title: Adolescents' Stigmatisation of Mental Illness

authors: Greenman, Alison Mary

subjects: Stigmatisation

abstract: Stigmatisation of individuals with mental illness has a negative effect on their quality of life, help seeking behaviour, treatment outcomes, and on the individual‟s self-esteem and self-efficacy. The stigmatisation of mental illness has a harmful impact on the individual experience of mental illness and is found to reduce help-seeking behaviour. Adolescents in particular, are theorised to be the most vulnerable to the effects of stigmatisation and vulnerable to mental illness. This makes the identification of possible stigma within the adolescent population the first of several important steps on the road to reducing stigmatisation of mental illness and increasing help-seeking behaviour within this population. This study examined how the knowledge that someone has a mental illness affected adolescent cognitions about that person. The results indicate no significant difference for the total scores on the PPQ for the experimental and control conditions. However, the adolescents did show stigmatisation of mental illness when looking at the individual questions on the PPQ. They saw the interviewee as hostile, less competent as a parent, and as someone they would be less likely to go to for help in solving their problems. This research supports international literature which suggests the most prevalent mental illness stigmatisations are related to dangerousness and competence.

text: Adolescents' Stigmatisation of Mental Illness Stigmatisation of individuals with mental illness has a negative effect on their quality of life, help seeking behaviour, treatment outcomes, and on the individual‟s self-esteem and self-efficacy. The stigmatisation of mental illness has a harmful impact on the individual experience of mental illness and is found to reduce help-seeking behaviour. Adolescents in particular, are theorised to be the most vulnerable to the effects of stigmatisation and vulnerable to mental illness. This makes the identification of possible stigma within the adolescent population the first of several important steps on the road to reducing stigmatisation of mental illness and increasing help-seeking behaviour within this population. This study examined how the knowledge that someone has a mental illness affected adolescent cognitions about that person. The results indicate no significant difference for the total scores on the PPQ for the experimental and control conditions. However, the adolescents did show stigmatisation of mental illness when looking at the individual questions on the PPQ. They saw the interviewee as hostile, less competent as a parent, and as someone they would be less likely to go to for help in solving their problems. This research supports international literature which suggests the most prevalent mental illness stigmatisations are related to dangerousness and competence.

year: 2012

title: The relative effectiveness of alternative treatments for young children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

authors: Heriot, S.A.

abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relative effectiveness of pharmacological and behavioural interventions for young children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. A randomised between-groups (2 x 2) double blind design was used to compare four treatment conditions: (a) 0.3mg/kg methylphenidate and parent training programme; (b) 0.3mg/kg methylphenidate and parent support group; (c) placebo medication and parent training; and (d) placebo medication and parent support group. Treatment duration was approximately 8 weeks. The 16 families who completed the study involved children aged from 3 to 5 years and their parents (typically their mothers). All children met stringent diagnostic criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and five children also met diagnostic criteria for Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Changes were assessed on parent and teacher rating scales that measured problems with attention, activity and impulse control and oppositional/defiant behaviours, direct observation during compliance and attention tasks, cognitive measures (Continuous Performance Task), and parenting and family factors. Analysis of results showed that either active treatment component (i.e., methylphenidate versus parent training) was not better than the other. The combination of active treatment components however led to significant improvements in teacher ratings of behaviour associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and oppositional defiant behaviour with a similar, although generally statistically nonsignificant, trend in parent ratings. There was a significant and large degree of variability in performance on the cognitive measures and statistical analysis of group differences was not feasible; however, examination of individual data indicated increases in sustained attention and ability to inhibit behaviour for all children receiving combined active treatments. During a compliance task, the number of repeat commands issued by mothers decreased and levels of child compliance increased significantly from pre- to post-intervention levels for the total sample, irrespective of treatment condition. The quality of family relationships also improved for the total sample. At post-intervention, 7 out of 16 children no longer met diagnostic criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and 2 out of 5 no longer met criteria for Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Several independent variables, such as gender, marital status, co-existing disorder, severity of behavioural problems, and level of parental warmth and family relationships, were found not to be predictive of post-intervention status. Findings are discussed within the framework of a transactional model. Analysis of the current data set indicates that successful outcomes for young children, at least in the short term, are more likely following combined treatments. Outcomes however may depend less upon the type of treatment per se than on whether treatment leads to changes in critical child-parent interactions, such as improvement in parental attitudes and positive attention towards the child.

text: The relative effectiveness of alternative treatments for young children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder The objective of this study was to evaluate the relative effectiveness of pharmacological and behavioural interventions for young children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. A randomised between-groups (2 x 2) double blind design was used to compare four treatment conditions: (a) 0.3mg/kg methylphenidate and parent training programme; (b) 0.3mg/kg methylphenidate and parent support group; (c) placebo medication and parent training; and (d) placebo medication and parent support group. Treatment duration was approximately 8 weeks. The 16 families who completed the study involved children aged from 3 to 5 years and their parents (typically their mothers). All children met stringent diagnostic criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and five children also met diagnostic criteria for Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Changes were assessed on parent and teacher rating scales that measured problems with attention, activity and impulse control and oppositional/defiant behaviours, direct observation during compliance and attention tasks, cognitive measures (Continuous Performance Task), and parenting and family factors. Analysis of results showed that either active treatment component (i.e., methylphenidate versus parent training) was not better than the other. The combination of active treatment components however led to significant improvements in teacher ratings of behaviour associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and oppositional defiant behaviour with a similar, although generally statistically nonsignificant, trend in parent ratings. There was a significant and large degree of variability in performance on the cognitive measures and statistical analysis of group differences was not feasible; however, examination of individual data indicated increases in sustained attention and ability to inhibit behaviour for all children receiving combined active treatments. During a compliance task, the number of repeat commands issued by mothers decreased and levels of child compliance increased significantly from pre- to post-intervention levels for the total sample, irrespective of treatment condition. The quality of family relationships also improved for the total sample. At post-intervention, 7 out of 16 children no longer met diagnostic criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and 2 out of 5 no longer met criteria for Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Several independent variables, such as gender, marital status, co-existing disorder, severity of behavioural problems, and level of parental warmth and family relationships, were found not to be predictive of post-intervention status. Findings are discussed within the framework of a transactional model. Analysis of the current data set indicates that successful outcomes for young children, at least in the short term, are more likely following combined treatments. Outcomes however may depend less upon the type of treatment per se than on whether treatment leads to changes in critical child-parent interactions, such as improvement in parental attitudes and positive attention towards the child.

year: 1999

title: Disabled Māori and disability support options

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: Maori

abstract: The goal of this research project was to provide information to enhance the development and implementation of an effective model of disability support service provision to Maori with disabilities. This was done by identifying and documenting the needs expressed by disabled Maori and their carers living in the Midland area, and by considering the experiences and observations of a key informant group. From our reading of the literature and the feedback we received from participants, a proposed model of disability support service provision has been proposed.

In five sections, this report begins by defining disability, and also by defining the act of caring for the disabled. Focussing on the Maori experience, obstacles, access to existing support services, cultural barriers, and health policies are discussed. In the second chapter, the research methodology is described, along with how the information was gathered. Following this is the third section which presents the opinions and reflections of Maori with disabilities. It concludes strategically with a view of the ideal community, suggesting possible resolutions, by exposing current flaws and inadequacies. Chapter four records the views and perspectives of key informant/whanau carers who participated in the project. They offer an insightful account of the often unrecognised side of the disability experience. Considering the preceding discussions, the final section develops a model of service provision for Maori with disabilities, and proposes this for effective service delivery.

text: Disabled Māori and disability support options The goal of this research project was to provide information to enhance the development and implementation of an effective model of disability support service provision to Maori with disabilities. This was done by identifying and documenting the needs expressed by disabled Maori and their carers living in the Midland area, and by considering the experiences and observations of a key informant group. From our reading of the literature and the feedback we received from participants, a proposed model of disability support service provision has been proposed.

In five sections, this report begins by defining disability, and also by defining the act of caring for the disabled. Focussing on the Maori experience, obstacles, access to existing support services, cultural barriers, and health policies are discussed. In the second chapter, the research methodology is described, along with how the information was gathered. Following this is the third section which presents the opinions and reflections of Maori with disabilities. It concludes strategically with a view of the ideal community, suggesting possible resolutions, by exposing current flaws and inadequacies. Chapter four records the views and perspectives of key informant/whanau carers who participated in the project. They offer an insightful account of the often unrecognised side of the disability experience. Considering the preceding discussions, the final section develops a model of service provision for Maori with disabilities, and proposes this for effective service delivery.

year: 2004-01-01