First Psychiatric Attendance in the Context of Life Events

Klimes, Ivana (1974) First Psychiatric Attendance in the Context of Life Events. MSc(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

In this study, the possibility that life events contribute to coming to psychiatric attention was empirically explored. The quantity and quality of life changes preceding first psychiatric attendance and intervening between the onset of complaints and subsequent attendance, was the main subject matter of this investigation. Fifty people first attending at a psychiatric service and thirty-nine normal matched controls were interviewed, in a standardized manner, about the changes occurring in their lives in the two years immediately preceding their first psychiatric consultation. The patients showed increased rate and severity of events, predominantly in the fifteen months immediately preceding their attendance. There was a gradual build-up of events over the time culminating just before the attendance itself. In the period between onset of each patient's complaints and his first psychiatric consultation, the patients still experienced, health changes apart, an excess of events in terms both of rate and severity of change. These changes were confined to the realm of 'marital and intimate' and 'personal and social' activities. The patients' social contacts were reduced. The quality of events in this period was best described as 'negative'. During that time the patients also reported an excess of events 'independent of their illness', which thus directly contributed to their attendance. The evidence on whether events accelerate attendance is not conclusive. Methodological issues arising from life-event research and the implications of life events for therapeutic action are also explored in the discussion.

• Item Type: Thesis (MSc(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Keywords: Clinical psychology, Mental health
• Date of Award: 1974
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1974-78678
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 30 Jan 2020 15:03
• Last Modified: 30 Jan 2020 15:03
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/78678