The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry
-
The objective of this study was to estimate the use of restraint techniques and evaluate restraint policies and training in Australasian emergency departments ⋯ Patient restraint is a common procedure in Australasian emergency departments. There is little formal training in, or documentation or audit of, restraint practices in Australasian emergency departments, despite the important clinical, occupational health and medical legal issues associated with the use of restraint.
-
Aust N Z J Psychiatry · Aug 2001
Mind over matter? I: philosophical aspects of the mind-brain problem.
To conceptualize the essence of the mind-body or mind-brain problem as one of metaphysics rather than science, and to propose a formulation of the problem in the context of current scientific knowledge and its limitations. ⋯ The problem appears to arise as a consequence of the conceptual limitations of the human mind, and hence remains essentially a metaphysical one. A 'double aspect theory' recognizes the essential unity of mind and brain, while remaining consistent with the dualism inherent in human experience.
-
Aust N Z J Psychiatry · Aug 2001
Predictors of partially met or unmet need reported by consumers of mental health services: an analysis of data from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing.
We examined data from the 1997 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing to identify factors associated with consumers of mental health help reporting that their needs were unmet or only partially met. Predictor factors included sociodemographic variables, psychological morbidity measures and type of health practitioner seen. ⋯ In this exploratory analysis, we examined factors associated with consumers of mental health help reporting that their needs were unmet or partially met. We found that the needs of those with anxiety problems were not generally well met. Our findings also indicate there is a need to continue to improve collaboration between the medical and community services sectors.
-
To explore concepts of causality within the mind and aetiology of psychiatric disorders in the light of the proposed formulation of the mind-brain problem. ⋯ Neural activity cannot in principle be regarded as causing mental activity, or vice versa. Causal processes are most coherently conceptualised in terms of the 'mind-brain' system. Determination of causal and aetiological effects will always necessitate consideration of contextual evidence. Because of the 'explanatory gap' between explanation in neurophysiological terms and 'mentalistic' terms, whenever formulation in mentalistic terms is possible this will carry greater explanatory power; that is, it will carry meaning in the way a neural formulation cannot.