Mental health prevention
Mental health prevention
Questions and approved answers
According to the WHO, prevention of mental health disorders is a public health priority.
Explain why a focus on prevention is needed to reduce the burden of mental health
disorders - ✔✔✔The burden of disease is high. High psychological, economic and social
burden. You can only avert part of the burden with treatment. Current limitation in
treatment, only sustainable method is prevention. There are also new and cheaper options
Give an example of a universal, a selective and an indicated preventive strategy for
depression - ✔✔✔Universal: An awareness campaign on how to recognize depressive
symptoms in the general population)
Selected: provide an exercise intervention to people with cancer after physical treatment
Indicated: An online cognitive behavioral therapy intervention for people who already have
symptoms of depression.
Bernard et al (2012) developed and tested the Attachment and Bio behavioral Catch-up
(ABC) intervention in a randomized clinical trial for young children at risk for
maltreatment. Describe the goal of the Good Behavior game, its presumed working
mechanism, and its content. - ✔✔✔Goal: Decrease frightening behavior and enhance
sensitive nurturing care among parents at risk for child maltreatment
Working mechanism: attachment theory
Content: 10 sessions encourage the parent to provide sensitive care when the childish
distressed, avoid frightening behavior and follow the child lead when in a calm state.
@pg. 1
, Mental health prevention
Describe the screening process used to identify people with 'at risk mental state' (include the
four risk factors in your answer). - ✔✔✔- Select people aged 14-35,
- declined social functioning,
- Who are mental help-seeking and
- With psychotic like experiences (PQ-16) and
--> conduct the CAARMSinter view.
Global burden of disease is underestimated because..... - ✔✔✔- People with personality
disorders are not included
- Suicide and self-harm are grouped under injuries
- Indirect contribution of mental healthcare disorders to mortality
- Overlap with other disorders
Describe primary, secondary and tertiary prevention - ✔✔✔Primary = prevent onset of
disorder
Secondary = Early identification and treatment in those diagnosed
Tertiary = Prevent recurrence, relapse or worsening
Risk of first episode vs recurrence in depression. Explain the subtype distinction model,
stress sanitation and scarring hypothesis - ✔✔✔Subtype distinction model = some people
are more at risk for developing depression and that risk does not change over time
Prevention programs aim to delay or prevent the onset of mental disorders. Why is it so
difficult to gain an evidence-base for the effects of prevention programs? Name one reason
and explain how you may be able to overcome this challenge - ✔✔✔Larger sample sizes
are needed
--> Select higher risk groups or multiple risk factor, extend follow-up time
@pg. 2
Mental health prevention
Questions and approved answers
According to the WHO, prevention of mental health disorders is a public health priority.
Explain why a focus on prevention is needed to reduce the burden of mental health
disorders - ✔✔✔The burden of disease is high. High psychological, economic and social
burden. You can only avert part of the burden with treatment. Current limitation in
treatment, only sustainable method is prevention. There are also new and cheaper options
Give an example of a universal, a selective and an indicated preventive strategy for
depression - ✔✔✔Universal: An awareness campaign on how to recognize depressive
symptoms in the general population)
Selected: provide an exercise intervention to people with cancer after physical treatment
Indicated: An online cognitive behavioral therapy intervention for people who already have
symptoms of depression.
Bernard et al (2012) developed and tested the Attachment and Bio behavioral Catch-up
(ABC) intervention in a randomized clinical trial for young children at risk for
maltreatment. Describe the goal of the Good Behavior game, its presumed working
mechanism, and its content. - ✔✔✔Goal: Decrease frightening behavior and enhance
sensitive nurturing care among parents at risk for child maltreatment
Working mechanism: attachment theory
Content: 10 sessions encourage the parent to provide sensitive care when the childish
distressed, avoid frightening behavior and follow the child lead when in a calm state.
@pg. 1
, Mental health prevention
Describe the screening process used to identify people with 'at risk mental state' (include the
four risk factors in your answer). - ✔✔✔- Select people aged 14-35,
- declined social functioning,
- Who are mental help-seeking and
- With psychotic like experiences (PQ-16) and
--> conduct the CAARMSinter view.
Global burden of disease is underestimated because..... - ✔✔✔- People with personality
disorders are not included
- Suicide and self-harm are grouped under injuries
- Indirect contribution of mental healthcare disorders to mortality
- Overlap with other disorders
Describe primary, secondary and tertiary prevention - ✔✔✔Primary = prevent onset of
disorder
Secondary = Early identification and treatment in those diagnosed
Tertiary = Prevent recurrence, relapse or worsening
Risk of first episode vs recurrence in depression. Explain the subtype distinction model,
stress sanitation and scarring hypothesis - ✔✔✔Subtype distinction model = some people
are more at risk for developing depression and that risk does not change over time
Prevention programs aim to delay or prevent the onset of mental disorders. Why is it so
difficult to gain an evidence-base for the effects of prevention programs? Name one reason
and explain how you may be able to overcome this challenge - ✔✔✔Larger sample sizes
are needed
--> Select higher risk groups or multiple risk factor, extend follow-up time
@pg. 2
