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1.
BJPsych Bull ; : 1-6, 2024 May 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38708562

ABSTRACT

Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) (which includes euthanasia and assisted suicide) is available in an increasing number of countries. In Belgium, The Netherlands and Switzerland (and was due to be implemented in Canada from 2024) eligibility includes mental suffering in the absence of any physical disorder. There are particular ethical and legal issues when considering MAiD for those involuntarily detained in prisons and hospitals. We describe four recent cases that illustrate these complexities, and highlight issues of equivalence of healthcare and self-determination against concerns about the criteria for determining eligibility of those with non-terminal conditions as well as the objections raised by victims and families and the demands for justice.

2.
BMC Psychiatry ; 24(1): 120, 2024 Feb 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38355467

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Persons with mental illness as their sole underlying medical condition are eligible to access medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in a small number of countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg and Switzerland. In Canada, it is anticipated that people experiencing mental illness as their sole underlying medical condition (MI-SUMC) will be eligible to request MAiD as of March 17th 2024. To date, few studies have addressed patient and family perspectives on MAiD MI-SUMC care processes. This study aimed to address this gap and qualitatively explore the perspectives of persons with lived experience of mental illness and family members on care considerations during MI-SUMC implementation. METHODS: Thirty adults with lived experience of mental illness and 25 adult family members residing in Ontario participated in this study. To facilitate participant engagement, the semi-structured interview used a persona-scenario exercise to discuss perspectives on MAiD MI-SUMC acceptability and care considerations. Framework analysis was used to inductively analyze data using NVivo 12 Pro. Steps, processes, or other care considerations suggested by the participants were charted in a framework matrix after familiarization with the narratives. Key themes were further identified. A lived-experience advisory group participated in every aspect of this study. RESULTS: Six themes were developed from the patient and family narratives: (1) Raising MAiD MI-SUMC awareness; (2) Sensitive Introduction of MAiD MI-SUMC in goals of care discussions; (3) Asking for MAiD MI-SUMC: a person-focused response; (4) A comprehensive circle of MAiD MI-SUMC care; (5) A holistic, person-centered assessment process; and (6) Need for support in the aftermath of the decision. These themes highlighted a congruence of views between patient and family members and described key desired process ingredients, including a person-centred non-judgmental stance by care providers, inter-professional holistic care, shared decision making, and the primacy of patient autonomy in healthcare decision making. CONCLUSIONS: Family and patient perspectives on the implementation of MAiD MI-SUMC offer important considerations for service planning that could complement existing and emerging professional practice standards. These stakeholders' perspectives will continue to be essential in MAiD MI-SUMC implementation efforts, to better address the needs of diverse communities and inform improvement efforts.


Subject(s)
Mental Disorders , Suicide, Assisted , Terminal Care , Adult , Humans , Mental Disorders/therapy , Canada , Ontario , Medical Assistance
3.
Can J Psychiatry ; 69(3): 196-206, 2024 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37501606

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Individuals with chronic psychotic disorders are overrepresented in correctional facilities, but little is known about factors that increase the risk of correctional involvement. The objective of this study was to compare individuals with chronic psychotic disorders who were released from correctional facilities in Ontario to individuals with chronic psychotic disorders but no correctional involvement on sociodemographic, clinical, and prior mental health-related health service utilization characteristics. METHOD: All individuals with chronic psychotic disorders who were released from a provincial correctional facility in Ontario in 2010 were matched (1:2) by age and sex to Ontario residents with chronic psychotic disorders and no correctional involvement. Covariates included sociodemographic (rural residence, marginalization such as residential instability quintile, material deprivation quintile, dependency quintile, and ethnic concentration quintile) and clinical (duration of chronic psychotic disorder and comorbidities) characteristics, and mental health-related health service utilization characteristics (primary care physician, psychiatrist and emergency department visits, and hospitalizations) 1 and 3 years prior to correctional involvement. The association between correctional involvement and prior health service utilization was measured by estimating incidence rate ratios using Poisson and negative-binomial regressions. RESULTS: Individuals with correctional involvement (N = 3,197) lived in neighbourhoods with higher material deprivation and residential instability, and had a shorter duration of illness, and more psychosocial comorbidities (e.g., behavioural issues and depression) than individuals without correctional involvement (N = 6,393). Adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical variables, individuals with correctional involvement had a higher rate of mental health-related primary care physician visits, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations but a lower rate of psychiatrist visits prior to correctional involvement, compared to individuals without correctional involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Despite higher mental health-related comorbidities and higher rates of accessing acute mental health services among individuals with chronic psychotic disorders and correctional involvement, visits to psychiatrists prior to involvement were low.


Subject(s)
Psychotic Disorders , Humans , Ontario/epidemiology , Case-Control Studies , Psychotic Disorders/epidemiology , Psychotic Disorders/therapy , Mental Health , Patient Acceptance of Health Care , Chronic Disease , Emergency Service, Hospital
4.
Can J Psychiatry ; 69(5): 314-325, 2024 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37885204

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This lived experience-engaged study aims to understand patient and family perspectives on the relationship between suicidality and medical assistance in dying when the sole underlying medical condition is mental illness (MAiD MI-SUMC). METHOD: Thirty individuals with mental illness (age M = 41.8 years, SD = 14.2) and 25 family members (age M = 47.5 years, SD = 16.0) participated in qualitative interviews examining perspectives on MAiD MI-SUMC and its relationship with suicide. Audio recordings were transcribed and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. People with lived experience were engaged in the research process as team members. RESULTS: Four main themes were developed, which were consistent across individuals with mental illness and family members: (a) deciding to die is an individual choice to end the ongoing intolerable suffering of people with mental illness; (b) MAiD MI-SUMC is the same as suicide because the end result is death, although suicide can be more impulsive; (c) MAiD MI-SUMC is a humane, dignified, safe, nonstigmatized alternative to suicide; and (4) suicidality should be considered when MAiD MI-SUMC is requested, but suicidality's role is multifaceted given its diverse manifestations. CONCLUSION: For patient-oriented mental health policy and treatment, it is critical that the voices of people with lived experience be heard on the issue of MAiD MI-SUMC. Given the important intersections between MAiD MI-SUMC and suicidality and the context of suicide prevention, the role that suicidality should play in MAiD MI-SUMC is multifaceted. Future research and policy development are required to ensure that patient and family perspectives guide the development and implementation of MAiD MI-SUMC policy and practice.


Subject(s)
Mental Disorders , Suicide, Assisted , Suicide , Humans , Adult , Middle Aged , Nuclear Family , Medical Assistance , Doxorubicin , Canada
5.
BJPsych Open ; 9(6): e193, 2023 Oct 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37828908

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Excellence is that quality that drives continuously improving outcomes for patients. Excellence must be measurable. We set out to measure excellence in forensic mental health services according to four levels of organisation and complexity (basic, standard, progressive and excellent) across seven domains: values and rights; clinical organisation; consistency; timescale; specialisation; routine outcome measures; research and development. AIMS: To validate the psychometric properties of a measurement scale to test which objective features of forensic services might relate to excellence: for example, university linkages, service size and integrated patient pathways across levels of therapeutic security. METHOD: A survey instrument was devised by a modified Delphi process. Forensic leads, either clinical or academic, in 48 forensic services across 5 jurisdictions completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: Regression analysis found that the number of security levels, linked patient pathways, number of in-patient teams and joint university appointments predicted total excellence score. CONCLUSIONS: Larger services organised according to stratified therapeutic security and with strong university and research links scored higher on this measure of excellence. A weakness is that these were self-ratings. Reliability could be improved with peer review and with objective measures such as quality and quantity of research output. For the future, studies are needed of the determinants of other objective measures of better outcomes for patients, including shorter lengths of stay, reduced recidivism and readmission, and improved physical and mental health and quality of life.

6.
Qual Health Res ; 33(13): 1140-1153, 2023 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37773095

ABSTRACT

Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) was introduced into Canadian federal legislation in 2016. Mental illness as the sole underlying medical condition (MI-SUMC) is currently excluded from eligibility; such exclusion is scheduled to expire on March 17, 2024. Irremediability, capacity, quality of life, autonomy, family involvement, and healthcare system constraints have been debated intensively. Recent studies have not explored the views of family members of persons with mental illness on MAiD MI-SUMC. This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap. Twenty-five Ontario residents who had a loved one with mental illness participated. A persona-scenario exercise was designed to explore participants' views on MAiD MI-SUMC in hypothetical situations. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. A lived experience-advisory panel was engaged throughout the study. Seven themes were developed: Witnessing suffering; A road with barriers and limitations; Societal barriers; The unknowns of mental illness; Individual choices: the life or death that a person wants; MAiD MI-SUMC as an acceptable choice when suffering cannot be relieved with available treatments and supports; and The emotional outcome. Participants constructed their views based on their experience of supporting a loved one with mental illness. MAiD MI-SUMC was perceived as a multifaceted issue, whose acceptability and potential introduction required a concurrent exploration and discussion of the challenges arising due to limitations of the healthcare system, the opportunities and limits to family involvement, and the value of patient autonomy.


Subject(s)
Mental Disorders , Suicide, Assisted , Humans , Canada , Suicide, Assisted/psychology , Quality of Life , Mental Disorders/therapy , Ontario , Family , Medical Assistance , Walking
7.
J Am Acad Psychiatry Law ; 51(4): 486-493, 2023 Dec 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37704258

ABSTRACT

Minority and Indigenous populations have disproportionate representation within forensic mental health services. Social determinants of health and systemic discrimination have contributed to the difficulties these populations have in accessing care, as well as significant differences in care trajectories. In addition, staffing and structural equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) challenges permeate forensic systems as in other health care settings. There is little literature to guide forensic mental health services in how best to provide equitable, diverse, and inclusive practices for patients, families, and staff. The forensic service at a major urban center in the Canadian province of Ontario has adapted an EDI framework to describe the processes employed to organize and integrate EDI principles and initiatives within a culture of learning and continuous improvement. This Forensic EDI Framework is composed of six domains: Organizational Commitment, Staff/Workforce Competencies, Service Access and Delivery, Promoting Responsiveness, Community Outreach, and Data Collection. Initiatives within each of these domains form the foundation of a sustainable platform for forensic service EDI practices that will promote lasting change.


Subject(s)
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion , Mental Health Services , Humans , Canada
8.
BJPsych Open ; 9(5): e171, 2023 Sep 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37724335

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Public stigma and fear are heightened in cases of extreme violence perpetrated by persons with serious mental illness (SMI). Prevention efforts require understanding of illness patterns and treatment needs prior to these events unfolding. AIMS: To examine mental health service utilisation by persons who committed homicide and entered into forensic care, to investigate the adequacy of mental healthcare preceding these offences. METHOD: Forensic patients across two mental health hospitals in Ontario with an admitting offence of homicide between 2011 and 2021 were identified (n = 112). Sociodemographic, clinical and offence-related variables were coded from the health record and reports prepared for the forensic tribunal. RESULTS: Most patients (75.7%) had mental health contacts preceding the homicide, with 28.4% having a psychiatric in-patient admission in the year prior. For those with service contacts in the year preceding, 50.9% had had only sporadic contact and 70.7% were non-adherent with prescribed medications. Victims were commonly known to the individual (35.7%) and were often family members in care-providing roles (55.4%). Examination of age at onset of illness and offending patterns suggested that most persons admitted to forensic care for homicide act in the context of illness and exhibit a low frequency of pre-homicide offending. CONCLUSIONS: Many individuals admitted to forensic care for homicide have had inadequate mental healthcare leading up to this point. Effective responses to reduce and manage risk should encompass services that proactively address illness-related (e.g. earlier access and better maintenance in care) and criminogenic (e.g. substance use treatment, employment and psychosocial supports) domains.

9.
Soc Sci Med ; 331: 116075, 2023 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37441977

ABSTRACT

Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) was introduced into Canadian legislation in 2016. Mental illness as the sole underlying medical condition (MI-SUMC) is excluded from eligibility; this is expected to change in 2024. Incurability, intolerable suffering, capacity to make healthcare decisions, and suicidality have been publicly debated in connection with mental illness. Few studies have explored the views of persons with mental illness on the introduction and acceptability of MAiD MI-SUMC; this study aimed to fill this gap. Thirty adults, residing in Ontario, Canada, who self-identified as living with mental illness participated. A semi-structured interview including a persona-scenario exercise was designed to discuss participants' views on MAiD MI-SUMC and when it could be acceptable or not. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to inductively analyze data. Codes and themes were developed after extensive familiarization with the dataset. A lived-experience advisory group was engaged throughout the study. We identified six themes: The certainty of suffering; Is there a suffering threshold to be met? The uncertainty of mental illness; My own limits, values, and decisions; MAiD MI-SUMCas acceptable when therapeutic means, and othersupports, have been tried to alleviate long-term suffering; and Between relief and rejection. These themes underline how the participants' lived experience comprised negative impacts caused by long-term mental illness, stigma, and in some cases, socioeconomic factors. The need for therapeutic and non-therapeutic supports was highlighted, along with unresolved tensions about the links between mental illness, capacity, and suicidality. Although not all participants viewed MAiD MI-SUMC as acceptable for mental illness, they autonomously embraced limits, values, and decisions of their own along their search for relief. Identifying individual and contextual elements in each person's experience of illness and suffering is necessary to understand diverse perspectives on MAiD MI-SUMC.


Subject(s)
Mental Disorders , Suicide, Assisted , Adult , Humans , Canada , Mental Disorders/therapy , Ontario , Qualitative Research , Medical Assistance
10.
J Adv Nurs ; 79(9): 3397-3411, 2023 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37005978

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of this study is to explore nurses' experiences of seclusion or restraint use and their participation in immediate staff debriefing in inpatient mental health settings. DESIGN: This research was conducted using a descriptive exploratory design and data were gathered through in-depth individual interviews. METHODS: The experiences of nurses following seclusion or restraint use and their participation in immediate staff debriefing were explored via teleconference, using a semi-structured interview guide. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify prevalent themes from the data. RESULTS: Interviews (n=10) were conducted with nurses from inpatient mental health wards in July 2020. Five themes emerged through the data analysis: (i) ensuring personal safety; (ii) grappling between the use of least-restrictive interventions and seclusion or restraint use; (iii) navigating ethical issues and personal reactions; (iv) seeking validation from colleagues and (v) attending staff debriefing based on previous experience. The themes were also analysed using Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. CONCLUSION: Staff debriefing is a vital resource for nurses to provide and/or receive emotion- and problem-focused coping strategies. Mental health institutions should strive to establish supportive working environments and develop interventions based on the unique needs of nurses and the stressors they experience following seclusion or restraint use. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Nurses in both frontline and leadership roles were involved in the development and pilot test of the interview guide. The nurses who participated in the study were asked if they can be recontacted if clarification is needed during interview transcription or data analysis.


Subject(s)
Mental Disorders , Nurses , Humans , Mental Health , Inpatients , Mental Disorders/therapy , Mental Disorders/psychology , Patient Isolation/psychology , Restraint, Physical/psychology
11.
Community Ment Health J ; 59(7): 1352-1363, 2023 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37097490

ABSTRACT

Across jurisdictions, the use of 'leverage' to promote adherence to mental health treatment is widespread. However, little research exists on the possible association between the application of leverage and personal recovery. We examined the prevalence of various forms of leverage in a Canadian context and compared these rates with those in other jurisdictions. Additionally, we examined the relationship between two prominent forms of leverage (financial and housing) and the experience of personal recovery. Structured interviews were conducted with people receiving community-based mental health care in Toronto, Canada. Rates of overall leverage in our sample were similar to rates reported in other jurisdictions. Personal recovery was negatively associated with financial leverage but was not associated with housing leverage. Our results highlight the importance of separately examining the relationship of specific forms of leverage and personal recovery and raise questions for future research about the possible effect of financial leverage on recovery.


Subject(s)
Community Mental Health Services , Mental Disorders , Humans , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Mental Disorders/therapy , Cross-Sectional Studies , Community Mental Health Services/methods , Prevalence , Canada/epidemiology
12.
Behav Sci Law ; 41(5): 280-291, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36898979

ABSTRACT

In this paper we describe a novel, integrated conceptual model that brings together core elements across structured tools assessing risk for future violence, protective factors, and progress in treatment and recovery in forensic mental health settings. We argue that the value of such a model lies in its ability to improve clinical efficiencies and streamline assessment protocols, facilitate meaningful participation of patients in assessment and treatment planning activities and increase the accessibility of clinical assessments to principal users of this information. The four domains appearing in the model (treatment engagement, stability of illness and behavior, insight, and professional and personal support) are described, and common clinical manifestations of each domain within a forensic context are illustrated. We conclude with a discussion of the types of research that would be needed to validate a concept model such as the one presented here as well as implications for clinical practice and implementation.


Subject(s)
Mental Disorders , Mental Health Services , Humans , Mental Health , Violence
14.
Can J Psychiatry ; 68(6): 418-425, 2023 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35849126

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Mental disorder is common among prisoners; however, little is known about how illness severity changes during incarceration, and especially to what extent there are different trajectories of change. AIMS: Our aims were to investigate trajectories of illness severity among male and female inmates with serious mental disorders, and to investigate whether clinical or demographic variables are associated with different trajectories. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective cohort study of newly remanded inmates who had three or more serial measures of illness severity as measured by psychiatrists using the Clinical Global Impression-Corrections (CGI-C), and used group-based trajectory modelling to identify trajectories. We investigated whether clinical and demographic variables were associated with different groups. RESULTS: We found an overall reduction in the severity of illness (mean change in CGI-C score -0.74, SD 1.5), with women showing greater improvement than men. We identified three distinct trajectories among men and three among women, all showing improvement in illness severity. Approximately 15% of the entire cohort had full resolution of symptoms, whereas the remainder showed partial improvement. Women, younger inmates, and those with substance use disorders were more likely to have full resolution of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Although most prisoners showed improvement, and a small proportion had full resolution of symptoms, a significant number continued to have moderately severe symptoms. There is a need for comprehensive treatment within the detention centre, but also a need for transfer to hospital for those with severe symptoms as improvement within the correctional setting tends to be modest.


Subject(s)
Mental Disorders , Prisoners , Psychotic Disorders , Substance-Related Disorders , Female , Male , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Mental Disorders/therapy , Prisons
15.
Sex Abuse ; 35(1): 103-126, 2023 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35446740

ABSTRACT

The role of serious mental illness among those who sexually offend is not well understood. We investigated clinical and risk-related areas of difference between male forensic psychiatric patients with (n = 86) and without (n = 245) a sexual offense history, including the age at which indications of mental disorder and criminal offending first emerged, from a registry of Ontario patients adjudicated Not Criminally Responsible on account of Mental Disorder (NCRMD) from 1999-2012. We further explored motivations for offending among a subset of patients deemed NCRMD for a sexual offense specifically (n = 41). While no differences were found in the age onset of illness or offending across those with and without a sexual offending history, the former group was rated as having higher levels of historical/static risk for violence. Forensic patients with a sexual offense history were also more likely to offend against a stranger, and less likely to offend against a family member. Sexual index offenses were psychotically-motivated in the majority of cases, but with a meaningful proportion appearing to reflect criminogenic motivations, especially substance use and paraphilic interests. Results suggest greater similarity than difference among forensic patients with and without a sexual offense history, but also highlight an important divergence from the literature showing that victims of sexual offenses are frequently known to the individual committing them.


Subject(s)
Mental Disorders , Sex Offenses , Humans , Male , Criminals/psychology , Criminals/statistics & numerical data , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Mental Disorders/psychology , Psychotic Disorders/epidemiology , Psychotic Disorders/psychology , Sex Offenses/psychology , Sex Offenses/statistics & numerical data , Sexual Behavior/psychology , Sexual Behavior/statistics & numerical data , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology , Substance-Related Disorders/psychology , Ontario/epidemiology , Motivation , Violence/psychology , Violence/statistics & numerical data
16.
Lancet Psychiatry ; 9(12): 938, 2022 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36403595
17.
J Am Acad Psychiatry Law ; 50(3): 434-439, 2022 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35710129

ABSTRACT

Forensic mental health services provide care for many people of minority ethnicity whose over-representation in these areas is a result of complex structural inequities in society. The need for cross-cultural understanding has long been advocated in forensic practice. Guidance on the integration of culture into forensic assessment has been well described, but little has been written about cultural responsiveness in forensic rehabilitation and recovery-based services. Cultural responsiveness is commonly expressed as a strategic goal for forensic providers, but there is little reported evidence of how to address and measure the effectiveness of cultural responsiveness initiatives. Equity of outcome by ethnicity should be the aim of forensic services, and this requires systematic measurement. Cultural safety, rather than cultural competence, has been promoted as the patient experience services should strive for. A measurement-based care framework can provide tools to evaluate service responses systematically and iteratively to address the challenges in achieving delivery of culturally safe forensic services.


Subject(s)
Cultural Competency , Mental Health Services , Humans , Forensic Medicine , Minority Groups , Ethnicity
18.
Acad Psychiatry ; 46(2): 238-247, 2022 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33738761

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Advocacy has been identified as a core element within the practice of medicine and thus a key component to medical education. However, there are challenges regarding teaching and evaluation of advocacy within medical education. Community-based service learning (CBSL) has emerged as a valuable educational tool to foster knowledge and skills related to advocacy. CBSL is particularly relevant to psychiatry, given the extent of engagement with underserved communities and opportunities to advance learning in these environments. A scoping review was conducted to identify current educational strategies and outcomes related to advocacy training among medical learners in the context of CBSL. METHODS: Between July and October 2019, the authors searched PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, ERIC, Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest for English language literature with no date limits and retrieved 2,813 articles and abstracts; 68 were included in this review. Two reviewers independently screened articles and extracted data. Data were then charted, analyzed, and discussed with the research team. RESULTS: Seven key themes related to approaches to advocacy education were identified: (1) type of community partner; (2) populations served; (3) program participants; (4) program structure; (5) evaluation of learner outcomes; (6) sustainability; and (7) challenges and limitations. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review provides insights into the variety of CBSL-based advocacy program formats and evaluation methods, which is of particular importance to psychiatry. There is heterogeneity in the methodology by which CBSL is implemented and how outcomes are measured. A list of recommendations for future areas of inquiry is provided.


Subject(s)
Education, Medical , Psychiatry , Clinical Competence , Community Health Services , Humans , Learning
19.
Psychiatr Serv ; 73(7): 760-767, 2022 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34932392

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the health care costs of individuals with chronic psychotic disorders who experience incarceration. This study sought to address this knowledge gap. METHODS: The authors analyzed linked 2007-2010 correctional and administrative health care data on sex- and age-matched individuals with chronic psychotic disorders with and without known incarceration in prison for up to 2 years in the Ontario correctional system. Mean 1-year health care costs (overall and by sex) in the year before incarceration (when release occurred in 2010) were estimated from third-party payer data and compared between the two groups. Costs were calculated in 2018 Canadian dollars. RESULTS: Individuals who experienced incarceration (N=3,197) had mean 1-year costs of $15,728 in the year before incarceration, whereas those who did not (N=6,393) had 1-year costs of $11,588. This difference was mostly due to costs arising from psychiatric hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and physician services. The main factors associated with the difference were incarceration in the following year (increase of $4,827, p<0.001), being age 18-29 years compared with ages 30-39 or 40-49 (increase of $4,448 and $4,218, respectively, p<0.001), and chronic psychotic disorder duration of 1-2 years compared with ≤1 year duration (increase of $6,812, p=0.004). Women who experienced incarceration had higher costs than incarcerated men ($20,648 vs. $14,763). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with chronic psychotic disorders who experienced incarceration had higher health care costs than comparable individuals who did not. These higher health care costs may signal the need for interventions and policies that help individuals with psychotic disorders avoid criminal justice system involvement.


Subject(s)
Prisoners , Psychotic Disorders , Adolescent , Adult , Chronic Disease , Female , Health Care Costs , Humans , Male , Ontario/epidemiology , Psychotic Disorders/therapy , Young Adult
20.
JMIR Res Protoc ; 10(7): e30845, 2021 Jul 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34088656

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Public safety personnel have regular and often intense exposure to potentially traumatic events at work, especially workplace violence in the case of correctional workers. Subsequently, correctional workers are at higher risk of developing mental health problems such as posttraumatic stress disorder. Public safety personnel are up to 4 times more likely to experience suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts, and death by suicide compared to the general population. Despite this high prevalence, help-seeking behaviors from public safety personnel are low due to stigma and irregular work hours limiting access to care. Innovative treatments are needed to address these challenges. OBJECTIVE: This study will investigate the efficacy of an electronically delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (e-CBT) program tailored to correctional workers' mental health problems. METHODS: This study is composed of 4 phases. In phase 1, we will interview correctional workers individually and in focus groups to identify personal, social, and cultural factors affecting their mental health and barriers to care. Phase 2 will use the information gathered from the interviews to develop gender- and diagnosis-specific e-CBT modules. These will be presented to a new group of participants who will provide further feedback on their usability and accessibility. In phase 3, we will randomly assign participants to either an e-CBT or treatment as usual arm. The program will be evaluated with validated symptomatology questionnaires and interviews. Phase 4 will use this additional information to fine-tune the e-CBT modules for a larger-scale randomized controlled trial design comparing the e-CBT program to in-person CBT. All e-CBT modules will be delivered through a secure online platform. RESULTS: The study received ethics approval in December 2020, and participant recruitment began in March 2021. Participant recruitment has been conducted through targeted advertisements and physician referrals. To date, there have been 15 participants recruited for Phase 1, and it is expected to conclude in July 2021, with phase 2 beginning in September 2021. Complete data collection and analysis from all phases are expected to conclude by July 2023. Linear and binomial regression (for continuous and categorical outcomes, respectively) will be conducted along with interpretive qualitative methods. CONCLUSIONS: If proven efficacious and feasible, this e-CBT program can provide a high-quality and clinically validated resource to address the mental health problems of correctional workers. Additionally, findings can contribute to the development of innovative treatments for other public safety professions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04666974; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04666974. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/30845.

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