Impact of the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (UN-CRPD) on mental health care research - a systematic review. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Steinert, Christoph; Steinert, Tilman; Flammer, Erich; Jaeger, Susanne
• Is Part Of: BMC psychiatry. Volume 16:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 14
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities -- Human rights -- Inclusion -- Mental health research; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1186/s12888-016-0862-1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-244X

Abstract

Abstract Background The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN-CRPD) aims at stimulating profound changes and social development in many areas of the society. We wanted to examine the impact of the convention on mental health care research up to now by a systematic review. Methods We searched relevant electronic databases for empirical studies from the area of mental health which focused directly on the content of the UN-CRPD. Results One thousand six hundred ten articles were screened, 36 of which fulfilled the inclusion criteria and came from 22 different countries. 25 studies (69 %) are related to persons with intellectual disabilities, only 11 to other mental disorders. Study designs were quantitative and qualitative as well. Issues were realisation of the UN-CRPD, implementation and financing, development of instruments, and attitudes towards the UN-CRPD. Conclusions In contrast to possible wide-reaching consequences for the organisation of mental health care, theoretical debates prevail as of yet and empirical research is still scarce. Research on the UN-CRPD is more advanced for intellectual disabilities and provides good suggestions for relevant research aspects in major mental disorders.