Psychiatr Serv 59:835, August 2008
doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.59.8.835
© 2008 American Psychiatric Association
August 2008: This Month's Highlights
|
Medical Care for People With Serious Mental Illness
|
Many of the studies in this issue focus on general medical care for people with serious mental illness. In recent years advocates have worked hard to raise awareness of the 25-year disparity in life expectancy between these individuals and other Americans—a disparity not explained by unnatural causes such as suicide or accidents. Largely as a result of these efforts, general medical care for this group, which was an "orphan topic" a decade ago, has now moved into the mainstream of research and policy initiatives, notes Benjamin G. Druss, M.D., M.P.H., in his Taking Issue commentary (page 833). In the lead article Daniel W. Bradford, M.D., M.P.H., and colleagues present results of their analysis of U.S. population data for more than 156,000 adults, which indicates that persons with psychotic or bipolar disorders have markedly more difficulty obtaining care than persons without mental disorders (page 847). In a study involving extensive interviews with 119 older persons with schizophrenia and a comparison group without the disorder, Ipsit V. Vahia, M.D., and colleagues found that the former group received less adequate treatment for four common medical disorders (page 853). In the third article Ray Block, Ph.D., and a group of Canadian researchers present a financial analysis that sought to determine whether integrating specialized mental health services with general health services, which was done in the province of Alberta in 2003, increased or decreased spending on mental health care as a proportion of all health care spending (page 860). When general medical practitioners in Norway refer patients to their local community mental health center, they continue to monitor patients' treatment. Oyvind Andresen Bjertnaes, M.A., and colleagues conducted a survey of all general practitioners in Norway and found that many reported negative experiences with the centers; their responses indicated areas for improving care and collaboration (page 864). In addition to these articles, the four brief reports in this issue focus on general medical care. The first presents results from a national survey of community mental health centers about the availability of on-site medical screening and medical services (page 917). The second examines perceptions of barriers to medical care among veterans with serious mental illness (page 921). The third reveals a very high rate of psychiatric conditions in a large cohort of veterans with epilepsy (page 925). The final brief report looks at use of cancer-screening services by persons with serious mental illness in a California county (page 929).
|
Mental Illness and Employment
|
Persons with common mental disorders, such as depression and generalized anxiety disorder, and persons with chronic pain conditions, such as arthritis or back problems, are likely to experience some work disability. However, the presence of both a mental disorder and a pain condition appears to have synergistic negative effects on the ability to work, especially among women, according to an analysis of U.S. population survey data conducted by Jennifer Brennan Braden, M.D., M.P.H., and colleagues (page 878). The evidence-based practice of supported employment improves outcomes for people with serious mental illness who want to work. Tina Marshall, Ph.D., and coauthors analyzed data from interviews conducted at nine sites where supported employment was being implemented with varying fidelity. Strong leadership and clinical experience were key factors in high-fidelity implementation. Implementation was slowed down by staff who were doubtful about the principles of recovery and supported employment (page 886).
|
Focus on Substance Use Disorders: Three Studies
|
Katherine M. Keyes, M.P.H., and colleagues analyzed epidemiologic data for nearly 33,000 adults to determine whether disparities in service use between black and white Americans vary by type of disorder. Although white adults were more likely to receive treatment for mood and anxiety disorders, use of substance abuse treatment did not differ between groups, and among respondents with a drug use disorder, black adults were more likely to receive treatment (page 893). A study by Ellen P. Fischer, Ph.D., and colleagues that involved more than 250 adults with schizophrenia showed that ongoing family support reduced the adverse impact of substance abuse on consumers' use of outpatient services (page 902). In 2002 physicians with special training were granted permission to treat opiate-addicted patients in their offices—a move designed to attract more addicted persons into treatment. Cindy Parks Thomas, Ph.D., and colleagues surveyed addiction specialists and general psychiatrists to identify factors that may prevent physicians from using this treatment (page 909).
Related Articles:
-
An Orphan Comes of Age
- Benjamin G. Druss
Psychiatr Serv 2008 59: 833.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
-
Access to Medical Care Among Persons With Psychotic and Major Affective Disorders
- Daniel W. Bradford, Mimi M. Kim, Loretta E. Braxton, Christine E. Marx, Marian Butterfield, and Eric B. Elbogen
Psychiatr Serv 2008 59: 847-852.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
-
Adequacy of Medical Treatment Among Older Persons With Schizophrenia
- Ipsit V. Vahia, Shilpa Diwan, Azziza O. Bankole, Michelle Kehn, Mohammed Nurhussein, Paul Ramirez, and Carl I. Cohen
Psychiatr Serv 2008 59: 853-859.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
-
The Impact of Integrating Mental and General Health Services on Mental Health's Share of Total Health Care Spending in Alberta
- Ray Block, Mel Slomp, Sandy Patterson, Philip Jacobs, Arto E. Ohinmaa, Rita Yim, and Carolyn S. Dewa
Psychiatr Serv 2008 59: 860-863.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
-
Family Physicians' Experiences With Community Mental Health Centers: A Multilevel Analysis
- Oyvind Andresen Bjertnaes, Andrew Garratt, and Torleif Ruud
Psychiatr Serv 2008 59: 864-870.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
-
Employment Outcomes of Persons With a Mental Disorder and Comorbid Chronic Pain
- Jennifer Brennan Braden, Lily Zhang, Frederick J. Zimmerman, and Mark D. Sullivan
Psychiatr Serv 2008 59: 878-885.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
-
Key Factors for Implementing Supported Employment
- Tina Marshall, Charles A. Rapp, Deborah R. Becker, and Gary R. Bond
Psychiatr Serv 2008 59: 886-892.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
-
Service Utilization Differences for Axis I Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders Between White and Black Adults
- Katherine M. Keyes, Mark L. Hatzenbuehler, Philip Alberti, William E. Narrow, Bridget F. Grant, and Deborah S. Hasin
Psychiatr Serv 2008 59: 893-901.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
-
Influence of Family Involvement and Substance Use on Sustained Utilization of Services for Schizophrenia
- Ellen P. Fischer, Jean C. McSweeney, Jeffrey M. Pyne, D. Keith Williams, Albert Joe Naylor, Frederic C. Blow, and Richard R. Owen
Psychiatr Serv 2008 59: 902-908.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
-
Use of Buprenorphine for Addiction Treatment: Perspectives of Addiction Specialists and General Psychiatrists
- Cindy Parks Thomas, Sharon Reif, Sayeda Haq, Stanley S. Wallack, Alexander Hoyt, and Grant A. Ritter
Psychiatr Serv 2008 59: 909-916.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
-
Medical Services for Clients in Community Mental Health Centers: Results From a National Survey
- Benjamin G. Druss, Steven C. Marcus, Jeannie Campbell, Brian Cuffel, James Harnett, Chuck Ingoglia, and Barbara Mauer
Psychiatr Serv 2008 59: 917-920.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
-
Perceived Barriers to Medical Care and Mental Health Care Among Veterans With Serious Mental Illness
- Amy L. Drapalski, Jaime Milford, Richard W. Goldberg, Clayton H. Brown, and Lisa B. Dixon
Psychiatr Serv 2008 59: 921-924.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
-
Psychiatric Disease Burden Profiles Among Veterans With Epilepsy: The Association With Health Services Utilization
- Mary Jo V. Pugh, John E. Zeber, Laurel A. Copeland, Jeff V. Tabares, and Joyce A. Cramer
Psychiatr Serv 2008 59: 925-928.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
-
Use of Cancer-Screening Services Among Persons With Serious Mental Illness in Sacramento County
- Glen L. Xiong, Richard A. Bermudes, Serina N. Torres, and Robert E. Hales
Psychiatr Serv 2008 59: 929-932.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
Get information about faster international access.
Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2008
American Psychiatric Association.
All rights reserved.
Home
| Search
| Current Issue
| Past Issues
| Subscribe
| All APPI Journals
| Help
| Contact Us
|
TOP
Medical Care for People...
Mental Illness and Employment
