Clinical work with people affected by public care or adoption [Articles]
Most individuals who have lived in foster homes, residential care or adoptive families for substantial periods (‘people affected by public care or adoption’) show normal psychological adjustment as adults, although rates of mental disorders, hospital admission and suicide are increased. Research focusing on the experiences of this group of people can help professionals better understand their behaviour and attitude towards help. Psychiatric symptoms can be multifaceted, including complex trauma presentations. The specific mental health needs of this population are increasingly being recognised in child and adol...
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - July 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Hillen, T., Wright, H. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Everything you wanted to know about neuroimaging and psychiatry, but were afraid to ask [Articles]
This article gives an overview of the main neuroimaging approaches, contemporary applications of this technology to psychiatric disorder and signposts to the exciting possibilities for the future. (Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment)
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - July 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Martinelli, C., Shergill, S. S. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
The common law defence of automatism: a quagmire for the psychiatrist [Articles]
This article sets out the complicated and confused law on automatism and identifies the role of the psychiatrist, including paradoxically a role in cases of non-psychiatric disorder where the law requires evidence from a doctor approved under section 12 of the Mental Health Act. Legal definitions of automatism are introduced. The internal/external distinction, evidential burden, burden of proof, standard of proof, prior fault, intoxication and the degree of impairment illustrate how the courts limit the defence. Detailed accounts are given of cases in which the defence of automatism has been based on psychiatric disorder a...
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - July 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Rix, K. J. B. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Hyperprolactinaemia and antipsychotics [Refreshment]
This overview explains antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinaemia and offers guidance on the management of this common and underestimated problem in general psychiatric practice. (Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment)
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - July 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Nelson, J. C., Bell, P. M., Guy, S. T. Tags: Refreshment Source Type: research
The straw man of prescribing in psychiatry: COMMENTARY ON... DRUG-CENTRED PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY [Articles]
‘Drug-centred’ prescribing in psychiatry has been proposed as a new and better approach than the current ‘disease-centred’ alternative. It targets symptoms most important to the patient using the concept that psychotropics act indirectly by altering normal functioning. I contend that it is a straw man: psychiatrists already use ‘drug-centred’ prescribing, applying their knowledge of a drug’s pharmacological profile and evidence base to treat each patient’s symptoms, not their diagnostic classification. Furthermore, there is no compelling evidence that psychotropics act by alt...
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - July 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Taylor, D. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Drug-centred psychopharmacology: a non-diagnostic framework for drug treatment [Articles]
We propose a ‘drug-centred’ framework for understanding the nature of drug treatment in psychiatry. In contrast to the prevailing ‘disease-centred’ model, which suggests that drugs work by targeting underlying abnormalities, the drug-centred model maintains that drugs exert their effects through their psychoactive properties. According to this view, distinctive drug-induced alterations to normal cognition, emotion and behaviour can modify the manifestations of mental disorders independent of diagnosis or aetiological theory. The drug-centred approach already forms the basis of some current practice,...
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - July 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Yeomans, D., Moncrieff, J., Huws, R. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Bringing smartphone technology into undergraduate and postgraduate psychiatry [Articles]
This article highlights the utility of these devices in education and summarises the existing technologies adopted by other specialties. It gives a framework for how psychiatry could adopt these new technologies in education and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of using this new approach. A brief illustration of how these technologies are being applied in undergraduate and postgraduate psychiatry is included. (Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment)
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - July 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Zhang, M. W. B., Ho, C. S. H., Cheok, C. C. S., Ho, R. C. M. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Sleep problems in Alzheimer's disease: does drug treatment help or harm?: COMMENTARY ON... COCHRANE CORNER [Round the corner]
Drug treatments are commonly used for sleep disturbance in Alzheimer’s disease, although none have a specific licence for this indication. This month’s Cochrane review assessed the available evidence of benefit or harm in the use of these medications. The review identified two studies of melatonin, which did not show significant improvement in sleep over placebo. One study of trazodone suggested a beneficial effect on sleep, but its small sample size limits the generalisability of the results. Larger studies are needed, with careful assessment of the evidence for possible improvements in sleep but also of impor...
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - July 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Smith, K., Attenburrow, M.-J. Tags: Round the corner Source Type: research
Pharmacotherapies for sleep disturbances in Alzheimer's disease [Cochrane corner]
(Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment)
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - July 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: McCleery, J., Cohen, D. A., Sharpley, A. L. Tags: Cochrane corner Source Type: research
New from CPD Online [CPD Online]
(Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment)
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - July 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Tags: CPD Online Source Type: research
Eating disorders in children and adolescents [Articles]
This article provides an overview of classification and outcome of eating disorders, before focusing on current evidence-based treatment for the two main disorders of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. (Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment)
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - May 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Nicholls, D., Barrett, E. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Obsessive-compulsive disorder in young people [Articles]
This article explains some of the elements of CBT and describes new directions in research which might improve interventions. (Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment)
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - May 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Williams, T. I., Shafran, R. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Best interests, mental capacity legislation and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities [Articles]
‘Best interests’ is a key principle of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (England and Wales), Mental Capacity Bill (2014) (Northern Ireland) and Mental Health Act 2001 (Ireland), although there are currently proposals to remove ‘best interests’ from Irish legislation. Legislation in Scotland refers to ‘benefit’ resulting from interventions. Judicious use of ‘best interests’, in line with guidelines that prioritise the person’s autonomy, will and preferences, is a powerful way to promote the values and rights that underpin the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Person...
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - May 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Kelly, B. D. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Tolstoy's oak tree metaphor: depression, recovery and psychiatric 'spiritual ecology' [Mindreading]
Tolstoy’s life and work illustrate resilience, the transcendence of trauma and the enduring impact of childhood loss. I have chosen the famous oak tree passage from War and Peace to illustrate recovery from the self-preoccupation of depression and the theme of ‘eco-spirituality’ – the idea that post-depressive connectedness and love apply not just to significant others but also to nature and the environment. (Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment)
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - May 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Holmes, J. Tags: Mindreading Source Type: research
The use of internet-mediated cross-sectional studies in mental health research [Articles]
This article summarises internet-mediated approaches to conducting quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional mental health research, and describes aspects of research design to consider for optimising scientific rigour and validity as well as response. Rapid adoption of internet-mediated approaches risks compromising the quality of the methods used. Not only can it cause distress to participants, but methodological problems may lead to inappropriate inferences being made from research findings. In this article the advantages of using internet communication for research purposes are balanced against the disadvantages, us...
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - May 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Pitman, A., Osborn, D. P. J., King, M. B. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
