Biology and mental illness: a historical perspective

A century ago, psychiatrists understood women's susceptibility to mental illness in terms of their unique biology. Although contemporary physicians certainly do not share late 19th-century psychiatrists' biases about women and the social order, the similarities between today's emphasis on women's biology and earlier explanations of the relationship between women's biology and mental illness bear investigation. This paper reviews the history of medical ideas about the connection between women's reproductive organs and their mental health and questions modern assumptions about that connection.     

Genetic discrimination and mental illness: a case report

With advances in genetic technology, there are increasing concerns about the way in which genetic information may be abused, particularly in people at increased genetic risk of developing certain disorders. In a recent case in Hong Kong, the court ruled that it was unlawful for the civil service to discriminate in employment, for the sake of public safety, against people with a family history of mental illness. The plaintiffs showed no signs of any mental health problems and no genetic testing was performed. This was the first case concerning genetic discrimination in common law jurisdictions, therefore the court's judgment has implications for how genetic discrimination cases may be considered in the future. The court considered it inappropriate to apply population statistics or lifetime risks to individuals while examining fitness for work. It recommended an individualised assessment of specific risks within the job, relative to other risks posed by that workplace.     

Verbal autopsy: a tool for determining cause of death in a community

Verbal autopsy was used to determine causes of death in 239 children under the age of 5 years. The diagnosis derived from verbal autopsy was corroborated with hospital diagnosis in 39 cases. There was concurrence of diagnosis in 72% of the cases. Using the diagnosis of bronchopneumonia to validate the method, verbal autopsy was found to have a sensitivity of 71%, specificity of 92%, a positive predictive value of 85%. Reliability index of agreement was 0.654. Recall period up to 29 months after death was found to be reliable.     

肇事肇祸危险度与重性精神病患者精神症状和社会功能的相关性分析

目的:探讨肇事肇祸危险度与重性精神病患者精神症状和社会功能的相关性分析。方法:选取749名重性精神病患者,采用肇事肇祸危险性评估表、简明精神病量表(BPRS)、社会功能缺陷筛选量表(SDSS)对其进行问卷调查,分析不同肇事肇祸危险度与其之间的得分差异。结果:749名重性精神病患者肇事肇祸危险度≥3级(高危患者)的检出率为16.96%;高危患者的BPRS得分(41.98±11.99),显著高于肇事肇祸危险度≤2级(低危患者)的(38.21±12.16);高危患者SDSS得分(9.67±2.94),显著地高于低危患者(8.38±3.12)。结论:肇事肇祸危险度越高精神症状和社会功能受损程度越重,肇事肇祸危险度与精神症状和社会功能受损程度存在相关性。     

精神康复知识宣教与精神疾病应对方式的调查研究

目的调查精神康复知识普及情况与应对方式的相关因素,为开展宣教提供理论依据。方法用整群随机抽样法在全市3区4县发放问卷,采用自行设计的问卷进行调查。结果文化程度较高者精神康复知识正确度较高(χ2=20.19,P<0.05)。结论应加大精神康复知识宣传力度,实现全程干预,降低精神疾病复发率。     

Effectiveness of a Mobile Outreach and Crisis Services unit in reducing psychiatric symptoms in a population of homeless persons with severe mental illness

The purpose of this study was to use a time-lag design to evaluate the effectiveness of a Mobile Outreach and Crisis Services unit in remitting psychiatric symptomatology, improving global functioning, and decreasing homelessness in a population of homeless, severely mentally ill residing in a mid-sized urban center. Using a time-lag study design, two groups of subjects--25 individuals before receiving services (control group) and 25 individuals after receiving services (experimental group)--were contrasted across outcome measures. The results indicate that a MOCS unit utilizing a Program for Assertive Community Treatment mode was effective in significantly decreasing psychiatric symptomatology, reducing homelessness, and increasing global functioning. If carefully implemented and interpreted, a time-lag design may be a means of providing valuable feedback and information in a timely manner.