Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment Needs Among Youthful Offenders

Abstract Objective In research with community samples, children with chronic physical illnesses have shown elevated anxiety and depressive symptoms, compared to healthy peers. Less is known about whether physical illnesses are associated with elevated internalizing symptoms even among children referred for mental health treatment—a pattern that would indicate distinctive treatment needs among physically ill children receiving mental health care. We investigated the relationship between chronic physical illness and internalizing symptomatology among children enrolling in outpatient mental health treatment. Method A total of 262 treatment-seeking children ages 7–15 and their caregivers completed a demographic questionnaire, Child Behavior Checklist, and Youth Self-Report during a pre-treatment assessment. Physical illnesses were identified through caregiver report. Results There was no overall association between the presence/absence of chronic physical illness and parent- or child-reported symptoms. However, number of chronic physical illnesses was related to parent- and child-reported affective symptoms. Children with two or more chronic physical illnesses had more severe depressive symptoms than those with fewer physical illnesses. Conclusion Having multiple chronic illnesses may elevate children’s risk of depression symptomatology, even in comparison to other children seeking mental health care. This suggests a need to identify factors that may exacerbate depression symptoms in physically ill children who are initiating therapy and to determine whether different or more intensive services may be helpful for this group. The findings suggest the potential utility of screening for depression in youth with chronic physical illnesses, as well as addressing mental and physical health concerns during treatment.

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Predictors of parenting self‐agency among mothers receiving substance abuse or mental health treatment

International Journal of Mental Health Nursing ◽

10.1111/inm.12624 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

pp. 1135-1144

Author(s):

Yui Matsuda ◽

Young‐Ju Kim ◽

Deborah A. Salani ◽

Brian E. McCabe ◽

Victoria Behar Mitrani

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Abuse ◽

Mental Health Treatment ◽

Health Treatment

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Lifetime and Twelve-Month Prevalence, Persistence, and Unmet Treatment Needs of Mood, Anxiety, and Substance Use Disorders in African American and U.S. versus Foreign-Born Caribbean Women

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17197007 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (19) ◽

pp. 7007

Author(s):

Audrey L. Jones ◽

Susan D. Cochran ◽

Jane Rafferty ◽

Robert Joseph Taylor ◽

Vickie M. Mays

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

African American ◽

Black Women ◽

African American Women ◽

Mental Health Treatment ◽

Foreign Born ◽

Treatment Needs ◽

Health Treatment ◽

Caribbean Women ◽

The U.S

There is growing diversity within the Black population in the U.S., but limited understanding of ethnic and nativity differences in the mental health treatment needs of Black women. This study examined differences in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, their persistence, and unmet treatment needs among Black women in the U.S. Data were from the National Survey of American Life, a nationally representative survey that assessed lifetime and twelve-month mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition (DSM-IV) criteria, and mental health service use among those meeting disorder criteria. One in three African American women met criteria for a lifetime disorder, compared to one in three Caribbean women born within the U.S. and one in five Caribbean women born outside the U.S. About half of African American women with a lifetime disorder had a persistent psychiatric disorder, compared to two in five Caribbean women born within the U.S. and two in three Caribbean women born outside the U.S. African Americans had more persisting dysthymia and panic disorder and less persisting social phobia compared to foreign-born Caribbean women. Of the three groups, Caribbean women born within the U.S. were most likely to seek mental health treatment during their lifetime. These results demonstrate, despite a lower prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Black women, that there is a great likelihood their disorders will be marked by persistence and underscores the need for culturally specific treatment approaches. As Black immigrants in the United States are increasing in number, adequate mental health services are needed.

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