| 1. |
- Björkman, Tommy, et al.
(författare)
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Experiences of stigma among people with severe mental illness. Reliability, acceptability and construct validity of the Swedish versions of two stigma scales measuring devaluation/discrimination and rejection experiences
- 2007
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Ingår i: Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1502-4725 .- 0803-9488. ; 61:5, s. 332-338
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Stigma has been identified as one of the most important obstacles for a successful integration of people with mental illness into the society. Research about stigma has shown negative attitudes among the public towards people with mental illness. Studies so far have, however, put little emphasis on how these negative attitudes are perceived by the mentally ill persons. The aim of the present study was to investigate acceptability and internal consistency of the Swedish versions of two stigma scales, the Devaluation and Discrimination scale and the Rejection experiences scale. Forty individuals were subject to an interview, which also comprised assessments of needs for care, quality of life, therapeutic relationship and empowerment. The results showed that both the Devaluation and Discrimination scale and the Rejection experiences scale had a good internal consistency and acceptability. Stigma in terms of perceived devaluation and discrimination was found to be most markedly associated with empowerment and rejection experiences was found to be most associated with the number of previous psychiatric admissions. It is concluded that the Swedish versions of the Devaluation and Discrimination scale and the Rejection experiences scale may well be used in further studies of stigma among people with mental illness.
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| 2. |
- Björkman, Tommy, et al.
(författare)
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Quality of life in people with severe mental illness. Reliability and validity of the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA).
- 2005
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Ingår i: Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1502-4725 .- 0803-9488. ; 59:4, s. 302-306
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA) is a short interview, which has received a recent interest in research investigating quality of life in people with mental illness. In the present study, the Swedish version of MANSA is examined with regard to reliability, in terms of internal consistency and construct validity. Ninety-two persons with severe mental illness were interviewed regarding quality of life, social network, psychosocial functioning, psychiatric symptoms, needs for care, empowerment and experiences of stigma. Internal consistency was adequate (alpha = 0.81). Positive correlations were found between MANSA and social network, empowerment and psychosocial functioning, and negative correlations with psychopathology, number of needs for care, perceived devaluation and discrimination, and rejection experiences. Social network, psychosocial functioning and beliefs of devaluation and discrimination altogether explained 67% of the variance in quality of life. The Swedish version of MANSA showed a satisfactory reliability in terms of internal consistency. The construct of validity of the scale was satisfactory insofar as associations with validation measures were of considerable magnitude and in expected directions.
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| 3. |
- Hansson, Lars, et al.
(författare)
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Perceived and anticipated discrimination in people with mental illness-An interview study.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1502-4725 .- 0803-9488.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background. Studies on perceived discrimination of people with mental illness are largely lacking. The purpose of the study was to investigate perceived discrimination in a sample of users in contact with mental health services in Sweden. Methods. Interviews were conducted with 156 users, asking for perceived and anticipated discrimination during the last 2 years. Background characteristics were also collected. Results. Perceived discrimination was common. Highest frequencies were reported regarding family (54%), avoidance by people who knew about the mental illness (53%) and in making or keeping friends (50%). A majority of those anticipating discrimination regarding job or education seeking, or starting a close relationship did not report having been discriminated in these areas. Previous hospitalizations were associated with discrimination, and age with anticipated discrimination. Conclusions. Public stigma and self-stigma have been reported to have a number of negative consequences for people with mental illness. Discrimination is part of this complex situation and this study showed that this largely affects a number of individual life areas posing an obstacle for social integration. Anticipated discrimination or self-stigma was also prevalent and it is pointed out that this to a great extent is an obstacle on its own without being promoted by actual experiences of discrimination.
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| 4. |
- Svedberg, Petra, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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A 2-year follow-up study of people with severe mental illness involved in psychosocial rehabilitation
- 2014
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Ingår i: Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. - London : Informa UK Limited. - 1502-4725 .- 0803-9488. ; 68:6, s. 401-408
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Backgrounds. A focus on psychiatric rehabilitation in order to support recovery among persons with severe mental illness (SMI) has been given great attention in research and mental health policy, but less impact on clinical practice. Despite the potential impact of psychiatric rehabilitation on health and wellbeing, there is a lack of research regarding the model called the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Approach from Boston University (BPR). Aim: The aim was to investigate the outcome of the BPR intervention regarding changes in life situation, use of healthcare services, quality of life, health, psychosocial functioning and empowerment. Methods: The study has a prospective longitudinal design and the setting was seven mental health services who worked with the BPR in the county of Halland in Sweden. In total, 71 clients completed the assessment at baseline and of these 49 completed the 2-year follow-up assessments. Results: The most significant finding was an improved psychosocial functioning at the follow-up assessment. Furthermore, 65% of the clients reported that they had mainly or almost completely achieved their self-formulated rehabilitation goals at the 2-year follow-up. There were significant differences with regard to health, empowerment, quality of life and psychosocial functioning for those who reported that they had mainly/completely had achieved their self-formulated rehabilitation goals compared to those who reported that they only had to a small extent or not at all reached their goals. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the BPR approach has impact on clients' health, empowerment, quality of life and in particular concerning psychosocial functioning.
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| 5. |
- Svensson, Bengt, et al.
(författare)
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How mental health literacy and experience of mental illness relate to stigmatizing attitudes and social distance towards people with depression or psychosis: A cross-sectional study.
- 2016
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Ingår i: Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1502-4725 .- 0803-9488. ; 70:4, s. 309-313
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Evidence suggests that mental health literacy among the public is low, and stigmatizing attitudes are widespread. So far the effects of anti-stigma campaigns are small, and studies demonstrate that negative attitudes have been quite stable through recent decades. Aims To investigate the relationships between mental health literacy, experience of mental illness and stigmatizing attitudes/social distance towards people with depression or psychosis. Methods A cross-sectional study in which staff members from public services in Sweden (n = 1027) completed questionnaires covering demographic data, self-reported experience of mental illness, identification of a vignette for depression or psychosis, beliefs about helpful interventions for the illness presented in the vignette, and attitudes and social distance towards people with the illness. Results About 50% of participants could identify depression and less than 40% psychosis. A higher degree of mental health literacy was related to less stigma and social distance but mainly towards people with depression. A similar relationship was shown for having personal or family experience of mental illness and attitudes/social distance. Negative attitudes and social distance were significantly higher in all aspects measured towards a person with psychosis than a person with depression. Conclusions A higher degree of mental health literacy relates to more positive attitudes and less desire for social distance towards people with depression. The differences between depression and psychosis should be taken into account in anti-stigma interventions.
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| 6. |
- Svensson, Bengt, et al.
(författare)
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Outcomes of clients in need of intensive team care in Flexible Assertive Community Treatment in Sweden
- 2018
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Ingår i: Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0803-9488 .- 1502-4725. ; 72:3, s. 226-231
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (Flexible ACT) has been implemented in Sweden during recent years due to increasing interest in integrated services for people with severe mental illness. To date, few studies have been done on Flexible ACT effectiveness. Aims: The overall aim of this study was to explore the extent to which clients assigned to the Flexible ACT board for ACT intensive care were stabilized with improved everyday functioning, social outcomes, and changes in healthcare use. Methods: Ninety-three participants with psychosis, in need of ACT from six newly started Flexible ACT teams, were included. Data were collected using the Social Outcome Index scale (SIX), Practical and Social Functioning Scale, and a healthcare usage questionnaire. Results: There was a significant positive change in everyday functioning and in the SIX-item ‘friendship’ at 18-months follow-up. A positive correlation was also found between everyday functioning and the SIX-item ‘friendship’ and a negative correlation between duration of ACT and everyday functioning. A significant increase in number of inpatient hospital days and psychiatric outpatient visits also occurred. Conclusion: Clients with psychosis who need ACT may benefit from Flexible ACT through improved social functioning. Being involved in meaningful activities and supported by others are key aspects of recovering from mental illness and are enhanced by Flexible ACT.
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| 7. |
- Svensson, Bengt, et al.
(författare)
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Satisfaction with mental health services. A user participation approach.
- 2006
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Ingår i: Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1502-4725 .- 0803-9488. ; 60:5, s. 365-371
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- User participation in the delivery and evaluation of mental health services has become an important policy element in the development of these services. An important area where user involvement could be especially useful concerns satisfaction with care, which has become considered an important indicator of service excellence. The overall aim of this study was to investigate user satisfaction with mental health services in a county in southern Sweden. The study design used persons with own experience from being a patient or a close relative to a patient as active participants in the data collection. A group of 20 persons with experience from being users or relatives to users were recruited and trained to be interviewers in the study. Together they performed 227 interviews focusing user satisfaction regarding both inpatient and outpatient care. The interview had one quantitative part and one qualitative part. The interviewers' experiences from participation in the project were evaluated through focus groups. In these groups, the topics were the interviewers' impression of the content of their interviews and their experience from being an interviewer. The analysis showed a high satisfaction with care in the quantitative part. In the qualitative part a significant dissatisfaction with many aspects of the care were expressed. The focus group evaluation largely supported the findings from the analyses of the dataset. Experiences of being user and interviewer were generally positive and perceived as rewarding.
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