The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry
-
Aust N Z J Psychiatry · Nov 2012
Sleep disturbance, personality and the onset of depression and anxiety: prospective cohort study.
Previous studies have shown associations between sleep disturbance and the onset of depression and anxiety. However, this relationship may reflect an underlying vulnerability, such as temperament or cognitive style, which accounts for an association between the two. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between sleep disturbance and the onset of a mental disorder after a 4-year follow-up, and whether this was accounted for by ruminative style and neuroticism. ⋯ These data suggest that the often-observed association between sleep disturbance and depression onset may be linked to an underlying ruminative style and/or neuroticism. However, the fact that the effect of sleep disturbance on PD and GAD onset was not accounted for by personality factors is a novel finding and suggests a potential role of early identification in selective preventive interventions.
-
Aust N Z J Psychiatry · Oct 2012
ReviewAssisted dying in liberalised jurisdictions and the role of psychiatry: a clinician's view.
Assisted dying is a contentious and topical issue. Mental disorder is a relevant influence on requests of hastened death. The psychiatry of dying is not a prominent component in the assessment of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS) in jurisdictions with liberalised assisted dying laws. The literature on the assessment processes, with particular reference to mental status, involved in euthanasia requests is considered. ⋯ There remain significant concerns about the accuracy of psychiatric assessment in the terminally ill. Mental processes are more relevant influences on a hastened wish to die than are the physical symptoms of terminal malignant disease. Psychiatric review of persons requesting euthanasia is relevant. It is not obligatory or emphasised in those legislations allowing assisted dying. Psychiatry needs to play a greater role in the assessment processes of euthanasia and PAS.