{"title":"A systematic review of reasons for and against euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in older people with a non-terminal condition.","authors":"James Baée, Brian Draper, Chanaka Wijeratne","doi":"10.1177/10398562251313917","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562251313917","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Some European jurisdictions have legalised euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (EUT/PAS) for people with dementia and 'multiple geriatric syndromes'. We therefore sought to determine the published rationales for and against providing EUT/PAS to older people without a terminal illness.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A systematic review was undertaken according to PRISMA guidelines. Content, thematic and discourse analyses were used to identify papers that delineated ethical arguments for and against the provision of EUT/PAS to older people without a terminal illness, and to synthesise arguments into overarching themes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seventeen studies were included, eight of which were written by medical practitioners, the rest by ethicists. All but two of the papers were written by authors from western nations. A total of 70 arguments were identified, 16 (22.9%) being in favour of EUT/PAS, and 54 (77.1%) against. The themes identified were: a person with dementia had a duty to die, precedent capacity, ageism, abuse/coercion, psychological factors, healthcare economics, sociocultural factors and legislation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite broad scepticism about the provision of EUT/PAS to older people without a terminal illness, the literature is preliminary. There is a need for ethicists and policymakers to engage with a range of older people with physical, cognitive and social needs, as well as their supporters.</p>","PeriodicalId":8630,"journal":{"name":"Australasian Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"10398562251313917"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142963700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Creating futures out of the conference: 20 years of strengthening mental health capacity in the Pacific.","authors":"Brigid Ryan, Jennifer McHugh, Annie E Crookes","doi":"10.1177/10398562241312973","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562241312973","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Creating Futures (CF) is an independent, collaborative taskforce supported by in-kind commitments from organisations and practitioners. This paper summarises CF 2023 themes and provides an overview of 20 years of CF activities. It highlights challenges and opportunities to integrate global mental health partnerships and regional mental health projects. CF promotes a partnership model which has created an important space for dialogue, publications, training, and peer-to-peer support. This improves visibility of the Pacific voices and brings out a more nuanced discussion of the complexities of mental health capacity building, leading to informed and sustainable developments in mental health care.</p>","PeriodicalId":8630,"journal":{"name":"Australasian Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"10398562241312973"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142963701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"AusPATH: Activism influencing health policy.","authors":"Jillian Spencer, Patrick Clarke","doi":"10.1177/10398562241312867","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562241312867","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To consider the role of AusPATH and its position statements on health policy in Australia.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>As a consequence of a membership policy which admits members with lived experience as health experts, AusPATH functions as an activist organisation whilst claiming to be a professional association. There is no accreditation or endorsement underpinning AusPATH's influence on health policy in Australia. Its role as an activist organisation is demonstrated by a lack of caution in its position statements, which are misleading in circumstances where accurate information has been long available. The considerable influence of AusPATH on health policy in Australia needs to be reconsidered, as well as RANZCP Position Statement 62 which provides insufficient guidance upon balancing research and clinical knowledge, as well as medical ethics, with voices of lived experience.</p>","PeriodicalId":8630,"journal":{"name":"Australasian Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"10398562241312867"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142930514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Contextualizing Psychological First Aid for the Pacific Island Countries.","authors":"Malini Nair, Serik Meirmanov","doi":"10.1177/10398562241307858","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562241307858","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This article explores the views towards contextualizing Psychological First Aid (PFA) to address the specific needs of communities in Pacific Island Countries (PICs) impacted by disasters. The methodological approach involved a review of existing literature on PFA's relevance, adaptation, and effectiveness in disaster response settings.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>In disaster response, PFA is a recognized, evidence-informed psychosocial support activity internationally, yet measuring its effectiveness in real-time disasters remains challenging. Practical evaluation of evidence-based PFA requires a more strategic approach emphasizing localization and incorporating community participation and needs contextualization. This approach is essential to ensuring cultural relevance and acceptance within the diverse environments of the PICs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A contextualized understanding of PFA can enhance its effectiveness and contribute to psychological resilience in communities marked by significant diversity and disaster vulnerability.</p>","PeriodicalId":8630,"journal":{"name":"Australasian Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"10398562241307858"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142926331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Living - and dying - with Schizophrenia in Australia.","authors":"Jeffrey Cl Looi, Stephen J Robson","doi":"10.1177/10398562241307807","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562241307807","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8630,"journal":{"name":"Australasian Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"10398562241307807"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142926332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The mental health impact of climate change on Pacific Islanders: A systematic review focused on sea level rise and extreme weather events.","authors":"Netsanet Ayele Mengesha, Zoltan Sarnyai","doi":"10.1177/10398562241312865","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562241312865","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This systematic review investigates the impact of climate change on the mental health of Pacific Island Nations (PINs), with a focus on identifying culturally tailored interventions and appropriate research methodologies to address these impacts.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature up to May 18, 2024, was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol and the Population, Interest Area, and Context (PICo) framework. Empirical studies on the impact of climate change on mental health in PINs were evaluated by using the Quality Assessment Tool for Studies with Diverse Designs (QATSDD).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Six studies from the Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, and Tuvalu were identified, indicating significant mental health impacts from sea level rise (SLR) and extreme weather events with compounding and mitigating effects across diverse groups. The Skills for Life Adjustment and Resilience (SOLAR) program was highlighted as a promising culturally adapted intervention.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Climate change significantly impacts mental health, particularly in PIN communities facing SLR and Extreme Weather Events (EWE). Culturally sensitive interventions, local knowledge, and further research are vital to mitigate these effects and support well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":8630,"journal":{"name":"Australasian Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"10398562241312865"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142926333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The clinical use of dream content in modern psychiatry.","authors":"David Plevin, Virginia Munro","doi":"10.1177/10398562241311926","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562241311926","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Though there is a rich psychoanalytic tradition investigating the content and phenomenology of dreams, the clinical use of this has fallen into widespread disuse. We have undertaken a narrative review of the clinical significance and utility of dream content.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Dream content may have useful clinical and prognostic value in a number of neurological and psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, temporal lobe epilepsy, REM sleep behaviour disorder, dementia, the culture-bound syndrome of Latah, and substance use.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This review highlights the importance of dream phenomenology in clinical practice. Building on the psychoanalytic tradition, the findings of our review should motivate clinicians to regularly enquire about dream content, in order to enhance diagnostic insights and formulations of patient presentations.</p>","PeriodicalId":8630,"journal":{"name":"Australasian Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"10398562241311926"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142920519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessing the prevalence of personality pathology in Australian psychiatric emergency care centres: A feasibility study.","authors":"Yvonne Nguyen, Nick Glozier, Jacqueline Huber","doi":"10.1177/10398562241308711","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10398562241308711","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To assess feasibility and acceptability of self-report measures in estimating prevalence of measurable personality disorder (PD) pathology in a Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre (PECC) unit.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Patients meeting eligibility criteria admitted to an inner-city PECC unit were invited to complete the (1) Standardised Assessment of Personality - Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS), (2) Personality Inventory of DSM-5 Brief Form (PID-5-BF), and (3) Level of Personality Functioning Scale - Brief Form 2.0 (LPFS-BF-2.0).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 24 participants - 80% of invited patients but only 51% of eligible patients and 21% of total PECC inpatients. Barriers to recruitment included: not meeting eligibility criteria, rapid discharge, and high workload. All participants completed the self-report measures. There was a very high prevalence of likely PD (87.5%) (SAPAS), personality trait dysfunction (87.5%) (PID-5-BF) and impaired personality functioning (91.7%) (LPFS-BF 2.0) but there was a low rate of agreement between discharge summary diagnoses and self-report measures.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Using self-report measures to assess PD pathology in a PECC unit was acceptable and may improve discharge summary diagnosis accuracy. Logistical challenges may limit this approach unless it can be embedded in routine care measures. Having accurate prevalence estimates would enable appropriate research, treatment and resourcing in PECCs.</p>","PeriodicalId":8630,"journal":{"name":"Australasian Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"10398562241308711"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142876052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The multiple 'faces' of burnout in clinical psychiatric practice.","authors":"Gordon Parker","doi":"10.1177/10398562241308695","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562241308695","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Burnout is commonly viewed as having three constituent symptoms forming a definable syndrome. This paper seeks to detail a number of burnout profiles as faced by psychiatrists in clinical practice and which can lead to diagnostic dilemmas.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>While those with burnout appear less likely to present to psychiatrists than to other mental health practitioners, there appear to be a number of differing clinical profiles, and so arguing for consideration of a burnout syndrome in the differential diagnosis of some less prototypic clinical presentations.</p>","PeriodicalId":8630,"journal":{"name":"Australasian Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"10398562241308695"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142876058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Deprescribing antidepressants: An integral and neglected component of high-quality prescribing practice.","authors":"Mark Abie Horowitz, David Taylor","doi":"10.1177/10398562241308437","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562241308437","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8630,"journal":{"name":"Australasian Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"10398562241308437"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142876056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}