Clozapine and incidence of myocarditis and sudden death - Long term Australian experience.

Background: Clozapine is the cornerstone of therapy for refractory schizophrenia; however, the potential for cardiotoxicity is an important limitation in its use. In the current analysis we sought to evaluate the long term cardiac outcomes of clozapine therapy.

Methods: All-cause mortality, incidence of sudden death and time to myocarditis were assessed in a cohort of patients maintained on clozapine between January 2009 and December 2015.

Droperidol v. haloperidol for sedation of aggressive behaviour in acute mental health: randomised controlled trial.

Background: Agitation and aggression are significant problems in acute psychiatric units. There is little consensus on which drug is most effective and safest for sedation of these patients.

Aims: To compare the effectiveness and safety of haloperidol v.

Care zoning in a psychiatric intensive care unit: strengthening ongoing clinical risk assessment.

Aims And Objectives: To implement and evaluate the care zoning model in an eight-bed psychiatric intensive care unit and, specifically, to examine the model's ability to improve the documentation and communication of clinical risk assessment and management.

Background: Care zoning guides nurses in assessing clinical risk and planning care within a mental health context. Concerns about the varying quality of clinical risk assessment prompted a trial of the care zoning model in a psychiatric intensive care unit within a regional mental health facility.

A prospective study of high dose sedation for rapid tranquilisation of acute behavioural disturbance in an acute mental health unit.

Background: Acute behavioural disturbance (ABD) is a common problem in psychiatry and both physical restraint and involuntary parenteral sedation are often required to control patients. Although guidelines are available, clinical practice is often guided by experience and there is little agreement on which drugs should be first-line treatment for rapid tranquilisation. This study aimed to investigate sedation for ABD in an acute mental healthcare unit, including the effectiveness and safety of high dose sedation.

Pro re nata use in a psychiatric intensive care unit.

Pro re nata (PRN) or 'as required' medication is a regular part of mental health nursing practice. This retrospective study accessed data recorded for all PRN being given to patients within an eight-bed psychiatric intensive care unit. Data from the same consecutive 4-month period from 2005 and from 2007-2009 were analysed for trends in overall rates, time of administration, and type of medication given.