Recent research on the contribution of cognitive and social factors to psychopathology has been narrowly focused on isolated cognitive-social aspects of adjustment. This study takes a broader perspective by examining a) cognitive structure in addition to cognitive content and b) general aspects of interpersonal style rather than isolated social behaviors. Maladjustment was. examined with respect to premorbid history as well as current adjustment. The hypotheses were that cognitive integration interacts with cognitive complexity to influence psychological disturbance; that a positive relationship exists between interpersonal flexibility and psychopathology; and that a positive relationship exists between the proportion of ambiguous constructs which they employ and a person's level of psychopathology.

M.A. / This study looks at how our identities are communally formed and shaped within various contexts. It considers how such interaction can create a sense of self that could potentially shift, remain the same or become "stuck" in our experiences of connectiondisconnection. Modernism and postmodernism as two of the main ways of understanding our world/s are considered in positioning this research instance. Furthermore, the field of community psychology and some community psychological models are discussed along with the underlying principles of each. This study looks at identity-formation from a post-modern perspective and assumptions are based on ideas from the field of social constructionism. Such assumptions include the following notions: That our sense of self are manifestations of relationships; that we have multiple possible selves relative to the context; that our identities are evolving products of history and that our sense of belonging and of being separate are elements of identity. Ideas around "mental illness", the treatment system and the labelling of the "mentally ill" are also considered in the processes of identity formation. The aim of this study is to look at all the abovementioned elements in the process of coconstructing a healing community with chronic psychiatric patients, so that, the ways in which we look at ourselves as well as others in the world, could include wider healing self-definitions.

Background: It is now well established that there are core cognitive impairments associated with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. In parallel with our increased understanding of these core deficits, our awareness that mentally ill offenders (MIOs) are at additional risk of cognitive impairment due to an increased rate of traumatic brain injury and substance abuse has also grown. Absent from the literature is evidence of whether these cognitive impairments change over longer periods of time in MIO’s and whether these changes, or baseline abilities, impact an individual’s risk of violence. Furthermore, the negative impact head injury has on an individuals’ cognitive, behavioural and psychological functioning is well documented. These changes can lead to an increased likelihood of violence and crime, yet there is currently a scarcity of knowledge regarding the prevalence of head injury within mentally ill offenders in Scotland and its association with risk-related outcomes. Aims: The aims of the present thesis were to; (a) Examine the course of cognition in N=49 mentally ill offenders who underwent neuropsychological assessment while in the State Hospital, Scotland in 2004-5, and assess whether baseline or change in cognition predicts violent incidents or risk at follow-up, and; (b) Examine the cross-sectional association between head injury, substance abuse and risk-related outcomes of all individuals within the forensic network in Scotland for whom data could be extracted (N=428). Hypotheses: (a) We hypothesized that processing speed, verbal comprehension, working memory, delayed verbal memory, delayed non-verbal memory, impulsivity, inattention and problem-solving would decline over a 10-year period, and that deficits in impulsivity, emotion recognition, working memory and delayed memory would predict patients’ risk-related outcomes in a sample of mentally ill offenders. (b) It was also hypothesized that the presence of head injury and/or substance abuse within patients would predict worse risk-related outcomes, namely: quantity of violent offences, risk of harm to self, risk of harm to others and severity of violent offences. Analysis: We conducted a series of repeated measures MANOVAs, MANCOVAs and hierarchical linear regressions in SPSS Statistics to test our hypotheses. Individuals with a primary or secondary diagnosis of a learning disability were excluded. Results: (a) Our results propose that cognitive abilities significantly change over time (F(1.51, 30.1) = 5.98, p = .011), but direction of change is ability dependent. We found that impulsivity (Effect Size (ES) = .253), inattention (ES = .233), working memory (ES = .288) and auditory delayed memory (ES= .268) worsen over time. Measures of impulsivity and working memory significantly predicted some, but not all, risk-related outcomes, however these effects became diluted once additional variables with shared variance were added into the predictive models. We did not find that traumatic brain injury, substance misuse or alcohol misuse significantly mediated change in cognition over time. (b) In the national cohort study, results suggested that head injury had a significant effect on HCR total scores, F(1,259) = 6.679, p = .010 (partial eta square = .025), violence during admission (χ2 = 5.545, p = .022) and violent offences at a .1 p-value only, F(1,259) = 3.495, p = .063 (partial eta square = .013). Drug misuse only had a significant impact on total violent offences, F(1,259) = 8.933, p = .003 (partial eta square = .033) and nothing else. Furthermore, the interaction between alcohol misuse and schizophrenia also only had impact on total violent offences, F(1, 259) = 7.516, p = .007 (partial eta square = .028). Head injury was not significantly associated with either historical or current self-harm, however alcohol misuse, drug misuse and schizophrenia were. Conclusions: Our results highlight the unstable nature of cognition in mentally ill offenders and the impact that head injury has on violence-related outcomes, over and above substance misuse and a diagnosis of schizophrenia. This has potentially renovating implications for clinical practice regarding risk management, assessment, and treatment planning.

Thesis (M.A. (Social Work)) -- University of the North, 1981 / Refer to the document

A group of hospitalized psychiatric patients and a randomly selected non-therapy group responded to the Schedule of Recent Experiences questionniare. In order to determine the magnitude of life change events for the two groups, Life Change Unit totals were derived for the years 1966 and 1967. To test the hypothesis that patients in psychiatric treatment have experienced a quantitatively significant greater amount of life change than a group of non-therapy subjects, an analysis of variance was used to determine whether there were significant differences between the scores for the two groups. For the year 1966, no significant difference was found between the therapy and non-therapy samples. For the year 1967, there was a significant difference between the mean Life Change Unit scores for the two groups. As a result of these findings, it is concluded that an accumulation of life change events may serve to precipitate mental health change, and that that probability of such health change occurring is significantly greater when there is a clustering of life change events during any given year than when such a clustering does not occur.

Barn till psykisk sjuka kan ha ökad risk för psykisk ohälsa men detta kan uppvägas av tillgängliga skyddsfaktorer. Barn har blivit mer uppmärksammade inom vuxenpsykiatrin på senare år. Beardslees familjeintervention implementeras sedan 2008 i Sverige. Studien undersökte hur vuxenpsykiatrin stödjer barn till psykisk sjuka, speciellt angående interventionen. Tio anställda, utbildade i interventionen, från sju psykiatriska kliniker i Stockholm intervjuades. Materialet analyserades abduktivt. Barns reaktioner och behov visade sig påverkas av föräldrafunktionen och risk- och skyddsfaktorer hos barnet, i omgivningen och situationen. Interventionen upplevdes bli ett sätt att uppmärksamma barn och skapa dialog inom familjen. Samtidigt upplevde deltagarna bristande kunskap om hur man kommunicerar med barn. För att stödja barn som mår dåligt skulle ett samarbete med BUP behövas. Ingen barnpolicy på avdelningsnivå finns och barns delaktighet ansågs låg. Preventivt arbete kan minska riskfaktorerna, men fokus måste också vara att öka barns möjlighet att hantera vardagssituationen, vilken kan förändras av omständigheterna och över tid. / Children of mentally ill parents have a higher risk to develop psychiatric problems but this risk can be reduced by protective factors. In recent years children of mentally ill have received more attention within adult psychiatry. The Beardslee family intervention has been implemented in Sweden since 2008. This study examines how adult psychiatry supports children of mentally ill, with focusing specifically on this intervention.  Ten professionals, educated in the intervention, from seven psychiatric hospitals in Stockholm, were interviewed and data analyzed abductive. Children's reactions and needs was shown to be influenced by the parenting skills and factors of risk and protection within the child, the environment and the situation. The intervention was perceived as a way of paying attention to the child and to create a dialogue within the family. At the same time the participants experienced a lack of knowledge about how to communicate with children. In order to support children cooperation with child psychiatry is required. No policy of how to handle children was available at the hospital units and the participation of children is considered to be low. Prevention may decrease the risk factors but there must also be a focus on increasing the possibility for the child to cope with the everyday situation. This situation may also change depending on circumstances and over time.

Several interventions have been developed and implemented to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness. However people who experience mental illness are still stigmatised in the communities in which they live, as well as in the healthcare centres where they receive treatment. The objective of this study was to critically synthesize the best available evidence regarding interventions to reduce stigma attached to mental illness. This study aimed to provide clinical practitioners with accessible information on interventions to reduce stigma attached to mental illness. Systematic review was chosen as a design method to identify primary studies that answer the following research question: What best evidence is available regarding interventions to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness? A thorough search was done on selected electronic databases: EBSCOhost; Science Direct; Web of knowledge; Scopus; Sabinet; ProQuest; SA Nexus; Cochrane; Google Advance Scholar were searched for primary studies that were published from 2001-2011, including the available 2012 literature and reference lists. The following key words were used in the search: Intervention, stigma, program, mental illness, mental disorder, psychiatric patients. During the selection of studies pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Seventeen studies (n=17) were included for critical appraisal of methodology and quality using standard instruments from the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) the John Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice (JHNEBP) Research Evidence Appraisal Tool and Evidence Analysis Manual; Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. All seventeen studies (n=17) were identified as evidence that answers the research question. Extraction of evidence, analysis and synthesis were conducted by means of the evidence class rating and grading of strength prescribed in the Evidence Analysis Manual (EAM, 2012:70). Findings indicated some interventions that reduce the stigma attached to mental illness. Using Web-based approaches and reading printed educational materials, documentary films and anti-stigma films, live and video performances, and humanising and traditional, naturalistic educational methods are effective in reducing stigma attached to mental illness for health professionals because there were no stigmatising attitude and social distance towards individuals with mental disorders. The German WPA (World Psychiatric Association) “Program against stigma and discrimination because of Schizo-phrenia – Open the doors” is effective in reducing stigma attached to mental illness for the general population. Combining education and video-based contact, in vivo contact and videotaped education, Active Minds and documentary films are effective in reducing stigma of mental illness for students. The use of puppets, psycho-education and contact (via DVD) and public education programs are effective in reducing stigma attached to mental illness for adolescents. The research was evaluated, a conclusion was given, limitations were identified and recommendations were formulated for nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research. / Thesis (MCur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Several interventions have been developed and implemented to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness. However people who experience mental illness are still stigmatised in the communities in which they live, as well as in the healthcare centres where they receive treatment. The objective of this study was to critically synthesize the best available evidence regarding interventions to reduce stigma attached to mental illness. This study aimed to provide clinical practitioners with accessible information on interventions to reduce stigma attached to mental illness. Systematic review was chosen as a design method to identify primary studies that answer the following research question: What best evidence is available regarding interventions to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness? A thorough search was done on selected electronic databases: EBSCOhost; Science Direct; Web of knowledge; Scopus; Sabinet; ProQuest; SA Nexus; Cochrane; Google Advance Scholar were searched for primary studies that were published from 2001-2011, including the available 2012 literature and reference lists. The following key words were used in the search: Intervention, stigma, program, mental illness, mental disorder, psychiatric patients. During the selection of studies pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Seventeen studies (n=17) were included for critical appraisal of methodology and quality using standard instruments from the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) the John Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice (JHNEBP) Research Evidence Appraisal Tool and Evidence Analysis Manual; Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. All seventeen studies (n=17) were identified as evidence that answers the research question. Extraction of evidence, analysis and synthesis were conducted by means of the evidence class rating and grading of strength prescribed in the Evidence Analysis Manual (EAM, 2012:70). Findings indicated some interventions that reduce the stigma attached to mental illness. Using Web-based approaches and reading printed educational materials, documentary films and anti-stigma films, live and video performances, and humanising and traditional, naturalistic educational methods are effective in reducing stigma attached to mental illness for health professionals because there were no stigmatising attitude and social distance towards individuals with mental disorders. The German WPA (World Psychiatric Association) “Program against stigma and discrimination because of Schizo-phrenia – Open the doors” is effective in reducing stigma attached to mental illness for the general population. Combining education and video-based contact, in vivo contact and videotaped education, Active Minds and documentary films are effective in reducing stigma of mental illness for students. The use of puppets, psycho-education and contact (via DVD) and public education programs are effective in reducing stigma attached to mental illness for adolescents. The research was evaluated, a conclusion was given, limitations were identified and recommendations were formulated for nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research. / Thesis (MCur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

There is little understanding of marijuana use by psychiatric patients, specifically regarding the issue why they continue smoking marijuana in spite of the negative consequences, such as being readmitted to psychiatric hospitals due to a diagnosis called marijuana–induced psychosis. Therefore, it is important to understand why psychiatric patients continue to use marijuana, despite experiencing its negative effects on their condition. From the above background, the researcher identified the need to explore and describe the perceptions of psychiatric patients regarding marijuana use in Potchefstroom, North–West Province. The exploration and description of these psychiatric patients' perceptions regarding marijuana use will provide insight into more appropriate care and treatment in order to reduce the readmissions of psychiatric patients due to marijuana–induced psychosis. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was followed in order to give 'voice' to the perceptions of psychiatric patients regarding marijuana use. Purposive sampling was utilised to identify participants who complied with the set selection criteria. The sample size was determined by data saturation, which was reached after ten individual interviews with psychiatric patients. Unstructured individual interviews were utilised to gather data after written approval from the research ethics committee of the North–West University (Potchefstroom campus), North–West Provincial Department of Health, the clinical manager of the psychiatric hospital where data were collected, as well as from the psychiatric patients. After the co–coder and the researcher of the study analysed the data independently, a meeting was scheduled to reach consensus on the categories and subcategories that emerged from the data. The findings of this study indicated perceptions that psychiatric patients have on: the use of marijuana, the negative effects of marijuana use, marijuana use and mental illness, and stopping the use of marijuana. From this results it seems that although some patients realise that stopping the use of marijuana might be difficult, some patients want to walk the extra mile by helping other people to stop smoking marijuana. It is of specific interest that psychiatric patients seem to expect external groups to take responsibility on their behalf to terminate the use of marijuana, namely: foreigners, the police and the Rastafarians. From the findings, literature and the conclusions of this study, recommendations in the fields of nursing education, nursing research as well as nursing practice were made. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

There is little understanding of marijuana use by psychiatric patients, specifically regarding the issue why they continue smoking marijuana in spite of the negative consequences, such as being readmitted to psychiatric hospitals due to a diagnosis called marijuana–induced psychosis. Therefore, it is important to understand why psychiatric patients continue to use marijuana, despite experiencing its negative effects on their condition. From the above background, the researcher identified the need to explore and describe the perceptions of psychiatric patients regarding marijuana use in Potchefstroom, North–West Province. The exploration and description of these psychiatric patients' perceptions regarding marijuana use will provide insight into more appropriate care and treatment in order to reduce the readmissions of psychiatric patients due to marijuana–induced psychosis. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was followed in order to give 'voice' to the perceptions of psychiatric patients regarding marijuana use. Purposive sampling was utilised to identify participants who complied with the set selection criteria. The sample size was determined by data saturation, which was reached after ten individual interviews with psychiatric patients. Unstructured individual interviews were utilised to gather data after written approval from the research ethics committee of the North–West University (Potchefstroom campus), North–West Provincial Department of Health, the clinical manager of the psychiatric hospital where data were collected, as well as from the psychiatric patients. After the co–coder and the researcher of the study analysed the data independently, a meeting was scheduled to reach consensus on the categories and subcategories that emerged from the data. The findings of this study indicated perceptions that psychiatric patients have on: the use of marijuana, the negative effects of marijuana use, marijuana use and mental illness, and stopping the use of marijuana. From this results it seems that although some patients realise that stopping the use of marijuana might be difficult, some patients want to walk the extra mile by helping other people to stop smoking marijuana. It is of specific interest that psychiatric patients seem to expect external groups to take responsibility on their behalf to terminate the use of marijuana, namely: foreigners, the police and the Rastafarians. From the findings, literature and the conclusions of this study, recommendations in the fields of nursing education, nursing research as well as nursing practice were made. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.