Dan Siskind - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Dan Siskind

International Psychogeriatrics, 2015

In the above mentioned article by Parker et al., on the seventh page, in the final paragraph of c... more In the above mentioned article by Parker et al., on the seventh page, in the final paragraph of column two, the following three sentences should have been removed: "DSM-IV criteria specify a minimum six-month delay between the traumatic event and a diagnosis of PTSD (APA, 2000). Any diagnosis prior to this time would be an acute stress reaction. Based on these diagnostic criteria, it is possible that at least two studies were reporting acute stress reaction rather than PTSD." This error does not change the results or conclusions of the study.

Community Mental Health Journal, 2013

150 words, max 150) Background: Transitional housing programs aim to improve living skills and ho... more 150 words, max 150) Background: Transitional housing programs aim to improve living skills and housing stability for tenuously housed patients with mental illness. Methods: 113 consecutive Transitional Housing Team (THT) patients were matched to 139 controls on diagnosis, time of presentation, gender and prior psychiatric hospitalisation and compared using a difference-in-difference analysis for illness acuity and service use outcomes measured one year before and after THT entry/exit. Results: There was a statistically significant difference-in-difference favouring THT participants for bed days (mean difference in difference -20.76 days, S.E. 9.59, p=0.031) and living conditions (HoNOS Q11 mean difference in difference -0.93, S.E. 0.23, p<0.001). THT cost less per participant (I$14,024) than the bed-days averted (I$17,348). Conclusions: The findings of reductions in bed days and improved living conditions suggest that transitional housing programs can have a significant positive impact for tenuously housed patients with high inpatient service usage, as well as saving costs for mental health services.

The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, Jan 14, 2015

People with psychosocial disability are an important, although often neglected, subgroup of those... more People with psychosocial disability are an important, although often neglected, subgroup of those living with severe and persistent mental illness. Rehabilitation, provided through clinical and non-government organisations in Australia, may contribute to their personal recovery goals. We hypothesised that people with psychoses with the greatest disability and complex needs would receive services from both sectors, reflecting treatment and rehabilitation needs. Participants in the 2010 Australian national survey of psychosis (n = 1825) were interviewed to assess demographic, functional, mental and physical health characteristics and service use in the previous year. Two subgroups were created and compared: those using services from community mental health with, and without, non-governmental organisation involvement. Group membership was predicted by hierarchical logistic regression using variables selected on a priori grounds. Usefulness of the final model was examined by calculating...

British Journal of Psychiatry Open, 2015

Clozapine causes significant metabolic disturbances including obesity and type 2 diabetes. Recent... more Clozapine causes significant metabolic disturbances including obesity and type 2 diabetes. Recent evidence that reduced glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) may contribute to aetiology of clozapine-associated metabolic dysregulation suggests a potential therapeutic role for GLP-1 agonists.

The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 2015

Complementary therapies in medicine, 2015

Qigong and Tai Chi are the two most popular traditional Chinese exercises, known as mind-body mov... more Qigong and Tai Chi are the two most popular traditional Chinese exercises, known as mind-body movement therapies. Previous studies suggest that Qigong and Tai Chi may be beneficial in reducing depressive symptoms. This was the first study to systematically review and compare the effects of Qigong and Tai Chi on depressive symptoms. A systematic search of six electronic databases was undertaken through to February 2014, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which reported depressive symptoms measured by a depressive symptom rating scale. The standardized mean difference in depressive symptoms score between Qigong or Tai Chi and a control group (at the end of follow-up) was extracted as a primary outcome. The secondary outcome was the standardized mean gain in symptom score (SMG) relative to the baseline from individual arms of the RCTs for various forms of care including Qigong, Tai Chi, usual care, other exercise, education and miscellaneous interventions. Thirty studies with a to...

International Psychogeriatrics, 2015

In the above mentioned article by Parker et al., on the seventh page, in the final paragraph of c... more In the above mentioned article by Parker et al., on the seventh page, in the final paragraph of column two, the following three sentences should have been removed: &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;DSM-IV criteria specify a minimum six-month delay between the traumatic event and a diagnosis of PTSD (APA, 2000). Any diagnosis prior to this time would be an acute stress reaction. Based on these diagnostic criteria, it is possible that at least two studies were reporting acute stress reaction rather than PTSD.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; This error does not change the results or conclusions of the study.

Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2015

Schizophrenia Research, 2015

The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 2015

The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 2014

Concerns about fragmented mental health service delivery persist, particularly for people with se... more Concerns about fragmented mental health service delivery persist, particularly for people with severe and persistent mental illness. The objective was to review evidence regarding outcomes attributed to system-level intersectoral linkages involving mental health services and non-clinical support services, and to identify barriers and facilitators to the intersectoral linkage process. A systematic, qualitative review of studies describing attempts to coordinate the activities of multiple service agencies at the policy, program or organisational level was conducted. Electronic databases Medline, PsycINFO and EMBASE were searched via OVID from inception to July 2012. Of 1593 studies identified, 40 were included in the review - 26 in adult and 14 in vulnerable youth populations. Identified mechanisms to promote positive system-level outcomes included: interagency coordinating committees or intersectoral/interface workers engaged in joint service planning; formalised interagency collabor...

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) guidelines, across various regulatory bodies, lack co... more Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) guidelines, across various regulatory bodies, lack consensus as to the optimal frequency of treatment for individual patients. Some authors postulate that twice weekly ECT may have a similar efficacy to thrice weekly, and may have a lower risk of adverse cognitive outcomes. We did a systematic review and a meta-analysis to assess the strength of associations between ECT frequency and depression scores, duration of treatment, number of ECTs, and remission rates. Methods: We searched on Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (to December 2009), and searched reports to identify comparative studies of frequency of ECT. We did both random-effects (RE) and quality effect (QE) meta-analyses to determine the risk of various outcomes associated with lesser frequency as compared to the thrice weekly frequency. Results: We analysed 8 datasets (7 articles), including 214 subjects. Twice-weekly frequency of ECT was associated with a similar change in depression score (QE model SMD -0.11 [-0.55-0.33] and RE model SMD -0.17 [-0.77-0.43]) as compared to thrice weekly ECT. The number of real ECT's trended towards fewer in the twice weekly group. There was a statistically significant longer duration of treatment with a twice weekly protocol ). There was a statistically significant greater efficacy for thrice weekly ECT compared to once weekly ECT (QE model SMD 1.25 [-0.62-1.9] and RE model SMD 1.31 [0.6-2.02]). Conclusions: Twice weekly ECT is associated with similar efficacy to thrice weekly ECT, may require fewer treatments and may be associated with longer treatment duration when compared to thrice weekly. These epidemiological observations support the routine use of twice weekly ECT in acute courses, though choice of frequency should take into account individual patient factors. These observations have implications for resource utilisation e.g. costs of duration of admission vs cost of provision of ECT, as well as issues of access to inpatient beds and anaesthetist time.

Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2015

To provide a guide for clinically-based psychiatrist supervisors of research projects for early c... more To provide a guide for clinically-based psychiatrist supervisors of research projects for early career researchers. This paper will describe a mentoring framework for supervision, for psychiatrist clinical research supervisors and early career researchers. The domains discussed include, across various aspects of a study: the role of the supervisor, project management, and where and when to seek advice. Supervision of clinical research can be a professionally rewarding experience for psychiatrists, as well as early career researcher supervisees.

The journal of mental health policy and economics, 2008

Low and middle-income countries are increasingly acknowledging the potential health and economic ... more Low and middle-income countries are increasingly acknowledging the potential health and economic benefits associated with treatment of depression. To aid countries in making resource-allocation decisions, there is a need for cost-effectiveness analysis of treatments for depression in developing countries. Although there are a limited number of studies from developing countries that report data on treatment efficacy and costs, these data can be leveraged to tailor mathematical models that are used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of depression treatments in specific settings. Using data from depression studies in the published literature, as well as two studies in Uganda, we developed a decision-analytic model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of group psychotherapy in the setting of Uganda. We developed a Markov cohort model of depression and evaluated the health benefits and costs associated with group psychotherapy with and without booster sessions for recurrent depressive epis...

The Medical Journal of Australia, 2015

To describe the frequency, type and quality of mental health treatment among Australian adults wi... more To describe the frequency, type and quality of mental health treatment among Australian adults with past-year affective and/or anxiety disorders. Retrospective analysis of data for 8831 adults aged 16-85 years interviewed for the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, of whom 17% (n = 1517) met International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) criteria for a past-year affective and/or anxiety disorder. Three levels of mental health treatment received in the past year: (1) any consultation with a health professional for mental health; (2) any evidence-based intervention (antidepressant medication, mood stabiliser medication, cognitive behaviour therapy and/or psychotherapy); and (3) minimally adequate treatment (a &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;dose&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; of an evidence-based intervention above a minimum threshold, consistent with treatment guidelines). Of participants with past-year affective and/or anxiety disorders, 39% sought professional help for mental health, 26% received an evidence-based treatment, and 16% received minimally adequate treatment. After controlling for clinical factors including type and severity of disorder, the odds of all levels of treatment were lower among younger adults (16-29 years) compared with middle-aged adults, and the odds of receiving an evidence-based treatment or minimally adequate treatment were lower among people who consulted a general practitioner only compared with a mental health professional. Closing the gap in treatment quality requires strategies to increase the use of evidence-based interventions, and to ensure these are delivered in sufficient doses. Research to elucidate why some patients are at increased risk of inadequate treatment, and the aspects of treatment that contribute to inadequate care, is indicated.

Australasian Psychiatry, 2014

Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2015

Research can seem daunting, especially for trainees and early career researchers. This paper focu... more Research can seem daunting, especially for trainees and early career researchers. This paper focuses on how to formulate and begin a research project such as the RANZCP Scholarly Project. We outline an approach to framing a research question, developing theses and hypotheses, choosing a supervisor and conducting a literature review. Through systematic planning early career researchers and other clinicians can plan and conduct research suitable for the Scholarly Project or other research activity.

The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 2015

Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2015

Systematic reviews are one of the major building blocks of evidence-based medicine. This overview... more Systematic reviews are one of the major building blocks of evidence-based medicine. This overview is an introduction to conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) represent the most robust form of design in the hierarchy of research evidence. In addition, primary data do not have to be collected by the researcher him/herself, and there is no need for approval from an ethics committee. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are not as daunting as they may appear to be, provided the scope is sufficiently narrow and an appropriate supervisor available.

Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2015

To discuss common pitfalls and useful tips in designing a quantitative research study, the import... more To discuss common pitfalls and useful tips in designing a quantitative research study, the importance and process of ethical approval, and consideration of funding. Through careful planning, based on formulation of a research question, early career researchers can design and conduct quantitative research projects within the framework of the Scholarly Project or in their own independent projects.

International Psychogeriatrics, 2015

In the above mentioned article by Parker et al., on the seventh page, in the final paragraph of c... more In the above mentioned article by Parker et al., on the seventh page, in the final paragraph of column two, the following three sentences should have been removed: &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;DSM-IV criteria specify a minimum six-month delay between the traumatic event and a diagnosis of PTSD (APA, 2000). Any diagnosis prior to this time would be an acute stress reaction. Based on these diagnostic criteria, it is possible that at least two studies were reporting acute stress reaction rather than PTSD.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; This error does not change the results or conclusions of the study.

Community Mental Health Journal, 2013

150 words, max 150) Background: Transitional housing programs aim to improve living skills and ho... more 150 words, max 150) Background: Transitional housing programs aim to improve living skills and housing stability for tenuously housed patients with mental illness. Methods: 113 consecutive Transitional Housing Team (THT) patients were matched to 139 controls on diagnosis, time of presentation, gender and prior psychiatric hospitalisation and compared using a difference-in-difference analysis for illness acuity and service use outcomes measured one year before and after THT entry/exit. Results: There was a statistically significant difference-in-difference favouring THT participants for bed days (mean difference in difference -20.76 days, S.E. 9.59, p=0.031) and living conditions (HoNOS Q11 mean difference in difference -0.93, S.E. 0.23, p<0.001). THT cost less per participant (I$14,024) than the bed-days averted (I$17,348). Conclusions: The findings of reductions in bed days and improved living conditions suggest that transitional housing programs can have a significant positive impact for tenuously housed patients with high inpatient service usage, as well as saving costs for mental health services.

The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, Jan 14, 2015

People with psychosocial disability are an important, although often neglected, subgroup of those... more People with psychosocial disability are an important, although often neglected, subgroup of those living with severe and persistent mental illness. Rehabilitation, provided through clinical and non-government organisations in Australia, may contribute to their personal recovery goals. We hypothesised that people with psychoses with the greatest disability and complex needs would receive services from both sectors, reflecting treatment and rehabilitation needs. Participants in the 2010 Australian national survey of psychosis (n = 1825) were interviewed to assess demographic, functional, mental and physical health characteristics and service use in the previous year. Two subgroups were created and compared: those using services from community mental health with, and without, non-governmental organisation involvement. Group membership was predicted by hierarchical logistic regression using variables selected on a priori grounds. Usefulness of the final model was examined by calculating...

British Journal of Psychiatry Open, 2015

Clozapine causes significant metabolic disturbances including obesity and type 2 diabetes. Recent... more Clozapine causes significant metabolic disturbances including obesity and type 2 diabetes. Recent evidence that reduced glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) may contribute to aetiology of clozapine-associated metabolic dysregulation suggests a potential therapeutic role for GLP-1 agonists.

The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 2015

Complementary therapies in medicine, 2015

Qigong and Tai Chi are the two most popular traditional Chinese exercises, known as mind-body mov... more Qigong and Tai Chi are the two most popular traditional Chinese exercises, known as mind-body movement therapies. Previous studies suggest that Qigong and Tai Chi may be beneficial in reducing depressive symptoms. This was the first study to systematically review and compare the effects of Qigong and Tai Chi on depressive symptoms. A systematic search of six electronic databases was undertaken through to February 2014, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which reported depressive symptoms measured by a depressive symptom rating scale. The standardized mean difference in depressive symptoms score between Qigong or Tai Chi and a control group (at the end of follow-up) was extracted as a primary outcome. The secondary outcome was the standardized mean gain in symptom score (SMG) relative to the baseline from individual arms of the RCTs for various forms of care including Qigong, Tai Chi, usual care, other exercise, education and miscellaneous interventions. Thirty studies with a to...

International Psychogeriatrics, 2015

In the above mentioned article by Parker et al., on the seventh page, in the final paragraph of c... more In the above mentioned article by Parker et al., on the seventh page, in the final paragraph of column two, the following three sentences should have been removed: &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;DSM-IV criteria specify a minimum six-month delay between the traumatic event and a diagnosis of PTSD (APA, 2000). Any diagnosis prior to this time would be an acute stress reaction. Based on these diagnostic criteria, it is possible that at least two studies were reporting acute stress reaction rather than PTSD.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; This error does not change the results or conclusions of the study.

Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2015

Schizophrenia Research, 2015

The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 2015

The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 2014

Concerns about fragmented mental health service delivery persist, particularly for people with se... more Concerns about fragmented mental health service delivery persist, particularly for people with severe and persistent mental illness. The objective was to review evidence regarding outcomes attributed to system-level intersectoral linkages involving mental health services and non-clinical support services, and to identify barriers and facilitators to the intersectoral linkage process. A systematic, qualitative review of studies describing attempts to coordinate the activities of multiple service agencies at the policy, program or organisational level was conducted. Electronic databases Medline, PsycINFO and EMBASE were searched via OVID from inception to July 2012. Of 1593 studies identified, 40 were included in the review - 26 in adult and 14 in vulnerable youth populations. Identified mechanisms to promote positive system-level outcomes included: interagency coordinating committees or intersectoral/interface workers engaged in joint service planning; formalised interagency collabor...

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) guidelines, across various regulatory bodies, lack co... more Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) guidelines, across various regulatory bodies, lack consensus as to the optimal frequency of treatment for individual patients. Some authors postulate that twice weekly ECT may have a similar efficacy to thrice weekly, and may have a lower risk of adverse cognitive outcomes. We did a systematic review and a meta-analysis to assess the strength of associations between ECT frequency and depression scores, duration of treatment, number of ECTs, and remission rates. Methods: We searched on Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (to December 2009), and searched reports to identify comparative studies of frequency of ECT. We did both random-effects (RE) and quality effect (QE) meta-analyses to determine the risk of various outcomes associated with lesser frequency as compared to the thrice weekly frequency. Results: We analysed 8 datasets (7 articles), including 214 subjects. Twice-weekly frequency of ECT was associated with a similar change in depression score (QE model SMD -0.11 [-0.55-0.33] and RE model SMD -0.17 [-0.77-0.43]) as compared to thrice weekly ECT. The number of real ECT's trended towards fewer in the twice weekly group. There was a statistically significant longer duration of treatment with a twice weekly protocol ). There was a statistically significant greater efficacy for thrice weekly ECT compared to once weekly ECT (QE model SMD 1.25 [-0.62-1.9] and RE model SMD 1.31 [0.6-2.02]). Conclusions: Twice weekly ECT is associated with similar efficacy to thrice weekly ECT, may require fewer treatments and may be associated with longer treatment duration when compared to thrice weekly. These epidemiological observations support the routine use of twice weekly ECT in acute courses, though choice of frequency should take into account individual patient factors. These observations have implications for resource utilisation e.g. costs of duration of admission vs cost of provision of ECT, as well as issues of access to inpatient beds and anaesthetist time.

Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2015

To provide a guide for clinically-based psychiatrist supervisors of research projects for early c... more To provide a guide for clinically-based psychiatrist supervisors of research projects for early career researchers. This paper will describe a mentoring framework for supervision, for psychiatrist clinical research supervisors and early career researchers. The domains discussed include, across various aspects of a study: the role of the supervisor, project management, and where and when to seek advice. Supervision of clinical research can be a professionally rewarding experience for psychiatrists, as well as early career researcher supervisees.

The journal of mental health policy and economics, 2008

Low and middle-income countries are increasingly acknowledging the potential health and economic ... more Low and middle-income countries are increasingly acknowledging the potential health and economic benefits associated with treatment of depression. To aid countries in making resource-allocation decisions, there is a need for cost-effectiveness analysis of treatments for depression in developing countries. Although there are a limited number of studies from developing countries that report data on treatment efficacy and costs, these data can be leveraged to tailor mathematical models that are used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of depression treatments in specific settings. Using data from depression studies in the published literature, as well as two studies in Uganda, we developed a decision-analytic model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of group psychotherapy in the setting of Uganda. We developed a Markov cohort model of depression and evaluated the health benefits and costs associated with group psychotherapy with and without booster sessions for recurrent depressive epis...

The Medical Journal of Australia, 2015

To describe the frequency, type and quality of mental health treatment among Australian adults wi... more To describe the frequency, type and quality of mental health treatment among Australian adults with past-year affective and/or anxiety disorders. Retrospective analysis of data for 8831 adults aged 16-85 years interviewed for the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, of whom 17% (n = 1517) met International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) criteria for a past-year affective and/or anxiety disorder. Three levels of mental health treatment received in the past year: (1) any consultation with a health professional for mental health; (2) any evidence-based intervention (antidepressant medication, mood stabiliser medication, cognitive behaviour therapy and/or psychotherapy); and (3) minimally adequate treatment (a &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;dose&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; of an evidence-based intervention above a minimum threshold, consistent with treatment guidelines). Of participants with past-year affective and/or anxiety disorders, 39% sought professional help for mental health, 26% received an evidence-based treatment, and 16% received minimally adequate treatment. After controlling for clinical factors including type and severity of disorder, the odds of all levels of treatment were lower among younger adults (16-29 years) compared with middle-aged adults, and the odds of receiving an evidence-based treatment or minimally adequate treatment were lower among people who consulted a general practitioner only compared with a mental health professional. Closing the gap in treatment quality requires strategies to increase the use of evidence-based interventions, and to ensure these are delivered in sufficient doses. Research to elucidate why some patients are at increased risk of inadequate treatment, and the aspects of treatment that contribute to inadequate care, is indicated.

Australasian Psychiatry, 2014

Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2015

Research can seem daunting, especially for trainees and early career researchers. This paper focu... more Research can seem daunting, especially for trainees and early career researchers. This paper focuses on how to formulate and begin a research project such as the RANZCP Scholarly Project. We outline an approach to framing a research question, developing theses and hypotheses, choosing a supervisor and conducting a literature review. Through systematic planning early career researchers and other clinicians can plan and conduct research suitable for the Scholarly Project or other research activity.

The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 2015

Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2015

Systematic reviews are one of the major building blocks of evidence-based medicine. This overview... more Systematic reviews are one of the major building blocks of evidence-based medicine. This overview is an introduction to conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) represent the most robust form of design in the hierarchy of research evidence. In addition, primary data do not have to be collected by the researcher him/herself, and there is no need for approval from an ethics committee. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are not as daunting as they may appear to be, provided the scope is sufficiently narrow and an appropriate supervisor available.

Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2015

To discuss common pitfalls and useful tips in designing a quantitative research study, the import... more To discuss common pitfalls and useful tips in designing a quantitative research study, the importance and process of ethical approval, and consideration of funding. Through careful planning, based on formulation of a research question, early career researchers can design and conduct quantitative research projects within the framework of the Scholarly Project or in their own independent projects.