A Mobile Phone App to Improve the Mental Health of Taxi Drivers: Single-Arm Feasibility Trial.

Background: Psychological distress among taxi drivers is 5 times higher than that in the general population, and more than half of all drivers have experienced 3 or more potentially traumatic events in their lifetime. Nevertheless, help-seeking for mental health problems in this male-dominated, predominately immigrant workforce is low. Mobile technologies have the potential to increase mental health awareness, teach self-help skills, and encourage help-seeking in this hard-to-reach population.

The impact of received social support on posttraumatic growth after disaster: The importance of both support quantity and quality.

Objective: Few studies have investigated the relationship between received social support (actual help received) and posttraumatic growth (PTG), and these studies focused only on the quantity of support received. This study examined the joint implications of both the quantity and quality of postdisaster received social support for PTG.

Method: Data were collected from Lushan earthquake (China, in 2013) survivors at 7 ( = 199) and 31 ( = 161) months after the earthquake.

Training plus intensive consultation improves uptake and outcome expectations of prolonged exposure therapy among practitioners treating emergency service personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Objective: Prolonged exposure (PE) therapy is an evidence-based psychological treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet uptake amongst practitioners is less than desirable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a PE training workshop plus intensive consultation programme to improve practitioners' self-efficacy and outcome expectations as well as uptake of PE for emergency service patients with PTSD.

Method: Forty-five psychologists attended a PE training workshop in Sydney.

Social support following a natural disaster: A longitudinal study of survivors of the 2013 Lushan earthquake in China.

The idea that social support post-disaster is beneficial to survivors' mental health is widely accepted by both researchers and practitioners. However previous social support studies are mainly focused on perceived social support, and the limited received social support studies have produced mixed results. In this study we modelled the influence of both quantity and quality of received social support on long-term mental health outcomes in a longitudinal study of 2013 Lushan earthquake survivors in China.

Treatment of military-related post-traumatic stress disorder: challenges, innovations, and the way forward.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the common mental disorders in military and veteran populations. Considerable research and clinical opinion has been focused on understanding the relationship between PTSD and military service and the implications for prevention, treatment, and management. This paper examines factors associated with the development of PTSD in this population, considers issues relating to engagement in treatment, and discusses the empirical support for best practice evidence-based treatment.

The role of site and severity of injury as predictors of mental health outcomes following traumatic injury.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of injury site and severity as predictors of mental health outcomes in the initial 12 months following traumatic injury. Using a multisite, longitudinal study, participants with a traumatic physical injury (N = 1,098) were assessed during hospital admission and followed up at 3 months (N = 932, 86%) and at 12 months (N = 715, 71%). Injury site was measured using the Abbreviated Injury Scale 90, and objective injury severity was measured using the Injury Severity Score.

The Positive and Negative Experiences of Caregiving for Siblings of Young People with First Episode Psychosis.

The impact of first episode psychosis (FEP) upon parents' experience of caregiving has been well-documented. However, the determinants and nature of this remain poorly understood in siblings. It is hypothesized that siblings of young people with FEP are also impacted by caregiving and burden.

The impact of potentially traumatic events on the mental health of males who have served in the military: Findings from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Objective: The study investigated the impact of potentially traumatic events on mental health outcomes among males who had ever served in the Australian Defence Force.

Method: Data from a nationally representative household survey of Australian residents, the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, were used for this study.

Results: Compared with community members, Australian Defence Force males were significantly more likely to have experienced not only deployment and other war-like events but also accidents or other unexpected events, and trauma to someone close.

Gender difference in outcomes following trauma-focused interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Currently, there is a lack of evidence on whether women and men respond differently to trauma-focused psychological treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine whether gender is associated with response to trauma-focused psychological interventions for PTSD.

Method: The Cochrane Collaboration systematic review methodology (Higgins & Green, 2011) was used as a guide for this study.

Skills for Psychological Recovery: Evaluation of a post-disaster mental health training program.

Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) is a brief skills-based approach to assist community members to better cope after a disaster or other tragedy. This paper reports on an evaluation of a large SPR training and support program following floods and cyclones in Queensland, Australia. The program sought to recruit, train and support competent SPR trainers; provide systematic high-quality training in SPR skills for practitioners; improve the confidence of a large number of practitioners to use SPR; and encourage practitioners' use of SPR with community members.

Mental health service use: comparing people who served in the military or received Veterans' Affairs benefits and the general population.

Objectives: To compare the lifetime prevalence of affective, anxiety and substance use disorders and the use of mental health services between people who had served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) or received Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) benefits and the general population.

Method: The 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing obtained data from a nationally representative household survey of 8,841 respondents.

Results: Fewer than 20% of men who had served in the ADF reported receiving benefits from DVA.

The Impact of First-Episode Psychosis on the Sibling Relationship.

Objective: Research and clinical practice in first-episode psychosis (FEP) has predominantly focused on parents and partners and has neglected siblings needs. This study aims to characterize the sibling relationship in FEP and to examine the illness-related variables that influence this relationship.

Method: Survey methodology explored the experience of 157 siblings during the first 18 months of their brother or sister's treatment.

The impact of first episode psychosis on sibling quality of life.

Purpose: The adverse impact of first episode psychosis (FEP) upon parents' quality of life (QoL) has been well documented. However, the determinants and levels of QoL remain poorly understood in siblings of young people experiencing FEP. This study aimed to characterise and establish the predictors of QoL for siblings of young people with FEP.

Trauma at the hands of another: distinguishing PTSD patterns following intimate and nonintimate interpersonal and noninterpersonal trauma in a nationally representative sample.

Objective: Interpersonal trauma and violence is currently considered a global public health emergency. However, studies have not differentiated between intimate interpersonal trauma and nonintimate interpersonal trauma in their impact on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology. This cross-sectional study based on epidemiologic data examined the differential likelihoods of endorsing PTSD symptoms following 3 categories of trauma: noninterpersonal (eg, accidents, natural disasters), nonintimate interpersonal (physical assaults perpetrated by nonintimates), and intimate interpersonal (physical assaults perpetrated by intimates or caregivers and sexual assaults).

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) in the assessment of alcohol use disorders among acute injury patients.

Background: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) is a brief alcohol screening test and a candidate for inclusion in recommended screening and brief intervention protocols for acute injury patients. The objective of the current study was to examine the performance of the AUDIT-C to risk stratify injury patients with regard to their probability of having an alcohol use disorder.

Methods: Participants (n = 1,004) were from a multisite Australian acute injury study.

Early response to psychological trauma--what GPs can do.

Background: There is a high prevalence of psychological trauma exposure among primary care patients. General practitioners are well placed to provide appropriate support for patients coping with trauma.

Objective: This article outlines an evidence-based early response to psychological trauma.

Forgotten family members: the importance of siblings in early psychosis.

Objective: This paper reviews the evidence on the significance of sibling inclusion in family interventions and support during early psychosis.

Method: This narrative review presents the current research related to the importance of family work during early psychosis, the needs and developmental significance of siblings during adolescence and early adulthood, the protective effects of sibling relationships, and the characteristics of early psychosis relevant to the sibling experience. It will also review the evidence of the sibling experience in chronic physical illness and disability, as well as long-term psychotic illness.

Disability after injury: the cumulative burden of physical and mental health.

Context: Injury is one of the leading contributors to the global burden of disease. The factors that drive long-term disability after injury are poorly understood.

Objective: The main aim of the study was to model the direct and indirect pathways to long-term disability after injury.

A mental health training program for community members following a natural disaster.

This study reports data on a disaster mental health training program to enhance the capacity of lay people from disaster-affected communities, to provide assistance to others following a bushfire disaster. Local facilitators conducted training sessions which were actively promoted within communities. Participants were asked to complete an anonymous pre- and post-training survey to obtain data on the impact and quality of the training program.

Impact of combat and non-military trauma exposure on symptom reduction following treatment for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequently report exposure to multiple other traumas in addition to their military experiences. This study aimed to examine the impact of exposure-related factors for military veterans with PTSD on recovery after participation in a group-based treatment program. Subjects included 1548 military veterans with PTSD participating in specialist veterans' PTSD programs across Australia.

Examination of the latent factor structure of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test in two independent trauma patient groups using confirmatory factor analysis.

Recent research on the factor structure of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) provides support for two underlying factors: consumption and consequences. The current study sought to extend these findings to two independent and diverse trauma populations: traumatic injury patients and military veterans treated for posttraumatic stress disorder. The 2- and 3-factor solutions provided the best fit to the data, but there was a very high correlation between the second and third factors of the 3-factor solution.

A randomized controlled trial of relapse prevention therapy for first-episode psychosis patients: outcome at 30-month follow-up.

The effectiveness of a novel 7-month psychosocial treatment designed to prevent the second episode of psychosis was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial at 2 specialist first-episode psychosis (FEP) programs. An individual and family cognitive behavior therapy for relapse prevention was compared with specialist FEP care. Forty-one FEP patients were randomized to the relapse prevention therapy (RPT) and 40 to specialist FEP care.

Psychological first aid following trauma: implementation and evaluation framework for high-risk organizations.

International clinical practice guidelines for the management of psychological trauma recommend Psychological First Aid (PFA) as an early intervention for survivors of potentially traumatic events. These recommendations are consensus-based, and there is little published evidence assessing the effectiveness of PFA. This is not surprising given the nature of the intervention and the complicating factors involved in any evaluation of PFA.

PTSD among military personnel.

Although symptoms characteristic of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been noted in military personnel for many centuries, it was not until 1980 that the disorder was formally recognized and became the focus of legitimate study. This paper reviews our current state of knowledge regarding the prevalence and course of this complex condition in past and present members of the defence forces. Although rates vary across conflicts and countries, there is no doubt that PTSD affects substantial numbers of personnel and results in considerable impairment in functioning and quality of life.

Family outcomes from a randomized control trial of relapse prevention therapy in first-episode psychosis.

Objective: We have previously reported that our combined individual and family cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) relapse prevention therapy (RPT) was effective in reducing relapse rates compared to treatment as usual (TAU) within a specialist program for young, first-episode psychosis patients who had reached remission on positive symptoms. Here, we report the outcomes for family participants of DSM-IV-diagnosed first-episode psychosis patients recruited between November 2003 and May 2005 over a 2.5-year follow-up period.