The proliferation of social media-based research on mental health offers exciting possibilities to complement traditional methods in mental health care. As ascertained by psychology experts, the online platform should get priority over offline as it offers considerably reliable diagnosis than granted in person. Early detection does not only alleviate the effects of depression on the patient but also benefits the whole community. In this thesis, we explore computational methods in tackling some of the research challenges in depression analysis and make four contributions to the body of knowledge. First, we develop a binary classification model for classifying depression-indicative text from social media. We propose three feature engineering strategies and assess the effectiveness of supervised model to enhance the classification performance in predicting posts indicate depression. To tackle the short and sparse social media data, we particularly integrate the coherent sentiment-topic extracted from the topic model. Additionally, we propose strategies to investigate the effectiveness of affective lexicon in the task of depression classification. Second, we propose a computational method for analysing potential causes of depression from text. With this study, we demonstrate the ability to employ the topic model to discover the potential factors that might lead to depression. We show the most prominent causes and how it evolved over time. Furthermore, we highlight some differences in causes triggered between two different groups, i.e. high-risk of depression and low-risk. Hence, this study significantly expands the ability to discover the potential factors that trigger depression, making it possible to increase the efficiency of depression treatment. Third, we develop a computational method for monitoring the psychotherapy outcome from the individual psychotherapy counselling. Third, we develop a computational method for monitoring the psychotherapy outcome from the individual psychotherapy counselling. By doing this, we show the possibilities of utilising the topic model to track the treatment progress of each patient by assessing the sentiment and topic discussed throughout the course of psychotherapy treatment. Fourth, we propose an unsupervised method called split over-training for identifying user's intention expressed in social media text. We develop a binary classification model for classifying intentions in texts. With this study, we want to show the possibility of applying the intention analysis in mental health domain. Overall, we demonstrate how computational analysis can be fully utilised to benefit clinical settings in mental health analysis. We suggest that more future work could be further explored to complement the traditional settings in mental health care.

Thesis (M. A. (Clinical Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2018 / Studies by the World Health Organisation have shown that mental illness is an international health concern across the globe, with one in four people (25%) suffering from mental disorders in both developed and developing countries. In many African countries traditional health practitioners are the health care providers of choice for individuals, families and communities. The aim of this study was to explore methods used by Shona speaking traditional health practitioners in the prevention of mental illness in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. A qualitative research design was used in the present study. Ten Shona speaking traditional health practitioners (male=9; female=1) were selected through purposive sampling and requested to participate in the study. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed through thematic content analysis. It was found that traditional healers tend to commonly understand and conceptualise mental illness in terms of the causes instead attaching nosological labels to these conditions. The findings of the study also show that most of the traditional health practitioners interviewed had similar methods of preventing mental illness both in families and individuals. Culture was found to be central in shaping how the traditional health practitioners understand and prevent mental illness. Ancestors were found to be pivotal in specifically determining the methods to prevent mental illness for each client. The study is concluded by recommending closer collaboration between the dominant Western health care system and traditional healing in order to improve mental health care provision in Zimbabwe.

archives@tulane.edu / Research has shown that populations with mental illness tend to have higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. This can be due in part to the medication treatment as anti-psychotic and anti-depressant medications have been shown to be major contributors to elevated rates of obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and metabolic disorders that have the potential to lead to cardiovascular disease. Existing literature has identified many barriers that contribute to low preventive care utilization and screenings for metabolic risk factors. Consequently, national policy initiatives, such as the 2010 Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Medicaid expansion, have aimed to improve access to care impacting adults with mental illness and expand coverage for more preventive and mental health services. Thus, this project: (1) examined longitudinal trends in diabetes preventive screenings and healthcare utilization associated with the 2016 Louisiana Medicaid expansion for a traditionally enrolled Severe Mentally Ill (SMI) Medicaid insured population, (2) assessed differences in racial and other socio-demographic characteristics associated with receiving diabetes preventive care and utilizing health care services amongst a traditionally enrolled SMI Medicaid insured population, and (3) assessed if Medicaid expansion was associated with better access to care and increased utilization of preventive care for diabetes-related complications in adults with diabetes and depression. To address these aims, adults ages 18 to 64 were analyzed through two data sources. The first is Louisiana Medicaid claims data; a longitudinal assessment of screening rates over a five-year period was used in an interrupted time series analysis to look at the change in screening rates for preventive care services and health care utilization before and after expansion for adults with SMI. Next, we used multivariable logit regression modeling, to examine the likelihood of receiving preventive care and utilizing health care services based on sociodemographic characteristics. Results from these analyses showed there was a total of 53,926 adults with a diagnosed SMI who had continuous enrollment in Medicaid between January 1st, 2014 – December 31st, 2018. Medicaid expansion was associated with significant increases in ED utilization and average inpatient length of stay for traditionally enrolled SMI adults. Racial differences in the likelihood of going to the ED were also apparent as blacks were more likely to go to the ED and for reasons that could have been prevented. For the third aim, data were extracted from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey for the years 2010 to 2017 for all adults with a self-reported diagnoses of depression and diabetes by a health professional. A retrospective cross-sectional study design using difference-in-differences analysis assessed relationship between Medicaid expansion and access to care and preventive care utilization for Medicaid eligible respondents in expansion states, compared to Medicaid eligible respondents in non-expansion states. Medicaid expansion significantly increased insurance coverage and the likelihood of having a personal doctor for eligible respondents in expansion states. / 1 / Alisha Monnette

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Stigma proves to be a serious barrier for individuals living with mental illness, and research has shown that the media heavily contribute to and support damaging stereotypes about individuals with mental illness. This study examined how current films feed into fears about mental illness, especially the stereotype that individuals with serious mental illness are violent. A population of films released from 1990--2010 containing a character with schizophrenia or a related disorder was compiled and 30 films were randomly selected for viewing from this list. The films were scored for acts of violence committed by characters with and without mental illness, and the acts of violence were coded for severity. This study found that characters with mental illness committed significantly more acts of violence than characters without mental illness did. The significance of these findings along with recurring themes found in the movies are discussed in this paper.

Careful review of the literature found prison programs having a positive impact on post-release outcomes in employment and lowered recidivism rates. Most of the literature reviewed found negative effects of mental illness on post-release success. This study expands the literature on prison programming and mental illness by examining the dynamics between mental illness, program completion, and post-release success. Furthermore, this research can be linked to Hirschi's social bond theory, which created a framework to view the relationship between prison programming and increased ties to conventional society through commitment, attachment, and involvement. This study examines the impact of mental illness and prison vocational and educational programming on reentry outcomes (employment rates, length of employment, enrollment in and completion of school, and recidivism) and the relationship between mental illness and program completion. Additionally, the study examines the interactions of mental illness and prison programming on reentry outcomes. The sample consists of male offenders released onto parole in the State of Iowa (N=3426). Vocational training had positive significant effects on employment rates and full-time employment. An additional analysis found a significant indirect relationship between vocational training and recidivism through employment. Mental illness had a negative significant impact on completion of vocational programming, GED classes, and employment outcomes. Furthermore, it was found that having a mental illness significantly increased the likelihood of recidivism. The interaction of mental illness and programming on reentry outcomes did not have a significant impact. However, the interaction of mental illness and vocational programming had a positive significant impact on full-time employment in the opposite direction of prediction. The results inform social work practice and policy on the benefits of prison programming and the negative impact of mental illness on participation in programs and reentry outcomes.

Research into the comorbidity (or co-occurrence) of mental disorders is a relatively recent phenomenon. Much of this research has been conducted in clinical samples, which are prone to a range of biases that mean that the patterns observed are not representative of the general population. Although population-level research has previously been carried out, this thesis provides the first examination of comorbidity in the Australian population. This thesis examined the comorbidity of substance use and mental disorders among Australian adults. The major empirical work involved an examination of the patterns of homotypic comorbidity (other substance use disorders) and heterotypic comorbidity (mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and psychosis) of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis in the 1997 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being (NSMHWB). These drugs were chosen as they are the most commonly used psychoactive substances in the Australian population. The NSMHWB involved a structured diagnostic interview of mental disorders with a representative sample of Australian adults. Three questions were addressed using this data: (1) What patterns of comorbidity exist between tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use, and other substance use and mental disorders?; (2) Are these patterns of comorbidity explained by common factors?; and (3) Does comorbidity affect the likelihood that mental health treatment has been sought? Similar patterns of homotypic comorbidity were observed for all three substances, and they were not explained by the other factors examined (gender, age, education, relationship status, employment and neuroticism). Cannabis dependence was the most strongly associated with other substance use disorders. Heterotypic comorbidity differed between alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use. Tobacco use predicted increased rates of all three groups of mental disorders (mood, anxiety and psychotic disorders). In the case of alcohol, only alcohol dependence was related to increased rates of all groups of mental disorders; alcohol use and abuse were not associated with heterotypic comorbidity. Any level of cannabis involvement was related to a similarly increased risk of mood and anxiety disorders. Cannabis use was linearly related to the risk of screening positively for psychosis. Common factors did not change the patterns of heterotypic comorbidity of tobacco and alcohol use. However, alcohol, tobacco and other drug use appeared to explain the higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders among cannabis users. Treatment seeking was much more likely among alcohol, tobacco and cannabis users when they had comorbid mental disorders. It was moderately increased when they had comorbid substance use disorders. The second piece of empirical work provided a more detailed examination of comorbid substance use problems among persons with psychosis. This topic was selected due to the limited epidemiological research on this issue, and the relatively large burden of disability that psychosis places upon the individual and the community. NSMHWB data were used to examine the prevalence of comorbid substance use disorders among persons who were likely to have met criteria for psychosis (as assessed by a screener used in the NSMHWB). Multiple regression analyses were used to test possible explanations for the higher rates of substance use disorders observed among persons reporting higher numbers of psychotic symptoms. The odds of alcohol dependence and regular tobacco use increased 1.5 times, and the odds of cannabis dependence increased twice, with each additional psychotic symptom reported, after adjusting for other substance use disorders, other mental disorders and demographic characteristics. Given the debate about the reasons for the association between cannabis use and psychosis, the final study used mathematical modelling to test four hypotheses about relationships between cannabis use and psychosis. Specifically, it examined trends in psychosis that would be predicted given the marked increases in the prevalence of cannabis use that have occurred in Australia over the past thirty years. The results suggested that a causal relationship - in which cannabis use caused psychosis among persons who would not otherwise have developed the disorder - is unlikely to explain the association. There was a better fit to the data provided by the other hypotheses examined, namely, that (a) cannabis use precipitates psychosis among vulnerable individuals; (b) cannabis use increases the risk of relapse among persons with psychosis; and (c) persons with psychosis are more likely to become regular cannabis users (without any effect upon the disorder). This thesis has demonstrated that in Australian adults there is significant comorbidity between alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use and other substance use and mental disorders. These patterns differ across the three substances. Some types of heterotypic comorbidity (e.g. between cannabis use and mood/anxiety disorders) are explained by common factors. The limited range of common factors tested here did not explain homotypic comorbidity. This thesis also suggested that mathematical modelling is a useful approach to consider when examining the plausibility of different relationships between risk factors and mental disorders. A number of hypotheses regarding comorbidity could not be tested using NSMHWB data, such as common genetic and other environmental factors. These can best be tested in research with samples of twins, and using longitudinal designs that assess a wide range of social and environmental factors. The findings of this thesis also have implications for treatment, because persons with comorbid disorders are more likely to seek treatment. There is an absence of validated treatments for persons with comorbid substance use and mental disorders, and more research is needed on this issue.

The Kew Asylum has been a dominant feature of Melbourne’s built environment for over 100 years. In addition to the visual impact it has made on Melbourne’s skyline it has been very much a part of the psychological landscape of the collective imagination of the city’s inhabitants. Despite this, comparatively little has been written about its impact on society, and almost nothing has been recorded in any comprehensive sense, about its occupants or inmates. This dissertation aims to go some way towards redressing this, not with a broad sweep institutional biography, but with an intimate portrait of the asylum’s earliest days. Covering a time frame of less than 50 years, this thesis adopts a multi-theoretical approach in order to illuminate the different facets of asylum life with the maximum clarity. The thesis contains several themes, some of which overlap and interweave in order to examine the complexity of institutional life.

Bibliography: p.199-226. / x, 250 p. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Psychiatry, 2004

The Kew Asylum has been a dominant feature of Melbourne’s built environment for over 100 years. In addition to the visual impact it has made on Melbourne’s skyline it has been very much a part of the psychological landscape of the collective imagination of the city’s inhabitants. Despite this, comparatively little has been written about its impact on society, and almost nothing has been recorded in any comprehensive sense, about its occupants or inmates. This dissertation aims to go some way towards redressing this, not with a broad sweep institutional biography, but with an intimate portrait of the asylum’s earliest days. Covering a time frame of less than 50 years, this thesis adopts a multi-theoretical approach in order to illuminate the different facets of asylum life with the maximum clarity. The thesis contains several themes, some of which overlap and interweave in order to examine the complexity of institutional life.