Homosexuality is something which has been a part of almost every society throughout history. In western society this has been a subject of secrecy and taboo. Throughout our history homosexuals have been persecuted and forced to hide their sexual identity. The effects of this on an individual should be something of concern to professionals in the mental health field. While in the past there has been little knowledge of homosexuality, and no self-expression on the part of homosexuals, there has, in recent years, been growing information and expression. The effect of this change on mental health workers is what this paper will examine. An historical survey will present the forces which shaped the current attitude of the mental health profession about homosexuality. I will present a general examination of the social ideology toward homosexuality in western society. I will also review the history of those homosexuals who have banded together for companionship, reform, and protest. This will be a context against which I will examine the attitudes of a specific group of people who care for the mentally ill--nurses and aides at a state mental hospital. The questionnaire I used to examine their attitudes surveys a broad range of possible attitudes about homosexuality. The responses will demonstrate what changes have occurred in society’s attitudes toward homosexuality. It will show, specifically, what the attitudes are of those who care for economically disadvantaged, severely disturbed homosexuals.

Background: People with perceived mental illness can experience stigmatization in the somatic care. It has also been shown that staff within the somatic care found it difficult to care for people with psychiatric diagnoses. The perceived mental illness in the society has been observed to increase; hence there is a need to investigate whether specialist nurses in psychiatric care can be used outside the psychiatric context.Aim: The aim of the study was to shed light on the psychiatric nurse's nursing knowledge and work function outside the psychiatric context, within the somatic care.Method: A meta-synthesis with a systematic literature search was done to answer the aim of the study. 15 articles were included and analyzed.Results: Specialist nurses in psychiatric nursing have been shown to fulfill a function outside the psychiatric context. It was shown that the accessibility of care increased, and the quality of care improved. The lack of a clear job description was one of the difficulties described.Conclusion: The results of the study highlight that there is a need for specialist nurses in psychiatric care outside the psychiatric context. / Bakgrund: Personer med upplevd psykisk ohälsa kan uppleva stigmatisering i den somatiska vården. Det har även visat sig att personal inom den somatiska vården upplevt det svårt att vårda personer med psykiatriska diagnoser. Den upplevda psykiska ohälsan i samhället har observerats öka, därav ses ett behov av att undersöka om specialistsjuksköterskor inom psykiatrisk vård (SIPV) kan användas utanför den psykiatriska kontexten.Syfte: Syftet med studien var att belysa psykiatrisjuksköterskans omvårdnadskunskap och arbetsfunktion utanför den psykiatriska kontexten, inom somatisk vård.Metod: En metasyntes med systematisk litteratursökning gjordes för att besvara studiens syfte. 15 artiklar inkluderas och analyserades.Resultat: Specialistsjuksköterska inom psykiatrisk omvårdnad har visat sig fylla en funktion utanför den psykiatriska kontexten. Det ökade tillgängligheten till vård och vårdkvaliteten förbättrades. Avsaknad av tydlig arbetsbeskrivning var en av de svårigheter som beskrevs.Slutsats: Studiens resultat belyser att det finns ett behov av specialistsjuksköterskor inom psykiatriskvård utanför den psykiatriska kontexten.

A sizeable number of U.S. veterans of all ages experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which can impact their quality of life; physically, mentally and socially. Consequences of PTSD are associated with physical and emotional disabilities, including ideation of self-harm and even suicide. Increasingly, animal-assisted therapies (AAT) are used to treat PTSD and other physical and behavioral conditions in veterans. Over the decades, AATs have used dogs, cats, horses, and dolphins among other animals. The purpose of this integrative review is to examine the use of AAT focusing on canine assisted therapy (CAT) among veterans diagnosed with PTSD. The methodology involved database searches, including MEDLINE, PubMed, PsychInfo, EBSCOhost, along with textbooks and popular media published from 2000 to 2016. Associated with the lack of more recent research, relevant articles published before 2000 were included in the review. Search terms included, ‘veterans,’ ‘service dogs,’ ‘service animals,’ ‘animal-assisted therapy,’ ‘canine therapy,’ ‘PTSD,’ ‘post-traumatic stress disorder,’ ‘psychiatric,’ ‘U.S. veterans,’ ‘equine therapy,’ ‘horse therapy,’ ‘pet therapy,’ and ‘military veterans.’ A total of ten relevant studies were identified which focused on the use of AAT among veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Different populations diagnosed with PTSD and other behavioral and psychiatric health conditions using AAT were examined as well. These articles were read, analyzed, and synthesized. Results of the review offer some support that AAT has psychological, physiological and psychosocial benefits for some populations across the lifespan with various diagnoses. Consistent and conflicting findings along with gaps in the literature are highlighted. Limitations and implications for nursing practice, research, policy and education also are noted in this thesis.

No description available.

Self-concept is the individual's subjective view of themselves. It impacts interaction with others and, in turn, further the development of the self. Cultural aspects, gender differences, and psychiatric and substance use disorders further impact the subjective view of the self. Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) is a model rooted in interpersonal theory and the interpersonal circle that divides the self-concept into eight behavioral clusters over love-hate and autonomy-control. The individual's measured self-beliefs can be used in motivational work and treatment. The forensic psychiatric population is complex, with high levels of comorbidity, but little is known about how they view themselves. This study aims to capture their self-concept and examine if different psychiatric diagnostic groups have distinct self-concept profiles. One hundred and six patients who had previously completed the SASB introject questionnaire were included. Demographic data and other variables were also coded from their electronic journal. The participant's descriptives showed differences from the normative group and slight differences between the psychiatric groups. Inferential statistical analysis showed a significant difference regarding the negative clusters between the Neurodevelopmental and Psychosis groups and a trend of differing scores between the Neurodevelopmental and Personality Disorders groups. Study limitations make it hard to point to distinct self-concept profiles, but SASB-results indicate that the patients generally feel positive about themselves. Further research is needed to increase the findings' generalizability and better capture self-concept in comorbid inpatients. / FOR-SATA

Bakgrund: Stödjande samtal är ett verktyg inom den psykiatriska heldygnsvården som används i behandlande och lindrande syfte med suicidnära patienter. Det konstateras att samtalet var specialistsjuksköterskans viktigaste verktyg inom psykiatrisk omvårdnad. Vid granskning inom ämnet kunde det fastställas att det fanns sparsamt med forskning gällande stödjande samtal med suicidnära patienter i psykiatrisk heldygnsvård i Sverige utifrån specialistsjuksköterskans perspektiv. Syfte: Studiens syfte var att belysa specialistsjuksköterskans erfarenheter av att genomföra stödjande samtal med suicidnära patienter som vårdas i psykiatrisk heldygnsvård. Metod: Studien tillämpar en kvalitativ metod med induktiv ansats och baseras på åtta semistrukturerade intervjuer enligt Graneheims och Lundmans (2004) kvalitativa innehållsanalys. För att inkluderas i studien skulle specialistsjuksköterskan med inriktning psykiatrisk vård ha erfarenhet av stödjande samtal med suicidnära patienter inom psykiatrisk heldygnsvård. Verksamheter bestående av rättspsykiatri samt barn -och ungdomspsykiatri exkluderades ur studien. Resultat: Analysen av datainsamlingen presenterades med temat vikten av ett ömsesidigt möte i samtalet och kategorierna; att vara inkännande, att vara tillgänglig samt samspelets betydelse. Slutsats: För att uppnå möjlighet till ett ömsesidigt möte och ett vårdande stödjande samtal krävs att specialistsjuksköterskor har tid för att kunna bedriva en personcentrerad och patientsäker vård samt för att skapa allianser med patienter inom psykiatrisk heldygnsvård. Det stödjande samtalet styrs av specialistsjuksköterskors erfarenhet och intuition, vilket bidrar till att det stödjande samtalet blir olika för varje individ. Det stödjande samtalet inom psykiatrisk heldygnsvård drabbas om specialistsjuksköterskor inte har någon erfarenhet samt om personalbrist eller tidsbrist förekommer. / Background: Supportive conversations are a tool within the inpatient psychiatric care that is used for the treatment and relieving purpose of suicidal patients. It is established that dialogues were the specialist nurse's most important tool in psychiatric nursing. When examining the subject, it was determined that there was sparingly research regarding supportive conversations with suicidal patients in psychiatric inpatient care in Sweden from the specialist nurse's perspective.Aim: The aim of the study was to shed light on the psychiatric nurse's experiences of carrying out supportive conversations with suicidal patients who are cared for in psychiatric inpatient care. Method: The study applies a qualitative method with an inductive approach and is based on eight semi-structured interviews according to Graneheim and Lundman's (2004) qualitative content analysis. To be included in the study, the specialist nurse specializing in psychiatric care had to have experience of supportive conversations with suicidal patients in psychiatric inpatient care. Departments consisting of forensic psychiatry and child- and adolescent psychiatry were excluded from the study.Result: The analysis resulted in the theme of the importance of a mutual meeting in the conversation with the categories; to be empathetic, to be available and the importance of interaction.Conclusion: In order to achieve the opportunity for a mutual meeting and a caring supportive conversation, the psychiatry nurses must have time to be able to conduct person-centered and patient-safe care and to create alliances with patients in psychiatric inpatient care. The supportive conversation is guided by the psychiatry nurses experience and intuition, which contributes to the supportive conversation being individual. The supportive conversation within psychiatric inpatient care is affected if the psychiatry nurse has no experience and if there is a shortage of staff or a lack of time.

This thesis focused on the situation of family members of persons with psychotic illness, particular on their experience of the approach of the healthcare professionals and of their feelings of alienation regarding the professional care of their family member. A further aim was to explore how siblings who have participated in a support group for siblings experienced their situation. A questionnaire was developed that enabled the aims of this thesis to be investigated (I). Seventy family members from various parts of Sweden participated, and data were collected via the questionnaire developed in study I (II-III). Thirteen siblings who previously had participated in a support group participated in follow-up focus groups interviews (IV). The questionnaire developed was shown to be reliable and valid in these studies (I). In many cases, the participants had experienced an approach from professionals that indicated that they did not experience openness, confirmation and cooperation, and that they felt powerless and socially isolated in relation to the care. There was also found to be a certain degree of association between how the participants experienced the approach and whether they felt alienation (II). The majority of the participants considered openness, confirmation, and cooperation to be important aspects of professional’s approach. The result also identified a low level of agreement between the participants’ experience and what they considered to be significant in the professional’s approach (III). The findings revealed the complexity of being a sibling of an individual with psychotic illness. Participating in a support group for siblings can be of importance in gaining knowledge and minimizing feelings of being alone (IV). Although the psychiatric care services in Sweden have been aware of the importance of cooperating with family members, the results indicated that there is a need for further research in this area.

Bakgrund: 2014 anlände drygt 80.000 flyktingar till Sverige. Dessa individer kan ha varit med om traumatiska händelser vilket i sin tur kan ha bidragit till sämre psykisk hälsa i form av depression, posttraumatisk stressyndrom och psykos. Sjuksköterskor som möter flyktingar med psykisk ohälsa upplever olika svårigheter vid omvårdnad av flyktingar. För att sjuksköterskorna ska kunna optimera vården behövs större förståelse för deras upplevelser av denna patientgrupp med psykisk ohälsa. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att beskriva sjuksköterskors upplevelser att vårda flyktingar med psykisk ohälsa. Metod: En studie med empirisk ansats i form av kvalitativa intervjuer med fem sjuksköterskor inom en psykiatrisk verksamhet. All data analyserades med hjälp av en innehållsanalys. Resultat: Det var flertalet olika upplevelser som synliggjordes i resultatet, vilka utmynnade i fem teman: "upplevelser att tillgodose flyktingars behov", "upplevelser av kompetensutveckling", "upplevelser av kulturkrock", "upplevelser av maktlöshet" samt "upplevelser av medlidande för flyktingen". Slutsats: Två av de fem dimensionerna av sjuksköterskors upplevelser är nya i förhållande till tidigare studiers fynd. Dessa upplevelser är maktlöshet och medlidande som är viktiga att beaktas i sjuksköterskors arbete inom psykiatrisk vård. Medlidandet hos sjuksköterskorna i studien bidrog till en ökad påfrestande belastning, både under och utanför arbetstid. Professionell handledning och utbildning är väsentliga för att underlätta sjuksköterskans vård av flyktingar med psykisk ohälsa. Fortsatt forskning: För att minimera upplevelse av exempelvis maktlöshet måste vidare forskning på nationell och internationell nivå på detta område utvecklas. Detta genom att undersöka på djupet vilka situationer som orsakar upplevelse av maktslöshet och medlidande hos sjuksköterskor inom psykiatrisk vård. / Background: In 2014 about 80,000 refugees arrived to Sweden. Most of these individuals have experienced traumatic events, which contributed to mental illness, example of these diagnosis are depression, PTSD and psychosis. Registrered nurses who take care of this group of patients facing some difficulties in their caring. To optimize the caring there is a essential need of comprehensive for the nurse´s experiences of refugees with mental illness. Aim: The aim of the study is to describe the experiences of registred nurses to care of refugees with mental illness. Method: A study with a empirical approach, qualitative interviews with five registrered nurses in a psychiatric clinic. All data were analysed through a content analysis. Results: The results demonstrated five different experiences of the nurses: "experiences of caring of the refugees, "experiences of the need of skills development", "experiences of culture clash", "experiences of powerless" and "experiences of compassion". Conclusion: Two of five dimensions of experiences are new compare to earlier studies´ approaches: experience of powerlessness and experiences of compassion among the nurses in psychiatric care. Compassion of the nurses contributed to a tension in their own mental health. A professional supervision by the employer is necessary to facilitate the nurses´ care of the refugees. Further research: To minimize the experiences, for example powerlessness, the research should exspand on national and international basis.

This dissertation examines recurrent patterns in the interaction between psychiatric patients and the systems of knowledge and power that constitute them as patients. These patterns are traced both in the historical migmti::m of patients into and out of the asylum, and in the language used by doctors and patients to account for such migration. Transcripts of interviews with patients and case notes written by doctors are subjected to new forms of quantitative analysis and this is used together with qualitative interpretation to reveal the ways in which disciplinary power operates through confession and surveillance to constitute psychiatric subjects in the tension between freedom and incarceration. / Psychology / D.Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

This study is about the exploration of the concept of community, using the Mamelodi Counselling Clinic as the context for the exploration. The members who got involved in different phases in the running of the clinic, went through the process of defining and redefining the concept. This process was based on their experiences and their coevolved reality of what the concept means. These experiences will be discussed and in the end, a punctuated end product of the coevolved meanings will given. Furthermore, an account will be given as to how the running of the clinic evolved with the changes in meaning. The author's perception of the division between clinical and community psychology was altered as a result of the findings in the study and this will also be discussed. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)