Céline Mercier

Age, Gender and Quality of Life

This paper addresses the effect of age andgender on the subjective quality of life of people withsevere and persistent mental illness. Subjective qualityof life was assessed in a group of 95 men and 70 women using the Satisfaction with LifeDomains Scale (SLDS) and five open-ended questions.Although statistical analyses showed no differencebetween men and women on quality of life, age wassystematically related to satisfaction level with olderparticipants being more satisfied with their lives thantheir younger counterparts. Responses to the open-endedquestions revealed that fewer of the older, more satisfied respondents expressed worries, desirefor change and plans for the future. These results arediscussed with respect to the links between subjectivequality of life, aspirations and the rehabilitation process.

Components of Social Support and Quality of Life in Severely Mentally Ill, Low Income Individuals and a General Population Group

Satisfaction with social support and quality oflife (QOL) were assessed for 60 psychiatric patients, 79welfare recipients and 266 people of the generalpopulation using the Social Provisions Scale (SPS) and the Satisfaction with Life Domains Scale(SLDS). Psychiatric patients reported less satisfactionthan the general population on all components of socialsupport. They have a comparable level of satisfaction with welfare recipients on most of thecomponents, with the exception of emotional integrationand opportunity for nurturance. However, patientssatisfaction with QOL was quite similar to the generalpopulation, although higher than welfare recipients on somedimensions. Their lower satisfaction with thepersonal-intimate dimension suggest deficiencies insocial support. All components of social support wereconsistently related to QOL in the general population.Attachment and reassurance of worth

Determinants of Stress in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder are known to experience more stress than parents of children with any other conditions. The current study describes the parental stress of 118 fathers and 118 mothers at the onset of their children’s Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention program. The objectives of the study were to compare and analyze each parent’s stress and to identify factors that might predict their stress. Results indicated that fathers reported higher levels of stress than mothers. Correlations indicated that the stress levels of both parents were associated with their child’s age, intellectual quotient, severity of autistic symptoms, and adaptive behaviors. Paternal stress, but not maternal stress, was predicted by severity of autistic symptoms and child’s gender. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for services and early interventions.

Socio-demographic and clinical predictors of quality of life in patients with schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder

This article discusses the relationships between socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and Quality of Life (QOL) of individuals with schizophrenia. The client version of the Canadian version of the Wisconsin Quality of Life Index (CaW-QLI) was used with a population of 182 individuals with either schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder. Multivariate analyses of variance with Tukey post hoc tests were used to assess differences between groups defined according to socio-demographic and clinical characteristics on all sub-scale scores in addition to the global score on the CaW-QLI. Relationships between socio-demographic characteristics and QOL were found for gender, age, education, employment status and living arrangement. Differences in QOL were found between groups with different clinical characteristics, such as diagnosis, hospitalization during the last 12 months and age at first hospitalization. Using socio-demographic and clinical variables in addition to psychosocial variables appears to be promising for understanding QOL in psychotic patients. Methodological considerations for future research are discussed.

A Psychosocial Study on Restricted Interests in High Functioning Persons with Pervasive Developmental Disorders

To explore how restricted interests are perceived by individuals with pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) and their relatives, 18 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with six high-functioning individuals with PDD, their parents and/or siblings. Results revealed that restricted interests play a significant role in the person’s life that is acknowledged by most of their relatives. They provide a sense of well-being, a positive way of occupying one’s time, a source of personal validation, and an incentive for personal growth. However, these positive dimensions are counterbalanced by their negative consequences. Following the demands and the support from their environment, the participants in the study reported to have involved themselves in an active process to adapt, reduce or diversify their restricted interests. These findings on transformation of restricted interests under development and social pressure may have theoretical (for cognitive models of autism) and clinical consequences (in their use for rehabilitation).

Meaning of Daily Activities and Subjective Quality of Life in People with Severe Mental Illness

The occupational therapy services for adults with severe and persistent mental illness are concerned with their quality of life. A correlational study explored the relationship between the meaning of daily activities and the subjective quality of life of this group of people. In this study, the meaning of activities was defined by three elements, related to the Human Occupation Model: perceived competence, value and pleasure, measured by the Occupational Questionnaire. The Wisconsin Quality of Life-Client Questionnaire provided a global score for the subjective quality of life. A total of 45 people with severe and persistent mental illness, living in downtown Montreal, participated in a semi-structured interview. The results suggest that perceived competence in daily tasks and rest, and pleasure in work and rest activities are positively correlated with subjective quality of life. The influence of occupation and its meaning on quality of life, an occupational therapy assumption, is supported by these resu...

Perceptions of Barriers to Employment, Coping Efficacy, and Career Search Efficacy in People with Mental Illness:

The Barriers to Employment and Coping Efficacy Scale (BECES) and the Career Search Efficacy Scale (CSES) were designed to assist people in their work integration process. The BECES was specifically developed for people with mental illness. Although the CSES was not specifically designed for people with mental illness, its items appear relevant for such clients seeking work. This article reports the construct and convergent validities of these two questionnaires as well as the internal consistency pertaining to each of their subscales. The BECES and CSES demonstrated satisfactory results regarding their validity and reliability with people suffering from mental illness registered in vocational programs. Practical guidelines based on this experience are discussed.

Integrated Local Networks as a Model for Organizing Mental Health Services

Organizing services in an integrated network as a model for transforming healthcare systems is often presented as a potential remedy for service fragmentation that should enhance system efficiency. In the mental health sector, integration is also part of a diversified response to the multiple needs of the clients, particularly people with serious mental health disorders. The authors describe how the notion of integrated service networks came to serve as a model for transforming the mental health system in Québec, and they propose a frame of reference for this notion. They also address the challenges and issues raised by this mode of service organization in the mental health sector and more generally in a context of transforming healthcare systems.

Towards More Effective Public Health Programming for Injection Drug Users: Development and Evaluation of the Injection Drug User Quality of Life Scale

The psychometric properties of the Injection Drug User Quality of Life Scale (IDUQOL) were assessed in 61 Montreal IDUs in 2001, 85% of whom were reinterviewed within four weeks. The reliability of the IDUQOL was acceptable (ICC = 0.71) and concordance between the IDUQOL and the Flanagan Quality of Life Scale was moderate (Pearson coefficient = 0.57). Quality of life was negatively associated with injection cocaine and emergency department use with both instruments; these results were more striking for the IDUQOL. The IDUQOL is a culturally relevant quality of life instrument with good psychometric properties. The IDUQOL may be useful in the development and evaluation of interventions for IDUs.

Profiles of alcoholics according to the SCL-90-R : a confirmative study

The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) has often been used in studies of alcoholic populations. Based on findings reported in the literature and data gathered on 712 alcoholics in treatment, this paper investigates the general trends in the responses of alcoholics to the SCL-90-R. On global measures as well as on each of the symptom scales, the scores of alcoholic groups reveal a symptomatology two to five times as severe as that observed in the general population. The Psychoticism dimension shows the most marked divergence with the general population. In almost each of the study groups, the Depression Scale registers the highest scores, followed by Obsessive-Compulsive, Interpersonal Sensitivity, and Anxiety.