Publications by authors named "Holly Sizer"

Background And Hypothesis: Transition to psychosis rates within ultra-high risk (UHR) services have been declining. It may be possible to 'enrich' UHR cohorts based on the environmental characteristics seen more commonly in first-episode psychosis cohorts. This study aimed to determine whether transition rates varied according to the accumulated exposure to environmental risk factors at the individual (migrant status, asylum seeker/refugee status, indigenous population, cannabis/methamphetamine use), family (family history or parental separation), and neighborhood (population density, social deprivation, and fragmentation) level.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: The Better Health Access Initiative added 32 Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers in 2006 to increase the number of people with access to mental health care. We investigated trends in the provision of outpatient Medicare-subsidised psychiatric services since the introduction of these item numbers in 2006 through 2019.

Methods: Medicare Benefits Schedule aggregated item-number claims data were obtained from the Services Australia Medicare website, between January 2006 and December 2019 inclusive, for face-to-face psychiatrist consultations.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Early intervention for psychosis services have been established worldwide and consist of specialist services for those with the At-Risk Mental State (ARMS) and a first episode of psychosis (FEP). This systematic review identified the literature on the outcomes of people who initially presented via an ARMS clinic and later transitioned to a psychotic disorder (UHR-T), compared to those who presented directly to an EI service with a FEP (FEP-D). The outcomes examined were (i) symptomatic (ii) functional, (iii) morbidity and mortality (including physical health) and (iv) service-usage.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Migrant and ethnic minority populations exhibit a higher incidence of psychotic disorders. The Ultra-High Risk for psychosis (UHR) paradigm provides an opportunity to explore the stage at which such factors influence the development of psychosis. In this systematic review, we collate and appraise the literature on the association between ethnicity and migrant status and the rate of identification of individuals at UHR, as well as their rate of transition to psychosis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Migrant status is one of the most replicated and robust risk factors for developing a psychotic disorder. This study aimed to determine whether migrant status in people identified as Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis (UHR) was associated with risk of transitioning to a full-threshold psychotic disorder.

Methods: Hazard ratios for the risk of transition were calculated from five large UHR cohorts (n = 2166) and were used to conduct a meta-analysis using the generic inverse-variance method using a random-effects model.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - A study examined the outcomes of young migrants aged 15-24 who experienced their first episode of psychosis (FEP) at a specialized center, focusing on symptoms, functional status, and hospital use during a six-year period.
  • - Out of 1,220 cases, 24% were first-generation migrants, with findings showing that migrants experienced similar remission and relapse rates as Australian-born individuals, although they were more likely to be involuntarily admitted to the hospital.
  • - The results suggest that while overall outcomes for migrants with FEP are comparable to their Australian counterparts, the higher rate of involuntary admissions highlights a need for improved clinical interventions tailored for migrant populations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Migrants are at a greater risk of developing a psychotic disorder, but knowledge about their outcomes has not yet been collated. We reviewed the literature concerning outcomes (symptomatic, functional, morbidity and mortality and service utilisation) for migrants with first-episode psychosis. Medline, EMBASE and PsycINFO were systematically searched for studies whose population included first- or second-generation migrants with first-episode psychosis, where outcome measures were examined after a minimum follow-up period of 6 months.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * A study in Melbourne tracked 707 young people and found that those in more socially deprived neighborhoods had a 4.7% higher risk of disengaging from early intervention services.
  • * Despite the introduction of a new clinic, distance to the service did not affect disengagement rates, indicating that support strategies should target young individuals in disadvantaged areas to improve engagement.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: A core component of treatment provided by early intervention for psychosis (EI) services is ensuring individuals remain successfully engaged with the service. This ensures they can receive the care they may need at this critical early stage of illness. Unfortunately, rates of disengagement are high in individuals with a first episode of psychosis (FEP), representing a major barrier to effective treatment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF