Product Description

The current trend in health care is to view health problems through a broader lens that encompasses both the psychological and social influences on illness.

This book reflects practitioners′ increasing concern for clients with multifaceted problems. The text takes a practical approach to the problem, based on sound empirical research. It provides insight into the nature of the multiple problems presented by clients and offers practical advice on how to provide the comprehensive support required by these disadvantaged individuals.

It offers methods of carrying out psychosocial assessments and explains how these findings may be used in interventions.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #764934 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Review
"This serious–minded book makes some very relevant arguments for professionals"
mentalhealth today

From the Back Cover
The current trend in health care is to view health problems through a broader lense which encompasses both the psychological and social influences on illness.

This book reflects practitioners′ increasing concern for clients with multifaceted problems and their consistent calls for training to enable good interdisciplinary working. The text takes a practical approach to the problem, based on sound empirical research. It provides insight into the nature of the multiple problems presented by clients and puts forward practical advice on how to provide the comprehensive support required by these disadvantaged individuals. It offers ways to carry out psychosocial assessments and suggests how to use these findings in interventions.

Customer Reviews

Perhaps professionals -not their clients- need to change
Clients with complex needs are those "vulnerable persons who have multiple and
usually intractable problems and who seek their solution by attending a number of
agencies on many occasions". Although these represent the minority of people with
mental health problems they are nevertheless a very demanding minority. This
serious-minded book clarifies several confusing areas. There is a useful discussion of
the term 'diagnosis' followed by an explanation of what is really meant by 'dual

diagnosis' (the phrase denotes service users who have mental health problems and
who are substance misusers).

Jan Keene points out that single agencies or single disciplines alone are unlikely to
succeed at engaging such clients. The book calls for interprofessional psychosocial
assessment of these individuals' needs and a shift from focusing on psychological
change to ongoing psychosocial maintenance. It neatly addresses the question of
whether there is such a thing as an 'inappropriate referral' or whether it is
professionals who are unable or unwilling to provide an appropriate service.

Clients with complex needs is a challenging book, critical of current working
practices which sometimes lead to clients being dropped because they seem unwilling
or unable to change their ways. Many fall between two stools - the services for
mental illness and the services for substance misuse, and often clients are passed back
and forth between agencies who find them too difficult or too resistant to change.
This book makes some very relevant arguments for professionals to reconsider who it
is that needs to change.

Reviewer: Tony Gillam