Research needs of higher specialist trainees in psychiatry in Ireland: mixed methods study.

Aims And Method: Higher specialist trainees (HSTs) in psychiatry in Ireland were recruited to complete a 21-item online questionnaire anonymously. Questions were designed to establish the research experience of HSTs in various years of training, identify perceived barriers to participation and generate potential strategies to overcome these barriers.

Results: Of 165 HSTs surveyed, 50 (30%) responded.

A qualitative study exploring the acceptability of a telehealth intervention for family members of people experiencing a first episode psychosis: PERCEPTION.

Objectives: Family members of people experiencing a first-episode psychosis (FEP) can experience high levels of carer burden, stigma, emotional challenges, and uncertainty. This indicates the need for support and psychoeducation. To address these needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed a multidisciplinary, blended, telehealth intervention, incorporating psychoeducation and peer support, for family members of FEP service users: PERCEPTION (PsychoEducation for Relatives of people Currently Experiencing Psychosis using Telehealth, an In-person meeting, and ONline peer support).

An exploratory study of psychosis risk factors in individuals who are referred but do not meet criteria for an early intervention in psychosis service.

Background: The 'at-risk mental state' (ARMS) for psychosis has been critiqued for its limited prognostic ability and identification of a limited proportion of those who will develop a first episode of psychosis (FEP). Broadening the search for high-risk groups is key to improving population-level ascertainment of psychosis risk.

Aims: To explore risk enrichment in diagnostic, demographic and socio-functional domains among individuals referred to an early intervention in psychosis (EIP) service not meeting ARMS or FEP criteria.

Through COVID-19 and beyond: developing a multidisciplinary telehealth family intervention in first episode psychosis.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges to high quality, safe Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) service provision. Due to the necessity to ensure EIP continues despite this, we developed a multidisciplinary, blended, telehealth intervention, incorporating psychoeducation and peer support, for family members of first episode psychosis service users: PERCEPTION. This perspective article aims to: describe PERCEPTION; offer reflections on our experience of delivering it; make recommendations for future research; and synthesise key learning to assist the integration of similar interventions in other EIP services.

Feeling stuck: exploring experiences of junior doctors.

Objectives: Staff working in mental health services provide care for individuals with a variety of difficulties, which can pose treatment challenges. Perceived lack of progress in patients can engender uncomfortable feelings within the clinician, such as frustration, 'heartsink' and 'feeling stuck'. The aim of this study was to explore the phenomenon of 'feeling stuck' amongst NCHDs in psychiatry.

Over the Cuckoo's Nest: Does Experiencing Electroconvulsive Therapy Change Your Mind? A Mixed Methods Study of Attitudes and Impact of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Patients and Their Relatives.

Objective: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for major depressive disorder, but some aspects remain controversial. Few studies have taken an in-depth mixed methods approach toward the study of attitudes, and there are no significant studies that explore the change of attitudes before and after treatment. The aim was to compare attitudes of patients and their relatives before and after ECT using quantitative and qualitative methods.

Assessing Public Attitudes to Electroconvulsive Therapy: Validation of the Modified ECT Attitudes Questionnaire Using a Systematic Analysis.

Introduction: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an established treatment for major depressive disorder, yet it remains controversial. Attitudes toward ECT have been studied in members of the public and service users, with diverse findings. There is no systematically validated scale to quantify attitudes.