HARRIS LIBRARY

The following Pathfinder is intended to step you through the basic library research process for identifying resources relating to the Mental Health Concentration. The specific focus of this pathfinder is to help social workers locate information that will better enhance their own knowledge and understanding of mental health issues that affect their clients. Special emphasis is given to understanding the individual within the environment and the impact of gender, race and poverty on issues of mental health.

Consult the Steps to Research and Writing a Paper for more detailed information.

References to book and journal titles and their call numbers and locations are specific to items owned by the MSASS Harris Library and Case Western Reserve University libraries (although in most cases the resources can be found in other academic and public libraries). The websites that are included at the end of the Pathfinder are intended as a starting point for research on the Internet and are not meant to be inclusive.

1. Start by locating resources that provide an overview of your topic.

This will help you define terms in that discipline and provide background information in your subject area. Encyclopedias , handbooks and subject specific dictionaries offer good places to start.

Some titles specifically related to mental health are:

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV-TR (4th ed., text revision). Washington, DC: Author.

Aneshensel, C. S., & Phelan, J. C. (Eds.). (1999). Handbook of the sociology of mental health. New York: Kluwer Academic.

Campbell, R. J. (1996). Psychiatric dictionary (7th ed). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Craighead, W. E., & Nemeroff, C. B. (Eds.). (2001). The Corsini encyclopedia of psychology and behavioral science (3rd. ed., Vols. 1-4). New York: Wiley.

Friedman, H.S. (Ed.). (1998). Encyclopedia of mental health. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

Gotlib, I. H., & Hammen, C. L. (Eds.). (2002). Handbook of depression. New York: Guilford Press.

Hales, R. E., Yudofsky, S. C., & Talbott, J. A. (Eds.). (1999). American Psychiatric Press textbook of psychiatry (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, Inc.

Hinrichsen, G.A. (1990). Mental health problems and older adults. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

Horwitz, A. V., & Scheid, T. L. (1999). A handbook for the study of mental health: Social contexts, theories, and systems. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press.

***New*** Mechanic, D. (2008). Mental health and social policy: Beyond managed care (5th ed.).  Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

Plante, T. G. (Ed.). (2006). Mental disorders of the new millennium (Vols. 1-3). Westport, CT: Praeger.

Ponterotto, J. G. (Ed.). (2001). Handbook of multicultural counseling (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Reid, W. H., & Silver, S. B. (Eds.). (2003). Handbook of mental health administration and management. New York: Brunner-Routledge.

Sadock, B. J., & Sadock, V. A. (Eds.). (2005). Kaplan & Sadock's comprehensive textbook of psychiatry (8th ed., Vols. 1-2). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Steele, R. G., & Roberts, M. C. (Eds.). (2005). Handbook of mental health services for children, adolescents, and families. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

Worell, J., & Goodheart, C. D. (Eds.). (2006). Handbook of girls' and women's psychological health. New York: Oxford University Press.

World Association for Infant Mental Health. (2000). Handbook of infant mental health (Vols. 1-4).  (J. D. Osofsky & H. E. Fitzgerald, Eds.). New York: Wiley.

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2. Search the online catalog for additional books that will give you the history, context, definitions and theories.

Define the terms that you want to use when you are doing a search for materials. If you do a subject search in the online catalog, the system limits you to using predefined Library of Congress Subject Headings. Click here for more information on doing a subject search.

Some subject headings for mental health (in alphabetical order):

     Behavioral assessment
     Community mental health
     Depression, Mental
     Mental health
     Mental health planning
     Mental health policy
     Mental health services
     Mental illness
     Personality
     Personality assessment
     Psychology, Pathological
     Self disclosure

Doing a keyword search will give you many more titles than a subject search and may help you focus the results. When you do a keyword search the system looks in the title, subject and table of contents fields. Click here for more information on doing a keyword search.

To do effective keyword searching, you will need to think of concepts and terms related to your topic. Consulting a thesaurus will help you find synonyms for concepts. Click here for a list of thesauri owned by the Harris Library.

The following thesaurus provides mental health-related terms and concepts:

Thesaurus of psychological index terms.  (2005).  (10th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

In addition to the subject headings above, here are some general terms (in alphabetical order) to use when searching for information on mental health. When you narrow your search you will make an additional list specific to your topic.

NOTE: Using a system's truncating symbol (in this example, the asterisk "*") at the end of the root word will provide you with records using variations of that word.

     abuse
     anxiety
     attachment
     depression
     development stages
     dual diagnosis
     life cycle
     mental health
     mental illness (mental* ill*)
     post traumatic stress
     psychopathology
     psychosocial
     sexuality

Search the Library Catalog for: KEYWORD SUBJECT

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3. Find some general articles on your topic.

After you have located books on your topic, you will want to look for general journal articles in your subject area. Case and OhioLINK offer several general databases. These include: Expanded Academic ASAP, Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, Periodical Abstracts, SIRS Researcher, and Social Sciences Index. These databases provide a mix of popular magazine articles and scholarly research articles. You can get to these databases by choosing the Research Databases option in the Library Catalog.  
Note: Access is limited to authorized users.

TIP: When you search in general databases, you will sometimes retrieve citations to book reviews related to your topic. These book reviews may be helpful in leading you to book titles and/or authors in your area of interest.

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4. Search subject specific databases for more scholarly journal articles.

Once you have assembled general journal articles on your topic, you can begin focusing on scholarly research articles. Citations, abstracts and, sometimes, the full-text of journal articles are found in a variety of databases available through Case Western Reserve University and OhioLINK to authorized users.

Case and OhioLINK databases are available by clicking on Research Databases in the Library Catalog.

The World Wide Web also makes available a range of databases. Some of these require a subscription fee to be paid; others are free. Click here to view a list of selected databases available on the Web that are related to social work and the social sciences.

Literature on mental health is found in many disciplines. Some of the databases that will have articles on this topic include:

AGELINE is available electronically through the Case Research Databases list and as afree database on the Web. It provides bibliographic coverage on aging in a social, psychological, health related and economic context and is published by the American Association of Retired Persons. It has selected coverage from 1966-1977, and inclusive coverage from 1978 to the present. [Last updated: January 18, 2002. Last reviewed: November 7, 2005.]

CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health) is available electronically through the OhioLINK Research Databases and the Case Research Databases. It indexes literature relating to nursing, education, behavioral sciences, social services, and health care. Most of the entries included the reference list for the cited article. Coverage is from 1982 forward. This index corresponds to the printed publication Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health. [Last reviewed: November 7, 2005. Last updated: November 8, 2005.]

Family & Society Studies Worldwide (1970-present) is available electronically through the Case Research Databases. It is a core resource on family and gender related topics. It covers over 800,000 records drawn from journals, books, conference and working papers government reports, and websites in the social science disciplines. Citations from the Inventory of Marriage & Family Literature and the Australian Family & Society Abstracts are included. [Last reviewed: November 7, 2005. Last updated: November 11, 2005.]

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Health and Psychosocial Instruments (HAPI) is an online resource for locating information on measurement instruments. It is available online thru the Case Research Databases option in EuclidPLUS. This database is used for locating quantitative and qualitative questionnaires, rating scales, projective techniques and other instruments. Information is abstracted from journals and covers health, psychosocial sciences, and organizational behavior. Coverage is current. [Last updated: January 18, 2002.]

MEDLINE / Medline Advanced / PubMed is available electronically through the OhioLINK Research Databases (MEDLINE) and as a free database on the Web through the National Library of Medicine or through the National Library of Medicine's PubMed . MEDLINE contains over 13 million records from 1966 forward. PubMed also contains citations pre-1966 and additional information not included in MEDLINE. The subject areas covered include medicine, nursing, and the health care system. This index corresponds to the printed publication Index Medicus. [Last reviewed: November 7, 2005. Last updated: November 11, 2005.]

PsycINFO is available electronically through the OhioLINK Research Databases. The database indexes the world's literature in psychology and related disciplines. It covers over 1900 journals as well as books, and individual book chapters. The coverage is from 1967 forward. This index corresponds to the printed publication Psychological Abstracts . PsycINFO Historical is a different database that covers similar information between the years 1887-1966. [Last reviewed: November 7, 2005. Last updated: November 11, 2005.]

Social Work Abstracts is available electronically through the Case Research Databases list. It contains more than 45,000 records from 1700 social work related journals. Topics covered include service delivery, social work practice, homelessness, aging, child and family welfare, community organization, and substance abuse. The coverage is from 1977 to the present. This database corresponds with the printed publication Social Work Abstracts .    [Last reviewied November 7, 2005. Last updated: November 11, 2005.]

CAUTION: The setup will vary for different databases. In many databases if you type in a phrase the system will look for the exact phrase. It does not add an " and" between words. So if you type "urban poverty homeless" you will get zero results because it will look for those words in that exact order. It is often clearer to enter one term at a time and combine the end results.

TIP: Look in the descriptor field and/or use the online thesaurus to lead you to additional terms.

NOTE: Online databases are distributed nationally and are not specific to Case Western Reserve University. The University will not own all the journals that are cited in the databases. Click here for information on finding journal titles in the online catalog.

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5. Browse current issues of journals that contain literature on your topic.

Click here for a list of journals to which the MSASS Harris Library subscribes.

Journals that are most likely to contain information on the topic of mental health include:

Administration and Policy in Mental Health   online at: OhioLINK.   (Public catalog.)

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry   online at: OhioLINK.   (Public catalog)

Clinical Social Work Journal   online at: OhioLINK.  (Public catalog)

Community Mental Health Journal   online at: OhioLINK.  (Public catalog)

Journal of Primary Prevention   online at: OhioLINK.  (Public catalog)

New Directions for Mental Health Services    (Public catalog) [ For current volumes see: New Directions for Youth Development]

Research in Community and Mental Health   (Public catalog)

Schizophrenia Bulletin    (Public catalog)

Smith College Studies in Social Work    (Public catalog)

Social Work in Mental Health   online at: Haworth.  (Public catalog)

Women & Therapy   online at: Haworth.  (Public catalog)

Additional journals that cover general topics in Sociology and social studies are available in the Electronic Journal Center.

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6. Do a Web search on the Internet for additional information.

Information located through the Internet can provide supplemental material to scholarly research articles. Material retrieved from websites should always be evaluated for currency, authorship, bias and accuracy.

Following are selected websites that might be helpful when looking for information on mental health:

Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network
The Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network is a nationwide resource for addiction-related information funded by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). "ATTC vision is to unify science, education and services to transform the lives of individuals and families affected by alcohol and other drug addiction." Resources on this site include: Licensing & Certification Requirements for all U.S. States; SAMHSA's Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator; full text cutting-edge research articles taken from the journal, Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research; and much more. [Listed November 11, 2003.] (ATTC)

American Psychoanalytic Association
The Web site of this professional association of psychoanalysts includes an online searchable bibliography on the literature of psychoanalysis, abstracts of recent issues of its journal, and an overview and history of psychoanalysis. [Last reviewed April 1, 2001.] (APSA)

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
An advocacy site for mental health issues and people with mental disabilities. Provides current information in the areas of legislation, aging, children's issues, fair housing, palliative care, and the ADA - as they relate to mental illness. [Last reviewed April 23, 2001.] (Bazelon)

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance [formerly the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association (National DMDA)] is the nation's largest patient-run, illness-specific organization. This site's purpose is to educate patients, families, and the public concerning the nature and management of depressive and bipolar (also know as manic depressive) illnesses. The reader can download free information kits, as well as view a video called Dark Glasses and Kaleidoscopes .     [On the DBSA Home page scroll down to the section labeled Bipolar Resource Kit and click on View Kit Materials . Then click on the video title located in the left hand column at the bottom of the Download Brochures list.] [Listed December 27, 2002. Last updated July 13, 2003.] (DBSA)

Gift From Within
Started in 1993 its mission "is a non-profit organization dedicated to those who suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), those at risk for PTSD, and those who care for traumatized individuals..." --From website.  [Listed December 7, 2006] (Gift)

Health on the Net Foundation (HON)
Established in 1994, HON is a not-for-profit International Swiss Organization whose mission is to provide access to useful and reliable online medical and health information. A significant contribution of this organization is the HON Code of Conduct (HONcode), which was developed as a means of standardizing the reliability of medical and health information available on the Web. The HON code defines a set of principles that Web site developers should follow when creating a site containing medical or mental health information. The HONcode section of the site provides a list of the recommended principles. This section also includes the HONcode Hunt search box (keyword searches lead to approved HONcode sites) and the HONcode Site Checker. The home page also offers access to medical illustrations through the HONmedia feature. [Last reviewed April 23, 2001.] (HON)

Interactive Glossary of Mental Health and Disability Terms
This glossary at FindCounseling.com was written by C. J. Newton.  It is part of the Mental Health Resources section of the website and includes Types of Therapy as well as Types of Mental Health Professionals .  Also in the Mental Health Resources section is a National Directory of Emergency Crisis Hotlines and Helplines.  [Listed April 15, 2008.] (IGMHDT)

Internet Mental Health
This resource is an online encyclopedia covering a variety of mental health topics and links to other related sites. It was created by two Canadian psychiatrists in an effort to share mental health information at a global level. [Listed April 1, 2001. URL updated July 11, 2003.] (MentHlthMain)

Mental Health Infosource
This extensive mental health index provides connections to a large number of professional and educational resources. One item of interest is the online version of Psychiatric Times. [Last reviewed April 1, 2001.] (MHSource)

Mental Health Resources
Part of the "Miningco.com" service, this portal site has done research on a variety of mental health topics and issues and makes a good starting point. [Last updated April 1, 2001.] (MentalHealth)

Mental Help Net
This portal site identifies a number of mental health sites related to specific disorders and treatments, therapies, professional organizations, and current news items. It includes an internal search engine that allows the user to search for topics within the Web site. [Last updated April 1, 2001.] (MentalHelp)

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
This organization's site includes position papers, press releases, and highlights of federal legislation and court decisions around mental illness issues. [Last reviewed April 1, 2001.] (NAMI)

National Institute of Mental Health
The public information section of this federal government site provides information on specific mental disorders, their diagnosis and treatment. Current research sponsored by NIMH is also highlighted. [Last reviewed April 1, 2001.] (NIMH)

National Resource Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness
This organization's site provides Annotated Bibliographies on over thirty topics, a link to its Publications (some of which are available online), two Referral Lists of national organizations focusing on issues of housing, mental health and homelessness, and an extensive annotated list of Links. It also provides information on federal research projects in the area of homelessness and mental illness. [Listed April 1, 2001. Last updated May 11, 2004.] (NRC)

Ohio Department of Mental Health
The Clinician section provides examples of Best Practices and Initiatives in Ohio as well as a link to the U.S. Surgeon General's Mental Health Report and Report on Suicide. It also includes links for mental health clinicians. The Department section links to state offices, documents, standards, and guidelines. Note: Click on the headings and not the photos on the main page to get to individual sections of the site. [Last reviewed April 1, 2001.] (OhioMentHlth)

Open Minds
Open Minds is a commercial web site with news, reports, and career opportunities for the behavioral health care industry. [Listed July 16, 2002.] (OpenMinds)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
This comprehensive federal government site provides a good overview of government programs that are addressing mental health concerns, as well as substance abuse issues. The site includes direct links to The Center for Mental Health Services, The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, and The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. The web site includes access to statistics, reports and managed care initiatives. It can be searched by keyword. [Last reviewed April 1, 2001.] (SAMHSA)

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7. Evaluate the information you have collected from books and articles.

Consult the bibliographies of the books and articles you have selected. This will lead you to additional references and authors to investigate. Make notes of the gaps in your literature so that you can use this information when you do additional searches. Click here for more information on evaluating the information you have collected.