Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
PLOS One. 2014 June 25; Volume 9 (Issue 6); e97939.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0097939
Shah SK, Van der Bergh R, Van Bellinghen B, Severy N, Sadiq S, et al.
PLOS One. 2014 June 25; Volume 9 (Issue 6); e97939.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0097939
BACKGROUND
North West Pakistan is an area ravaged by conflict and population displacement for over three decades. Recently, drone attacks and military operations have aggravated underlying mental disorders, while access to care is limited. Among patients attending a mental health clinic integrated in district hospital conducted by psychologists; we describe service utilization, patient characteristics, presenting complaints, morbidity patterns, and follow-up details.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
A retrospective study using routinely collected programme data was conducted from February to December 2012. A total of 1545 consultations were conducted for 928 patients (86% females). There were 71 (8%) children and adolescents. An increase was observed from February to July, followed by a decline. 163 new patients (18%) were on psychotropic medication at presentation. The most common morbidity in females (36%) were symptoms of adjustment disorders and acute reactions. Depression and anxiety were common in both genders while post traumatic disorder was frequent in males (21%). Out of the 928 new patients, 639 (69%) had a follow up visit planned with their psychologist, but only 220 (34%) new patients returned for a follow up visit.
CONCLUSIONS
In a district hospital, mental health services managed by psychologists were well attended. There is a need to consider widening the current package of care to cater to the diversity of mental health disorders, gender difference, children and adolescents. Standardized diagnostic and monitoring tools would also need to be adapted accordingly and to assess patient progress. Innovative approaches to tackle the problem of the low return rate are needed.
North West Pakistan is an area ravaged by conflict and population displacement for over three decades. Recently, drone attacks and military operations have aggravated underlying mental disorders, while access to care is limited. Among patients attending a mental health clinic integrated in district hospital conducted by psychologists; we describe service utilization, patient characteristics, presenting complaints, morbidity patterns, and follow-up details.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
A retrospective study using routinely collected programme data was conducted from February to December 2012. A total of 1545 consultations were conducted for 928 patients (86% females). There were 71 (8%) children and adolescents. An increase was observed from February to July, followed by a decline. 163 new patients (18%) were on psychotropic medication at presentation. The most common morbidity in females (36%) were symptoms of adjustment disorders and acute reactions. Depression and anxiety were common in both genders while post traumatic disorder was frequent in males (21%). Out of the 928 new patients, 639 (69%) had a follow up visit planned with their psychologist, but only 220 (34%) new patients returned for a follow up visit.
CONCLUSIONS
In a district hospital, mental health services managed by psychologists were well attended. There is a need to consider widening the current package of care to cater to the diversity of mental health disorders, gender difference, children and adolescents. Standardized diagnostic and monitoring tools would also need to be adapted accordingly and to assess patient progress. Innovative approaches to tackle the problem of the low return rate are needed.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
J. Affect. Disord.. 2023 February 18; Volume 12; 100503.; DOI:10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100503
Carter SE, Sadiq S, Calear AL, Housen TSS, Joshy G, et al.
J. Affect. Disord.. 2023 February 18; Volume 12; 100503.; DOI:10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100503
BACKGROUND
Complex humanitarian emergencies have a significant negative impact on the prevalence and severity of child mental health. The capacity of primary caregivers to provide care to their children is often adversely affected. There is a lack of evidence-based interventions to guide primary caregivers. This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of implementing and evaluating a caregiver group counselling intervention, and provided an indication of its potential benefits.
METHODS
A single arm pilot study was conducted in Northern Iraq. Primary caregivers of a child aged 8-12 years with concern about their child's mental health attended the caregiver group intervention. Quantitative and qualitative outcome measures were completed by caregivers and children at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 12-week follow-up.
RESULTS
The intervention was found to be feasible and acceptable to implement. Twelve participants were recruited, of which ten started the intervention and eight completed the intervention. All eight participants reported finding the intervention helpful. Evaluation of the intervention was found to be feasible and acceptable. Indicative results showed potential improvements across child and caregiver mental health.
LIMITATIONS
Limitations are that the small sample size limits the range of perspectives, lack of control group means observed changes could be due to factors other than the intervention, and potential bias exists due to self-completed fidelity monitoring and possible response bias.
CONCLUSIONS
The caregiver group intervention was feasible and acceptable to implement and evaluate in a humanitarian setting, and showed potential to positively impact child and caregiver mental health, warranting further research on its effectiveness.
Complex humanitarian emergencies have a significant negative impact on the prevalence and severity of child mental health. The capacity of primary caregivers to provide care to their children is often adversely affected. There is a lack of evidence-based interventions to guide primary caregivers. This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of implementing and evaluating a caregiver group counselling intervention, and provided an indication of its potential benefits.
METHODS
A single arm pilot study was conducted in Northern Iraq. Primary caregivers of a child aged 8-12 years with concern about their child's mental health attended the caregiver group intervention. Quantitative and qualitative outcome measures were completed by caregivers and children at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 12-week follow-up.
RESULTS
The intervention was found to be feasible and acceptable to implement. Twelve participants were recruited, of which ten started the intervention and eight completed the intervention. All eight participants reported finding the intervention helpful. Evaluation of the intervention was found to be feasible and acceptable. Indicative results showed potential improvements across child and caregiver mental health.
LIMITATIONS
Limitations are that the small sample size limits the range of perspectives, lack of control group means observed changes could be due to factors other than the intervention, and potential bias exists due to self-completed fidelity monitoring and possible response bias.
CONCLUSIONS
The caregiver group intervention was feasible and acceptable to implement and evaluate in a humanitarian setting, and showed potential to positively impact child and caregiver mental health, warranting further research on its effectiveness.