The negative effects of parental mental illness on children are not dependent on the parent's diagnosis, but are related to that parent's behaviour, the responses of other key adults (both familial and professional), and the degree to which development of the child's resilience has been encouraged. Parental mental illness can be responsible for serious interruptions in a child's cognitive and emotional development, which in turn can have implications for their future mental health. Resilience can be promoted by relatively simple interventions, but these require the active participation of both adult- and child-focused professionals involved with the family, particularly those concerned with the parent's treatment.

There has been growing media and political awareness of forced marriage in recent years, and individuals in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now protected by the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007. Victims of forced marriage can experience significant abuse, which may lead to mental health problems. People with severe mental illness or intellectual disability may be at increased risk of forced marriage and more vulnerable to its negative consequences. We review the current literature on forced marriage, focusing on the way it might affect these two groups, touch on its potential mental health consequences and give practical examples of how to manage situations in clinical practice.

The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance suggests that psychodynamic principles may be used to understand the experiences of people with psychosis. In this article we consider the application of psychodynamic principles in psychotherapy for psychosis, focusing on one particular model: supportive psychodynamic psychotherapy (SPP). We describe this approach with a detailed fictitious case example and discuss how SPP has developed through significant modifications of classical psychoanalytic therapy and the evidence base for it. We consider its overlap with cognitive–behavioural therapy, its advantages and disadvantages, and the arguments for making SPP available as a treatment option in services for psychosis.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are lifelong conditions. Although not all adults with ASD require psychiatric input, general adult psychiatrists increasingly find themselves responsible for the care of adults with the disorder. This may present a new and unique challenge to them. Here, we summarise the core clinical features of ASD; discuss appropriate diagnostic practice; review the principles of management; and identify key educational, social care and voluntary services for adults with ASD in the UK.

This article focuses on how to assess and manage risk in sexual offenders. It covers assessment issues, including interviews, taking a sexual history, assessing sexual deviance and assessing personality. The key step of case formulation is outlined and the development of risk management strategies, including monitoring, supervision and treatment, is described.

Violence between people is a complex social phenomenon involving both social and individual psychological variables. Prevention of violence includes attention to risk factors for violence; but also the provision of interventions for those who have been violent to others. This article explores the evidence that failures of the mentalising process are a risk factor for acts of violence, especially in mental health service users; and describes the implementation of potential therapeutic programmes that seek to improve mentalising in individuals who pose a risk of serious violence to others.

Attitudes to sex and the perceived role of sexual activity are very strongly influenced by cultural values. Culturally determined gender roles influence relationships between different-sex partners, and cultural values affect attitudes towards sexual variation. Cultures define what is deviant and from where help is sought. Through differing patterns of child-rearing, cultures also affect individuals' cognitive development, world views and explanatory models of emotional distress. It is critical that clinicians are aware of the role of culture in defining sexual dysfunction and how cultural factors can be used in initiating treatment as well as in therapeutic engagement and alliance. Although epidemiological data on prevalence of sexual dysfunction across cultures are scanty, it is likely that prevalences vary, as will pathways into care and patterns of help-seeking. In this article we discuss the potential impact of culture on sexual dysfunction, and issues that clinicians, whether in specialist or in general services, need to be aware of in assessing and treating patients who present with sexual dysfunction.

This article examines James Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson, his celebrated biography of his friend, the great 18th-century literary figure, Samuel Johnson. The book records their many conversations, much of which was concerned with madness and melancholy. This is not surprising as both men experienced recurrent bouts of low spirits. They also lived in an era which has been called ‘The Age of Nerves’. This article will consider how they conceived of ‘nervous disease’ and how they tried to remedy it. It will also look at Johnson's role as a therapeutic mentor to Boswell.

This article explores the challenges of developing clinical risk management practice and policy within large mental healthcare organisations. The national context is outlined and requirements of organisations explained. Consideration is given to how clinical risk relates to clinical quality and the benefits of standardisation are explored. We highlight the complexities and conflicts of implementing standardised procedures, given the current evidence base, and the difficulties of applying this in clinical practice. Using concepts from strategic planning and psychology, we suggest an approach to respond to these factors at a local level to achieve better outcomes for service users and clinicians.

This article examines Charles Baudelaire's life, works and his most important collection, The Flowers of Evil. Baudelaire is regarded as one of the most important 19th-century French poets. He revolutionised the content and subject matter of poetry and served as a model for later poets around the world. He continues to exert immense influence on writers. He contracted syphilis early in life, experienced episodes of depression, and had intense and complicated relationships with his mother and other women in his life.