The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry
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Aust N Z J Psychiatry · Oct 2002
Pro re nata medication for psychoses: an audit of practice in two metropolitan hospitals.
To examine the use of pro re nata (PRN) (as needed) medication in hospitalized patients with psychotic disorders. ⋯ Pro re nata medications comprised a significant part of the treatment which psychotic patients received. The common practice of coprescribing PRN typical antipsychotics with scheduled atypical antipsychotics is potentially problematical since administration of PRN medication is associated with significant medication related morbidity. Preferential use of benzodiazepines as PRN agents may minimize this morbidity and foster subsequent compliance with regularly prescribed antipsychotics.
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Aust N Z J Psychiatry · Apr 2002
Psychiatry and the need for mental health care in Australia: findings from the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing.
This paper describes the pattern of consultations reported with psychiatrists and primary mental health care providers in the Australian adult population. It explores whether inequalities found in utilization of psychiatric services according to area are different in degree from inequalities in utilization of medical and surgical specialists,and describes the meeting of perceived needs for mental health care within those seen by psychiatrists. ⋯ Most care delivered by psychiatrists is de facto shared care. Psychiatrists as clinical professionals need to be continually mindful of the need to communicate with others providing care. Psychiatric services in Australia are not delivered in an equitable manner,and the inequalities are greater for psychiatric services than for other medical specialties.
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Aust N Z J Psychiatry · Feb 2002
Factors associated with dysmorphic concern and psychiatric morbidity in plastic surgery outpatients.
To compare new referrals to a plastic surgery clinic for cosmetic (non-medically explained) reasons with a control group of equal size with medically explained symptoms. ⋯ Patients presenting for cosmetic (non-medically explained) surgery have high rates of dysmorphic concern and psychiatric morbidity