relatives are unable to accept mental illness, or there is a tenuous relationship between patient and relatives. More often, visits contribute to the patient's treatment by reassuring him that he has not been forgotten by loved ones; helping him to overcome feelings of being an anonymous member of a large community of patients; reassuring him about home and family matters. Visits indirectly benefit patients through the efforts of social workers to employ their contacts with relatives to obtain social information, determine family resources, plan for discharge, prepare for follow-up, communicate information, alleviate stresses in the family situation, discuss treatment, and help the relatives to accept the patient. The study also demonstrates that visiting frequency is dependent upon a variety of factors, such as, the distance relatives must travel, the misconceptions, fear or shame about mental illness, unwillingness to accept the patient's return home, feelings of anxiety and guilt connected with the patient and his illness, loss of interest in the patients, pain or embarrassment connected with visits, the hospital's visiting facilities and regulations, and the attention given to visitors by staff. Infrequently visited patients spend more time in hospital, have fewer previous admissions, are older, and have relatives further removed from hospital. In conclusion, a number of recommendations are made for improving a hospital's visiting program. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The researcher observed that her son experienced his dermatological disorder as a barrier to learning. This personal experience made her wonder whether this might apply in the case of other learners too, and from this the aim of the research, namely to discover the extent to which dermatological disorders influence learning, was born. A qualitative case study involving interviews and questionnaires to explore the views of learners, parents, and teachers regarding chronic dermatological disorders was used. The findings indicated that while learning is indeed influenced by chronic dermatological disorders, parents and teachers are supportive of learners with these disorders. The following recommendations were made to overcome the learning barriers caused by chronic dermatological disorders: the forming of support groups, the use of social media and technology, inclusive education, the training of teachers in inclusive education, the implementation of educational policies relating to the health of learners, and collaboration between parents and teachers. Patience, endurance, consistent treatment, and understanding the problem are key survival techniques for learners with chronic dermatological disorders. / Psychology of Education

M.Med.(Psychiatry), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2009 / AIM: To study the process of handing over custody by South African Police Service (SAPS) of suspected mentally ill patients at Chris Hani Baragwaneth Hospital (CHBH) and the outcome of such patients. METHODS: The study was a retrospective record review of patients, 18 years and older, referred by SAPS to the Emergency Department at CHBH. Completed MHCA Form 22, during the period July 2007 to December 2007, were obtained from the hospital records. The forms were analysed to determine the compliance of SAPS and the medical practitioners in completing these forms. Demographics and clinical characteristics, and the final outcome of the study population were obtained from the hospital notes. RESULTS: During the study period, 708 of the 718 patients handed over by SAPS to the emergency department of CHBH had Form 22’s, 579 (81.78%) of the patients were males. The majority of patients were between the age 26 - 50 years (65.39%); unemployed (80.23%), achieved a Grade 10 or lower level of education (55.65%) and were single (84.32%). 378 (53.39%) patients had previously abused substances, 47 (6.64%) had a forensic history and 552 (77.97%) had a past psychiatric illness. SAPS officials had correctly completed 86.16% of the forms, whilst the medical practitioners had only correctly completed 9.89% of the forms. Of the 718 patients handed over by SAPS and admitted to the medical admissions ward, 319 (44.06%) were discharged for outpatient care, whilst only 272 (38.42%) were admitted to the psychiatric ward for further inpatient psychiatric care and 102 (14.41%) admitted to the medical wards for further inpatient medical care. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that the SAPS are better at complying with the regulations of the Mental Health Care Act as compared to the health care professionals in the emergency department of CHBH. It is recommended that improved assessment at the emergency department would reduce the number of admissions and costs to the already resource constrained hospital.

No description available.