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Studies in the News for

California Department of Mental Health

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Studies in the News is a service provided to the Legislature and Governor's Office by the State Library's Research Bureau. Weekly lists of current articles related to legislative issues will be supplemented by monthly lists focusing on a specific area of public policy. Prior lists can be viewed from the California State Library's Web site at www.library.ca.gov/CRB/SITN.cfm.

This service works as before:

• In addition to our regular Studies in the News, you may request any of our five monthly "Supplements" in the following areas by sending a reply to this e-mail (Please mark your choices).

• _____ Education Policy

• _____ Health Care Policy

• _____ Children and Family Policy

• _____ Environment, Growth Management and Transportation Policy

• _____ Employment, Training, Vocational Education, and Welfare to Work

• You may get copies of these studies by e-mailing a request to <chenningfeld@library.ca.gov> (Christie Henningfeld oversees the State Library's Capitol office), by calling 319-2691, or by stopping by room 5210 in the Capitol.

• If you would like us to try to get other studies, please e-mail information about each study you want to <chenningfeld@library.ca.gov>.

• Please use the same avenues if you want to be off the distribution lists.

• The list which follows shows only current additions to the collection. If you would like a cumulative list, or a cumulative list for only selected topics, please e-mail <chenningfeld@library.ca.gov>.

HEALTH

MENTAL HEALTH

Mental Health America Attitudinal Survey June 2007, Part IV: Understanding of and Attitudes Towards Mental Illness. Executive Summary. By Mental Health America. (Mental Health America, Alexandria, Virginia) June 2007. 7 p.

Full Text at: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/download.cfm?DownloadFile=FE3B7AAC-1372-4D20-C8C6CCF28E5B821F

[“Mental Health America, the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives, today released a 10-year retrospective study showing significant progress in Americans’ attitudes about mental health problems, but also continued shame and discomfort around these health problems.

While the survey data shows that Americans are much more knowledgeable about the seriousness of mental illnesses, public acceptance of depression and - even more so for other mental health problems (i.e., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcohol and drug problems and suicide attempts) - still lags behind that of other health issues, such as diabetes and cancer.

Americans are split down the middle on their views of suicide: 46% see it as a personal or emotional weakness and 46% see it as a health problem. However, suicide deaths (over 30,000 each year) consistently outnumber deaths attributable to homicide (18,000) by a ratio of three to two - with most suicides attributable to untreated depression. Yet, most Americans greatly underestimate the occurrence of suicide. 63% of Americans believe homicides vastly outnumber suicides, according to the survey.”]

[Request #S607078]

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Can Child Care Impact Risk for Depression? By the FPG Child Development Institute. FPG Snapshot No. 46. (The Institute, Chapel Hill, North Carolina) May 2007. 2p.

Full Text at: http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap46.pdf

[“Almost 10 percent of American adults suffer from a depressive disorder each year; and another 11 percent experience symptoms of depression that significantly impair life functioning, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. These figures are even higher for those living in poverty. A 2004 survey published by the Centers for Disease Control reported that ‘poor persons were four times as likely as non-poor persons to report serious psychological distress.’

Children are not immune. Children living in poverty often have less than ideal home environments, and are at an increased risk for depression in adulthood. Because we know from existing research that experiences in child care can have long-term affects for children socially, FPG researchers wondered if such experiences could temper the mental health impact of lower quality home environments.”]

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“Characteristics of Effective Mental Health Consultations in Early Childhood Settings: Multilevel Analysis of a National Survey.” By Brooke Ingersoll, Lewis & Clark College, and Anna Dvortcsak, Hearing and Speech Institute. IN: Topics in Early Childhood Education, vol. 26, no. 3 (Fall 2006) pp. 142-152.

Full Text at: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=23152062&site=ehost-live

[“In response to (a) an increasing need to support children with emotional and behavioral challenges in childcare settings and (b) the high rates of expulsion among preschool children, mental health consultation in early childhood settings is becoming an increasingly popular intervention strategy. At the same time, there is little agreement or empirical evidence to help early childhood program managers and other professionals make decisions about the most important characteristics and services that mental health consultants should provide.

The current study presents findings from a nationally representative survey of 74 Head Start programs and 655 Head Start directors, staff members, and mental health consultants to use in addressing this gap. Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM), the authors present results suggesting that the single most important characteristic of mental health consultants is their ability to build positive collaborative relationships with program staff members. The frequency of consultant activities was important, primarily because consultants who provided more frequent services were reported to have more positive relationships with staff members. These results were significant even after controlling for program-level characteristics, such as program size, budget for mental health services, and ratio of consultant hours to number of children.”]

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“From Early Intervention to Early Childhood Programs: Timeline for Early Successful Transitions.” By Joyce A. Brandes, University of Oklahoma, and others. IN: Intervention in School & Clinic, vol. 42, no. 4 (March 2007) pp. 204-211.

Full Text at: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=24186411&site=ehost-live

[“More than one million transitions between early intervention services and early childhood programs are facilitated annually for youngsters with special needs. To be successful, these transitions require planning and ongoing communication between all parties. This article substantiates the need for a timeline/checklist and provides a model of sequential steps from onset to completion of the transition process. The Timeline for Early Successful Transition (TEST) facilitates an effective and well-planned transition that supports the child, family, and service personnel.”]

[Request #S607083]

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Time for Reform: Aging Out and On Their Own. More Teens Leaving Foster Care without a Permanent Family. By Madelyn Freundlich, Excal Consulting and others. (The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC) May 2007. 24 p.

Full Text at: http://www.pewtrusts.org/pdf/Aging_Out_May2007.pdf

[“While the total number of children in foster care nationally has been decreasing, the number of youth who leave foster care because of their age—a situation referred to as ‘aging out’—has been creasing. In 2005, more than 24,000 youth left foster care at the age of 18 without a family of their own—a 41 percent increase since 1998. On average those who age out of foster care will have spent nearly 5 years in the system at the time they ‘emancipate’ (the technical term) without ever having been placed with a safe, permanent family of their own. In total more than 165,000 youth aged out of the system between 1998 and 2005….

For youth without any ongoing support, the outcomes are not positive. The Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth and the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study conducted in-depth interviews with youth who had been placed in foster care as a result of abuse and neglect and who subsequently exited foster care to live on their own. Both studies found that these youth often struggle to complete their education, have significant physical and mental health problems but few resources to obtain health care, are unemployed or underemployed and face poverty, experience homelessness, and in some cases come into contact with the criminal justice system.”]

[Request #S607084]

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“Gender Differences in Anxiety and Depression among Immigrant Latinos.” By Ann Hiott, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and others. IN: Families, Systems, and Health, vol. 24, no. 2 (Summer 2006) pp. 137-146.

Full Text at: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pdh&AN=fsh-24-2-137&site=ehost-live

[“This study determines elements of a social history that could assist primary care providers in identifying and treating anxiety and depression among immigrant Mexicans. Cross-sectional data were obtained through interviewer-administered survey questionnaires from immigrant Latinos in the United States fewer than 5 years (N = 150). Interviews were conducted by native Spanish-speakers in community settings. Mental health was measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI).

Mental health in this sample was poor with nearly 40% indicating levels of anxiety and depression that may impair functioning. Social marginalization was associated with higher depression symptoms in men, and separation from family stress was associated with more depressive symptoms among women. When caring for immigrant Latinos, questions about social isolation and separation from family may provide insight into stress and its contribution to clinically significant anxiety and depression. These characteristics should also be considered when offering a treatment plan for anxiety and depression."]

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“Gender Differences in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.” By Miranda Olff, University of Amsterdam, and others. IN: Psychological Bulletin, vol. 133, no. 2 (2007) pp. 183-204.

Full Text at: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=24229375&site=ehost-live

[“One of the most consistent findings in the epidemiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the higher risk of this disorder in women. Explanations reviewed within a psychobiological model of PTSD suggest that women’s higher PTSD risk may be due to the type of trauma they experience, their younger age at the time of trauma exposure, their stronger perceptions of threat and loss of control, higher levels of peritraumatic dissociation, insufficient social support resources, and greater use of alcohol to manage trauma-related symptoms like intrusive memories and dissociation, as well as gender-specific acute psychobiological reactions to trauma. This review demonstrates the need for additional research of the gender differences in posttraumatic stress. Recommendations are made for clinical practice.”]

[Request #S607087]

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States Seeking to Fill Gaps in Mental Health Services for Returning Veterans. By Sarah Steverman, National Conference of State Legislatures. Legisbrief. Vol. 28. No. 493. (NCSL, Washington, DC) June 11, 2007. 2 p.

Full Text at: http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/shn/2007/sn493b.htm

[“A growing number of states are acting to fill a perceived gap in mental health services for members of the military returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Last week, for example, the Texas legislature sent a bill to the Governor aimed at helping returning Veterans readjust to their communities….

The VA is taking some steps to increase the number of mental health services for Veterans. Last week, for example, it announced plans to hire 100 new counselors to provide reintegration counseling services at the 209 VA operated community-based Vet Centers around the nation. But critics say that even with this help, VA mental health services will remain, inadequate. The National Veterans Foundation and families of veterans that have died by suicide after returning from Iraq and Afghanistan say Veterans are often dissuaded from seeking help by bureaucratic obstacles, as well as a military culture that does not give proper credence to the severity of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health needs of those returning from war.”]

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“From Abandonment to Symbiosis: A Developmental Reversal in Suicidal Adolescents.” By Israel Orbach, Bar-Llan University, Israel. IN: Psychoanalytic Psychology, vol. 24, no. 1 (January 2007) pp. 150-166.

Full Text at: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pdh&AN=pap-24-1-150&site=ehost-live

[“This article presents the abandonment-symbiosis hypothesis. This hypothesis pertains to the dynamics of suicide in youngsters who experience difficulties in separation from their symbiotic families. It is suggested that such youngsters have experienced various types of rejection and abandonment in early childhood and have developed insecure attachment styles and insufficient ego functions in order to cope with difficulties. It is also suggested that these youngsters have become scapegoats by their dysfunctional families and that they are held in a symbiotic grip in order to continue to bear the negative projections of their families. As such, they are prevented from developing a proper sense of individuation and autonomy. The sequence that begins with abandonment and continues with symbiosis is a reversal of normal development is critical for the emergence of suicidal behavior. The various aspects of the abandonment-symbiosis hypothesis are demonstrated by case studies and empirical data. A combination of individual and family treatment is recommended as the best approach for the treatment of such youngsters.”]

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“Impact of Team Structure on Achieving Treatment Goals in Systems of Care.” By Eric R. Wright, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, and others. IN: Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, vol. 14, no. 4 (Winter 2006) pp. 240-250.

Full Text at: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=23023074&site=ehost-live

[“Although some evidence suggests that providing treatment via service coordination teams is related to improved outcomes among youth in a system of care, the aspects of team structure that contribute to treatment effectiveness are not well understood. This study draws on team membership and attendance data to identify and describe the structure of service coordination teams in the Dawn Project, a system-of-care initiative in Indianapolis, Indiana. This analysis examines three dimensions of team structure—size, form, and role composition—as well as the effect of these dimensions on the young people's program disposition. The results suggest that service coordination teams are most likely to be effective in achieving the team's treatment goals when they consist of four to eight members and include the youth and multiple family members. More generally, the findings underline the importance of considering team structure as an important force in shaping the effectiveness of service coordination programs and the potential utility of social network methods for studying these effects. The implications for management of service coordination teams and for future research on service coordination teams are discussed.”]

[Request #S607090]

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Caring for Kids after Trauma, Disaster and Death: A Guide for Parents and Professionals. By Anita Gurian, New York University, and others. (New York University Child Study Center, New York, New York) September 2006. 65 p.

Full Text at: http://www.aboutourkids.org/aboutour/articles/crisis_guide02.pdf

[“In recent years, we have learned a great deal about the responses of children, families, and communities to traumatic events. We have learned how disasters victimize children in many ways: they can disrupt families and communities destroy homes and separate children from their loved ones. Children’s responses to trauma differ from those of adults and are based on a combination of factors: preexisting temperament, the nature of the trauma and what services were provided. We know that in times of stress adults and children alike may go through periods of shock, develop physical complaints and become angry, sad and/or scared. Children may also become more irritable or regress in their behavior and worry about the safety of those who care for them. Most children will rebound, but some will continue to have problems, and some may develop problems long after the event….

This guide has been prepared for use with all children and adolescents following a traumatic experience, but users should be particularly sensitive to the reactions of those children who are more likely than others to be at risk for developing problems. This would include children who had physical exposure, who witnessed the event, who wee near the location of the disaster or incident, who had a preexisting mental health issue, whose caregivers experienced emotional difficulty, who had preexisting or consequent family life stressors such divorce or loss of job, previous loss or trauma experience or those who have a limited support network.”]

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“Psychiatric Diagnoses, Trauma, and Suicidiality.” By Silje K. Floen, Haukeland University, Norway, and Ask Elklit, University of Aarhus, Denmark. IN: Annals of General Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 12 (April 2007) 8 p.

Full Text at: http://www.annals-general-psychiatry.com/content/pdf/1744-859X-6-12.pdf

[“This study aimed to examine the associations between psychiatric diagnoses, trauma and suicidiality in psychiatric patients at intake. Methods: During two months all consecutive patients (139) in a psychiatric hospital in Western Norway were interviewed (response rate 72%). Results showed that ninety-one percent had been exposed to at least one trauma: 69 percent had been repeatedly exposed to trauma for longer periods of time. Only 7% acquired a PTSD diagnosis. The comorbidity of PTSD and other psychiatric diagnoses were 78%. A number of diagnoses were associated with specific traumas. Sixty-seven percent of the patients reported suicidal thoughts in the month prior to intake, thirty-one percent had attempted suicide in the preceding week. Suicidal ideation, self-harming behavior, and suicide attempts were associated with specific traumas. Conclusion: Traumatized patients appear to be under-or misdiagnosed which could have an impact on the efficiency of treatment.”]

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“Ever Onward: The Personal Strivings of Young Adults Coping with Serious Mental Illness and the Hopes of Their Parents.” By Catherine H. Stein, Bowling Green State University, and others. IN: American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, vol. 77, no.1 (January 2007) pp. 104-112.

Full Text at: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pdh&AN=ort-77-1-104&site=ehost-live

[“This longitudinal study examined the personal strivings of young adults coping with mental illness, parents' hopes for their children, and attributes that adults and parents give to their strivings and hopes. Findings are based on separate interviews with a total of 60 young adults diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and their parents from 30 families. Adults and their parents generally expressed similar types of strivings and hopes and were persistent in strivings/hopes reported over a 1-year period. Adults were generally more optimistic than parents, anticipating more success in achieving their strivings with less difficulty and effort. Family agreement about strivings/hopes was significantly related to attribute ratings. Findings are discussed in the context of life span development and models of recovery.”]

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[The following studies, reports, and documents have been ordered or requested, but have not yet arrived. Requests may be placed, and copies will be provided when the material arrives..]

“Why Lower Income Mothers do not engage with the Formal Mental Health Care System: Perceived Barriers to Care.” By C. M. Anderson and others. IN: Qualitative Health Research, vol. 16 (2006) pp. 926-943.

[“Studies indicate that there are high rates of emotional distress but low rates of mental health service use among lower income populations, and that this pattern can only be partially explained by issues relating to access and insurance coverage. This study focuses on barriers to mental health care in low-income mothers with significant mood and anxiety disorders, whose own children were receiving mental health services. This study revealed two gaps between low-income mothers and mental health professionals that help explain their reluctance to seek care: perception of the causes of their distress and the perception of the usefulness and intentions of mental health service providers.” (Data Trends, #144)]

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“Employed Parents of Children with Mental Health Disorders: Achieving Work-Family Fit, Flexibility, and Role Quality.” By E.M. Brennan, and others. IN: Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, vol. 88 (2007) pp. 115-123.

[“Work-family fits is an ongoing process which ‘encompasses the tasks and decisions taken on by the employed parent in response to personal, community, and societal conditions to achieve a sense of accomplishment and meaning in blending work and family.’ Although challenging for many parents, this goal can be particularly complex for those who have children with emotional or behavioral disorders. This study sought to examine the relations among work-family fit, flexibility in work and family arrangements, family support, and quality of parenting and work roles.” (Data Trends #145)]

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