Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
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Australas Psychiatry · Oct 2015
Reactions to driving cessation: a qualitative study of people with dementia and their families.
A proportion of older people with mild dementia are safe to drive. However, driving cessation is recommended at some point as the disease progresses. Driving cessation can have significant psychological and social consequences on people with dementia and their carers. This paper aims to explore the psychosocial and adjustment issues following driving cessation for people with dementia and their supporters. ⋯ The preliminary findings highlight the need for a more comprehensive process for driving cessation in those with dementia, with closer links to regulatory bodies, and increased support for their families/carers.
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In this study we aimed to examine the characteristics of Mental Health Act (MHA) usage in the Emergency Department (ED) of an urban teaching hospital in Sydney. ⋯ Police and ambulance MHA certification was a poor predictor of admission. Least restrictive measures were predominantly the outcome. Delegating ED physicians with authorised medical officer status assisted in facilitating this process. Formalised education and training on the principles and practicalities of MHA legislation should be ongoing for all professionals involved.
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Australas Psychiatry · Aug 2015
ReviewFamilies of returned defence force personnel: a changing landscape of challenges.
This paper aims to identify the key challenges experienced by the families of defence force personnel following deployment. ⋯ The challenges faced by defence force personnel when returning from deployment arise within a family context. Clinicians should thoroughly assess these factors in families following deployment, but also recognise family strengths and resilience to these challenges.
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Australas Psychiatry · Apr 2015
Assessing patient satisfaction with a multidisciplinary gender dysphoria clinic in Melbourne.
The Gender Dysphoria Clinic in Melbourne, Australia, assessed patient outcome by focusing on patients' subjective evaluation of the healthcare services they received through the clinic. ⋯ Although the majority of trans-and-gender-diverse patients attending the Gender Dysphoria Clinic were satisfied with the service they received, there is a need to identify strategies to facilitate timely access to the clinic.