ABSTRACT
In 1989 North Carolina began funding a mental health demonstration training and services project to serve severely emotionally disturbed children and youth in the community. During the first two years of this state-university collaboration, consultation and direct services provided by faculty and student trainees have been linked to preexisting services at a mental health center serving three counties. The project has met initial goals of developing new and expanded services, building relationships with other agencies, and integrating university and mental health center staff. More formal process and outcome evaluations are under way. Areas of probable long-standing concern include the need for more cordial working relationships with other agencies and for more participation of parents in treatment and education programs.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Psychiatry/education , Child Health Services/organization & administration , Child Psychiatry/education , Community Mental Health Services/organization & administration , Continuity of Patient Care/trends , Mental Disorders/therapy , Patient Care Team/trends , Adolescent , Child , Combined Modality Therapy , Curriculum , Humans , Mental Disorders/psychology , North Carolina , WorkforceABSTRACT
The psychosocial characteristics of a 1983 population of hemophiliacs were described and compared to the 1978 patient population from the same hemophilia center to document any improvements that newer medical treatment and social programming were expected to bring and to compare the 1983 population of hemophiliacs to the general population. Findings included a reduction in the use of pain medication, an increase in the number of 18-35 year olds in school, and a decrease in the proportion of unemployed to employed workers. This updated profile will be helpful for professionals who are planning comprehensive programs for hemophiliacs, including those who have tested seropositive for AIDS.
Subject(s)
Hemophilia A/psychology , Social Adjustment , Adolescent , Adult , Educational Status , Employment , Health Policy , Health Services Accessibility , Hemophilia A/rehabilitation , Humans , Male , Social Support , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
The incidence and variety of social dysfunction in one hemophilia clinic patient population were identified through questionnaires completed by professionals; comparison with other hemophilia populations, as cited in the literature, revealed only slight differences. All population studies show a high incidence of social dysfunction, with little change through the years. Several apparent reasons for these findings in our patient population are: (a) the full effects of home treattment have not yet been felt or tabulated because questionnaires were completed during transition years when the rate of home treament went for 13% to 48%, (b) the complications of treatment are high, and (c) supportive educational and psychiatric services are scarce. A reassessment of social functioning of our patient population would be appropriate in six months to a year from now, to assess the impact of increased home treatment. Inhibitor patients in our clinic worked as frequently as other hemophiliacs and showed a slightly lower incidence of disability pay. Figures on social problems of inhibitor patients have not been found elsewhere in the literature.
