The influence of Sociocultural Paradigms

This research examined the influence of sociocultural paradigms of menopause on attitudes toward menopause. Five hundred eighty-one women and men, between the ages of 18 and 85, were assigned to one of three groups distinguished by the context within which they expressed their attitudes toward menopause. The contexts were designed to reflect particular paradigms: one group described their attitudes toward three medical problems, including menopause; a second group described their attitudes toward three life transitions, including menopause; and a third group described their attitudes toward three symbols of aging, including menopause. Positive and negative subscales of the attitude questionnaires for menopause were analyzed for context and age/experience. Results indicated that the medical context elicited significantly more negative and fewer positive attitudes than did the other two contexts, particularly among older participants. In general, women's attitudes were more positive than were men's, and attitudes became increasingly positive with age and/or experience. The discussion includes the potential role of attitudes as mediating the impact of sociocultural paradigms on experience and behavior.     

Under Reporting of Suicide Ideation in US Army Population Screening: An Ongoing Challenge

Previous research in US Army Soldiers shows rates of mental health concerns as two to four times higher on anonymous surveys than on postdeployment health assessments. In this study, Soldiers presenting for health reassessment completed two questionnaires on suicide risk factors: one linked to the health assessment and one anonymous. About 5.1% of respondents reported suicide ideation on the anonymous questionnaire, 3.0% on the linked questionnaire, and 0.9% on the health reassessment. About 56.4% who reported suicide ideation anonymously told nobody of their thoughts. Current screening procedures identify only one in seven Soldiers experiencing suicide ideation and highlight the need for alternative risk‐detection strategies.     

Occupational Therapy Interventions in Mental Health: A Literature Review in Search of Evidence

A growing body of literature sheds light on occupational therapy (OT) interventions and outcomes in adult mental health. Although this research has not developed to the point where a systematic review is warranted, a synthesis of these findings is needed. This article provides an overview of OT interventions in adult mental health and their documented outcomes. Fifty peer-reviewed intervention studies targeting adults with mental illness were reviewed. Seven categories of interventions emerged: employment/education; psychoeducation; creative occupations/activity; time use/occupational balance; skills/habit development; group/family approaches; and animal-assisted therapy. Further research involving rigorous designs is needed to establish a solid evidence base for OT interventions in adult mental health.     

Making the grade: a pilot investigation of an e-intervention to increase mental health literacy and help-seeking intentions among international university students

ABSTRACT

International students may have less understanding and awareness of mental health issues and appear unlikely to seek help. The purpose of the current study was to construct and evaluate a brief online educational intervention designed to increase mental health literacy (MHL) and help-seeking among international tertiary students studying in Australia. The intervention was tested among 45 international tertiary students (undergraduate and postgraduate), who were randomly allocated to control and intervention conditions. The intervention led to significant improvements in help-seeking attitudes, particularly in stigmatising attitudes. No significant effects were found for MHL or help-seeking intentions. A brief educational intervention can improve help-seeking attitudes among international tertiary students. Future research may focus on establishing optimal intervention dosage.     

Assessing Suicidal Potential by Time Perspective*

ABSTRACT: The clinical assessment of the high risk suicidal person continues to be a major challenge for diagnosticians. Based on the parameter of time as a major differentiating variable, a semiprojective psychological technique—the Time Questionnaire (TQ)—has been developed. The present study reports findings elaborating and extending a pilot study using the TQ. The TQ consistently and significantly differentiates suicidal high risk patients from both nonclinical controls and from such clinical comparison groups as nonsuicidal psychiatric patients and suicidal low risk patients. Such factors as race, patient status, and psychiatric diagnosis were controlled and found to have no significant effect on results. Age was found to affect results only in the population 65 and over. Reliability and normative data based on an N of over 500 persons are also presented.     

WOMEN'S PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT FOLLOWING EMERGENCY CESAREAN VERSUS VAGINAL DELIVERY

The present study was designed to investigate possible differences in psychological adjustment and satisfaction between women delivering vaginally and those delivering by emergency cesarean section. Women's satisfaction with the birth experience was distinguished from postpartum psychological adjustment, as measured by depression, anxiety, and confidence in mothering ability. Twenty-two women who delivered vaginally and twenty-two women who delivered by emergency cesarean section were selected according to stringent criteria, to control for factors known to be associated with positive cesarean outcomes. Significant differences were found in level of satisfaction, with cesarean mothers reporting less satisfaction with the delivery than vaginal mothers. However, no differences were found between the groups on the three measures of psychological adjustment. Under optimal conditions, cesarean deliveries are not associated with adverse early postpartum psychological adjustment.     

Suicide After Evaluation for Involuntary Psychiatric Commitment—Who Gets Them and What Influences Survival Time?

Although involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations are associated with suicide risk, little is known about the relationship between evaluation for involuntary detention and suicide. We analyzed data on 10,082 suicides from 2000 to 2011 to examine demographics related to evaluation for detention and the association between demographics and evaluation dispositions on survival time. Evaluation preceded 11% of suicides; 53.8% of deaths occurred within 365 days, 6.5 times the expected rate. Males and older individuals were least likely to have been evaluated. Minority status and referral disposition influence 30‐day survival time. Risk is highly concentrated in the first year following evaluation.