Publications by authors named "David William Austin"

Background: Internet-based assessment has the potential to assist with the diagnosis of mental health disorders and overcome the barriers associated with traditional services (eg, cost, stigma, distance). Further to existing online screening programs available, there is an opportunity to deliver more comprehensive and accurate diagnostic tools to supplement the assessment and treatment of mental health disorders.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the diagnostic criterion validity and test-retest reliability of the electronic Psychological Assessment System (e-PASS), an online, self-report, multidisorder, clinical assessment and referral system.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the genetic factors that contribute to individual differences in sensitivity to mercury exposure, focusing on a population known for heightened sensitivity (survivors of pink disease).* -
  • Researchers compared genetic variations (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in key genes related to mercury metabolism and transport between sensitive individuals (25 PD survivors) and a control group (25 healthy individuals).* -
  • Two specific genetic variations were identified (in the PON1 and MTHFR genes) that differentiate mercury-sensitive individuals from healthy controls, suggesting a genetic basis for this sensitivity.*
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Background: The development of e-mental health interventions to treat or prevent mental illness and to enhance wellbeing has risen rapidly over the past decade. This development assists the public in sidestepping some of the obstacles that are often encountered when trying to access traditional face-to-face mental health care services.

Objective: The objective of our study was to investigate the posttreatment effectiveness of five fully automated self-help cognitive behavior e-therapy programs for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PD/A), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD) offered to the international public via Anxiety Online, an open-access full-service virtual psychology clinic for anxiety disorders.

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Background: Mental illness is an escalating concern worldwide. The management of disorders such as anxiety and depression largely falls to family doctors or general practitioners (GPs). However, GPs are often too time constrained and may lack the necessary training to adequately manage the needs of such patients.

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