Searching for Best Practices

Abstract

Despite a growing body of literature, substantial variance remains between researchers, mental health experts, clinicians, and practitioners over the nature, structure, and contents of psychosocial interventions aimed at reducing the mental health burden in war-torn and postconflict societies. We conducted a focused and systematic review of the literature published over the last two decades on the most commonly used psychotherapeutic treatment modalities in medical and humanitarian interventions as represented by expert opinion, observational and qualitative or mixed-method studies, case reports, case control, and community-based studies, excluding randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses of RCTs. More specifically, we aimed at searching for best practices and supporting psychosocial interventions within the domain of adult mental health in civilian populations in low-and middle-income countries affected by protracted political violence, armed conflict, and wars. We noted the need to translate existing knowledge into action (know-do gap) and the critical importance of applying qualitative evidence-based knowledge that informs and supports collective interventions and best practices in medical and humanitarian assistance programs currently being undertaken.Keywords psychosocial, medical and humanitarian interventions, best practices, war and armed conflict, psychological trauma by guest on June 5, 2016 Downloaded from

Duncan Pedersen y el estudio integral de la Salud Mental Global

“…Rev Neuropsiquiatr 80 (1), 2017. atención de salud, especialmente en países de menores ingresos; el dilema de una política exterior basada en la comercialización de la salud y la salud jugando un rol crucial en la política exterior de los países ricos; la necesidad de un re-examen crítico de las bases éticas de la salud global que conlleven un cambio de paradigma, un sistema de justicia social que haga desaparecer el abismo de un promedio de vida de 82 años en Canadá vs. 39 en Sierra Leona; las consecuencias de casi tres cuartas partes de la población mundial con mayor vulnerabilidad a enfermar, con menores posibilidades de conducir una vida decente y digna basada en un justiciero y consistente diálogo entre economía y ecología (7,8).…”

“…En numerosas publicaciones, varias de ellas vinculadas a sus estudios en el Perú, urgió a clínicos, investigadores, administradores y políticos a "re-pensar y re-examinar" la noción de trauma, tomando en cuenta tres temas-clave: a) El examen de los efectos de la violencia intencional y las guerras en términos de estrés y fuentes de sufrimiento colectivo, pero también en función de sus vínculos con las amplias estructuras sociales en las cuales se originan (11); b) La necesidad de documentar patrones no-occidentales de condiciones relacionadas con trauma tales como modismos locales de distrés y otras respuestas adaptativas (12); y c) La evaluación de las circunstancias en las cuales intervenciones médicas o humanitarias ayudan (o dificultan) una recuperación a largo plazo de experiencias tales como torturas, violaciones, atrocidades u otros tipos de adversidad (i.e., violencia política, conflictos étnicos y guerras) (7). Y en el contexto de una perspectiva amplia, integradora y comprensiva, Duncan consideró importante armonizar enfoques psicosociales y biológicos y entender mejor sus complejas relaciones e interdependencias con marcos analíticos críticos y transdisciplinarios que refuercen una diversidad saludable de modelos, teorías y conceptos de salud global y salud mental global.…”

Advancing and translating knowledge: a systematic inquiry into the 2010–2020 mental health and psychosocial support intervention research evidence base

“…Reviews with a wider scope (e.g. Gouweloos et al ., 2014; Pedersen et al ., 2015; Jordans et al ., 2016; Bangpan et al ., 2019; Dickson and Bangpan, 2018; Haroz et al ., 2020) have not combined their findings with an analysis of how this research has been taken up in policy and practice.…”

“…Reviews with a wider scope (e.g. Gouweloos et al, 2014;Pedersen et al, 2015;Jordans et al, 2016;Dickson and Bangpan, 2018;Haroz et al, 2020) have not combined their findings with an analysis of how this research has been taken up in policy and practice. Tol et al (2011a) concluded that little of the research focused on MHPSS interventions generated between 2000 and 2010 had been translated to practice and there was an urgent need to understand approaches that were commonly used in practice and that target the broad MHPSS needs of those affected by humanitarian crises.…”

Nursing Education to Enhance Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Community Access to Mental Health Services: A Scoping Review

“…Despite the prevalence of mental health issues, people with culturally diverse backgrounds (CALD) are uncomfortable with the Western practice of seeking medical treatment (Pedersen et al, 2015;Omar et al, 2015;Na et al, 2016;Im et al, 2017). In particular, they find it strange and threatening to seek services from monocultural Anglo-Celtic healthcare settings (Gopalkrishnan, 2018;Minas, 2018;Moss et al, 2019;Idemudia & Boehnke, 2020).…”