A Closed-Loop Digital Health Tool to Improve Depression Care in Multiple Sclerosis: Iterative Design and Cross-Sectional Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial and its Impact on Depression Care.

Background: People living with multiple sclerosis (MS) face a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with a depressive disorder than the general population. Although many low-cost screening tools and evidence-based interventions exist, depression in people living with MS is underreported, underascertained by clinicians, and undertreated.

Objective: This study aims to design a closed-loop tool to improve depression care for these patients.

Pragmatic phase II clinical trial to improve depression care in a real-world diverse MS cohort from an academic MS centre in Northern California: MS CATCH study protocol.

Introduction: Depression occurs in over 50% of individuals living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and can be treated using many modalities. Yet, it remains: under-reported by patients, under-ascertained by clinicians and under-treated. To enhance these three behaviours likely to promote evidence-based depression care, we engaged multiple stakeholders to iteratively design a first-in-kind digital health tool.

Late Potentials and Early Repolarisation Are Associated With Serious Mental Illness and May Portend Increased Arrhythmic Risk.

Background: Patients with serious mental illness (SMI) have an increased risk of sudden death. Higher rates of signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) abnormal late potentials (LP), which may be a predictor of sudden death risk, have been shown in patients with schizophrenia. We aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of electrocardiograph (ECG) and SAECG abnormalities in a mixed SMI population.

Healthcare communication distress scale: Pilot factor analysis and validity.

Objective: To develop psychometrically an evidence-based, patient-centred measure of patient-practitioner communication. We explored the underlying constructs of a self-report questionnaire measuring adult patients' enduring perceptions of their emotional experiences when communicating with primary healthcare practitioners.

Methods: A cross-sectional on-line survey included 16 items from a piloted questionnaire, as well as existing measures of generalised anxiety, psychological distress, and body vigilance.

High rates of respiratory symptoms and airway disease in mental health inpatients in a tertiary centre.

Background: People with severe mental illness (SMI) have a lower life expectancy due in part to a higher prevalence of cardiac and metabolic disease. Less is known of the prevalence of respiratory disease in this group.

Aims: This cross-sectional, observational study aimed to assess the prevalence of symptoms associated with respiratory disease in patients admitted to an inpatient mental health unit.

Accuracy of anxiety and depression screening tools in heart transplant recipients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of psychological screening tools in outpatient heart transplant recipients.

Methods: Forty-eight heart transplant recipients completed the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item scale (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7), Kessler Psychological Distress 10-item Scale (K-10) and Medical Outcomes Short Form 36-item Health Survey. A structured psychological interview (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Version 6) was conducted after completion of the questionnaires.

Pilot testing a model of psychological care for heart transplant recipients.

Background: Anxiety and depression are common after heart transplantation. This study aimed to pilot test the feasibility of a clinical model of psychological care for heart transplant recipients. The model of care involved nurse-led screening for anxiety and depression followed by referral for a course of telephone-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy as well as co-ordination of communication with on-going specialist and primary care services.

Depression and Pain in Heart Transplant Recipients: An Observational Study.

Unlabelled: Characterizing how physical and psychological symptoms interact in heart transplant recipients may lead to advances in therapeutic options. This study examined associations between pain and major depression.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with adult heart transplant recipients.

Psychometric Analysis of the Multidimensional State Boredom Scale and Its Condensed Versions.

The Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS) is a promising new self-report measure of state boredom. Two condensed versions of the scale have also been introduced. This study helped explore the psychometric qualities of these scales, using a large sample of Australian adults ( N = 1,716), as well as two smaller samples ( N = 199 and N = 422).

Posttraumatic growth in post-surgical coronary artery bypass graft patients.

Recent research in posttraumatic growth has been applied to people with life-threatening illnesses to optimise recovery. There is a lack of research exploring posttraumatic growth in coronary artery bypass graft patients. This article describes the recovery experience of 14 coronary artery bypass graft patients (13 males and 1 female) at their first outpatient review post-surgery.

Back to basics: informing the public of co-morbid physical health problems in those with mental illness.

Objective: Those with mental illness are at increased risk of physical health problems. The current study aimed to examine the information available online to the Australian public about the increased risk and consequences of physical illness in those with mental health problems and the services available to address these co-morbidities.

Methods: A structured online search was conducted with the search engine Google Australia (www.

Employee psychological distress and treated prevalence by indices of rurality.

Objective: Although there is population data on the prevalence and treated prevalence of mental disorders by urban-rural indices, there is a lacuna of information pertaining to employees. This paper examines the prevalence and treated prevalence of psychological distress in employees by urban-rural indicators.

Methods: Cross-sectional employee Health and Performance at Work Questionnaire responses (n=78,726 from 58 large companies) are interrogated by indices of remoteness (Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia), psychological distress (Kessler 6) and treatment-seeking behaviours for mental health problems.

The association between mental disorders and productivity in treated and untreated employees.

Objectives: In a large cross-sectional study, this article investigates associations between employee work productivity, psychological distress, and the treatment of mental disorders.

Methods: Sixty thousand five hundred fifty-six Australian employees completed the Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ). The HPQ quantified treatment seeking behavior for depression, anxiety, or other mental disorders.

The impact of mental health symptoms on heavy goods vehicle drivers' performance.

High levels of psychological distress in fulltime employees are prevalent (4.5% per month). Symptoms of impaired mental health include difficulties with attention, concentration, motivation, decision-making, visuo-motor control, and psychomotor reaction times.

Employee absenteeism measures reflecting current work practices may be instrumental in a re-evaluation of the relationship between psychological distress/mental health and absenteeism.

Absenteeism rates are the cornerstone metrics guiding corporate policy for health care investment in employees. However, traditional absenteeism measures do not reflect the contemporary workplace milieu. It is accepted practice that employees work evenings or weekends to makeup time.

Mental ill-health and the differential effect of employee type on absenteeism and presenteeism.

Objective: Mental ill-health results in substantial reductions in employee productivity (absenteeism and presenteeism). This paper examines the relationship between employee psychological distress, employee type and productivity.

Method: Utilizing the Health and Performance at Work Questionnaire, in a sample of 60,556 full-time employees, the impact that psychological distress (Kessler 6) imposes on employee productivity by occupation type is examined.

The prevalence of psychological distress in employees and associated occupational risk factors.

Objective: There is limited occupational health industry data pertaining to 1) the prevalence of psychological distress in various employee subtypes and 2) risk factors for employee psychological distress.

Method: The employees of 58 large public and private sector employers were invited to complete the Kessler 6 (K6) as part of the Health and Performance at Work Questionnaire. A K6 score of > or =13 was chosen to indicate high psychological distress.

Hallucinations in adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder and psychotic disorder.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the phenomenology of hallucinations in hospitalized adolescents diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychotic disorder.

Methods: Diagnoses were ascertained in 66 adolescents consecutively admitted to an acute adolescent unit in Australia. Hallucinations were examined to compare their phenomenology in PTSD with psychotic disorder.