Description:
"The theme explored in relation to the 3 projects (in this report) was the issue of innovation in clinical practice. As shown in the various reports, innovation can occur at a micro level as in Study 1 when aspects of two therapies were combined in an attempt to speed therapy; in Study 2 the innovation was more routine and practical in amalgamating the various practices of different Departments at the Ballarat Health Services into a treatment protocol for the treatment of young patients affected by critical eating disorders, or innovation in a wider sense; in Study 3 the effectiveness of a new treatment centre was researched. Some the ethical practice issues around innovation in clinical practice were examined in the final paper."-- leaf iii.
Description:
"The theme explored in relation to the 3 projects (in this report) was the issue of innovation in clinical practice. As shown in the various reports, innovation can occur at a micro level as in Study 1 when aspects of two therapies were combined in an attempt to speed therapy; in Study 2 the innovation was more routine and practical in amalgamating the various practices of different Departments at the Ballarat Health Services into a treatment protocol for the treatment of young patients affected by critical eating disorders, or innovation in a wider sense; in Study 3 the effectiveness of a new treatment centre was researched. Some the ethical practice issues around innovation in clinical practice were examined in the final paper."-- leaf iii.
Description:
The high rates of depression and suicide among older adults have given rise to research which aims to identify factors that protect older people from mental illness. Recently, Bailey and McLaren (2005) developed and tested a model which investigated the relationships between engagement in various leisure activities performed alone or with others, sense of belonging, depression, and suicidal ideation. The present study examined an extended version of the mental health model, incorporating the additional variables of perceived freedom in leisure and physical health status. A sample of Australian males and females (N = 379) aged 65 years and over (M age = 77.23, SD = 7.48) completed the Perceived Freedom in Leisure Questionnaire, the Yale Physical Activity Survey,the Duke Health Profile, the Sense of Belonging Instrument, the Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depressive Scale, and the Suicide Subscale of the General Health Questionnaire. Results indicated that the model was invariant for gender, and accounted for 56% of the variance in suicidal ideation. The model indicated that physical health had direct relationships with each variable in the model. Perceived freedom in leisure predicted engagement in physical activity, sense of belonging-antecedent, and depression, whereas sense of belonging psychological state predicted depression and suicidal ideation. Results suggest that interventions aimed at improving older adults’ perceptions of freedom and personal choice with regard to their leisure experiences, maintaining optimal health, and increasing opportunities to foster feelings of belonging and relatedness with others, should protect against the development of mental ill health.
Description:
The high rates of depression and suicide among older adults have given rise to research which aims to identify factors that protect older people from mental illness. Recently, Bailey and McLaren (2005) developed and tested a model which investigated the relationships between engagement in various leisure activities performed alone or with others, sense of belonging, depression, and suicidal ideation. The present study examined an extended version of the mental health model, incorporating the additional variables of perceived freedom in leisure and physical health status. A sample of Australian males and females (N = 379) aged 65 years and over (M age = 77.23, SD = 7.48) completed the Perceived Freedom in Leisure Questionnaire, the Yale Physical Activity Survey,the Duke Health Profile, the Sense of Belonging Instrument, the Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depressive Scale, and the Suicide Subscale of the General Health Questionnaire. Results indicated that the model was invariant for gender, and accounted for 56% of the variance in suicidal ideation. The model indicated that physical health had direct relationships with each variable in the model. Perceived freedom in leisure predicted engagement in physical activity, sense of belonging-antecedent, and depression, whereas sense of belonging psychological state predicted depression and suicidal ideation. Results suggest that interventions aimed at improving older adults’ perceptions of freedom and personal choice with regard to their leisure experiences, maintaining optimal health, and increasing opportunities to foster feelings of belonging and relatedness with others, should protect against the development of mental ill health.
Description:
"The first report describes a case of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in a pregnant women living in regional Australia. It begins with a discussion of issues of relevance to the treatment of a pregnant woman with MDD. It also describes the evidence based treatment provided and the results achieved for this client. The second report follows the same format to describe a case of PTSD in a married mother living in regional Australia following a suicide attempt. The third report describes a case of Bipolar I disorder in a separated mother living in regional Australia. Finally, fourth report explores the professional and ethical issues associated with the practice of clinical psychology [...]. This report explores professional issues which include self-care requirements and strategies, initial client contact, communication with colleagues and professional development and client records. Ethical issues covered include professional competency, termination of relationships and confidentiality."
Description:
"The first report describes a case of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in a pregnant women living in regional Australia. It begins with a discussion of issues of relevance to the treatment of a pregnant woman with MDD. It also describes the evidence based treatment provided and the results achieved for this client. The second report follows the same format to describe a case of PTSD in a married mother living in regional Australia following a suicide attempt. The third report describes a case of Bipolar I disorder in a separated mother living in regional Australia. Finally, fourth report explores the professional and ethical issues associated with the practice of clinical psychology [...]. This report explores professional issues which include self-care requirements and strategies, initial client contact, communication with colleagues and professional development and client records. Ethical issues covered include professional competency, termination of relationships and confidentiality."
Description:
"Although a multitude of preventative programs have been utilised worldwide to modify cardiovascular risk factors, none have included internet based interventions. Study 1 aimed to compare internet based (n = 21), face-to-face (n = 27), and combined (n = 21) treatment groups with a naturally occurring control group (n = 24) on physiological, psychological, and lifestyle risk variables for cardiovascular disease across 6-months, and to determine if there were relationships between changes in the psychological and physiological variables over time. Results indicated that the internet based group had significantly greater social reciprocity than the face-to-face group. Significant time effects were noted for heart rate, stress, depression, anxiety, reciprocity, anger expression-out, anger expression-in, anger control-out, and anger control-in. Results also demonstrated that increases in reciprocity and anxiety, and decreases in anger expression-out, were related to increases in heart rate. "In contrast, less anger suppression was a significant predictor of greater systolic blood pressure. However, there were no significant results for group, time, or predictive value for the other psychological, physiological, and lifestyle risk variables. A follow-up study examined the effects of unstructured (n = 13) and highly structured (n =14) internet based programs on physiological, psychological, and lifestyle risk variables for coronary heart disease over 6-months. It also investigated if there were relationships between changes in the psychological and physiological variables over time. Participants stages of change were assessed in relation to psychological and lifestyle risk variables. Results showed that the unstructured group scored significantly higher on anger-expression-out than the highly structured group and that the unstructured groups alcohol usage significantly reduced over time. "The remaining psychological, physiological and lifestyle risk variables did not produce significant group, time, or predictive changes. The stage of change results indicated no significant group or time effects. Results indicated that greater angry reaction scores were predictive of higher heart rate and increased stress scores were predictive of higher diastolic blood pressure. The critical psychological variables predictive of poorer cardiovascular functioning should be targeted in future interventions."
Description:
This study investigated the role of psychological variables in help-seeking behaviour and attitudes in a rural population, with particular emphasis as to whether differences existed between farmers and non-farming rural residents. These groups were contrasted, as research suggests that farmers appear to be a sub-group of the Australian population at increased risk of chronic health problems and suicide, even in comparison to other rural residents.
Description:
Three thematically linked placement project reports and an exegesis addressing professional/ethical issues in the practice of clinical psychology submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Psychology (Clinical).
Description:
Three thematically linked placement project reports and an exegesis addressing professional/ethical issues in the practice of clinical psychology submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Psychology (Clinical).