Megan Kalucy - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Megan Kalucy

Objective: Gamma oscillation, which may index GABAergic interneuron dysfunction, will be a useful... more Objective: Gamma oscillation, which may index GABAergic interneuron dysfunction, will be a useful biomarker in early stage of schizophrenia. We focused on the baseline gamma-band response during auditory steadystate response (ASSR). Baseline activity may refl ect different pathophysiology from stimulus driven activity. Some animal studies reported the alteration of baseline gamma-band response by pharmacological modulation (e.g. ketamine, MK801). While previous study (Spencer et al., 2012) reported that patients with chronic schizophrenia have increment of gamma-band ASSR, it is still unknown its characteristics in the early stage of illness.

Nutrition & Dietetics, 2015

Aim: Initiating antipsychotic medication frequently induces rapid, clinically significant weight ... more Aim: Initiating antipsychotic medication frequently induces rapid, clinically significant weight gain. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a lifestyle and life skills intervention, delivered within 4 weeks of antipsychotic medication initiation, in attenuating weight gain in youth aged 14-25 years with first-episode psychosis (FEP).

Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 2015

Aust. J. Prim. Health, 2014

Mental illness affects the lives of a significant number of Australians. In addition to pharmacol... more Mental illness affects the lives of a significant number of Australians. In addition to pharmacological and psychological interventions, exercise has demonstrated benefits for people with mental illness including symptom reduction, improved cardiovascular risk profile and improved physical capacity. Unfortunately, evidence shows that clinician-delivered exercise advice is not routinely offered. This is despite patient acceptability for exercise. This article summarises the recent evidence supporting the prescription of exercise for people with mental illness and offers a model incorporating basic exercise prescription, and referral pathways for specialised advice. Current exercise prescription patterns for people with mental illness may not meet patient expectations; therefore, clinicians should consider exercise referral schemes to increase the accessibility of interventions for people with a mental illness.

Schizophrenia is associated with significantly increased physical morbidity and mortality particu... more Schizophrenia is associated with significantly increased physical morbidity and mortality particularly secondary to cardiometabolic disorders. In people with schizophrenia, rates of obesity and the metabolic syndrome are high compared to the general population. Whilst the weight gain secondary to antipsychotic medication is largely to blame, other factors include inactivity, poor diet and possibly the illness itself. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common and frequently under-recognized condition which may be associated with disabling symptoms including daytime sleepiness, cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety and long term increases in morbidity and mortality secondary to cardiometabolic disease. As the primary risk factor is obesity, elevated rates of sleep apnoea would therefore seem likely in association with schizophrenia. Thus, OSA might represent a treatable cause of psychiatric and physical co-morbidity in patients with schizophrenia. A review of the literature revealed a paucity of quality research in this area. Available data suggest increased rates of sleep apnoea in schizophrenia and that psychotic symptoms may improve when co-morbid sleep apnoea is treated. Health practitioners may be unaware of the need to screen for sleep apnoea in patients with schizophrenia and the disorder may be significantly under-recognised. Research is required to clarify the epidemiology, consequences and management of sleep apnoea in association with schizophrenia.

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 2014

ORAL PRESENTATION “Seeing the Doc at 11am, cooking group at midday, and hitting the gym at 2pm”. ... more ORAL PRESENTATION “Seeing the Doc at 11am, cooking group at midday, and hitting the gym at 2pm”. Patient and staff perspectives of an embedded lifestyle intervention within an early psychosis programme Andrew Watkins1,2, Joel Pilgrim1, Jackie Curtis1,3, Simon Rosenbaum1,3, Scott Teasdale3, Megan Kalucy1, Katherine Samaras4,5, Philip B Ward2,6 1Early Psychosis Programme, The Bondi Centre, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District 2Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia 2School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Australia 4Department of Endocrinology, St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, Australia 5Diabetes and Obesity Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia 6Schizophrenia Research Unit, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, Australia Keeping the Body In Mind (KBIM) is an intensive 12-week, strength-based multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention delivered at the initiation of anti-psychotic treatment fo...

Schizophrenia Research, 2006

Schizophrenia Research, 2014

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 1994

To investigate the survival of infants with neural tubedefects in Western Australia from 1966 to ... more To investigate the survival of infants with neural tubedefects in Western Australia from 1966 to 1990, cases of neural tube defects were ascertained from multiple sources. Survival of infants with anencephaly, spina bifida, and encephalocoele was examined separately, and four birth cohorts were compared: 1966-1972 (when most surviving infants were actively treated), 1973-1979 (a period of stringent application of selection criteria for treatment), 1980-1985 (some relaxation of selection criteria), and 1986-1990 (further relaxation of selection criteria).

Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 2008

A questionnaire mailed to the parent(s) of all 86 school-aged children with spina bifida resident... more A questionnaire mailed to the parent(s) of all 86 school-aged children with spina bifida resident in Western Australia in 1992 who were attending a spinal dysfunction clinic or were members of the Spina Bifida Association was returned by 72 parents. All 72 of these children (55 with myelomeningocele, 17 with meningocele) lived at home with their parent(s). All but two children with meningocele were mobile without aids, whereas only 42% of the children with myelomeningocele were. Twenty one per cent of the children were naturally continent of urine day and night, and 36% were naturally continent of faeces. 76% attended a mainstream school although performance at school was rated below average for 40%. Nine children with meningocele (56%) and 42 with myelomeningocele (76%) were reported to have learning difficulties. This information will be useful in counselling parents of unborn and newborn children with spina bifida, and in allocating resources for children and young adults with spina bifida and their families.

Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 1999

ABSTRACT The diagnosis and management of depression in the medically ill have long been clouded. ... more ABSTRACT The diagnosis and management of depression in the medically ill have long been clouded. The absence of a valid diagnostic strategy contributes to variable prevalence estimates of depression in the medically ill. Risk factors, however, appear more striking in their similarities across different subgroups than in their differences. Studies of the newer antidepressants, and a more sophisticated understanding of their action and interactions, indicate that management of depression in the medically ill is advancing strongly despite diagnostic and measurement limitations.

Adverse newspaper reporting of mental illness and in particular, violence committed by a mentally... more Adverse newspaper reporting of mental illness and in particular, violence committed by a mentally ill person, is thought to contribute to stigma. However, violent events are also considered highly newsworthy by journalists. The aim of this study was to compare the likelihood of newspaper reporting for convicted perpetrators of homicide with and without a history of contact with mental health services. A 12 month (April 2000-March 2001) cohort of 577 homicide perpetrators with and without a history of contact with mental health services in England and Wales was examined. These cases were identified by the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness. By examining 12 national newspapers, we compared the likelihood of reporting homicide perpetrators with and without mental illness. Under half (228 cases, 40%) of the homicide perpetrators were reported in at least one of the study newspapers. Under a fifth (94 cases, 16%) of perpetrators had a history of contact with mental health services and such previous contact did not increase the likelihood of newspaper reporting (odds ratio 1.0 (0.6-1.6)). Previous contact with mental health services did not influence the newsworthiness of a homicide perpetrator. The stigmatizing effect of reporting homicide by perpetrators with mental illness may relate more to the quality of reporting rather than selective over-reporting.