St George Acute Care Team: the local variant of crisis resolution model of care.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe functioning and clinical activities of the St George Acute Care Team and how it compares to the typical crisis resolution model of care.

Methods: Descriptive data including demographics, sources of referral, type of clinical intervention, length of stay, diagnoses and outcomes were collected from records of all patients who were discharged from the team during a 10 week period.

Results: There were 677 referrals.

Chronic catatonic schizophrenia treated successfully with right unilateral ultrabrief pulse electroconvulsive therapy: case report.

Catatonia is a syndrome with prominent motor and behavioral symptoms commonly seen in acutely ill psychiatric patients. Catatonic symptoms have been considered as positive predictors of response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT); however, few studies so far have addressed the role of ECT treatment technique in schizophrenia. We present the case of a 41-year-old woman with chronic catatonic schizophrenia who was treated successfully with a course of ultrabrief right unilateral ECT.

Early intervention in first episode psychosis: hope for a better future.

In the last two decades the clinical and research focus in psychotic disorders has shifted to first episode psychosis, early detection of the prodromal phase of psychosis and an effective integrated treatment model known as "Early Intervention". The first five years of psychosis that is described as a "critical period" is the most important time for recognition and treatment. Services for Early Intervention should be easily accessible, non-threatening and non-stigmatising.

Community mental health services--the New Zealand experience.

This overview focuses on a provision of current mental health services in New Zealand and might help professionals from other countries to become familiar with its community based model of care. New Zealand mental health services have undergone significant changes over the last 40 years. These include the closure of old psychiatric hospitals and the development of community based treatment facilities.

Bipolar disorder: from psychoeducational to existential group therapy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the importance of addressing psychoeducational and existential issues in group therapy for patients with bipolar disorder.

Method: The group consisted of 10 bipolar patients. Group sessions were held for 2 hours weekly for 3 months and then monthly up to 2 years.