Managing Uncertainty in Mental Health Care


Book Description

"The degree of complexity of the brain, mind and the environments in which humans live, would predict that mental health clinicians work in a perpetual state of uncertainty. That prediction would be wrong. To the contrary, in clinical practice our brains exhibit the same pedestrian bias towards irrational certainty. 1-5 Given the degree of complexity in the field of mental health, it is remarkable that we clinicians can assist anyone at all. Our professional training ratifies the scientific method in an attempt to protect us and those we treat from unwarranted certainty. Current training, however, appears to be inadequate to this task. The assessment and management of mental disorders, across specialists and non-specialists alike, is associated with ubiquitous feelings of certainty. Feeling certain despite the degree of inherent complexity and ambiguity. Feeling certain despite the rudimentary state of empirical knowledge. Feeling certain despite the absence of technologically objective methods to assist assessment or evaluate treatment results"--




Managing Uncertainty in Mental Health Care


Book Description

As the profound contribution of mental illness to disability, morbidity, and mortality has gained acceptance, mental health has grown into a global priority. One in five experience mental illness in their lifetime, and those who suffer are coming forward in unprecedented numbers. As more people seek care for themselves and others, providers are increasingly unable to meet the demand through existing systems and mental health care approaches. In Managing Uncertainty in Mental Health Care, Drs. Patricia Rockman and José Silveira critically examine core assumptions informing the primary approaches currently used to assess mental illness in clinical settings, with an emphasis on clinician certainty. They illustrate how current diagnostic frameworks obscure clinician uncertainty while encouraging overconfidence and go on to consider potential strategies for lessening the impact of inevitable errors. Ultimately, this book makes a case for acknowledging the fallibility of clinical judgment, independent of competence and experience, and the need to modify approaches to mental health care so that they align with the irreducible uncertainty of the domain. By exploring emerging transdiagnostic approaches to mental health care in terms of their alignment with irreducible uncertainty, Rockman and Silveira make space for error and offer clinicians a novel way to advance the fundamental aim of mental health care: to reduce the harm and suffering of all.




Understanding and Managing Uncertainty in Healthcare


Book Description

Through one theoretical paper and empirical studies of contemporary examples of healthcare related uncertainties and their management, this collection articulates the different ways in which uncertainty may be articulated, enacted and experienced. Considers the role of ‘implicit normativity’ in masking and containing potential ethical uncertainty Presents core analytical strands: (1) conceptualising uncertainty; (2) intersections of uncertainty with aspects of care; (3) managing uncertainty; and (4) structural constraints, economic austerity and uncertainty work Reflects on the methodological and theoretical stances used to think sociologically about uncertainty in healthcare Considers the implications of the insights gained for ‘synthesising certainty’ in practice and for future research in this area




Managing Uncertainty in Mental Health Care


Book Description

"The degree of complexity of the brain, mind and the environments in which humans live, would predict that mental health clinicians work in a perpetual state of uncertainty. That prediction would be wrong. To the contrary, in clinical practice our brains exhibit the same pedestrian bias towards irrational certainty. 1-5 Given the degree of complexity in the field of mental health, it is remarkable that we clinicians can assist anyone at all. Our professional training ratifies the scientific method in an attempt to protect us and those we treat from unwarranted certainty. Current training, however, appears to be inadequate to this task. The assessment and management of mental disorders, across specialists and non-specialists alike, is associated with ubiquitous feelings of certainty. Feeling certain despite the degree of inherent complexity and ambiguity. Feeling certain despite the rudimentary state of empirical knowledge. Feeling certain despite the absence of technologically objective methods to assist assessment or evaluate treatment results"--




Comprehensive Guide to Agranulocytosis: Understanding, Management, and Holistic Care


Book Description

Explore the intricacies of agranulocytosis in this comprehensive guide, delving into its nuances, effective management strategies, and holistic care approaches. This in-depth resource offers a meticulous understanding of agranulocytosis, unveiling its etiology, risk factors, and intricate pathophysiology. Discover a thorough examination of the role of granulocytes, genetic predispositions, and the diverse array of drug-induced and non-drug-induced causes contributing to this condition. Unravel the complexities through detailed insights into signs, symptoms, and associated infections, shedding light on the diagnostic approaches and differential diagnoses crucial for accurate identification. This treatise elucidates immediate care and supportive measures while delving into pharmacological interventions, emphasizing the pivotal role of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), antibiotic prophylaxis, and other therapeutic modalities. Additionally, it explores the potential complications, prognosis, and long-term outcomes associated with agranulocytosis. Embrace a holistic perspective with an exploration of psychological impacts, coping strategies, and supportive care, augmenting traditional medical interventions. Dive into the realm of integrative medicine and complementary therapies like yoga, meditation, and exercise, understanding their role in fortifying physical resilience and reducing stress. Navigating herbal and alternative remedies alongside conventional treatments is meticulously addressed, emphasizing caution, consultation, and the potential benefits these adjunctive measures may offer. Embark on a comprehensive journey encompassing nutrition, prevention strategies, advancements in research, and the role of mental well-being in managing agranulocytosis. This guide amalgamates medical intricacies with holistic perspectives, offering a nuanced approach to understanding, managing, and embracing holistic care in the realm of agranulocytosis.




Modes of Uncertainty


Book Description

Modes of Uncertainty offers groundbreaking ways of thinking about danger, risk, and uncertainty from an analytical and anthropological perspective. Our world, the contributors show, is increasingly populated by forms, practices, and events whose uncertainty cannot be reduced to risk—and thus it is vital to distinguish between the two. Drawing the lines between them, they argue that the study of uncertainty should not focus solely on the appearance of new risks and dangers—which no doubt abound—but also on how uncertainty itself should be defined, and what the implications might be for policy and government. Organizing contributions from various anthropological subfields—including economics, business, security, humanitarianism, health, and environment—Limor Samimian-Darash and Paul Rabinow offer new tools with which to consider uncertainty, its management, and the differing modes of subjectivity appropriate to it. Taking up policies and experiences as objects of research and analysis, the essays here seek a rigorous inquiry into a sound conceptualization of uncertainty in order to better confront contemporary problems. Ultimately, they open the way for a participatory anthropology that asks crucial questions about our contemporary state.




Understanding Mental Distress


Book Description

This timely analysis sets out the full impacts of policy reform, austerity and marketisation on our country's mental health services.




Management and Administration Skills for the Mental Health Professional


Book Description

Psychologists receive several years of specialized study on the brain, behavior, and mental health, but despite the fact that over half ultimately end up in administrative or managerial roles, they receive no formalized training in the skills necessary to be successful in these roles. This book is the first of its kind to target the managerial and administrative skills necessary for the mental health professional. The book discusses practical information such as how to deal with personnel issues, how to set budgets and allocate resources, and how to document progress and maintain schedules in the domains of private practice, hospitals, government agencies, and universities. Chapter authors are well-known and successful psychologists within these settings and include Raymond Fowler, past president of the American Psychological Association.




The Sociology of Healthcare Safety and Quality


Book Description

The Sociology of Healthcare Safety and Quality presents a series of research-informed readings on the sociological contributions of technologies, practices, experiences, and organizational quality and safety across a range of healthcare contexts. Represents the first collection of peer-reviewed research articles showcasing ways that sociology can contribute to the ongoing policy concern of healthcare safety and quality Features original contributions from leading experts in healthcare related fields from three continents Reveals the state-of-the art in sociological analyses of contemporary healthcare safety and quality along with future directions in the field Offers sociological insights from the perspectives of managers, clinicians, and patients




The SAGE Handbook of Interpersonal Communication


Book Description

The revised Fourth Edition of The SAGE Handbook of Interpersonal Communication delivers a clear, comprehensive, and exciting overview of the field of interpersonal communication. It offers graduate students and faculty an important, state-of-the-art reference work in which well-known experts summarize theory and current research. The editors also explore key issues in the field, including personal relationships, computer-mediated communication, language, personality, skills, nonverbal communication, and communication across a person′s life span. This updated handbook covers a wide range of established and emerging topics, including: Biological and Physiological Processes Qualitative and Quantitative Methods for Studying Interpersonal Communication Interpersonal Communication in Work, Family, Intercultural, and Health Contexts Supportive and Divisive Transactions Social Networks Editors Mark L. Knapp and John A. Daly have significantly contributed to the field of interpersonal communication with this important reference work—a must-have for students and scholars.