Cognitive Specificity in Trait Anger in Relation to Depression and Anxiety in a Community Sample
- Maud, Monica, Shute, Rosalyn, McLachlan, Angus
- Authors: Maud, Monica , Shute, Rosalyn , McLachlan, Angus
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Psychologist Vol. 47, no. 4 (2012), p. 254-261
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The current research explored 16 of Young's schemas in relation to trait anger and to anxiety and depression symptoms among 262 non-clinical Australian adults with low-level symptomatology and average anger levels. The study partially replicated previous work with a sample of Spanish students that investigated the relationship between anger, depression, and anxiety and Young's schemas. Predictions derived from Beck's notion of cognitive specificity were examined using structural equation modelling and showed that of the sixteen schemas, Vulnerability was linked to anxiety, Social Isolation and Enmeshment were linked to depression, and Entitlement, Insufficient Self-Control, Mistrust and Abuse, Subjugation (negatively), and Abandonment were linked to anger. The discrepancies between these and the Spanish findings and the difficulties of other researchers in establishing higher order aggregations of Young's schemas prompted further consideration of the range of such schemas with respect to anger, depression, and anxiety, and the possibility that sample characteristics may play a critical role in determining the varying affect-schema relationships. © 2011 The Australian Psychological Society.
- Description: 2003010575
- Authors: Maud, Monica , Shute, Rosalyn , McLachlan, Angus
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Psychologist Vol. 47, no. 4 (2012), p. 254-261
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The current research explored 16 of Young's schemas in relation to trait anger and to anxiety and depression symptoms among 262 non-clinical Australian adults with low-level symptomatology and average anger levels. The study partially replicated previous work with a sample of Spanish students that investigated the relationship between anger, depression, and anxiety and Young's schemas. Predictions derived from Beck's notion of cognitive specificity were examined using structural equation modelling and showed that of the sixteen schemas, Vulnerability was linked to anxiety, Social Isolation and Enmeshment were linked to depression, and Entitlement, Insufficient Self-Control, Mistrust and Abuse, Subjugation (negatively), and Abandonment were linked to anger. The discrepancies between these and the Spanish findings and the difficulties of other researchers in establishing higher order aggregations of Young's schemas prompted further consideration of the range of such schemas with respect to anger, depression, and anxiety, and the possibility that sample characteristics may play a critical role in determining the varying affect-schema relationships. © 2011 The Australian Psychological Society.
- Description: 2003010575
A protocol for evidence-based targeting and evaluation of statewide strategies for preventing falls among community-dwelling older people in Victoria, Australia
- Day, Lesley, Finch, Caroline, Hill, Keith, Haines, Terry, Clemson, Lindy, Thomas, Margaret, Thompson, Catherine
- Authors: Day, Lesley , Finch, Caroline , Hill, Keith , Haines, Terry , Clemson, Lindy , Thomas, Margaret , Thompson, Catherine
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Injury Prevention Vol. 17, no. 2 (2011), p. 1-8
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/546282
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Falls are a significant threat to the safety, health and independence of older citizens. Despite the now substantial evidence about effective falls prevention interventions, translation into falls reductions has not yet been fully realised. While the hip fracture rate is decreasing, the number and rate of fall-related hospital admissions among older people is increasing. The challenge now is to deliver the most effective interventions efficiently at a population level, and for these interventions to be taken up by older people. Objective: To support the development, and evaluation of, effective falls prevention policy and practice in the state of Victoria, Australia. Methods: The RE-AIM model (Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) was used to identify strategies for an effective programme. Research objectives were developed to support the strategies. These include: (1) identification of subgroups of older people most frequently admitted to hospital for falls; (2) examining the acceptability of established falls interventions; (3) identification of factors that encourage and support relevant lifestyle changes; (4) identifying opportunities to incorporate confirmed interventions in existing programmes and services; (5) developing guidelines for sustainability. The research results will subsequently guide strategy details for the falls prevention plan. RE-AIM will provide the framework for the evaluation structure. Outcome measures: Measures to monitor the implementation of the selected interventions will be determined for each intervention, based on the five key factors of the RE-AIM model. The overall effect of the falls prevention plan will be monitored by time series analysis of fall-related hospital admission rates for community-dwelling older people.
- Authors: Day, Lesley , Finch, Caroline , Hill, Keith , Haines, Terry , Clemson, Lindy , Thomas, Margaret , Thompson, Catherine
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Injury Prevention Vol. 17, no. 2 (2011), p. 1-8
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/546282
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Falls are a significant threat to the safety, health and independence of older citizens. Despite the now substantial evidence about effective falls prevention interventions, translation into falls reductions has not yet been fully realised. While the hip fracture rate is decreasing, the number and rate of fall-related hospital admissions among older people is increasing. The challenge now is to deliver the most effective interventions efficiently at a population level, and for these interventions to be taken up by older people. Objective: To support the development, and evaluation of, effective falls prevention policy and practice in the state of Victoria, Australia. Methods: The RE-AIM model (Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) was used to identify strategies for an effective programme. Research objectives were developed to support the strategies. These include: (1) identification of subgroups of older people most frequently admitted to hospital for falls; (2) examining the acceptability of established falls interventions; (3) identification of factors that encourage and support relevant lifestyle changes; (4) identifying opportunities to incorporate confirmed interventions in existing programmes and services; (5) developing guidelines for sustainability. The research results will subsequently guide strategy details for the falls prevention plan. RE-AIM will provide the framework for the evaluation structure. Outcome measures: Measures to monitor the implementation of the selected interventions will be determined for each intervention, based on the five key factors of the RE-AIM model. The overall effect of the falls prevention plan will be monitored by time series analysis of fall-related hospital admission rates for community-dwelling older people.
Anxiety online-A virtual clinic: Preliminary outcomes following completion of five fully automated treatment programs for anxiety disorders and symptoms
- Klein, Britt, Meyer, Denny, Austin, David, Kyrios, Michael
- Authors: Klein, Britt , Meyer, Denny , Austin, David , Kyrios, Michael
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Medical Internet Research Vol. 13, no. 4 (2011), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: The development of e-mental health interventions to treat or prevent mental illness and to enhance wellbeing has risen rapidly over the past decade. This development assists the public in sidestepping some of the obstacles that are often encountered when trying to access traditional face-to-face mental health care services. Objective: The objective of our study was to investigate the posttreatment effectiveness of five fully automated self-help cognitive behavior e-therapy programs for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PD/A), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD) offered to the international public via Anxiety Online, an open-access full-service virtual psychology clinic for anxiety disorders. Methods: We used a naturalistic participant choice, quasi-experimental design to evaluate each of the five Anxiety Online fully automated self-help e-therapy programs. Participants were required to have at least subclinical levels of one of the anxiety disorders to be offered the associated disorder-specific fully automated self-help e-therapy program. These programs are offered free of charge via Anxiety Online. Results: A total of 225 people self-selected one of the five e-therapy programs (GAD, n = 88; SAD, n = 50; PD/A, n = 40; PTSD, n = 30; OCD, n = 17) and completed their 12-week posttreatment assessment. Significant improvements were found on 21/25 measures across the five fully automated self-help programs. At postassessment we observed significant reductions on all five anxiety disorder clinical disorder severity ratings (Cohen d range 0.72-1.22), increased confidence in managing one's own mental health care (Cohen d range 0.70-1.17), and decreases in the total number of clinical diagnoses (except for the PD/A program, where a positive trend was found) (Cohen d range 0.45-1.08). In addition, we found significant improvements in quality of life for the GAD, OCD, PTSD, and SAD e-therapy programs (Cohen d range 0.11-0.96) and significant reductions relating to general psychological distress levels for the GAD, PD/A, and PTSD e-therapy programs (Cohen d range 0.23-1.16). Overall, treatment satisfaction was good across all five e-therapy programs, and posttreatment assessment completers reported using their e-therapy program an average of 395.60 (SD 272.2) minutes over the 12-week treatment period. Conclusions: Overall, all five fully automated self-help e-therapy programs appear to be delivering promising high-quality outcomes; however, the results require replication. © Britt Klein, Denny Meyer, David William Austin, Michael Kyrios.
- Authors: Klein, Britt , Meyer, Denny , Austin, David , Kyrios, Michael
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Medical Internet Research Vol. 13, no. 4 (2011), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: The development of e-mental health interventions to treat or prevent mental illness and to enhance wellbeing has risen rapidly over the past decade. This development assists the public in sidestepping some of the obstacles that are often encountered when trying to access traditional face-to-face mental health care services. Objective: The objective of our study was to investigate the posttreatment effectiveness of five fully automated self-help cognitive behavior e-therapy programs for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PD/A), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD) offered to the international public via Anxiety Online, an open-access full-service virtual psychology clinic for anxiety disorders. Methods: We used a naturalistic participant choice, quasi-experimental design to evaluate each of the five Anxiety Online fully automated self-help e-therapy programs. Participants were required to have at least subclinical levels of one of the anxiety disorders to be offered the associated disorder-specific fully automated self-help e-therapy program. These programs are offered free of charge via Anxiety Online. Results: A total of 225 people self-selected one of the five e-therapy programs (GAD, n = 88; SAD, n = 50; PD/A, n = 40; PTSD, n = 30; OCD, n = 17) and completed their 12-week posttreatment assessment. Significant improvements were found on 21/25 measures across the five fully automated self-help programs. At postassessment we observed significant reductions on all five anxiety disorder clinical disorder severity ratings (Cohen d range 0.72-1.22), increased confidence in managing one's own mental health care (Cohen d range 0.70-1.17), and decreases in the total number of clinical diagnoses (except for the PD/A program, where a positive trend was found) (Cohen d range 0.45-1.08). In addition, we found significant improvements in quality of life for the GAD, OCD, PTSD, and SAD e-therapy programs (Cohen d range 0.11-0.96) and significant reductions relating to general psychological distress levels for the GAD, PD/A, and PTSD e-therapy programs (Cohen d range 0.23-1.16). Overall, treatment satisfaction was good across all five e-therapy programs, and posttreatment assessment completers reported using their e-therapy program an average of 395.60 (SD 272.2) minutes over the 12-week treatment period. Conclusions: Overall, all five fully automated self-help e-therapy programs appear to be delivering promising high-quality outcomes; however, the results require replication. © Britt Klein, Denny Meyer, David William Austin, Michael Kyrios.
Emotional functioning in children and adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms
- Hughes, Elizabeth, Gullone, Eleonora, Watson, Shaun
- Authors: Hughes, Elizabeth , Gullone, Eleonora , Watson, Shaun
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment Vol. 33, no. 3 (2011), p. 335-345
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Difficulties with emotion and its regulation are of central importance to the etiology and course of depression. The current study investigated these constructs in relation to childhood and adolescence by comparing the emotional functioning of 170 9- to 15-year-olds reporting high levels of depressive symptoms (HD) to a matched sample of 170 children and adolescents reporting low levels of depressive symptoms (LD). Compared to LD, HD participants reported significantly greater shame proneness, poorer functioning on emotion regulation competencies (emotional control, self-awareness and situational responsiveness), less healthy emotion regulation strategy use (less reappraisal and greater suppression), and lower levels of guilt proneness. Empathic concern did not differ between the two groups. The findings enhance current knowledge by providing a more comprehensive profile of the emotional difficulties experienced by children and adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
- Authors: Hughes, Elizabeth , Gullone, Eleonora , Watson, Shaun
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment Vol. 33, no. 3 (2011), p. 335-345
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Difficulties with emotion and its regulation are of central importance to the etiology and course of depression. The current study investigated these constructs in relation to childhood and adolescence by comparing the emotional functioning of 170 9- to 15-year-olds reporting high levels of depressive symptoms (HD) to a matched sample of 170 children and adolescents reporting low levels of depressive symptoms (LD). Compared to LD, HD participants reported significantly greater shame proneness, poorer functioning on emotion regulation competencies (emotional control, self-awareness and situational responsiveness), less healthy emotion regulation strategy use (less reappraisal and greater suppression), and lower levels of guilt proneness. Empathic concern did not differ between the two groups. The findings enhance current knowledge by providing a more comprehensive profile of the emotional difficulties experienced by children and adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
Updating the international research agenda for sport injury prevention
- Authors: Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Editorial , Journal article
- Relation: Injury Prevention Vol. 17, no. 4 (August 2011 2011), p. 217-218
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The International Olympic Committee's World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport, the third in a series of triennial international conferences, was held in Monaco in April 2011. This conference is now the leading research event for many sports injury prevention and sports medicine researchers, and was well attended by over 940 delegates from 85 countries. A particularly pleasing part of the programme was the large emphasis of a number of sessions (including a keynote, several symposia and proffered papers) on the primary prevention of sports injuries, particularly issues relating to the delivery, implementation and uptake of preventive measures in this important context of injury. Abstracts from this meeting have been published in the April Injury Prevention and Health Promotion issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine (http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/45/4.toc) and online presentations are available for viewing at the conference website (http://www.ioc-preventionconference.org/).
- Authors: Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Editorial , Journal article
- Relation: Injury Prevention Vol. 17, no. 4 (August 2011 2011), p. 217-218
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The International Olympic Committee's World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport, the third in a series of triennial international conferences, was held in Monaco in April 2011. This conference is now the leading research event for many sports injury prevention and sports medicine researchers, and was well attended by over 940 delegates from 85 countries. A particularly pleasing part of the programme was the large emphasis of a number of sessions (including a keynote, several symposia and proffered papers) on the primary prevention of sports injuries, particularly issues relating to the delivery, implementation and uptake of preventive measures in this important context of injury. Abstracts from this meeting have been published in the April Injury Prevention and Health Promotion issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine (http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/45/4.toc) and online presentations are available for viewing at the conference website (http://www.ioc-preventionconference.org/).
Online alcohol interventions: A systematic review
- White, Angela, Kavanagh, David, Stallman, Helen, Klein, Britt, Kay-Lambkin, Frances, Proudfoot, Judith, Drennan, Judy, Connor, Jason, Baker, Amanda, Hines, Emily, Young, Ross
- Authors: White, Angela , Kavanagh, David , Stallman, Helen , Klein, Britt , Kay-Lambkin, Frances , Proudfoot, Judith , Drennan, Judy , Connor, Jason , Baker, Amanda , Hines, Emily , Young, Ross
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Journal of Medical Internet Research Vol. 12, no. 5 (2010), p. e62p.1-e62p.12
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: There has been a significant increase in the availability of online programs for alcohol problems. A systematic review of the research evidence underpinning these programs is timely. Objectives: Our objective was to review the efficacy of online interventions for alcohol misuse. Systematic searches of Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus were conducted for English abstracts (excluding dissertations) published from 1998 onward. Search terms were: (1) Internet, Web*; (2) online, computer *; (3) alcohol*; and (4) Eeffect *, trial*, random* (where * denotes a wildcard). Forward and backward searches from identified papers were also conducted. Articles were included if (1) the primary intervention was delivered and accessed via the Internet, (2) the intervention focused on moderating or stopping alcohol consumption, and (3) the study was a randomized controlled trial of an alcohol-related screen, assessment, or intervention. Results: The literature search initially yielded 31 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 17 of which met inclusion criteria. Of these 17 studies, 12 (70.6%) were conducted with university students, and 11 (64.7%) specifically focused on at-risk, heavy, or binge drinkers. Sample sizes ranged from 40 to 3216 (median 261), with 12 (70.6%) studies predominantly involving brief personalized feedback interventions. Using published data, effect sizes could be extracted from 8 of the 17 studies. In relation to alcohol units per week or month and based on 5 RCTs where a measure of alcohol units per week or month could be extracted, differential effect sizes to posttreatment ranged from 0.02 to 0.81 (mean 0.42, median 0.54). Pre-post effect sizes for brief personalized feedback interventions ranged from 0.02 to 0.81, and in 2 multi-session modularized interventions, a pre-post effect size of 0.56 was obtained in both. Pre-post differential effect sizes for peak blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) ranged from 0.22 to 0.88, with a mean effect size of 0.66. Conclusions: The available evidence suggests that users can benefit from online alcohol interventions and that this approach could be particularly useful for groups less likely to access traditional alcohol-related services, such as women, young people, and at-risk users. However, caution should be exercised given the limited number of studies allowing extraction of effect sizes, the heterogeneity of outcome measures and follow-up periods, and the large proportion of student-based studies. More extensive RCTs in community samples are required to better understand the efficacy of specific online alcohol approaches, program dosage, the additive effect of telephone or face-to-face interventions, and effective strategies for their dissemination and marketing.
- Description: Background: There has been a significant increase in the availability of online programs for alcohol problems. A systematic review of the research evidence underpinning these programs is timely. Objectives: Our objective was to review the efficacy of online interventions for alcohol misuse. Systematic searches of Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus were conducted for English abstracts (excluding dissertations) published from 1998 onward. Search terms were: (1) Internet, Web*; (2) online, computer *; (3) alcohol*; and (4) E\effect *, trial*, random* (where * denotes a wildcard). Forward and backward searches from identified papers were also conducted. Articles were included if (1) the primary intervention was delivered and accessed via the Internet, (2) the intervention focused on moderating or stopping alcohol consumption, and (3) the study was a randomized controlled trial of an alcohol-related screen, assessment, or intervention. Results: The literature search initially yielded 31 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 17 of which met inclusion criteria. Of these 17 studies, 12 (70.6%) were conducted with university students, and 11 (64.7%) specifically focused on at-risk, heavy, or binge drinkers. Sample sizes ranged from 40 to 3216 (median 261), with 12 (70.6%) studies predominantly involving brief personalized feedback interventions. Using published data, effect sizes could be extracted from 8 of the 17 studies. In relation to alcohol units per week or month and based on 5 RCTs where a measure of alcohol units per week or month could be extracted, differential effect sizes to posttreatment ranged from 0.02 to 0.81 (mean 0.42, median 0.54). Pre-post effect sizes for brief personalized feedback interventions ranged from 0.02 to 0.81, and in 2 multi-session modularized interventions, a pre-post effect size of 0.56 was obtained in both. Pre-post differential effect sizes for peak blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) ranged from 0.22 to 0.88, with a mean effect size of 0.66. Conclusions: The available evidence suggests that users can benefit from online alcohol interventions and that this approach could be particularly useful for groups less likely to access traditional alcohol-related services, such as women, young people, and at-risk users. However, caution should be exercised given the limited number of studies allowing extraction of effect sizes, the heterogeneity of outcome measures and follow-up periods, and the large proportion of student-based studies. More extensive RCTs in community samples are required to better understand the efficacy of specific online alcohol approaches, program dosage, the additive effect of telephone or face-to-face interventions, and effective strategies for their dissemination and marketing.
- Authors: White, Angela , Kavanagh, David , Stallman, Helen , Klein, Britt , Kay-Lambkin, Frances , Proudfoot, Judith , Drennan, Judy , Connor, Jason , Baker, Amanda , Hines, Emily , Young, Ross
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Journal of Medical Internet Research Vol. 12, no. 5 (2010), p. e62p.1-e62p.12
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: There has been a significant increase in the availability of online programs for alcohol problems. A systematic review of the research evidence underpinning these programs is timely. Objectives: Our objective was to review the efficacy of online interventions for alcohol misuse. Systematic searches of Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus were conducted for English abstracts (excluding dissertations) published from 1998 onward. Search terms were: (1) Internet, Web*; (2) online, computer *; (3) alcohol*; and (4) Eeffect *, trial*, random* (where * denotes a wildcard). Forward and backward searches from identified papers were also conducted. Articles were included if (1) the primary intervention was delivered and accessed via the Internet, (2) the intervention focused on moderating or stopping alcohol consumption, and (3) the study was a randomized controlled trial of an alcohol-related screen, assessment, or intervention. Results: The literature search initially yielded 31 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 17 of which met inclusion criteria. Of these 17 studies, 12 (70.6%) were conducted with university students, and 11 (64.7%) specifically focused on at-risk, heavy, or binge drinkers. Sample sizes ranged from 40 to 3216 (median 261), with 12 (70.6%) studies predominantly involving brief personalized feedback interventions. Using published data, effect sizes could be extracted from 8 of the 17 studies. In relation to alcohol units per week or month and based on 5 RCTs where a measure of alcohol units per week or month could be extracted, differential effect sizes to posttreatment ranged from 0.02 to 0.81 (mean 0.42, median 0.54). Pre-post effect sizes for brief personalized feedback interventions ranged from 0.02 to 0.81, and in 2 multi-session modularized interventions, a pre-post effect size of 0.56 was obtained in both. Pre-post differential effect sizes for peak blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) ranged from 0.22 to 0.88, with a mean effect size of 0.66. Conclusions: The available evidence suggests that users can benefit from online alcohol interventions and that this approach could be particularly useful for groups less likely to access traditional alcohol-related services, such as women, young people, and at-risk users. However, caution should be exercised given the limited number of studies allowing extraction of effect sizes, the heterogeneity of outcome measures and follow-up periods, and the large proportion of student-based studies. More extensive RCTs in community samples are required to better understand the efficacy of specific online alcohol approaches, program dosage, the additive effect of telephone or face-to-face interventions, and effective strategies for their dissemination and marketing.
- Description: Background: There has been a significant increase in the availability of online programs for alcohol problems. A systematic review of the research evidence underpinning these programs is timely. Objectives: Our objective was to review the efficacy of online interventions for alcohol misuse. Systematic searches of Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus were conducted for English abstracts (excluding dissertations) published from 1998 onward. Search terms were: (1) Internet, Web*; (2) online, computer *; (3) alcohol*; and (4) E\effect *, trial*, random* (where * denotes a wildcard). Forward and backward searches from identified papers were also conducted. Articles were included if (1) the primary intervention was delivered and accessed via the Internet, (2) the intervention focused on moderating or stopping alcohol consumption, and (3) the study was a randomized controlled trial of an alcohol-related screen, assessment, or intervention. Results: The literature search initially yielded 31 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 17 of which met inclusion criteria. Of these 17 studies, 12 (70.6%) were conducted with university students, and 11 (64.7%) specifically focused on at-risk, heavy, or binge drinkers. Sample sizes ranged from 40 to 3216 (median 261), with 12 (70.6%) studies predominantly involving brief personalized feedback interventions. Using published data, effect sizes could be extracted from 8 of the 17 studies. In relation to alcohol units per week or month and based on 5 RCTs where a measure of alcohol units per week or month could be extracted, differential effect sizes to posttreatment ranged from 0.02 to 0.81 (mean 0.42, median 0.54). Pre-post effect sizes for brief personalized feedback interventions ranged from 0.02 to 0.81, and in 2 multi-session modularized interventions, a pre-post effect size of 0.56 was obtained in both. Pre-post differential effect sizes for peak blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) ranged from 0.22 to 0.88, with a mean effect size of 0.66. Conclusions: The available evidence suggests that users can benefit from online alcohol interventions and that this approach could be particularly useful for groups less likely to access traditional alcohol-related services, such as women, young people, and at-risk users. However, caution should be exercised given the limited number of studies allowing extraction of effect sizes, the heterogeneity of outcome measures and follow-up periods, and the large proportion of student-based studies. More extensive RCTs in community samples are required to better understand the efficacy of specific online alcohol approaches, program dosage, the additive effect of telephone or face-to-face interventions, and effective strategies for their dissemination and marketing.
Population-level estimates of child restraint practices among children aged 0-12 years in NSW, Australia
- Brown, Julie, Hatfield, Julie, Du, Wei, Finch, Caroline, Bilston, Lynne
- Authors: Brown, Julie , Hatfield, Julie , Du, Wei , Finch, Caroline , Bilston, Lynne
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Accident Analysis and Prevention Vol. 42, no. 6 (2010), p. 2144-2148
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This cross-sectional study provides population-referenced data on the restraints used and the extent of incorrect restraint use, among child vehicle passengers aged 0-12 years in NSW, Australia. A multistage stratified cluster sampling plan was used to randomly select vehicles from baby/child health clinics, pre-schools/day care centres, and primary schools across NSW to undergo detailed inspection of restraints used by child occupants within those vehicles. Overall, there were very high restraint usage rates (>99% of sampled children) but fewer than one quarter of children were using the correct size-appropriate restraints. Incorrect use (51.4%) was as common as inappropriate use (51.2%). Incorrect use was highest among users of dedicated child restraint systems (OR 16.0, 95% CI 6.9-36.0), and was more likely among those using size-appropriate restraints than those using inappropriate restraints (OR 1.8 95% CI 1.1-3.2); and among convertible restraints than those designed for a single mode of use (OR 1.5 95% CI 1.2-1.7). As incorrect use substantially reduces the protection from injury that is offered by child restraints, it is important that future strategies to reduce casualties among child occupants target both inappropriate and incorrect use. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- Authors: Brown, Julie , Hatfield, Julie , Du, Wei , Finch, Caroline , Bilston, Lynne
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Accident Analysis and Prevention Vol. 42, no. 6 (2010), p. 2144-2148
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This cross-sectional study provides population-referenced data on the restraints used and the extent of incorrect restraint use, among child vehicle passengers aged 0-12 years in NSW, Australia. A multistage stratified cluster sampling plan was used to randomly select vehicles from baby/child health clinics, pre-schools/day care centres, and primary schools across NSW to undergo detailed inspection of restraints used by child occupants within those vehicles. Overall, there were very high restraint usage rates (>99% of sampled children) but fewer than one quarter of children were using the correct size-appropriate restraints. Incorrect use (51.4%) was as common as inappropriate use (51.2%). Incorrect use was highest among users of dedicated child restraint systems (OR 16.0, 95% CI 6.9-36.0), and was more likely among those using size-appropriate restraints than those using inappropriate restraints (OR 1.8 95% CI 1.1-3.2); and among convertible restraints than those designed for a single mode of use (OR 1.5 95% CI 1.2-1.7). As incorrect use substantially reduces the protection from injury that is offered by child restraints, it is important that future strategies to reduce casualties among child occupants target both inappropriate and incorrect use. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Preferences for e-mental health services amongst an online Australian sample?
- Authors: Klein, Britt , Cook, Suellen
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: E-Journal of Applied Psychology Vol. 6, no. 1 (2010), p. 39
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study explored whether differences exist between those who prefer using internet-based mental health services (e-preferers) in comparison to those who prefer traditional face-to-face mental health services (non e-preferers). Gender, age, level of education, relationship status, location of residence, country of birth, previous use of mental health services, specific e-mental health service concerns, perceptions of helpfulness and future use of mental health services were investigated. Two-hundred and eighteen Australians (female=165, male=53) with ages ranging from 18 to 80 (M=36.6, SD=14.5) accessed the online survey. Results indicated that although 77.1% of respondents preferred face-to-face services only 9.6% indicated they would not use e-mental health services. No differences were found between e-preferers and non e-preferers on any demographic variable and on previous mental health service usage, however, several differences regarding perceptions of helpfulness and future use of services and concerns about e-mental health services were observed. In addition, several individual difference variables (stigma, locus of control, learning styles and personality traits) were explored and found to differ between the two groups (stigma, locus of control and personality traits). These results may help inform the future direction of mental health services, including the need to increase public awareness regarding e-mental health services.
- Authors: Klein, Britt , Cook, Suellen
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: E-Journal of Applied Psychology Vol. 6, no. 1 (2010), p. 39
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study explored whether differences exist between those who prefer using internet-based mental health services (e-preferers) in comparison to those who prefer traditional face-to-face mental health services (non e-preferers). Gender, age, level of education, relationship status, location of residence, country of birth, previous use of mental health services, specific e-mental health service concerns, perceptions of helpfulness and future use of mental health services were investigated. Two-hundred and eighteen Australians (female=165, male=53) with ages ranging from 18 to 80 (M=36.6, SD=14.5) accessed the online survey. Results indicated that although 77.1% of respondents preferred face-to-face services only 9.6% indicated they would not use e-mental health services. No differences were found between e-preferers and non e-preferers on any demographic variable and on previous mental health service usage, however, several differences regarding perceptions of helpfulness and future use of services and concerns about e-mental health services were observed. In addition, several individual difference variables (stigma, locus of control, learning styles and personality traits) were explored and found to differ between the two groups (stigma, locus of control and personality traits). These results may help inform the future direction of mental health services, including the need to increase public awareness regarding e-mental health services.
Statistical modelling for falls count data
- Ullah, Shahid, Finch, Caroline, Day, Lesley
- Authors: Ullah, Shahid , Finch, Caroline , Day, Lesley
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Accident Analysis and Prevention Vol. 42, no. 2 (2010), p. 384-392
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Falls and their injury outcomes have count distributions that are highly skewed toward the right with clumping at zero, posing analytical challenges. Different modelling approaches have been used in the published literature to describe falls count distributions, often without consideration of the underlying statistical and modelling assumptions. This paper compares the use of modified Poisson and negative binomial (NB) models as alternatives to Poisson (P) regression, for the analysis of fall outcome counts. Four different count-based regression models (P, NB, zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP), zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB)) were each individually fitted to four separate fall count datasets from Australia, New Zealand and United States. The finite mixtures of P and NB regression models were also compared to the standard NB model. Both analytical (F, Vuong and bootstrap tests) and graphical approaches were used to select and compare models. Simulation studies assessed the size and power of each model fit. This study confirms that falls count distributions are over-dispersed, but not dispersed due to excess zero counts or heterogeneous population. Accordingly, the P model generally provided the poorest fit to all datasets. The fit improved significantly with NB and both zero-inflated models. The fit was also improved with the NB model, compared to finite mixtures of both P and NB regression models. Although there was little difference in fit between NB and ZINB models, in the interests of parsimony it is recommended that future studies involving modelling of falls count data routinely use the NB models in preference to the P or ZINB or finite mixture distribution. The fact that these conclusions apply across four separate datasets from four different samples of older people participating in studies of different methodology, adds strength to this general guiding principle. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- Authors: Ullah, Shahid , Finch, Caroline , Day, Lesley
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Accident Analysis and Prevention Vol. 42, no. 2 (2010), p. 384-392
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Falls and their injury outcomes have count distributions that are highly skewed toward the right with clumping at zero, posing analytical challenges. Different modelling approaches have been used in the published literature to describe falls count distributions, often without consideration of the underlying statistical and modelling assumptions. This paper compares the use of modified Poisson and negative binomial (NB) models as alternatives to Poisson (P) regression, for the analysis of fall outcome counts. Four different count-based regression models (P, NB, zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP), zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB)) were each individually fitted to four separate fall count datasets from Australia, New Zealand and United States. The finite mixtures of P and NB regression models were also compared to the standard NB model. Both analytical (F, Vuong and bootstrap tests) and graphical approaches were used to select and compare models. Simulation studies assessed the size and power of each model fit. This study confirms that falls count distributions are over-dispersed, but not dispersed due to excess zero counts or heterogeneous population. Accordingly, the P model generally provided the poorest fit to all datasets. The fit improved significantly with NB and both zero-inflated models. The fit was also improved with the NB model, compared to finite mixtures of both P and NB regression models. Although there was little difference in fit between NB and ZINB models, in the interests of parsimony it is recommended that future studies involving modelling of falls count data routinely use the NB models in preference to the P or ZINB or finite mixture distribution. The fact that these conclusions apply across four separate datasets from four different samples of older people participating in studies of different methodology, adds strength to this general guiding principle. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The impossible dream : consensus-based international climate change
- Authors: Edmondson, Elizabeth
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Global Studies Journal Vol. 2, no. 3 (2009), p. 1-14
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The challenges of global climate change are both too deep and too urgent for the international political community to continue to emphasise consensus over changed economic and political practices. The key ideas of the 20th century, which promised greater economic affluence and broader distributions of political independence, are in the process of being overtaken by 21st century imperatives of resolving economic and authority-related uncertainties. This paper argues that the ‘shadow of the future’ has shortened to reveal the natural environment as an ongoing site of contested authority between states.
- Authors: Edmondson, Elizabeth
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Global Studies Journal Vol. 2, no. 3 (2009), p. 1-14
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The challenges of global climate change are both too deep and too urgent for the international political community to continue to emphasise consensus over changed economic and political practices. The key ideas of the 20th century, which promised greater economic affluence and broader distributions of political independence, are in the process of being overtaken by 21st century imperatives of resolving economic and authority-related uncertainties. This paper argues that the ‘shadow of the future’ has shortened to reveal the natural environment as an ongoing site of contested authority between states.
Attachment disorder, basic trust and educational psychology
- King, Michael, Newnham, Karyn
- Authors: King, Michael , Newnham, Karyn
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology Vol. 8, no. (2008), p. 27-35
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The label Attachment Disorder (AD) is used as either a description of a child's presentation, or as a diagnostic category. It is unclear whether this label is intended to be identical with the DSM-IV Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) diagnostic category, or if it is a separate diagnosis based on Randolph's Questionnaire and the premises underlying this instrument. The third option is that any allusion to "attachment" relates to a position which has evolved from Bowlby. All three variants of this diagnostic label allude to early parent-child interactions, and thus imply the need for remedial interventions at the parent-child level. There are limited options for such interventions at school. A more fruitful interpretation is that the inference of inadequate early childhood interactions designates an incomplete early psycho-social task (the development of Basic Trust) and this perspective leads towards credibly promising school-based interventions.
- Description: C1
- Authors: King, Michael , Newnham, Karyn
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology Vol. 8, no. (2008), p. 27-35
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The label Attachment Disorder (AD) is used as either a description of a child's presentation, or as a diagnostic category. It is unclear whether this label is intended to be identical with the DSM-IV Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) diagnostic category, or if it is a separate diagnosis based on Randolph's Questionnaire and the premises underlying this instrument. The third option is that any allusion to "attachment" relates to a position which has evolved from Bowlby. All three variants of this diagnostic label allude to early parent-child interactions, and thus imply the need for remedial interventions at the parent-child level. There are limited options for such interventions at school. A more fruitful interpretation is that the inference of inadequate early childhood interactions designates an incomplete early psycho-social task (the development of Basic Trust) and this perspective leads towards credibly promising school-based interventions.
- Description: C1
Everyday victimization of adolescent girls by boys: Sexual harassment, bullying or aggression?
- Shute, Rosalyn, Owens, Larry, Slee, Phillip
- Authors: Shute, Rosalyn , Owens, Larry , Slee, Phillip
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sex Roles Vol. 58, no. 7-8 (2008), p. 477-489
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: School-based sexual harassment of adolescent girls by boys appears commonplace, yet aggression and bullying studies rarely yield sexualized material. This qualitative Australian study with 72 14- to 15-year-olds and 7 teachers aimed to discover whether interviewer use of neutral language in gender-segregated focus groups and interviews would yield material indicating that the victimization of girls by boys is sexualized. Verbal and indirect victimization were reported to be everyday occurrences, and almost entirely sexual. Findings are discussed in the light of definitions of sexual harassment, bullying and aggression. It is concluded that the term "sexual bullying" appropriately captures the gendered power structure underlying these behaviors. As such, they need to be understood, and become visible, more broadly than in terms of individual pathology. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
- Description: C1
- Authors: Shute, Rosalyn , Owens, Larry , Slee, Phillip
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sex Roles Vol. 58, no. 7-8 (2008), p. 477-489
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: School-based sexual harassment of adolescent girls by boys appears commonplace, yet aggression and bullying studies rarely yield sexualized material. This qualitative Australian study with 72 14- to 15-year-olds and 7 teachers aimed to discover whether interviewer use of neutral language in gender-segregated focus groups and interviews would yield material indicating that the victimization of girls by boys is sexualized. Verbal and indirect victimization were reported to be everyday occurrences, and almost entirely sexual. Findings are discussed in the light of definitions of sexual harassment, bullying and aggression. It is concluded that the term "sexual bullying" appropriately captures the gendered power structure underlying these behaviors. As such, they need to be understood, and become visible, more broadly than in terms of individual pathology. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
- Description: C1
Mental health problems in rural contexts : A broader perspective
- Boyd, Candice, Hayes, Louise, Sewell, Jessica, Caldwell, Kirra, Kemp, Evan, Harvie, Lisa, Aisbett, Damon, Nurse, Sarah
- Authors: Boyd, Candice , Hayes, Louise , Sewell, Jessica , Caldwell, Kirra , Kemp, Evan , Harvie, Lisa , Aisbett, Damon , Nurse, Sarah
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Psychologist Vol. 43, no. 1 (2008), p. 2-6
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The objectives of this article are to expand and comment upon a recent review in Australian Psychologist of the literature in relation to mental health problems in rural contexts by Jackson et al. (2007). In the present article we review recently published qualitative research on the help-seeking attitudes and experiences of rural Australian adolescents. While we agree on the utility of the Macintyre, Ellaway, and Cummins (2002) conceptual framework based on notions of health and place, we note that this framework specifically emphasises the importance of the collective dimension. We present a broader perspective on health and place than Jackson et al. (2007) by incorporating social geographic research. We argue that rural mental health research has been hampered by a simplistic view of social stigma of mental illness and that a more thorough conceptualisation of the phenomenon is needed. Finally, we make some further recommendations based on a broader perspective of mental health in rural contexts: one that incorporates an in-depth understanding of the help-seeking attitudes and experiences of rural adolescents as well as an appreciation of the collective social functioning of rural communities.
- Description: C1
- Authors: Boyd, Candice , Hayes, Louise , Sewell, Jessica , Caldwell, Kirra , Kemp, Evan , Harvie, Lisa , Aisbett, Damon , Nurse, Sarah
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Psychologist Vol. 43, no. 1 (2008), p. 2-6
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The objectives of this article are to expand and comment upon a recent review in Australian Psychologist of the literature in relation to mental health problems in rural contexts by Jackson et al. (2007). In the present article we review recently published qualitative research on the help-seeking attitudes and experiences of rural Australian adolescents. While we agree on the utility of the Macintyre, Ellaway, and Cummins (2002) conceptual framework based on notions of health and place, we note that this framework specifically emphasises the importance of the collective dimension. We present a broader perspective on health and place than Jackson et al. (2007) by incorporating social geographic research. We argue that rural mental health research has been hampered by a simplistic view of social stigma of mental illness and that a more thorough conceptualisation of the phenomenon is needed. Finally, we make some further recommendations based on a broader perspective of mental health in rural contexts: one that incorporates an in-depth understanding of the help-seeking attitudes and experiences of rural adolescents as well as an appreciation of the collective social functioning of rural communities.
- Description: C1
The effectiveness of an ecodrive course for heavy vehicle drivers
- Symmons, Mark, Rose, Geoffrey, Van Doorn, George
- Authors: Symmons, Mark , Rose, Geoffrey , Van Doorn, George
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Proceedings of the Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference 2008 p. 1-8
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Amongst other changes, ecodriving requires drivers to drive more smoothly – to “flow” the vehicle. In order to save fuel and reduce emissions drivers must operate at lower engine revolutions, change up gears as soon as possible, and anticipate traffic conditions and drive defensively. A field trial was conducted using a 30 km metropolitan circuit and B-double heavy vehicles. Compared to their pre-course measures, the trained group reduced their fuel consumption by an average of 27%, the number of gear changes by 29%, and the number of brake applications by 41%. Importantly, these gains were not offset by increases in the time taken to complete the circuit – indeed average speed increased slightly. Further, the benefits did not lose any strength 12 weeks after the training, at which point the pilot trial concluded – in fact for some variables the results continued to improve over time. The number of drivers participating in the trial was relatively small and some questions remain unanswered, including actual road safety implications, building a strong case for a larger trial.
- Authors: Symmons, Mark , Rose, Geoffrey , Van Doorn, George
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Proceedings of the Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference 2008 p. 1-8
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Amongst other changes, ecodriving requires drivers to drive more smoothly – to “flow” the vehicle. In order to save fuel and reduce emissions drivers must operate at lower engine revolutions, change up gears as soon as possible, and anticipate traffic conditions and drive defensively. A field trial was conducted using a 30 km metropolitan circuit and B-double heavy vehicles. Compared to their pre-course measures, the trained group reduced their fuel consumption by an average of 27%, the number of gear changes by 29%, and the number of brake applications by 41%. Importantly, these gains were not offset by increases in the time taken to complete the circuit – indeed average speed increased slightly. Further, the benefits did not lose any strength 12 weeks after the training, at which point the pilot trial concluded – in fact for some variables the results continued to improve over time. The number of drivers participating in the trial was relatively small and some questions remain unanswered, including actual road safety implications, building a strong case for a larger trial.
Therapist-Assisted, Internet-Based Treatment for Panic Disorder: Can General Practitioners achieve comparable patient outcomes to Psychologists?
- Shandley, Kerrie, Austin, David, Klein, Britt, Pier, Ciaran, Schattner, Peter, Pierce, David, Wade, Victoria
- Authors: Shandley, Kerrie , Austin, David , Klein, Britt , Pier, Ciaran , Schattner, Peter , Pierce, David , Wade, Victoria
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Medical Internet Research Vol. 10, no. 2 (2008), p. 1-15
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Mental illness is an escalating concern worldwide. The management of disorders such as anxiety and depression largely falls to family doctors or general practitioners (GPs). However, GPs are often too time constrained and may lack the necessary training to adequately manage the needs of such patients. Evidence-based Internet interventions represent a potentially valuable resource to reduce the burden of care and the cost of managing mental health disorders within primary care settings and, at the same time, improve patient outcomes. Objective: The present study sought to extend the efficacy of a therapist-assisted Internet treatment program for panic disorder, Panic Online, by determining whether comparable outcomes could be achieved and maintained when Panic Online was supported by either GPs or psychologists. Methods: Via a natural groups design, 96 people with a primary diagnosis of panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) completed the Panic Online program over 12 weeks with the therapeutic assistance of their GP (n = 53), who had received specialist training in cognitive behavioral therapy, or a clinical psychologist (n = 43). Participants completed a clinical diagnostic telephone interview, conducted by a psychologist, and a set of online questionnaires to assess panic-related symptoms at three time periods (pretreatment, posttreatment, and 6 month follow-up). Results: Both treatments led to clinically significant improvements on measures of panic and panic-related symptomatology from pretreatment to posttreatment. Both groups were shown to significantly improve over time. Improvements for both groups were maintained at follow-up; however, the groups did differ significantly on two quality of life domains: physical (F1,82 = 9.13, P = .00) and environmental (F1,82 = 4.41, P = .04). The attrition rate was significantly higher among those being treated by their GP (χ 2 1 = 4.40, P = .02, N = 96). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that Internet-based interventions are an effective adjunct to existing mental health care systems. Consequently, this may facilitate and enhance the delivery of evidence-based mental health treatments to increasingly large segments of the population via primary care systems and through suitably trained health professionals.
- Description: Background: Mental illness is an escalating concern worldwide. The management of disorders such as anxiety and depression largely falls to family doctors or general practitioners (GPs). However, GPs are often too time constrained and may lack the necessary training to adequately manage the needs of such patients. Evidence-based Internet interventions represent a potentially valuable resource to reduce the burden of care and the cost of managing mental health disorders within primary care settings and, at the same time, improve patient outcomes. Objective: The present study sought to extend the efficacy of a therapist-assisted Internet treatment program for panic disorder, Panic Online, by determining whether comparable outcomes could be achieved and maintained when Panic Online was supported by either GPs or psychologists. Methods: Via a natural groups design, 96 people with a primary diagnosis of panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) completed the Panic Online program over 12 weeks with the therapeutic assistance of their GP (n = 53), who had received specialist training in cognitive behavioral therapy, or a clinical psychologist (n = 43). Participants completed a clinical diagnostic telephone interview, conducted by a psychologist, and a set of online questionnaires to assess panic-related symptoms at three time periods (pretreatment, posttreatment, and 6 month follow-up). Results: Both treatments led to clinically significant improvements on measures of panic and panic-related symptomatology from pretreatment to posttreatment. Both groups were shown to significantly improve over time. Improvements for both groups were maintained at follow-up; however, the groups did differ significantly on two quality of life domains: physical (F1,82 = 9.13, P = .00) and environmental (F1,82 = 4.41, P = .04). The attrition rate was significantly higher among those being treated by their GP (
- Authors: Shandley, Kerrie , Austin, David , Klein, Britt , Pier, Ciaran , Schattner, Peter , Pierce, David , Wade, Victoria
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Medical Internet Research Vol. 10, no. 2 (2008), p. 1-15
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Mental illness is an escalating concern worldwide. The management of disorders such as anxiety and depression largely falls to family doctors or general practitioners (GPs). However, GPs are often too time constrained and may lack the necessary training to adequately manage the needs of such patients. Evidence-based Internet interventions represent a potentially valuable resource to reduce the burden of care and the cost of managing mental health disorders within primary care settings and, at the same time, improve patient outcomes. Objective: The present study sought to extend the efficacy of a therapist-assisted Internet treatment program for panic disorder, Panic Online, by determining whether comparable outcomes could be achieved and maintained when Panic Online was supported by either GPs or psychologists. Methods: Via a natural groups design, 96 people with a primary diagnosis of panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) completed the Panic Online program over 12 weeks with the therapeutic assistance of their GP (n = 53), who had received specialist training in cognitive behavioral therapy, or a clinical psychologist (n = 43). Participants completed a clinical diagnostic telephone interview, conducted by a psychologist, and a set of online questionnaires to assess panic-related symptoms at three time periods (pretreatment, posttreatment, and 6 month follow-up). Results: Both treatments led to clinically significant improvements on measures of panic and panic-related symptomatology from pretreatment to posttreatment. Both groups were shown to significantly improve over time. Improvements for both groups were maintained at follow-up; however, the groups did differ significantly on two quality of life domains: physical (F1,82 = 9.13, P = .00) and environmental (F1,82 = 4.41, P = .04). The attrition rate was significantly higher among those being treated by their GP (χ 2 1 = 4.40, P = .02, N = 96). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that Internet-based interventions are an effective adjunct to existing mental health care systems. Consequently, this may facilitate and enhance the delivery of evidence-based mental health treatments to increasingly large segments of the population via primary care systems and through suitably trained health professionals.
- Description: Background: Mental illness is an escalating concern worldwide. The management of disorders such as anxiety and depression largely falls to family doctors or general practitioners (GPs). However, GPs are often too time constrained and may lack the necessary training to adequately manage the needs of such patients. Evidence-based Internet interventions represent a potentially valuable resource to reduce the burden of care and the cost of managing mental health disorders within primary care settings and, at the same time, improve patient outcomes. Objective: The present study sought to extend the efficacy of a therapist-assisted Internet treatment program for panic disorder, Panic Online, by determining whether comparable outcomes could be achieved and maintained when Panic Online was supported by either GPs or psychologists. Methods: Via a natural groups design, 96 people with a primary diagnosis of panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) completed the Panic Online program over 12 weeks with the therapeutic assistance of their GP (n = 53), who had received specialist training in cognitive behavioral therapy, or a clinical psychologist (n = 43). Participants completed a clinical diagnostic telephone interview, conducted by a psychologist, and a set of online questionnaires to assess panic-related symptoms at three time periods (pretreatment, posttreatment, and 6 month follow-up). Results: Both treatments led to clinically significant improvements on measures of panic and panic-related symptomatology from pretreatment to posttreatment. Both groups were shown to significantly improve over time. Improvements for both groups were maintained at follow-up; however, the groups did differ significantly on two quality of life domains: physical (F1,82 = 9.13, P = .00) and environmental (F1,82 = 4.41, P = .04). The attrition rate was significantly higher among those being treated by their GP (
An evaluation of the CAST program using a conceptual model of school-based implementation
- Corboy, Denise, McDonald, John
- Authors: Corboy, Denise , McDonald, John
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health Vol. 6, no. 1 (2007), p. 1-15
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Therapeutic prevention and/or early intervention programs for children at risk of developing disruptive behaviour disorders are increasingly being implemented in schools. One such Australian school-based program is CAST: CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) and Schools Together, an evidenced-based program treating children with emerging disruptive behaviour disorders in the early primary school years. The current evaluation examines the process of implementation of the CAST program in primary schools. By using a conceptual model of school-based implementation (developed by Greenberg, Domitrovich, Graczyk & Zins, 2005) the wide array of factors that can affect successful implementation at the school level were identified, and those elements critical to implementation quality were examined. Semi-structured individual and group interviews were conducted with a sample of 69 school personnel across 16 schools in the City of Ballarat and wider Grampians region of Victoria, in both government and Catholic primary schools. Results showed that schools were highly satisfied with the quality of CAST resources and personnel, and the implementation and delivery of sessions as planned. Aspects that impacted negatively on the implementation process were the lack of parental engagement; the lack of classroom follow-up in some schools; the level of readiness and pre-planning by the schools; and the availability of technical support. Greenberg’s conceptual model appears to be a useful framework to utilise in examining the implementation of the CAST model, as it allowed close examination of how the program was implemented within naturally occurring constraints. It allowed the identification of elements within the CAST model and the associated support system that must be maintained and nurtured by the collaborating parties, in addition to the factors at a school level that are potential barriers to effective implementation. Identification and examination of such factors assist in ensuring quality outcomes for school-based interventions in the future.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005834
- Authors: Corboy, Denise , McDonald, John
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health Vol. 6, no. 1 (2007), p. 1-15
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Therapeutic prevention and/or early intervention programs for children at risk of developing disruptive behaviour disorders are increasingly being implemented in schools. One such Australian school-based program is CAST: CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) and Schools Together, an evidenced-based program treating children with emerging disruptive behaviour disorders in the early primary school years. The current evaluation examines the process of implementation of the CAST program in primary schools. By using a conceptual model of school-based implementation (developed by Greenberg, Domitrovich, Graczyk & Zins, 2005) the wide array of factors that can affect successful implementation at the school level were identified, and those elements critical to implementation quality were examined. Semi-structured individual and group interviews were conducted with a sample of 69 school personnel across 16 schools in the City of Ballarat and wider Grampians region of Victoria, in both government and Catholic primary schools. Results showed that schools were highly satisfied with the quality of CAST resources and personnel, and the implementation and delivery of sessions as planned. Aspects that impacted negatively on the implementation process were the lack of parental engagement; the lack of classroom follow-up in some schools; the level of readiness and pre-planning by the schools; and the availability of technical support. Greenberg’s conceptual model appears to be a useful framework to utilise in examining the implementation of the CAST model, as it allowed close examination of how the program was implemented within naturally occurring constraints. It allowed the identification of elements within the CAST model and the associated support system that must be maintained and nurtured by the collaborating parties, in addition to the factors at a school level that are potential barriers to effective implementation. Identification and examination of such factors assist in ensuring quality outcomes for school-based interventions in the future.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005834
Detection and management of eating disorders by general practitioners in regional Australia
- Boyd, Candice, Aisbett, Damon, Howard, Andrew, Filiades, Toula
- Authors: Boyd, Candice , Aisbett, Damon , Howard, Andrew , Filiades, Toula
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health Vol. 6, no. 2 (2007), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of eating disorders in primary care in the Ballarat region and to highlight the role of GPs in the detection and management of eating disorders in regional Australia. We used anonymous data previously collated by the Ballarat and District Division of General Practice on the prevalence of eating disorders and patterns of referral of eating disorder patients among GPs in their Division. Over half of GPs surveyed indicated that they treat patients with eating disorders within their practice rather than referring patients to other services. In referring on, GPs were more likely to refer to mental health professionals and dietitians. A notable finding was that these regional GPs were more likely to refer to metropolitan specialist services than local hospitals if their patients required an admission. GPs in regional Australia do significant work to detect and manage patients with clinical eating disorders in the absence of locally-based, specialist services. In this context, we recommend the establishment of linkage partnerships between GPs and mental health practitioners to facilitate early intervention for rural and regional eating disorder patients. Further research into the current treatment practices of regional GPs is also needed to ascertain their specific training needs with respect to this patient population.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005810
- Authors: Boyd, Candice , Aisbett, Damon , Howard, Andrew , Filiades, Toula
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health Vol. 6, no. 2 (2007), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of eating disorders in primary care in the Ballarat region and to highlight the role of GPs in the detection and management of eating disorders in regional Australia. We used anonymous data previously collated by the Ballarat and District Division of General Practice on the prevalence of eating disorders and patterns of referral of eating disorder patients among GPs in their Division. Over half of GPs surveyed indicated that they treat patients with eating disorders within their practice rather than referring patients to other services. In referring on, GPs were more likely to refer to mental health professionals and dietitians. A notable finding was that these regional GPs were more likely to refer to metropolitan specialist services than local hospitals if their patients required an admission. GPs in regional Australia do significant work to detect and manage patients with clinical eating disorders in the absence of locally-based, specialist services. In this context, we recommend the establishment of linkage partnerships between GPs and mental health practitioners to facilitate early intervention for rural and regional eating disorder patients. Further research into the current treatment practices of regional GPs is also needed to ascertain their specific training needs with respect to this patient population.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005810
Predictors of social competence in young adolescents with craniofacial anomalies
- Shute, Rosalyn, McCarthy, Karen, Roberts, Rachel
- Authors: Shute, Rosalyn , McCarthy, Karen , Roberts, Rachel
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology Vol. 7, no. 3 (2007), p. 595-613
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This descriptive study shows the development and evaluation of a model of social competence in young adolescents with craniofacial anomalies. Craniofacial patients (N = 48, 11-14 years) completed the Social Anxiety Scale for Children, selected subscales of the Self-Perception Scale for Adolescents and the Social Support Scale for Children. Their parents completed the Child Behaviour Checklist. Facial disfigurement was independently rated. Multiple regression analyses suggested a revised model in which one aspect of social anxiety (social avoidance/distress) predicts social competence, with peer support as a mediator, while the other aspect of social anxiety (fear of negative evaluation) predicts social competence, with parental support as a mediator. Severity of facial disfigurement was not related to any psychological variable. While self-worth predicted social competence when considered alone, this relationship disappeared when the other variables were taken into account; self-worth remained closely associated with fear of negative evaluation. Although mean Child Behaviour Checklist scores were in the normal range, almost half the adolescents had psychological problems of clinical concern. The results suggest that young adolescents with craniofacial anomalies require psychological assessment regardless of degree of disfigurement. Interventions to reduce social anxiety and improve social support may be of particular value for promoting social competence. © International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005750
- Authors: Shute, Rosalyn , McCarthy, Karen , Roberts, Rachel
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology Vol. 7, no. 3 (2007), p. 595-613
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This descriptive study shows the development and evaluation of a model of social competence in young adolescents with craniofacial anomalies. Craniofacial patients (N = 48, 11-14 years) completed the Social Anxiety Scale for Children, selected subscales of the Self-Perception Scale for Adolescents and the Social Support Scale for Children. Their parents completed the Child Behaviour Checklist. Facial disfigurement was independently rated. Multiple regression analyses suggested a revised model in which one aspect of social anxiety (social avoidance/distress) predicts social competence, with peer support as a mediator, while the other aspect of social anxiety (fear of negative evaluation) predicts social competence, with parental support as a mediator. Severity of facial disfigurement was not related to any psychological variable. While self-worth predicted social competence when considered alone, this relationship disappeared when the other variables were taken into account; self-worth remained closely associated with fear of negative evaluation. Although mean Child Behaviour Checklist scores were in the normal range, almost half the adolescents had psychological problems of clinical concern. The results suggest that young adolescents with craniofacial anomalies require psychological assessment regardless of degree of disfigurement. Interventions to reduce social anxiety and improve social support may be of particular value for promoting social competence. © International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005750
Teacher responses to bullying in relation to moral orientation and seriousness of bullying
- Ellis, Alicia, Shute, Rosalyn
- Authors: Ellis, Alicia , Shute, Rosalyn
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Educational Psychology Vol. 77, no. 3 (2007), p. 649-663
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background. Little research has focused on factors influencing teachers' decisions about whether and how to intervene in bullying incidents. Such factors have the potential to influence the role of teachers as agents in counteracting bullying. Aims. To examine: (a) whether moral orientation predicts teachers' responses to bullying, (b) the role of perceived seriousness of an incident in moderating responses to bullying and (c) factors that are important to teachers when deciding whether to intervene. Sample. Primary, middle and high school teachers (N = 127) were recruited during staff meetings at five schools. Methods. Moral orientation was measured using a modified version of Caputo's (2000) Sanctioning Voice Index (SVI); other questionnaires were specifically designed for this study. Correlational and hierarchical multiple regression analyses examining how moral orientation and seriousness predict teachers' responses to bullying were performed. Results. As anticipated, care moral orientation predicted a problem-solving response, while justice orientation predicted a rules-sanctions response. Care and justice orientations also interacted to predict rules-sanctions, but not problem-solving responses. However, seriousness of an incident accounted for the majority of variance (46% for rules-sanctions and 40% for problem-solving responses). Seriousness did not moderate the relationship between moral orientation and responses to bullying. Conclusions. While teachers' moral orientation does impact upon the kinds of responses to bullying they choose, seriousness of the incident is more important. However, seriousness as perceived by teachers may not be consistent with impact on students. Implications for teacher education and policy are discussed. © 2007 The British Psychological Society.
- Description: 2003005747
- Authors: Ellis, Alicia , Shute, Rosalyn
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Educational Psychology Vol. 77, no. 3 (2007), p. 649-663
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background. Little research has focused on factors influencing teachers' decisions about whether and how to intervene in bullying incidents. Such factors have the potential to influence the role of teachers as agents in counteracting bullying. Aims. To examine: (a) whether moral orientation predicts teachers' responses to bullying, (b) the role of perceived seriousness of an incident in moderating responses to bullying and (c) factors that are important to teachers when deciding whether to intervene. Sample. Primary, middle and high school teachers (N = 127) were recruited during staff meetings at five schools. Methods. Moral orientation was measured using a modified version of Caputo's (2000) Sanctioning Voice Index (SVI); other questionnaires were specifically designed for this study. Correlational and hierarchical multiple regression analyses examining how moral orientation and seriousness predict teachers' responses to bullying were performed. Results. As anticipated, care moral orientation predicted a problem-solving response, while justice orientation predicted a rules-sanctions response. Care and justice orientations also interacted to predict rules-sanctions, but not problem-solving responses. However, seriousness of an incident accounted for the majority of variance (46% for rules-sanctions and 40% for problem-solving responses). Seriousness did not moderate the relationship between moral orientation and responses to bullying. Conclusions. While teachers' moral orientation does impact upon the kinds of responses to bullying they choose, seriousness of the incident is more important. However, seriousness as perceived by teachers may not be consistent with impact on students. Implications for teacher education and policy are discussed. © 2007 The British Psychological Society.
- Description: 2003005747
The association of depression and sense of belonging with suicidal ideation among older adults : Applicability of resiliency models
- McLaren, Suzanne, Gomez, Rapson, Bailey, Maria, Vanderhorst, Renee
- Authors: McLaren, Suzanne , Gomez, Rapson , Bailey, Maria , Vanderhorst, Renee
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior Vol. 37, no. 1 (2007), p. 89-102
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Suicide among older people, especially men, is a significant problem. In this study the applicability of the compensatory, the risk-protective, the challenge, and the protective-protective models of resiliency for the prediction of suicidal ideation from depression (the risk factor) and sense of belonging to the community (the protective factor) was investigated. A total of 351 retired Australians (130 males and 221 females), with a mean age of 71.31 years (SD = 7.99), completed the Zung Depression Scale, the suicide subscale of the General Health Questionnaire, and the Sense of Belonging Instrument. When sense of belonging (psychological) was the protective factor, results indicated support for the risk-protective model for men and women, and for the compensatory model for women only. In contrast, when sense of belonging (antecedents) was the protective factor, support was evident for the compensatory model for men and women, and for the challenge model for women only. Results indicate that interventions should be developed to enhance sense of belonging among aging adults. © 2007 The American Association of Suicidology.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005765
- Authors: McLaren, Suzanne , Gomez, Rapson , Bailey, Maria , Vanderhorst, Renee
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior Vol. 37, no. 1 (2007), p. 89-102
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Suicide among older people, especially men, is a significant problem. In this study the applicability of the compensatory, the risk-protective, the challenge, and the protective-protective models of resiliency for the prediction of suicidal ideation from depression (the risk factor) and sense of belonging to the community (the protective factor) was investigated. A total of 351 retired Australians (130 males and 221 females), with a mean age of 71.31 years (SD = 7.99), completed the Zung Depression Scale, the suicide subscale of the General Health Questionnaire, and the Sense of Belonging Instrument. When sense of belonging (psychological) was the protective factor, results indicated support for the risk-protective model for men and women, and for the compensatory model for women only. In contrast, when sense of belonging (antecedents) was the protective factor, support was evident for the compensatory model for men and women, and for the challenge model for women only. Results indicate that interventions should be developed to enhance sense of belonging among aging adults. © 2007 The American Association of Suicidology.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005765