Condition management and the causes of psychosis
| Published date | 24 February 2012 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20428301211205856 |
| Date | 24 February 2012 |
| Pages | 8-13 |
| Author | Sue Holttum |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Research watch
Condition management and the causes
of psychosis
Sue Holttum
Abstract
Purpose – This Research Watch seeks to summarise two recent research papers. The first evaluates a
scheme that trains people in managing their mental health or physical condition to increase their
chances of gaining employment. The second examines the social causes of psychosis.
Design/methodology/approach – A search was carried out for research papers with a mental health
and social inclusion focus published within the past 12 months.
Findings – In the first paper, half of a sample of over 2,000 people accessing a seven-week cognitive
behaviour therapy (CBT)-based condition management programme (CMP) for people with mental or
physical health conditions showed a clear improvement in psychological well-being, and three months
later 26 per cent were either in paid work or workingtowards it. However, there is a case for employment
support being more integrated with the mental health system, and possibly also not to be time-limited.
The second paper highlights the importance of recognising the multifaceted and complex causes of
psychosis and, in particular, social causes. If these social causes were to be given as much weight as
biological factors, then it seems likely that social exclusion, and psychosis itself, would be reduced.
Originality/value – This paper summarises research relating to mental health and social inclusion that
has emerged within the past 12 months.
Keywords Mental health, Employment, Condition management programme (CMP),
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), Social causes of mental illness, Psychosis, Social exclusion,
Social inclusion
Paper type Literature review
Reducing incapacity through managing one’s condition
The first paper reviewed herewas written by Kellett et al. (2011). These authors start by explaining
the negative effects of unemployment on people with p hysical and mental health conditions who
end up on incapacity benefit, withonly one in five returning to work once they have been on it for a
year.One contributing factor,they point out, is that the mental or physical health condition may not
be managed in such a way as to minimise incapacity. Kellett et al. (2011) explain that previous
research on condition management programmes (CMPs) has tended to involve only small
samples, not use reliable measuresof outcome, or not separate out the effects of CMP from other
elements of ‘‘back-to-work’’ programmes.Hence, they embarkedon a l arge study to look at what
conditionsthose individuals in CMPs had, identify psychological changes after going through the
CMP,and examine rates of return to work for people with different health conditions.
How the study on condition management was done
The study was a ‘‘prospective cohort design’’ (Kellett et al., 2011, p. 166). This means that
questionnaires were given to people at various points in time, which for this study were
at the start and end of the programme, and at a follow-up pointthree months later. People were
referred to a CMP by Job Centre Plus incapacitybenefit advisors, and also screened by CMP
staff.Of the 2,064 people in the sample, 1,297 had mental health conditions, 57 cardiovascular
PAGE 8
j
MENTAL HEALTHAND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
VOL. 16 NO. 1 2012, pp. 8-13, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/20428301211205856
Sue Holttum is Senior
Lecturer (Research) in the
Department of Applied
Psychology, Canterbury
Christ Church University,
Canterbury, UK.
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