scholarly journals On the psychological importance of control and valorisation in psychiatric environments

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
H Müller

Abstract When people suffering from severe mental illnesses are treated in psychiatric facilities, there appear conflicting priorities between security and individual control that are often skewed towards security. As a result, patients admitted to highly institutionalised psychiatric wards do not only suffer from mental illness but also from loss of control as a basic human need (Grawe, 2000). Through this loss of control (e.g., not being able to choose where to go), people become especially dependent on their immediate social and spatial surroundings. From a psychological point of view, the concept of control reflects in concepts such as self-efficacy (Bandura, 1977), internal vs. external locus of control (Rotter, 1966), or environmental mastery (Ryff, 1989), all pointing to a beneficial influence on well-being and health. Yet, depending on their current situation, psychiatric patients may also feel overwhelmed by an excess of choices. Increasing patients' sense of control by offering them small choices during their stay at a psychiatric environment, however, might increase well-being (cf. Langer & Rodin, 1968). This possibility of control has the potential to also activate the feeling of valorisation in patients: As a positive fundamental attitude towards another person, implying appreciation and respect, valorisation poses an important element of psychotherapy (e.g., Rogers, 1951). Especially as people with psychiatric disorders are still stereotyped and stigmatized (e.g., as a homogenous group of “the mentally ill”), actively searching for new ways to foster valorisation in psychiatric environments may further contribute to patients' well-being and individualisation. Transferring the concept of valorisation to physical objects as primes affords an opportunity to extend feeling appreciated beyond immediate social interaction.

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel S Y Cheng ◽  
Candy Lin ◽  
Marcella L Y Fok ◽  
Chi-Ming Leung

This study explores shoplifting behaviour in mentally ill patients, and evaluates the association between shoplifting and different mental illnesses in a local Chinese population. A comparison is made between shoplifting offenders and a matched control group of non-offenders among the psychiatric patients registered at a university department of psychiatry. Major depression, bipolar affective disorder (BAD) and mental retardation (MR) are the most common diagnoses among mentally ill shoplifters, while patients with a diagnosis of BAD or MR are at higher risk of committing an offence than patients with other diagnoses. Bipolar affective disorder has not been described as a risk factor for shoplifting behaviour in the psychiatric literature. Such a possibility should be seriously considered in the psychiatric assessment of shoplifting cases.


Author(s):  
Jayashree Janagam ◽  
K. C. Muraleedharan ◽  
Deepthi Gilla ◽  
N. D. Mohan

Background: Pandemics are known to cause poor mental well-being and an increased risk of mental disorders. The foremost concern emerging from different aspects of COVID-19 is its impact on mental health. There were many surveys conducted on the general population related to the effect of COVID-19 and few studies on its psychological impact but there is sparse literature on how the containment measures affected the psychiatric patients. Objective of the study was to investigate whether the COVID-19 related lockdown affected the subjective mood and behavior of psychiatric patients and their caregivers. The secondary purpose is to assess the difficulties encountered in procuring medicines and the effect of non-availability of homoeopathic medicines if any.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on mentally ill patients and their care-givers in the Outpatient Department of Psychiatry in National Homoeopathy Research Institute in Mental Health (NHRIMH), Kottayam. Respondents were evaluated with a specially framed questionnaire containing 22 questions to assess the effect of lockdown on psychiatric patients and their caregivers, who attended the OPD after the COVID-19 related lockdown. The data generated through the study are analysed and presented in this article.Results: Out of the total 548 participants (M-65.9%, F-34.1%) who responded to the survey, 290 (53%) cases expressed that they were distressed to be under lockdown. 26.5% of the clients reported worsening of mental health conditions during lockdown compared to pre-lockdown. 54.2% of the patients found difficulty in procuring homoeopathic medicines during Lockdown.Conclusions: Authorities should consider the ways of limiting the effects of confinement on mentally ill patients and their caregivers by developing strategies to mitigate the adverse consequence of the pandemic. 


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-112
Author(s):  
Urszula Żmudzińska ◽  
Aneta Bac ◽  
Justyna Szulc

<b>Introduction:</b> Contemporary European understanding of occupational therapy is based on an individual approach to the person, so it is more apt in defining the purpose of therapeutic intervention. Due to the fact that each person has different occupational problems, it is important to identify them well by conducting interviews, establishing relationships, allowing the person to present their point of view, and to use appropriately tailored therapeutic tools and techniques to achieve the designated goal. The purpose of this paper was to present intervention areas for occupational therapy in people with schizophrenia and to show differences in therapeutic needs of people of the same sex, age and medical condition. <br/><b>Materials and methods:</b> The study group consisted of 5 women aged 50-55 years, suffering from schizophrenia and living in the Social Welfare Home. The study was conducted using two questionnaires: EQ-5 and NHP, which illustrated the quality of life of participants in the study. In addition, each person has participated in therapeutic interview, thanks to which occupational problems were identified. <br/><b>Results:</b> Each of the women examined represented a variety of occupational needs, directly related to their needs and problems, which were most relevant to them at the time of the study. The presented occupational needs referred to several life spheres that has often coincided with their current state of health or well-being. <br/><b>Conclusions:</b> Despite similar age, gender, medical conditions and place of residence, each examined person showed different occupational needs. The therapeutic interview turned out to be the basis for identifying occupational needs.


1991 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-131
Author(s):  
Nicole Ricard

Studies of the health and family situation of natural caregivers of the mentally ill do not indicate the gender of the principal caregiver. Consequently, they do not provide details about the health or the social support networks of women, who, in general, are the ones who assume the caregiving role. The purpose of this study of 61 female natural caregivers living with mentally ill patients was to describe the state of health of these natural caregivers as well as their social support from both neighbours and professionals. Another purpose was to verify the existence of relationships among these variables. Four health variables are studied: emotional distress, well-being, perception of general health, and number of health problems. Support from both neighbours and professionals is examined from the point of view of the caregivers' needs and the satisfaction felt by the caregivers, and according to several functions of social support, Descriptive analyses show that at least half of the natural caregivers suffer from emotional distress, diminished well-being, and various health problems. When support from neighbours is considered, the caregivers express numerous needs; two thirds of the caregivers declare themselves satisfied except in regard to their need to socialize. Regarding professional support, caregivers express fewer needs and seem less satisfied by the support received. Regression analyses demonstrate that two of the four predictors of neighbour support contribute significantly, though modestly, to the variations in emotional distress; one of those predictors also contributes to variations in the perception of general health. No significant relation was found for professional support. Recommendations are made for future research and for preventive interventions with women who are natural caregivers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Santi ◽  
Emanuele Leporelli ◽  
Michele Di Sivo

There is an ever increasing interest in identifying the links between architecture and public health and in how urban design can positively influence the latter. The psychology of sustainability and sustainable development represents an innovative research area as a recent contribution to sustainability science and its trans-disciplinary configuration. The research topic deals with the importance and the centrality of the user-centered approach in the observation of the relationships among mankind, technological systems, and built environments, for projects that guarantee the conditions of physical, mental, and social well-being. Starting from the plurality of different disciplinary sectors, from anthropometry and sociology to psychology, “human experience” and user’s expectations are explored, understood, and systematized. The analysis of the relationship between health and urban design has allowed researchers to identify design strategies to improve the level of urban livability. The city of Pisa is the case study; mobility within the city is redefined through various levels of the use of space so that paths and areas of inclusion and socialization are re-valued, while new scenarios for some urban spaces open up. In this perspective, the design strategies synthetically follow two main directions: the re-appropriation of these places by the citizens and, at the same time, the promotion of their well-being from both a physical and psychological point of view.


1998 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Elwood

AbstractObjectives: Drivers with certain mental illnesses are obliged by the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to stop driving and to report their condition. This study aims to quantify the number of psychiatric patients failing to meet the DVLA standards of ‘fitness to drive’ and to record how frequently psychiatrists failed to advise patients of these standards.Method: In this prospective descriptive study, 10 psychiatrists reported by questionnaire the diagnosis and driving status of all patients encountered over a four week period. They recorded their advice given to patients failing to meet the DVLA criteria of ‘fitness to drive’ and advice given when prescribing psychotropic medication.Results: Of 297 patients, 123 (41%) were drivers. 19/123 (13%) of drivers failed to meet the DVLA standards of ‘fitness to drive’. In 9/19 of these cases the psychiatrist did not advise the patient in line with the DVLA guidelines. This was especially the case for alcohol related disorders. Of drivers 49% were prescribed psychotropic medication with potential adverse effects on driving.Conclusions: Driving amongst mentally ill patients appears commonplace. In this study, 13% of drivers were considered by the authorities to be unfit to drive. Psychiatrists frequently used their own judgement when advising patients regarding driving. This arguably contravenes doctors' responsibilities to patients and has potential legal implications for both the patient and psychiatrist.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ms. Sheetal A Lakhani ◽  
Mrs. Shradha R Sakatkar

The prevalence of mental illnesses has been increasing more than ever and the effects are clearly seen in these rising trends. General stress levels of persons are also observing increasing trends accountable in major part to the urbanisation due to rise in competition and other issues. In such urbanised setups, lack of primary care facilities for severe psychiatric patients has lead to additional levels of stress in the relatives who are caregivers of such patients and are leading normally stressful lives. These caregivers are also not aware of the techniques to be used in dealing with patients and this can be an issue especially if patients have aggressive symptoms. Thus, the emotional well-being of the family, especially the primary caregivers, is affected on a large extent. The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between level of life satisfaction, burden of care and caregiving self-efficacy in the caregivers of schizophrenia patients. Data was collected from 35 primary family caregivers belonging to the middle class of outpatients with chronic (duration of one or more year) schizophrenia in particular private clinics and hospitals of Pune. Zarit’s Burden Interview, Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-efficacy (by Steffen et al.) and Life Satisfaction Scale (by Alam & Srivastava) were used to collect the relevant information. The impact of socio-demographic variables such as duration of illness and employment status of caregiver was also considered. Correlational analysis was used to analyse the data. It was hypothesised that caregiving self-efficacy will be positively correlated with life satisfaction and that burden of care will be negatively correlated with general life satisfaction and finally, that caregiving self-efficacy will be negatively correlated with burden of care. Impactful psychosocial awareness and training programmes can be developed to increase the levels of life satisfaction of the caregivers based on the obtained results.


Author(s):  
Andrea Carta ◽  
Elena Carraro ◽  
Simona Adelaide Martini ◽  
Giulia Perasso

Today, gender representation in media and advertising could be responsible for creating and maintaining female stereotypes that have a negative impact on women's psychological and social well-being. From a psychological point of view, women have to face several issues including the objectification of their body, which could have negative effects on their mental, emotional, and physical health; furthermore, the portrayal of the female body as a sexual object could be associated with aggressive inclinations and behaviours against women, but also with cyber-bullying victimization in terms of body-shaming and revenge porn. Finally, it is relevant to consider how the use of gender stereotypes in advertising and media could lead to a distorted perception of gender roles, mostly based on outdated socio-cultural expectations of how men and women should behave and present themselves, that could be passed on to the next generations.


Author(s):  
Vitaly Lobas ◽  
◽  
Elena Petryaeva ◽  

The article deals with modern mechanisms for managing social protection of the population by the state and the private sector. From the point of view of forms of state regulation of the sphere of social protection, system indicators usually include the state and dynamics of growth in the standard of living of the population, material goods, services and social guarantees for the poorly provided segments of the population. The main indicator among the above is the state of the consumer market, as one of the main factors in the development of the state. Priority areas of public administration with the use of various forms of social security have been identified. It should be emphasized that, despite the legislative conflicts that exist today in Ukraine, mandatory indexation of the cost of living is established, which is associated with inflation. Various scientists note that although the definition of the cost of living index has a well-established methodology, there are quite a lot of regional features in the structure of consumption. All this is due to restrictions that are included in the consumer basket of goods and different levels of socio-economic development of regions. The analysis of the establishment and periodic review of the minimum consumer budgets of the subsistence minimum and wages of the working population and the need to form state insurance funds for unforeseen circumstances is carried out. Considering in this context the levers of state management of social guarantees of the population, we drew attention to the crisis periods that are associated with the market transformation of the regional economy. In these conditions, there is a need to develop and implement new mechanisms and clusters in the system of socio-economic relations. The components of the mechanisms ofstate regulation ofsocial guarantees of the population are proposed. The deepening of market relations in the process of reforming the system of social protection of the population should be aimed at social well-being.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document