{"title":"On superheroes and their mafia: Using <i>The Lego Batman Movie</i> to explain relational aspects of narcissism.","authors":"Meredith Stone","doi":"10.1177/10398562221075195","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562221075195","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Contemporary social discourse often emphasises the role of popular culture in the emergence of narcissistic disturbances. That the very same popular culture might be uniquely positioned to <i>explain</i> narcissism has been less explored. This article is part of a discussion series developed to teach registrars psychoanalytic concepts through the medium of film. It explores the depiction of narcissism in the 2017 <i>The Lego Batman Movie.</i></p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Surprisingly for its genre, <i>Lego Batman</i> does not reify pejorative archetypes but rather draws out the relational genesis of Batman's narcissism. The film closely aligns with an object-relations view and can help challenge the tendency, even among psychiatrists, to emphasise the self-importance in narcissistic disorders over underlying object-related conflicts. Furthermore, with its striking audio-visual techniques, the film both enlivens and distils complex psychoanalytic concepts and therapeutic processes for a general psychiatry audience.</p>","PeriodicalId":347122,"journal":{"name":"Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists","volume":" ","pages":"444-446"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39934663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Introducing an integrated model of cross-cultural assessment.","authors":"Stephane M Shepherd","doi":"10.1177/10398562211068373","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562211068373","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>With increasing levels of cultural diversity, it is important that mental health services are relevant and accessible to new migrant populations. Efforts have been made to bring attention to the unique experiences and needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) sub-groups in clinical settings, resulting in various frameworks and professional development workshops. While some of these strategies have raised awareness and persuaded service providers to accommodate different populations, few are effective and genuinely impact consumer outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This paper proposes an integrated cross-cultural assessment framework comprising both clinical and organisational components to improve cross-cultural clinical encounters and consumer satisfaction. The framework underscores the importance of the therapeutic alliance through the building of rapport and trust. Moreover, the framework is designed to be organisationally feasible, and locally and practically oriented.</p>","PeriodicalId":347122,"journal":{"name":"Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists","volume":" ","pages":"486-489"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39866617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andrea Phillipou, Caroline Gurvich, David J Castle, Susan L Rossell
{"title":"Anorexia nervosa, weight restoration and biological siblings: Differences and similarities in clinical characteristics.","authors":"Andrea Phillipou, Caroline Gurvich, David J Castle, Susan L Rossell","doi":"10.1177/10398562211067194","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562211067194","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with clinical characteristics including eating disorder symptomatology, negative mood states, perfectionism and cognitive inflexibility. Whether these characteristics differ across illness stages, and are also present in first-degree relatives, demonstrating heritability, is unclear. The aim of this research was to compare current AN (c-AN), weight-restored AN (wr-AN), sisters of individuals with AN (AN-sis) and healthy controls (HC) on these measures.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Eighty participants (<i>n</i> = 20/group) completed the study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eating disorder symptomatology was similar among c-AN and wr-AN groups, whereas the AN-sis did not differ from either wr-AN or HC. Anxiety was significantly higher in c-AN, wr-AN and AN-sis groups, relative to HC. Increased perfectionism was identified in the c-AN and wr-AN groups compared to AN-sis and HC on the 'concern over mistakes', 'personal standards' and 'doubt and actions' subscales of the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale. Group differences were not apparent on cognitive flexibility.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings suggest that anxiety may be a risk factor or linked to genetic susceptibility for AN, as well as specific aspects of perfectionism that relate to self-imposed standards.</p>","PeriodicalId":347122,"journal":{"name":"Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists","volume":" ","pages":"458-461"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39903223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dan Siskind, Wesley Yen, Moe Thuzar, Anthony Russell, Nicola Warren, Steve Kisely, Manaan Kar Ray, Balaji Motamarri
{"title":"Outcomes of a co-located approach for metabolic health care for people with schizophrenia.","authors":"Dan Siskind, Wesley Yen, Moe Thuzar, Anthony Russell, Nicola Warren, Steve Kisely, Manaan Kar Ray, Balaji Motamarri","doi":"10.1177/10398562221080742","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562221080742","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent among people with schizophrenia. This study aims to assess the impact on metabolic and attendance outcomes of a co-located, dedicated, endocrinologist-led metabolic clinic in a stand-alone public community mental health service.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Demographic and metabolic data on the first 48 consecutive referrals over a 12-month period were retrospectively collected and analysed. Attendance rates at the co-located clinic were compared to the general hospital obesity and diabetes clinics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Clinic attendees had significant reductions in triglycerides and total cholesterol, but not mean weight, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure or HbA1c. Attendance rates were significantly higher in the co-located clinic compared to the general hospital obesity and diabetes clinics for both initial consult (80.0% vs 51.2%, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and review appointment (64.3% vs 47.6%, <i>p</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The co-location of a specialist metabolic clinic within a mental health service resulted in enhanced engagement and improvement of metabolic health in people with schizophrenia.</p>","PeriodicalId":347122,"journal":{"name":"Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists","volume":" ","pages":"518-522"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40323980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paul A Maguire, Rebecca E Reay, Christopher J Nolan, Jeffrey Cl Looi
{"title":"The single-item Self-Rated Mental Health Question in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.","authors":"Paul A Maguire, Rebecca E Reay, Christopher J Nolan, Jeffrey Cl Looi","doi":"10.1177/10398562211065291","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562211065291","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to explore whether the single-item Self-Rated Mental Health Question (SRMHQ) may be an indicator of the need for further mental health assessment and investigation in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Women with GDM (<i>n</i> = 159) were recruited from outpatient clinics in the Australian Capital Territory prior to a GDM information session (mean gestational age = 26, SD = 4.5). Participants were aged 20-45 (mean = 33, SD = 4.2) and completed a single-item Self-Rated Health Question (SRHQ), single-item Self-Rated <i>Mental</i> Health Question (SRMHQ), Kessler 10-item Psychological Distress Scale (K-10), and Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS), as well as demographic, psychiatric, and general health items. Multiple regression was used to explore whether there was an association between SRMHQ responses and K-10 or EDS total scores.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Regression analysis revealed that the SRMHQ was a statistically significant predictor of K-10 and EDS total scores, while controlling for key potential confounders. When mental health was rated as \"poor\" compared to \"excellent,\" this was associated with an additional 12 and 9 points on K-10 and EDS total scores, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The SRMHQ may have a role as an indicator of the need for further mental health assessment and investigation in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.</p>","PeriodicalId":347122,"journal":{"name":"Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists","volume":" ","pages":"472-475"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39897090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
James G Scott, Gemma McKeon, Eva Malacova, Jackie Curtis, Bjorn Burgher, Iain Macmillan, Andrew Thompson, Stephen D Parker
{"title":"Quality prescribing in early psychosis: key pharmacotherapy principles.","authors":"James G Scott, Gemma McKeon, Eva Malacova, Jackie Curtis, Bjorn Burgher, Iain Macmillan, Andrew Thompson, Stephen D Parker","doi":"10.1177/10398562211054656","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562211054656","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To present a practical, easy-to-implement clinical framework designed to support evidence-based quality prescribing for people with early psychosis.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Identification and explanation of key principles relating to evidence-based pharmacotherapy for people with early psychosis. These were derived from the literature, practice guidelines and clinical experience.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Key principles include (1) medication choice informed by adverse effects; (2) metabolic monitoring at baseline and at regular intervals; (3) comprehensive and regular medication risk-benefit assessment and psychoeducation; (4) early consideration of long-acting injectable formulations (preferably driven by informed patient choice); (5) identification and treatment of comorbid mood disorders and (6) early consideration of clozapine when treatment refractory criteria are met.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Current prescribing practices do not align with the well-established evidence for quality pharmacotherapy in early psychosis. Adopting evidence-based prescribing practices for people with early psychosis will improve outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":347122,"journal":{"name":"Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists","volume":" ","pages":"341-345"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39600727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"New laws that prohibit conversion therapy pose no material risk to evidence-based and clinically appropriate practice.","authors":"Christopher J Ryan, Sascha Callaghan","doi":"10.1177/10398562211057070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562211057070","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To examine the extent to which the <i>Sexuality and Gender Identity Conversion Practices Act 2020</i> (ACT) and <i>Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act 2021</i> (Vic) might pose a risk to evidence-based and clinically appropriate practice.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Using a recent publication by Parkinson and Morris as a starting point, the provisions of the new legislation are carefully examined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The ACT and Victorian laws do not imperil psychiatrists undertaking evidence-based and clinically appropriate practice.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>While it may be wise for psychiatrists to abandon this area of practice if they hold strong personal beliefs that the failure to identify with one's natal gender is morally wrong, nothing in the new laws should deter psychiatrists from providing people with gender dysphoria with evidence-based and clinically appropriate care.</p>","PeriodicalId":347122,"journal":{"name":"Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists","volume":" ","pages":"362-363"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39767296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stephen Parker, Nicola Warren, Sarah Hamilton, Sidney Cabral, Jimsie Cutbush
{"title":"Enhancing the quality of supervision: description and initial outcomes of a blended-learning approach to RANZCP supervisor accreditation.","authors":"Stephen Parker, Nicola Warren, Sarah Hamilton, Sidney Cabral, Jimsie Cutbush","doi":"10.1177/1039856220928875","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1039856220928875","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Evaluation of a blended learning adaptation of the accreditation process for supervisors in the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists' (RANZCP) Competency-Based Fellowship Program.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The adaption of the accreditation process is described, and a mixed-methods approach was taken in its evaluation. Descriptive statistics are presented for participant responses to and engagement with interactive workshop elements. The Wilcoxon signed ranks test was applied to examine the change in participants' confidence in their understanding of the expectations of a supervisor at the commencement and conclusion of the workshop. Free text evaluative responses were subject to qualitative content analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most participants expressed a preference for the blended learning workshop format and indicated that live polling improved the learning experience. Additionally, participants expressed greater confidence in their understanding of the expectations of the supervisor role following workshop completion.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The blended learning approach to supervisor training was preferred by participants and may provide a model to be adopted by other training committees and institutions.</p>","PeriodicalId":347122,"journal":{"name":"Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists","volume":" ","pages":"398-405"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1177/1039856220928875","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38033273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The impact of COVID-19 on benzodiazepine usage in psychiatric inpatient units.","authors":"Nancy Zaki, Vlasios Brakoulias","doi":"10.1177/10398562211059090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562211059090","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to investigate whether COVID-19 has led to increased usage of benzodiazepines in acute psychiatric settings.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We evaluated the rates of benzodiazepine usage in two acute psychiatric inpatient units over a period of two years, 2019 and 2020 (the year of the pandemic). Rates of oral atorvastatin usage over the same period were used as a comparator.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We saw a significant increase in the usage of benzodiazepines in the period between April and December 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 despite a decline in the total number of admissions in 2020. Usage peaked further at the time of eased pandemic restrictions which coincided with higher rates of emergency department mental health (MH) presentations and acute MH hospital admissions. We also noticed higher rates of substance use disorder recorded on admission. Hospital leave restrictions due to COVID-19 also led to further restrictions on smoking.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Benzodiazepine usage increased in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study encourages more research to better understand the impact of the pandemic on acute psychiatric settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":347122,"journal":{"name":"Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists","volume":" ","pages":"334-337"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8841396/pdf/10.1177_10398562211059090.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39907021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cariprazine: A new partial dopamine agonist with a familiar profile.","authors":"Judy Hope, Nicholas A Keks","doi":"10.1177/10398562211064254","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562211064254","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Cariprazine is the third partial dopamine agonist now available in Australia. This paper will review the properties, evidence and likely clinical place of cariprazine.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Cariprazine is a partial agonist with high affinity at dopamine D<sub>2</sub> and D<sub>3</sub> receptors, partial agonism at 5HT<sub>1a</sub> receptors, moderate 5HT<sub>2a</sub> and H<sub>1</sub> antagonism and no anticholinergic activity. It is rapidly absorbed, is unaffected by food, achieves a peak plasma level in 4-8 hours and has high bioavailability. The half-life of cariprazine and its metabolites is long (7-8 days); steady state occurs in 4-8 weeks. It is hepatically metabolized via 3A4 cytochrome enzymes. Cariprazine is an effective antipsychotic in acute schizophrenia in both short and longer placebo-controlled studies. Cariprazine appears to have small advantages in negative symptoms of schizophrenia. While not approved for bipolar disorder, cariprazine is effective in mania and mixed states but requires doses higher than current maximums recommended. Cariprazine causes more akathisia than aripiprazole or brexpiprazole but is less prone to insomnia, weight gain and sedation. Risks for hyperprolactinaemia and QT<sub>c</sub> prolongation are low. Cariprazine is another 'metabolically-friendly' antipsychotic for schizophrenia, with advantages for those with negative symptoms, mood symptoms or problems with adherence.</p>","PeriodicalId":347122,"journal":{"name":"Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists","volume":" ","pages":"382-385"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39916599","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}