Barbara Farragher | Technological University Dublin, Ireland (original) (raw)

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Papers by Barbara Farragher

Research paper thumbnail of Towards mental hospital closure – a study of a residual long-stay population

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 1999

Objectives:To describe an entire long-stay hospita population and examine the differences between... more Objectives:To describe an entire long-stay hospita population and examine the differences between the old and new long-stay groups. It outlines the communitybased facilities required for hospital closure to occur.Method:One hundred and twenty-four patients were assessed using the Community Placement Questionnaire (CPQ), a standardised instrument used in service planning.Results:The CPQ revealed a globally disabled group with multiple handicaps. The mean age was 68.7 years and the predominant diagnosis was schizophrenia. Though the old long-stay (74) were more disabled than the new long-stay (50), similar sheltered accommodation was required for both groups. The new long-stay required a more active day-care program.Conclusions:Reprovision for long-stay patients must not only include sheltered accommodation but also appropriate day-care facilities. Assessment of the placement needs of all categories of long-stay patients necessary before hospital closure can take place.

Research paper thumbnail of Screening for depression in hospitalised elderly medical patients

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 1996

Objective:The aim of this study was to screen a group of medically ill elderly hospitalised patie... more Objective:The aim of this study was to screen a group of medically ill elderly hospitalised patients for depression and to facilitate this using a new screening questionnaire called the Evans Liverpool Depression Rating Scale (ELDRS).Method:The questionnaire was administered by a geriatric registrar to a consecutive series of 37 acutely ill elderly medical inpatients admitted to an acute hospital ward. They were subsequently interviewed by a member of the psychiatry of old age team.Results:Seven of the 37 acutely ill elderly patients admitted to hospital were found to be suffering from a major depressive illness according to DSMIIIR criteria. Of the patients screened, two were already on antidepressant medication. Five of the depressed patients were identified by using the ELDRS. All of the depressed group were judged to require antidepressant medication and two were referred to a psychiatry of old age day hospital.Conclusions:Our results suggest that there is a raised prevalence of...

Research paper thumbnail of Absent without leave – can we predict those who go AWOL?

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 1996

Objective: To quantify the number of patients absent without leave (AWOL) from an Irish psychiatr... more Objective: To quantify the number of patients absent without leave (AWOL) from an Irish psychiatric hospital in one year and to examine the clinical and demographic data of this group of patients.Method: This was a retrospective study of all patients reported as AWOL from St Brendan's Hospital in 1991. The following information was obtained from the patients' case notes: age, sex, legal status, marital status, psychiatric diagnosis, number of previous admissions, past history of absconding, length and outcome of absence. Their clinical and demographic variables were compared with a control group of 214 patients (non-absconders) randomly selected from the hospital admissions over a 12 month period.Results: A total of 48 patients absconded. The majority were male, single, compulsorily detained, with a past history of absconding. The most common psychiatric diagnoses were schizophrenia (32%), personality disorder (23%) and alcohol dependence syndrome (17%). While absent, three ...

Research paper thumbnail of Psychiatric morbidity in breast cancer — a review

Irish Journal of Medical Science, 1998

Clinicians have long observed a substantive relationship between cancer and psychological symptom... more Clinicians have long observed a substantive relationship between cancer and psychological symptoms. As early as 200 A.D., Galen, a Roman physician, observed that “melancholic” women were more at risk of developing cancer than “sanguine” women1. Nunn in 1822, published his widely quoted ‘Cancer of the Breast’ emphasising his belief that emotional factors can influence the growth of a neoplasm2. Herbert Snow published the first statistical studies in the field in the late nineteenth century3,4,5. However the idea of a psychosomatic concept vanished from the literature when surgical advances and the promise of radiation seemed to be the answer.

Research paper thumbnail of Psychiatric morbidity following the diagnosis and treatment of early breast cancer

Irish Journal of Medical Science, 1998

Psychiatric illness associated with breast cancer still goes unrecognised and untreated. A prospe... more Psychiatric illness associated with breast cancer still goes unrecognised and untreated. A prospective study was carried out on a consecutive series of 33 patients with early breast cancer. Patients were interviewed following their diagnosis and 3 to 6 months post-mastectomy. Patients also completed the General Health Questionnaire 60 (GHQ 60) and the Leeds Scales for the Self-Assessment of Anxiety and Depression. Seven patients suffered from a depressive disorder at the post-operative interview. One patient suffered from an anxiety disorder. One of the depressed patients had received antidepressant medication from her general practitioner. The GHQ 60 was able to predict depressive illness in the post-operative period with a sensitivity of 71 per cent at the pre-operative diagnostic stage. This study is consistent in its findings of increased psychiatric morbidity in early breast cancer patients in the months after surgery. It also highlights the usefulness of a self assessment questionnaire in predicting it.

Research paper thumbnail of Delayed onset of extrapyramidal side-effects on combining paroxetine with risperidone

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 1997

Research paper thumbnail of Joint Care Admissions to A Psychiatric Unit: A Prospective Analysis

General Hospital Psychiatry, 1998

Despite developments in general hospital liaison psychiatry over the past 20 years, joint care st... more Despite developments in general hospital liaison psychiatry over the past 20 years, joint care still remains underdeveloped in Europe. Psychiatry continues to move from the mental hospital to the general hospital unit without the parallel evolution of combined medical and psychiatric. An inpatient unit that provides both medical and psychiatric care may provide an essential integration of care that can benefit a select group of patients. The aims of this study were to prospectively evaluate the profile, treatment, and follow-up of patients admitted to the joint-care unit, and to examine the difficulties associated with the treatment of these patients on a joint unit. Eighty-nine patients were admitted to the joint care unit over a 6-month period. Their median length of stay was 2 days (range 1-52 days). Fifty-six (50%) were female. The majority (68) (76%) of the group were admitted following acts of deliberate self-harm. The overall predominant psychiatric diagnosis was depression (41) (46%). During admission, 23 (26%) patients were found to have behavioral and psychiatric problems that were difficult to manage on the ward. Eleven patients caused difficulties for staff relating to the management of their physical illness. Thirty-six (33%) patients were referred for further psychiatric inpatient care from the joint-care unit. The extra burden of these patients' care was felt to fall on the staff working on the psychiatric unit. The joint care unit provided a combined psychiatric and medical service. It was used predominantly by patients following acts of deliberate self-harm. Joint care allowed a comprehensive assessment and initiation of treatment of this patient group as well as a learning experience for medical and nursing staff. The inclusion of such a unit is a worthwhile consideration in any general hospital psychiatric service, with advanced planning easing staff workload.

Research paper thumbnail of Isotretinoin and depression: more than skin deep?

Mental health in family medicine, 2006

Isotretinoin is a vitamin A derivative and a retinoid receptor agonist, which is widely used in t... more Isotretinoin is a vitamin A derivative and a retinoid receptor agonist, which is widely used in the treatment of acne. The growing number of reported cases of depression and suicide associated with its use has prompted concern amongst prescribers, users and their relatives. It ranks in the top 10 of the US Food and Drug Administration’s database of drugs associated with reports of depression and suicide attempts; however it has received scant attention in the psychiatric literature, and a causal link has yet to be established. Factors that support a possible association between isotretinoin and depression are a temporal association between use of the drug and depression, positive dechallenges (often with psychiatric treatment), and positive rechallenges.

Research paper thumbnail of Towards mental hospital closure – a study of a residual long-stay population

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 1999

Objectives:To describe an entire long-stay hospita population and examine the differences between... more Objectives:To describe an entire long-stay hospita population and examine the differences between the old and new long-stay groups. It outlines the communitybased facilities required for hospital closure to occur.Method:One hundred and twenty-four patients were assessed using the Community Placement Questionnaire (CPQ), a standardised instrument used in service planning.Results:The CPQ revealed a globally disabled group with multiple handicaps. The mean age was 68.7 years and the predominant diagnosis was schizophrenia. Though the old long-stay (74) were more disabled than the new long-stay (50), similar sheltered accommodation was required for both groups. The new long-stay required a more active day-care program.Conclusions:Reprovision for long-stay patients must not only include sheltered accommodation but also appropriate day-care facilities. Assessment of the placement needs of all categories of long-stay patients necessary before hospital closure can take place.

Research paper thumbnail of Screening for depression in hospitalised elderly medical patients

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 1996

Objective:The aim of this study was to screen a group of medically ill elderly hospitalised patie... more Objective:The aim of this study was to screen a group of medically ill elderly hospitalised patients for depression and to facilitate this using a new screening questionnaire called the Evans Liverpool Depression Rating Scale (ELDRS).Method:The questionnaire was administered by a geriatric registrar to a consecutive series of 37 acutely ill elderly medical inpatients admitted to an acute hospital ward. They were subsequently interviewed by a member of the psychiatry of old age team.Results:Seven of the 37 acutely ill elderly patients admitted to hospital were found to be suffering from a major depressive illness according to DSMIIIR criteria. Of the patients screened, two were already on antidepressant medication. Five of the depressed patients were identified by using the ELDRS. All of the depressed group were judged to require antidepressant medication and two were referred to a psychiatry of old age day hospital.Conclusions:Our results suggest that there is a raised prevalence of...

Research paper thumbnail of Absent without leave – can we predict those who go AWOL?

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 1996

Objective: To quantify the number of patients absent without leave (AWOL) from an Irish psychiatr... more Objective: To quantify the number of patients absent without leave (AWOL) from an Irish psychiatric hospital in one year and to examine the clinical and demographic data of this group of patients.Method: This was a retrospective study of all patients reported as AWOL from St Brendan's Hospital in 1991. The following information was obtained from the patients' case notes: age, sex, legal status, marital status, psychiatric diagnosis, number of previous admissions, past history of absconding, length and outcome of absence. Their clinical and demographic variables were compared with a control group of 214 patients (non-absconders) randomly selected from the hospital admissions over a 12 month period.Results: A total of 48 patients absconded. The majority were male, single, compulsorily detained, with a past history of absconding. The most common psychiatric diagnoses were schizophrenia (32%), personality disorder (23%) and alcohol dependence syndrome (17%). While absent, three ...

Research paper thumbnail of Psychiatric morbidity in breast cancer — a review

Irish Journal of Medical Science, 1998

Clinicians have long observed a substantive relationship between cancer and psychological symptom... more Clinicians have long observed a substantive relationship between cancer and psychological symptoms. As early as 200 A.D., Galen, a Roman physician, observed that “melancholic” women were more at risk of developing cancer than “sanguine” women1. Nunn in 1822, published his widely quoted ‘Cancer of the Breast’ emphasising his belief that emotional factors can influence the growth of a neoplasm2. Herbert Snow published the first statistical studies in the field in the late nineteenth century3,4,5. However the idea of a psychosomatic concept vanished from the literature when surgical advances and the promise of radiation seemed to be the answer.

Research paper thumbnail of Psychiatric morbidity following the diagnosis and treatment of early breast cancer

Irish Journal of Medical Science, 1998

Psychiatric illness associated with breast cancer still goes unrecognised and untreated. A prospe... more Psychiatric illness associated with breast cancer still goes unrecognised and untreated. A prospective study was carried out on a consecutive series of 33 patients with early breast cancer. Patients were interviewed following their diagnosis and 3 to 6 months post-mastectomy. Patients also completed the General Health Questionnaire 60 (GHQ 60) and the Leeds Scales for the Self-Assessment of Anxiety and Depression. Seven patients suffered from a depressive disorder at the post-operative interview. One patient suffered from an anxiety disorder. One of the depressed patients had received antidepressant medication from her general practitioner. The GHQ 60 was able to predict depressive illness in the post-operative period with a sensitivity of 71 per cent at the pre-operative diagnostic stage. This study is consistent in its findings of increased psychiatric morbidity in early breast cancer patients in the months after surgery. It also highlights the usefulness of a self assessment questionnaire in predicting it.

Research paper thumbnail of Delayed onset of extrapyramidal side-effects on combining paroxetine with risperidone

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 1997

Research paper thumbnail of Joint Care Admissions to A Psychiatric Unit: A Prospective Analysis

General Hospital Psychiatry, 1998

Despite developments in general hospital liaison psychiatry over the past 20 years, joint care st... more Despite developments in general hospital liaison psychiatry over the past 20 years, joint care still remains underdeveloped in Europe. Psychiatry continues to move from the mental hospital to the general hospital unit without the parallel evolution of combined medical and psychiatric. An inpatient unit that provides both medical and psychiatric care may provide an essential integration of care that can benefit a select group of patients. The aims of this study were to prospectively evaluate the profile, treatment, and follow-up of patients admitted to the joint-care unit, and to examine the difficulties associated with the treatment of these patients on a joint unit. Eighty-nine patients were admitted to the joint care unit over a 6-month period. Their median length of stay was 2 days (range 1-52 days). Fifty-six (50%) were female. The majority (68) (76%) of the group were admitted following acts of deliberate self-harm. The overall predominant psychiatric diagnosis was depression (41) (46%). During admission, 23 (26%) patients were found to have behavioral and psychiatric problems that were difficult to manage on the ward. Eleven patients caused difficulties for staff relating to the management of their physical illness. Thirty-six (33%) patients were referred for further psychiatric inpatient care from the joint-care unit. The extra burden of these patients' care was felt to fall on the staff working on the psychiatric unit. The joint care unit provided a combined psychiatric and medical service. It was used predominantly by patients following acts of deliberate self-harm. Joint care allowed a comprehensive assessment and initiation of treatment of this patient group as well as a learning experience for medical and nursing staff. The inclusion of such a unit is a worthwhile consideration in any general hospital psychiatric service, with advanced planning easing staff workload.

Research paper thumbnail of Isotretinoin and depression: more than skin deep?

Mental health in family medicine, 2006

Isotretinoin is a vitamin A derivative and a retinoid receptor agonist, which is widely used in t... more Isotretinoin is a vitamin A derivative and a retinoid receptor agonist, which is widely used in the treatment of acne. The growing number of reported cases of depression and suicide associated with its use has prompted concern amongst prescribers, users and their relatives. It ranks in the top 10 of the US Food and Drug Administration’s database of drugs associated with reports of depression and suicide attempts; however it has received scant attention in the psychiatric literature, and a causal link has yet to be established. Factors that support a possible association between isotretinoin and depression are a temporal association between use of the drug and depression, positive dechallenges (often with psychiatric treatment), and positive rechallenges.