THE PREVENTION OF MENTAL DISEASE

In: The annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Band 286, S. 158-166

Abstract

This paper on preventive programs for mental disease provides 'an orientation to what we know how to do, what we now hope we are doing, and what we are likely to be doing in the next few years.' Primary prevention (reduction in rate of people becoming diseased) includes such problem areas as general paresis and other organic psychoses, emotional deprivation, parent education, counseling, eugenic sterilization, security (financial, etc.), preventive analysis, and leadership and morale building. There are no programs of secondary prevention (reducing duration of extent of unhealthy states) for psychogenic diseases, but 'we can anticipate that such attempts (prevention of relapses) will be made during the coming years.' The prevention of the consequences of advanced disease and problems of disability and rehabilitation are discussed. D. Wolsk.