Therapeutic Approaches for Managing Mental Illnesses: A Literature Review

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WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES USED TO MANAGE
MENTAL ILLNESSES?
Literature Review
By (Name)
Course
Professor’s name
University name
City, State
Date of submission

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Table of contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................3
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Search Strategy................................................................................................................................5
Table 1: Literature Search.......................................................................................................................5
Inclusion Criteria.....................................................................................................................................5
Exclusion Criteria....................................................................................................................................6
State of Literature............................................................................................................................6
Wellness, personal responsibility and dignity of risk...............................................................................6
Social justice and Human rights..............................................................................................................8
Buddhists perception on mental illnesses................................................................................................9
Legislation, ethics, compassion and care.................................................................................................9
Therapeutic communication..................................................................................................................10
Therapeutic modalities..........................................................................................................................11
Discussion......................................................................................................................................14
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................15
References......................................................................................................................................15

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Abstract
Importance of the project: Diagnosis of mental illnesses is usually missed in a lot of
patients who actually suffer from it. Without proper diagnosis, therapeutic interventions cannot
be initiated. Treatment approach towards mental illnesses in not only limited to drugs but also
methods like psychosocial and social approaches. This is holistic in ensuring the affected patient
recovers and assume nearly normal condition.
Methods: Different databases were accessed for literature review on the subject. They
include PubMed, Google Scholar and online google searches. Mental health related journals and
books were also accessed to give more insight on available interventions for mentally ill patients.
Papers and other sources not focusing on therapeutic interventions were excluded from the
review. Some of the studies were Meta analyses and systematic reviews.
Results: A total of 24 articles met the search criteria. Most of the studies focused on
therapeutic approach of bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. Results were of
mixed type due to application of both quantitative and qualitative data methods by the reviewed
research papers.
Conclusion: More rigorous research is required in the field of mental health to provide
data and information that can be used to guide policy making actions for better mental health
care. Providing this evidence will also help determine the effectiveness and gaps in each of the
aspects of care, for better patient management.
KEY WORDS: Mental health, psychosocial, dignity of risk

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Introduction
Mental health is one of the few disciplines that keen interests have not been taken
especially in the developing countries (Healthtalk.org, 2018). This is an exception to developed
countries because of the difference in lifestyle and presence of an ageing population alongside
good diagnostic capabilities, although much efforts still need to be put in ensuring early
diagnoses are made. Because of this, many times diagnosis of mental illness in a patient is
missed thus no proper interventions initiated. It is only with proper diagnoses that enough data
about people suffering from a particular illness can be established. This forms an evidence based
tool for more health financing and reform towards the condition, in this case mental illness.
With mental disorders being one of the leading cause of morbidity worldwide and
widespread across industrialized countries, health care personnel need to improve the detection,
diagnosis and management of this condition, in a multidisciplinary approach (Healthtalk.org,
2018). General Practitioners form part of primary care for mental disorders. However, this alone
is not enough. Other psychiatric interventions like social and psychosocial methods need to be
added to the primary physical care.