A formal translation of the Assimilation-Accommodation Coping Scale from German to Dutch

The Assimilation-Accommodation Coping Scale was developed in Germany by Brandtstädter and Renner and applied in the UK and the Netherlands. A formal translation was never reported. Such formal translation was warranted as we found ambivalent language and atypical sentences in the Dutch translation. We therefore organised a formal forwards and backwards translation from German to Dutch. This report gives the details of that process and pr

Professionals’ opinions on support for people with chronic illness in their roles as parents in mental or in general health care

Chronic illness affects a person’s wellbeing and affects the ability to perform the social roles of spouse or parent. When working with people with long-lasting mental or somatic illnesses, social workers and nurses are confronted with needs for support, especially for parents. Although programs are in place for the children of parents with chronic illnesses, specific services for the parents themselves are scarce, as are parenting support courses for professionals. In an explorative study we investigated the similarities and differences between mental health organizations and general hospitals in providing support to parents. Using a cross-sectional design, information on supported parenting was collected through an internet questionnaire. Twice as many professionals in general hospitals can provide support to parents than did those in mental health organizations that were not trained in supported parenting. Professionals in mental health institutions generally reported that the attention paid to the parental role is insufficient. However, professionals in mental health organizations who were trained in supported parenting considered paying attention to the parental role more as a part of their job than the participants from organizations without such training. Further research should expand this first pilot study on the attitude of professionals towards supported parenting

Ouders met ernstige psychische aandoeningen; epidemiologische gegevens

ACHTERGROND Er is groeiende aandacht voor de hulpvragen rondom ouderschap van mensen met ernstige psychische aandoeningen. Weinig is echter bekend over de omvang van deze groep. DOEL Schatten van het aantal ouders van 18-64 jaar oud in Nederland met ernstige psychische aandoeningen, mede om het benodigde zorgaanbod te bepalen. METHODE Door het combineren van informatie uit epidemiologische studies werd een indicatie verkregen over het voorkomen van ouderschap bij mensen met ernstige psychiatrische aandoeningen. RESULTATEN Van alle patiënten met ernstige psychische aandoeningen had naar schatting 48% kinderen. De omvang van deze groep ouders was 0,9% van de bevolking tussen 18 jaar en 65 jaar en dit waren 68.000 mensen voor het jaar 2009. CONCLUSIE Bij bijna de helft van de mensen van 18-64 jaar met ernstige psychische aandoeningen dient de hulpverlening alert te zijn op potentiële behoefte aan ondersteuning bij het vervullen van de ouderrol. Betere registratie van mogelijke problemen in de ouder-kindrelatie is noodzakelijk voor een adequate sturing van het zorgaanbod, zowel op individueel als op macronivea

The estimation of a preference-based measure of health from the SF-36

This paper reports on the findings of a study to derive a preference-based measure of health from the SF-36 for use in economic evaluation. The SF-36 was revised into a six-dimensional health state classification called the SF-6D. A sample of 249 states defined by the SF-6D have been valued by a representative sample of 611 members of the UK general population, using standard gamble. Models are estimated for predicting health state valuations for all 18,000 states defined by the SF-6D. The econometric modelling had to cope with the hierarchical nature of the data and its skewed distribution. The recommended models have produced significant coefficients for levels of the SF-6D, which are robust across model specification. However, there are concerns with some inconsistent estimates and over prediction of the value of the poorest health states. These problems must be weighed against the rich descriptive ability of the SF-6D, and the potential application of these models to existing and future SF-36 data set

The protocol for positive body experience (PBE); introducing a psychomotor therapy intervention based on positive body exposure targeting negative body image in eating disorders

Negative body experience is a core characteristic of eating disorders, and poses a serious risk factor for its development, maintenance and relapse. This underlines the importance of specific therapeutic attention to body experience. In the past ten years a body-oriented treatment protocol with the focus on positive body exposure, called 'Protocol Positive body experience' has been developed. The aim of this paper is to describe the scientific basis of the protocol and to give an impression of its content and structure, illustrated by clinical case vignettes. An important and innovative aspect of the protocol is to enhance not only aesthetic, but also functional and tactile body experience. The protocol enables body-oriented therapists and psychomotor therapists to treat negative body experience in an evidence-based way and facilitates further research to validate the effect of positive body exposure

Strategies for parenting by mothers and fathers with a mental illness

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: The combination of coping with their mental health problems and caring for children makes parents vulnerable. Family-centred practice can help to maintain and strengthen important family relationships, and to identify and enhance the strengths of a parent with a mental illness, all contributing to the recovery of the person with the mental illness. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO THE EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Taking the strength and the opportunities formulated by parents themselves as a starting point is fairly new. Parents with severe mental illness find strength for parenting in several ways. They feel responsible, and this helps them to stay alert while parenting, whereas parenthood also offers a basis for social participation through school contacts and the child's friendships. Dedication to the parent role provides a focus; parents develop strengths and skills as they find a balance between attending to their own lives and caring for their children; and parenting prompts them to find adequate sources of social support. In this study these strategies were found to be the fundamentals of recovery related to parenting. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Nurses can support and coach patients who are identified as parents, and self-chosen parenting related goals are set and addressed. A family-focused approach by nurses can be used to prevent problems for children and their families, identify their strengths as well as vulnerabilities, and address the challenges to build resilience. ABSTRACT: Introduction Understanding of the problems of parents with mental illness is growing. Gaining insight into strategies for parenting, while taking the opportunities formulated by these parents themselves as a starting point is fairly new. Question What are the strategies of parents with a mental illness to be successful? Method Experiences of 19 mothers and eight fathers with a mental illness were explored with in-depth interviews. Data were content analysed, using qualitative methods. Results Next to feelings of inadequacy, interviewees also describe how children enrich and structure their lives and are not only a burden but serve as distraction from problems. Developing activities that interest both child and parent provides avenues for emerging strength. Mental illness constrains fathers, but also gives opportunities to develop a meaningful relation with their children. Discussion Strategies like being fully dedicated to the parental role, finding a balance between attention for one's own life and parenting and finding adequate sources of support are found to be fundamental for recovery in the parent role. Implications for practice Peer groups can be of valuable help and mental health workers can support parents to set self-chosen parenting related goals