Kay Wilhelm | University of NSW (original) (raw)

Papers by Kay Wilhelm

Psychosomatics, Nov 1, 2004

The performance of the self-report 10-item Depression in the Medically Ill scale was observed in ... more The performance of the self-report 10-item Depression in the Medically Ill scale was observed in 210 patients as part of clinical assessment by consultation-liaison psychiatry clinicians. Both the Depression in the Medically Ill scale and the Beck Depression Inventory for Primary Care were completed by the patient, and the clinicians made their judgment of the presence and severity of "clinical depression" and DSM-IV affective disorder diagnoses. Both the Depression in the Medically Ill scale and the Beck Depression Inventory for Primary Care detected 85% of patients with DSM-IV major depressive episode. The Depression in the Medically Ill scale was slightly superior to the Beck Depression Inventory for Primary Care in its relationship to clinicians' judgments of clinical depression caseness.

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Sep 1, 1993

We examined for sex differences in possible risk factors for depression, manifestations of depres... more We examined for sex differences in possible risk factors for depression, manifestations of depression and associated help-seeking and coping styles in a socially homogeneous cohort without any sex difference in lifetime rates of depression. The sexes did not differ on measures of depression, dysfunctional attitudes, perception of important interpersonal relationships, experience or perceived impact of life events. Women scored more highly on measures of neuroticism, were more dependent and were more likely to engage in self-consoling behaviours and coping styles. Recklessness as a coping style was the only item endorsed more frequently by men, posing the question of whether current measures take into consideration the male experience of depression. The findings suggest that many putative depressiogenic risk factors over-represented in women do not, by themselves, create depression but require a triggering factor or certain social conditions for their expression.

Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, Jul 1, 2006

We investigated whether patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;... more We investigated whether patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; beliefs about the causes of their depression concurred with their diagnostic subtype. Depressed patients (N = 196) attending a tertiary referral clinic completed a questionnaire regarding putative biological and nonbiological causes of their depression. Subtyping diagnoses of melancholic or nonmelancholic depression were made. Patients with nonmelancholic depression were more likely to attribute nonbiological factors as the cause of their depression than those with melancholic depression, whereas patients with melancholic depression were no more likely to attribute biological factors as the cause of their depression. Patients can distinguish differing causes of depression. The implications of the findings for the current classificatory systems of depression are discussed.

Clinics in Laboratory Medicine, Dec 1, 2010

The announcement of commercially available genetic tests for the diagnosis of several mental illn... more The announcement of commercially available genetic tests for the diagnosis of several mental illnesses in early 2008 1 has led to intense controversy amongst the psychiatric research community. The main protagonist in this development was John

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, Jun 1, 1993

Specialist treatment centres, such as the Mood Disorders Unit (MDU) at Prince Henry Hospital, Syd... more Specialist treatment centres, such as the Mood Disorders Unit (MDU) at Prince Henry Hospital, Sydney, have developed in response to the high prevalence of mood disorders and their frequent persistence and treatment resistance. The MDU's assessment and treatment of patients from state-wide catchment area and its teaching and research effectiveness are reviewed. Of 479 patients assessed between 1985 and 1989, there were 304 with primary depressive disorders, of whom 154 were followed up by clinical assessment at 52 weeks and 231 by telephone interview at 3 1/2 years. At intake, 59% were tertiary referral patients and 88% were from outside the local area. Two-thirds were recovered 3 1/2 years later, despite the disorders having been generally severe and protracted. Treatment modality was associated primarily with diagnosis, but also with age and somewhat with the patient's personality and consultant psychiatrists' preferences. No consistent predictors of outcome were discerned. Specialist tertiary referral centres, such as the MDU, contribute significantly to treatment success, especially of difficult cases, and enrich teaching and research.

Psychological Medicine, Jul 1, 1997

Background. A cohort study of a socially homogeneous group of teachers was commenced in 1978 to p... more Background. A cohort study of a socially homogeneous group of teachers was commenced in 1978 to pursue possible risk factors contributing to the recognized female preponderance of depression. Methods. Multiple measures of depressive experience included : (i) lifetime rates, duration and number of depressive episodes using two caseness definitions, DSM-III-R major depression and ' all depression ' (which included a category of minor depression) ; (ii) self-report measures of state and trait depression, neuroticism, and self-esteem. DSM-III-R anxiety disorder rates are also reported and co-morbidity with major depression examined. Results. At the 15-year review in 1993, the sample had a mean age of 39 years, there was a trend for a female preponderance in lifetime rates of major depression and ' all depression ' (and which was more pronounced with the inclusion of data for anxiety disorders), with statistically significant differences in rates of social and simple phobias and combined anxiety disorders. Mean neuroticism scores were consistently higher for women. Conclusions. The strong association between anxiety and depressive disorders suggests that greater reporting of anxiety and higher neuroticism scores in women may be a key determinant that contributes to any female preponderance in depression rates.

Teachers and Teaching, Oct 1, 2000

... Teacher Stress? An Analysis of Why Teachers Leave and Why They Stay KAY WILHELM, JODIE DEWHUR... more ... Teacher Stress? An Analysis of Why Teachers Leave and Why They Stay KAY WILHELM, JODIE DEWHURST-SAVELLIS &amp; GORDON PARKER School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia ... Disorder (GAD) Panic Yes 12 (14%) 10 (14%) 0.01b ...

British Journal of Psychiatry, Nov 1, 1993

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2009

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the quality of commonly found websites on ... more Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the quality of commonly found websites on bipolar disorder. A specifically designed quality tool, the Bipolar Website Quality Checklist (BWQC), was developed for this purpose. Methods: The BWQC was developed from quality criteria identified by a literature review of Medline (1966 +), Medline in-process and non-indexed citations, PsychINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, Pub Med, Science citation index, and Psych Articles, using keywords: ‘quality, reliability, accuracy, readability, evaluation, assessment, information, internet, web, www’. To identify relevant websites, seven common search engines were accessed and searched using a string of key words: ‘bipolar disorder + mania+ manic depression+ hypomania’. The top active 15 sites identified were rated by three independent raters, using the BWQC and DISCERN instruments. Results: There was a wide variability in the quality of the websites reviewed. The Black Dog Institute website was ranked first by the BWQC and DISCERN instruments. The National Institute of Mental Health website was ranked second by DISCERN and seventh by BWQC. The BWQC demonstrated high interrater reliability (r = 0.89) and correlated strongly (r = 0.78, p = 0.001) with the more generic DISCERN instrument. Websites with an editorial board or affiliation to a professional organization or which contained information on a variety of mental health issues had higher quality information on bipolar disorder and its treatment than websites that did not share these characteristics. Conclusions: High-quality information on bipolar disorder does exist on the Internet. It is important that clinicians are familiar with such websites so that they can recommend the most appropriate site that meets the specific need of the individual. Use of such websites can assist clinicians in adhering to clinical practice guidelines by providing material to augment psychoeducational interventions.

Psychological Medicine, May 1, 1989

Archives of women's mental health, Mar 16, 2010

The objectives of this study were: (1) to examine Composite International Diagnostic Interview (C... more The objectives of this study were: (1) to examine Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) period prevalence and comorbidity for depression and anxiety disorder in a cohort of women assessed during the first 6-8 months postpartum and (2) to examine the benefits of combining the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) with a simple "interval symptom" question to

Acta Neuropsychiatrica, Dec 1, 2006

BMJ Open, 2021

IntroductionConsiderable evidence supports an association between poor impulse control (impulsivi... more IntroductionConsiderable evidence supports an association between poor impulse control (impulsivity) and violent crime. Furthermore, impulsivity and aggression has been associated with reduced levels of serotonergic activity in the brain. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressants that aim to regulate brain serotonin concentrations. Several small studies in psychiatric populations have administered SSRIs to impulsive–aggressive individuals, resulting in reduced impulsivity, anger, aggression and depression. However, no clinical trial has been undertaken in a criminal justice population. This protocol describes the design and implementation of the first systematic study of the potential benefits of SSRIs in impulsive–violent offenders who are at high risk of reoffending.Methods and analysisA randomised, double-blinded, multicentre trial to test the clinical efficacy of an SSRI, sertraline hydrochloride, compared with placebo on recidivism and b...

Acta Neuropsychiatrica, 2006

the DEX, Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), SF-36 and Zarit Burden Scale. Patient insight was meas... more the DEX, Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), SF-36 and Zarit Burden Scale. Patient insight was measured using the discrepancy between carer and patient total scores on the DEX questionnaire. Results: The DEX discrepancy score correlated signifi cantly with total burden score (r = .52, P = 0.009). Burden was not correlated with patient cognition, age, neuropsychiatric symptoms and patient or carer SF-36 scores. A stepwise multiple regression with total burden as the outcome variable was statistically signifi cant (R 2 = .65, F = 8.72, P < 0.001), signifi cant predictors of outcome were DEX discrepancy, patient GDS, CDR sum of boxes and NPI score. Carer relationship and living status did not affect perceived burden. Conclusions: Reduced insight in patients with dementia may result in increased isolation and frustration for their carer (compared with carers of patients who have good insight). Therefore, measuring insight in patients with dementia may be useful in identifying carers at risk for high burden levels.