ORCID Profile
0000-0001-8648-0313
Current Organisation
Deakin University
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2017.07.004
Abstract: Young people living in residential out-of-home care (henceforth OoHC) are at increased risk of becoming overweight or obese. Currently, recognition of the everyday mechanisms that might be contributing to excess weight for children and young people in this setting is limited. The aim of this study was to better understand the barriers and complexities involved in the provision of a 'healthy' food environment in residential OoHC. Heightening awareness of these factors and how they might compromise a young person's physical health, will inform the development, refinement and evaluation of more sensitive and tailored weight-related interventions for this population. The paper presents a nuanced picture of the complexity of everyday food routines in residential care, and illustrates the ways in which food is 'done' in care how food can be both symbolic of care but also used to exercise control the way in which food can be used to create a 'family-like' environment and the impact of traumatic experiences in childhood on subsequent behaviours and overall functioning in relation to food. It is argued that a health agenda designed for a mainstream population ignores the very complex relationship that children in residential OoHC may have with food. It is recommended that future intervention approaches account for personal food biographies, trauma and children's social backgrounds and how these are implicated in everyday practices and interactions around food.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-02-2019
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-08-2021
DOI: 10.1111/DAR.13363
Abstract: Telehealth has considerable potential to overcome many of the barriers to accessing care for substance use problems, thereby increasing the opportunity for earlier intervention. The Ready2Change program is a multiple‐session outbound telephone‐delivered cognitive and behavioural intervention for mild‐to‐moderate substance use disorders, embedded within a long‐established 24/7 alcohol and drug helpline. We sought to analyse routinely collected program data in a preliminary study to examine the effectiveness of Ready2Change in reducing substance use problem severity and psychological distress. A retrospective analysis of program data from December 2013 to June 2018 was performed. Analysed cases were 249 clients living in Victoria, Australia with alcohol ( n = 191), meth hetamine ( n = 40) or cannabis ( n = 18) as their primary drug of concern. A within‐subjects design was used to examine pre‐ and post‐intervention substance use problem severity and psychological distress. For alcohol cases, there was a statistically significant decrease in alcohol problem severity [AUDIT, mean difference = −12.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) −14.0, −11.5]. Statistically significant reductions in drug problem severity (DUDIT) were observed for meth hetamine (mean difference = −17.3, 95% CI −20.9, −13.7) and cannabis (mean difference = −15.9, 95% CI −22.3, −9.6) cases. All groups showed reductions in problem severity for other substances used ( P 0.05) and psychological distress ( P 0.001). Results suggest Ready2Change benefits clients with alcohol, meth hetamine and cannabis use problems, with the potential to improve treatment access for health inequity groups including those living in remote areas. These findings warrant further investigation into the effectiveness of this program.
Publisher: American Medical Association (AMA)
Date: 02-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.ADDBEH.2014.05.001
Abstract: The evidence linking the personality trait of impulsivity and substance misuse is well established. Importantly, impulsivity not only predicts substance misuse problems but has an association with duration in treatment, likelihood of completing treatment and time to relapse. Treatment that focuses on increasing awareness and acceptance of thoughts and emotions may potentially address impulsive behaviour and in this respect improve treatment outcomes for substance misuse. The current paper investigated the relationship between the facet of impulsivity that taps into poor inhibitory control and treatment outcome. In addition, there was a specific focus on ascertaining the impact of an increase in awareness and attentional control measured in 144 adult substance users receiving treatment in a residential therapeutic community. Impulsivity predicted poorer treatment outcome (measured as drug use severity). Increases in awareness and acceptance of emotions and thoughts during treatment were related to better outcome although this was not associated with baseline levels of impulsivity. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-08-2016
DOI: 10.1111/ACER.13163
Abstract: Relapse is common in alcohol-dependent in iduals and can be triggered by alcohol-related cues in the environment. It has been suggested that these in iduals develop cognitive biases, in which cues automatically capture attention and elicit an approach action tendency that promotes alcohol seeking. The study aim was to examine whether cognitive bias modification (CBM) training targeting approach bias could be delivered during residential alcohol detoxification and improve treatment outcomes. Using a 2-group parallel-block (ratio 1:1) randomized controlled trial with allocation concealed to the outcome assessor, 83 alcohol-dependent inpatients received either 4 sessions of CBM training where participants were implicitly trained to make avoidance movements in response to pictures of alcoholic beverages and approach movements in response to pictures of nonalcoholic beverages, or 4 sessions of sham training (controls) delivered over 4 consecutive days during the 7-day detoxification program. The primary outcome measure was continuous abstinence at 2 weeks postdischarge. Secondary outcomes included time to relapse, frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption, and craving. Outcomes were assessed in a telephonic follow-up interview. Seventy-one (85%) participants were successfully followed up, of whom 61 completed all 4 training sessions. With an intention-to-treat approach, there was a trend for higher abstinence rates in the CBM group relative to controls (69 vs. 47%, p = 0.07) however, a per-protocol analysis revealed significantly higher abstinence rates among participants completing 4 sessions of CBM relative to controls (75 vs. 45%, p = 0.02). Craving score, time to relapse, mean drinking days, and mean standard drinks per drinking day did not differ significantly between the groups. This is the first trial demonstrating the feasibility of CBM delivered during alcohol detoxification and supports earlier research suggesting it may be a useful, low-cost adjunctive treatment to improve treatment outcomes for alcohol-dependent patients.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 02-09-2014
Abstract: The relationship between benzodiazepine consumption and subsequent increases in aggressive behaviour in humans is not well understood. The current study aimed to identify, via a systematic review, whether there is an association between benzodiazepine consumption and aggressive responding in adults. A systematic review was conducted and reported in line with the PRISMA statement. English articles within MEDLINE, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete, and Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection databases were searched. Additional studies were identified by searching reference lists of reviewed articles. Only articles that explicitly investigated the relationship between benzodiazepine consumption and subsequent aggressive behaviour, or a lack thereof, in human adults were included. Forty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. It was not possible to conduct a meta-analysis due to the heterogeneity of study design and benzodiazepine type and dose. An association between benzodiazepine use and subsequent aggressive behaviour was found in the majority of the more rigorous studies, although there is a paucity of high-quality research with clinical or forensic populations. Diazepam and alprazolam have received the most attention. Dose-related findings are inconsistent: therapeutic doses may be more likely to be associated with aggressive responding when administered as a once-off, whereas higher doses may be more risky following repeated administration. Trait levels of anxiety and hostility may indicate a vulnerability to the experience of benzodiazepine-related aggression. There appears to be a moderate association between some benzodiazepines and subsequent aggressive behaviour in humans. The circumstances under which aggressive responding may be more likely to follow benzodiazepine use remain unclear, although some evidence suggests dose and/or personality factors may influence this effect.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-2018
DOI: 10.1111/CP.12162
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 16-02-2022
DOI: 10.3389/FPSYG.2022.780359
Abstract: Elite athletes, coaches and high-performance staff are exposed to a range of stressors that have been shown to increase their susceptibility to experiencing mental ill-health. Despite this, athletes may be less inclined than the general population to seek support for their mental health due to stigma, perceptions of limited psychological safety within sport to disclose mental health difficulties (e.g., selection concerns) and/or fears of help-seeking signifying weakness in the context of high performance sport. Guidance on the best ways to promote mental health within sporting environments is increasing, though current frameworks and position statements require greater focus on a whole of system approach, in which the needs of athlete, coaches and high-performance staff are considered within the context of the broader ecological system in which they operate and perform. This paper synthesizes existing research, reviewed for translatability by mental health professionals working in elite sport, to provide an evidence-informed framework with real world utility to promote mentally healthy environments for all stakeholders in elite sporting organizations, from athletes through to administrators. Recommendations are provided to positively impact the mental wellbeing of athletes and support staff, which may in turn influence athletic performance. This framework is intended to provide sporting organizations with evidence-informed or best practice principles on which they can develop or progress their policies to support mental health promotion and prevent the onset of mental health difficulties. It is intended that the framework can be adapted or tailored by elite sporting organizations based upon their unique cultural, contextual and resourcing circumstances.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-2006
DOI: 10.1080/13803390490918174
Abstract: The popular recreational drug MDMA or "ecstasy" is a selective serotonin neurotoxin in many species and has been found to be associated with memory dysfunction in human beings. Recent studies suggest that this impairment persists after cessation of use for periods up to at least one year. However, there is no clear indication as yet concerning which stage of memory processing is impaired as a result of MDMA use. In the current study, 31 current MDMA users and 30 MDMA users who had been abstinent for more than two years were compared with 30 controls on the WMS-III. The results suggest that MDMA use is associated with memory dysfunction and that this dysfunction persists for up to two years after cessation of use. Importantly, the findings suggest that this memory dysfunction may be due to interference at the encoding stage of memory processing.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 20-05-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.DRUGALCDEP.2016.11.034
Abstract: Evidence indicates that substance-related cognitive biases (attentional, memory, and approach bias) contribute to the maintenance and development of substance misuse. Impulsivity has been suggested to influence how cognitive biases contribute to substance misuse, possibly by biasing incentive salience attribution processes. However, the strength and moderators of the relationship between impulsivity and substance-related cognitive biases has yet to be empirically examined. A meta-analysis using random-effects models was completed assessing 19 studies that reported a quantitative relationship between an impulsivity measure and a substance-related cognitive bias. Two-component conceptualisation of impulsivity, impulsivity measurement type, gender, and age were assessed as moderators. A small, significant positive relationship (r=0.10) was observed between impulsivity and substance-related attentional, memory, and approach biases. No moderators examined had a significant influence on this relationship. Results are consistent with incentive sensitisation theories of addiction and suggests a weak synergistic relationship between impulsivity and substance-related cognitive biases. This relationship holds across different measures and components of impulsivity. Results provide some support for the viability of impulsivity and cognitive bias interaction models which may warrant further investigation of these factors in relation to predicting addiction treatment outcomes.
Publisher: Authorea, Inc.
Date: 18-01-2023
DOI: 10.22541/AU.167407887.79967609/V1
Abstract: Objective: The present study aimed to characterise the intersecting sociodemographic, psychiatric and substance use needs of young people seeking treatment across multiple primary mental health, justice and alcohol and drug services within Australia. Methods: Data from four separate studies (N = 867) that investigated social and emotional wellbeing in young people aged 16-25-years-old were used in the present study (three studies recruited service users one study recruited community participants) Results: The sociodemographic characteristics of service users differed substantially to the community s le. Service users identified as non-binary, LGBTIQ+ and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander at substantially greater proportions compared to the community s le. Family violence, involvement in criminal justice, homelessness and child protection services was considerably more common among service users than in the community s le and nearly one-third of service users were disengaged from opportunities for learning and vocational attainment. With respect to psychiatric characteristics, the majority of service users had been diagnosed with two or more psychiatric disorders and, almost two- thirds reported engagement in non-suicidal self- injury across their lifetime. Service users engaged in lower rates of lifetime and harmful alcohol use compared to the community s le however, they reported significantly higher rates of lifetime and harmful drug use with more than one-third of service users engaged in poly-substance use. Conclusion: The comprehensive examination of the sociodemographic, psychiatric and substance use characteristics of young service users in the present study highlights the intersection of early childhood adversity, adolescent mental ill-health, polysubstance use and psychosocial vulnerabilities across multiple determinants of social and emotional wellbeing. The cohort were indeed representative of some of the most vulnerable in our society. The need for developmentally informed, inter-sectoral systems of care that address the intersecting vulnerabilities of these young Australian service users are discussed
Publisher: American Medical Association (AMA)
Date: 22-09-2020
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 06-07-2017
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-07-2016
DOI: 10.1111/ADD.13014
Abstract: Motivational interviewing (MI) is the most successfully disseminated evidence-based practice in the substance use disorder (SUD) treatment field. This systematic review considers two questions relevant to policymakers and service providers: (1) does training in MI achieve sustained practice change in clinicians delivering SUD treatment and (2) do clinicians achieve a level of competence after training in MI that impacts upon client outcomes? A systematic review was conducted and reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, examining training outcomes for MI in the SUD treatment sector, and for clinicians working in a SUD treatment role. We determined a training method to have resulted in sustained practice change when over 75% of participants met beginning proficiency in MI spirit at a follow-up time-point. Of the 20 studies identified, 15 measured training at a follow-up time-point using standard fidelity measures. The proportion of clinicians who reached beginning proficiency was either reported or calculated for 11 of these studies. Only two studies met our criterion of 75% of clinicians achieving beginning proficiency in MI spirit after training. Of the 20 studies identified, two measured client substance use outcomes with mixed results. A broad range of training studies failed to achieve sustained practice change in MI according to our criteria. It is unlikely that 75% of clinicians can achieve beginning proficiency in MI spirit after training unless competency is benchmarked and monitored and training is ongoing. The impact of training on client outcomes requires future examination.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-03-2020
DOI: 10.1111/CP.12209
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.JAD.2021.12.126
Abstract: Distress tolerance (DT) has received increased attention in recent years due to its purported role in dysregulated behaviours and their clinical manifestations, such as problematic substance use (PSU), disordered eating behaviours (e.g., binge-eating and purging DEB), and borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptomatology. Despite the proposed transdiagnostic utility of DT across PSU, DEB, and BPD, there has yet to be a systematic and comprehensive examination characterising and comparing its association with this class of impulsive-type psychopathology. A systematic search was conducted across five electronic databases using search terms designed to capture extant literature on the association between DT and PSU, DEB, and BPD symptomatology. A series of meta-analyses were undertaken on correlation coefficients from 81 studies to examine the association between DT and each psychopathology domain, as well as impulsive-type psychopathology overall. Moderator analyses were conducted to examine whether these relationships were moderated by DT measurement type, s le type, age, and gender. DT shared significant, negative, medium correlations with PSU (r = -.18,), DEB (r = -.20), and BPD symptomatology (r = -.27). The magnitude of these associations was not significantly different across the three psychopathology domains, supporting transdiagnostic conceptualisation. DT measurement type, age, and s le type moderated several of these indicated relationships. The majority of studies were conducted in adult s les from Western countries, limiting understanding of these relationships across development and different cultures. The present findings support the putative transdiagnostic role of DT across PSU, DEB, and BPD, which may ultimately inform novel, cross-cutting interventions.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-05-2022
DOI: 10.1002/JCLP.23366
Abstract: Dysregulated behaviors including substance use, disordered eating, and nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI) have significant negative implications for in iduals and health systems. It is therefore paramount to understand factors influencing behavioral dysregulation, to inform prevention and treatment approaches. The literature suggests that distress and rumination (brooding) prompt in iduals to engage in behavioral dysregulation for distraction (Emotional Cascade Model), although these concepts have limited investigation in clinical, treatment‐seeking s les, particularly alongside negative urgency. This cross‐sectional study sought to examine the relationships of brooding, distress, and negative urgency with behavioral dysregulation, as well as the moderating effect of negative urgency between brooding and behavioral dysregulation, in treatment‐seeking young people. A total of 385 treatment‐seeking young people completed cross‐sectional, self‐report measures of distress, rumination, negative urgency, and engagement in dysregulated behaviors (NSSI, alcohol use, drug use, binge eating, and purging) over the past 1−3 months. Structural equation modeling revealed that only negative urgency, and not brooding or distress, had a significant positive relationship with behavioral dysregulation. Negative urgency did not significantly moderate the relationship between brooding and behavioral dysregulation. These findings reinforce the importance of considering negative urgency in the conceptualization, prevention, and treatment of behavioral dysregulation, and contribute to the knowledge of the relationship between brooding and various dysregulated behaviors within a treatment‐seeking s le.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-06-2016
DOI: 10.1111/ADD.13414
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 28-09-2011
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-01-2014
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-01-2015
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-08-2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-01-2011
Abstract: Problem use of illicit drugs (i.e. drug abuse or dependence) is associated with considerable health and social harms, highlighting the need for early intervention and engagement with health services. Family members, friends and colleagues play an important role in supporting and assisting in iduals with problem drug use to seek professional help, however there are conflicting views about how and when such support should be offered. This paper reports on the development of mental health first aid guidelines for problem drug use in adults, to help inform community members on how to assist someone developing problem drug use or experiencing a drug-related crisis. A systematic review of the scientific and lay literature was conducted to develop a 228-item survey containing potential first-aid strategies to help someone developing a drug problem or experiencing a drug-related crisis. Three panels of experts (29 consumers, 31 carers and 27 clinicians) were recruited from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Panel members independently rated the items over three rounds, with strategies reaching consensus on importance written into the guidelines. The overall response rate across three rounds was 80% (86% consumers, 81% carers, 74% clinicians). 140 first aid strategies were endorsed as essential or important by 80% or more of panel members. The endorsed strategies provide information and advice on what is problem drug use and its consequences, how to approach a person about their problem drug use, tips for effective communication, what to do if the person is unwilling to change their drug use, what to do if the person does (or does not) want professional help, what are drug-affected states and how to deal with them, how to deal with adverse reactions leading to a medical emergency, and what to do if the person is aggressive. The guidelines provide a consensus-based resource for community members who want to help someone with a drug problem. It is hoped that the guidelines will lead to better support and understanding for those with problem drug use and facilitate engagement with professional help.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-2018
DOI: 10.1111/CP.12154
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 04-12-2019
DOI: 10.3390/JCM8122143
Abstract: Internationally there is an escalation of prescription-related overdose deaths, particularly related to benzodiazepine use. As a result, many countries have implemented prescription monitoring programs (PMPs) to increase the regulation of benzodiazepine medications. PMPs centralize prescription data for prescribers and pharmacists and generate alerts to high-doses, risky combinations, or multiple prescribers with the aim to reduce inappropriate prescribing and subsequently the potential of patient harm. However, it has become clear that prescribers have been provided with minimal guidance and insufficient training to effectively integrate PMP information into their decision making around prescribing these medications. Accordingly, this paper discusses how PMPs have given rise to a range of unintended consequences in those who have been prescribed benzodiazepines (BDZs). Given that a gradual taper is generally required to mitigate withdrawal from BDZs, there are concerns that alerts from PMPs have resulted in BDZs being ceased abruptly, resulting in a range of unintended harms to patients. It is argued that best practice guidelines based upon a patient-centered framework of decision-making, need to be developed and implemented, in order to curtail the unintended consequences of PMPs. This paper outlines some key considerations when starting the conversation with patients about their BDZ use.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.CPR.2017.09.002
Abstract: A large body of research has implicated difficulties in emotion regulation as central to the development and maintenance of psychopathology. Emotion regulation has therefore been proposed as a transdiagnostic construct or an underlying mechanism in psychopathology. The transdiagnostic role of emotion regulation has yet to be systematically examined within the psychological treatment outcome literature. It can be proposed that if emotion regulation is indeed a transdiagnostic construct central to the maintenance of psychopathology, then changes in emotion regulation difficulties will occur after effective treatment and this will occur for different disorders. We conducted a systematic review, identifying 67 studies that measured changes in both emotion regulation and symptoms of psychopathology following a psychological intervention for anxiety, depression, substance use, eating pathology or borderline personality disorder. Results demonstrated that regardless of the intervention or disorder, both maladaptive emotion regulation strategy use and overall emotion dysregulation were found to significantly decrease following treatment in all but two studies. Parallel decreases were also found in symptoms of anxiety, depression, substance use, eating pathology and borderline personality disorder. These results contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the conceptualization of emotion regulation as a transdiagnostic construct. The present study discusses the important implications of these findings for the development of unified treatments that target emotion regulation for in iduals who present with multiple disorders.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2018
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-01-2011
DOI: 10.1111/J.1751-7893.2010.00252.X
Abstract: There is increasing concern regarding the use of cannabis among adolescents, especially given recent evidence highlighting its link with later mental disorders. Encouraging young people with mental health or drug issues to seek professional help is an important early intervention strategy however, adolescents are typically reluctant to do so and instead turn to their peers for help. Peers may not have the skills or knowledge required to assist their friends to access professional help. This paper describes the development and evaluation of MAKINGtheLINK, a school-based health promotion programme that promotes help-seeking behaviour for mental health and cannabis use issues among young people. The MAKINGtheLINK programme was piloted with 182 Year 10 students at a secondary school in Melbourne, Australia. Forty teachers received the MAKINGtheLINK staff professional development session. The delivery of the MAKINGtheLINK programme was found to be both acceptable and feasible within a school setting. Students and teachers described it as a fun, engaging, helpful and important programme. Students reported increased confidence and awareness of how to seek help for themselves or a friend, and teachers indicated increased confidence and awareness of how to assist students to seek help for cannabis use and/or mental health problems. MAKINGtheLINK was successfully implemented within the school curriculum. We believe this is the first school-based programme that specifically focuses on facilitating professional help-seeking for cannabis use and mental health problems among young people, and demonstrates that utilizing peer models for help-seeking is a valuable resource for early intervention initiatives.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-09-2023
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 04-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FPSYG.2021.554100
Abstract: Objective: There is a demonstrated link between the mental health and substance use comorbidities experienced by young adults, however the vast majority of psychological interventions are disorder specific. Novel psychological approaches that adequately acknowledge the psychosocial complexity and transdiagnostic needs of vulnerable young people are urgently needed. A modular skills-based program for emotion regulation and impulse control (ERIC) addresses this gap. The current one armed open trial was designed to evaluate the impact that 12 weeks exposure to ERIC alongside usual care had on young people's ability to regulate emotions, as well as examine potential moderating mechanisms. Methods: Seventy nine young people (50.6% male M = 19.30 SD = 2.94) were enrolled to the 12 week intervention period. Twenty one practitioners from youth and community health services delivered relevant ERIC modules adjunct to usual care. Linear mixed effects regression (with random intercept) was used to examine change over time across the primary outcome of emotion dysregulation and secondary outcomes of depression, anxiety, stress, experiential avoidance and mindfulness. Moderation analyses were conducted to test whether the magnitude of change in emotion dysregulation moderated change over time in secondary outcomes. Results: Analyses revealed significant improvement in the primary outcome of emotion dysregulation with a moderate effect size (Mean Change = −10.24, 95% CI (−14.41, −6.06 Cohen's d av = −0.53), in addition to decreases in the secondary outcomes of depression, anxiety, stress and experiential avoidance. No improvements in mindfulness were reported. Moderation analyses revealed that the residualised change over time in emotion dysregulation moderated the change over time in symptoms of distress, depression, anxiety, stress, experiential avoidance, and mindfulness. Conclusion: Reductions in the severity of emotion dysregulation, depression, anxiety, stress and experiential avoidance are promising, and were evident despite the complexity of the participants and the ersity of the service setting. The improvements found in each outcome were only observed for those young people whose emotion regulation also improved, providing preliminary evidence for the role of emotion regulation as a key treatment target in this population.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-06-2019
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-04-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.PSYCHRES.2016.04.040
Abstract: Benzodiazepine-related aggression has received insufficient research attention, in particular little is known about the motivational factors which may contribute to the development of this paradoxical response. The revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory provides a theoretical framework from which to understand the relevant underlying motivational processes. The current study aimed to identify the role of approach and avoidance motivational tendencies in the occurrence of benzodiazepine-related aggression. Data regarding benzodiazepine and other substance use, approach and avoidance motivation, and general and physical aggressive behaviour were collected via self-report questionnaires. Participants were a convenience s le (n=204) who reported using benzodiazepines in the previous year. Participants were primarily male (62.7%), aged 18-51 years old. Hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that general and physical aggression were predicted by alprazolam use and Drive, a facet of approach motivation. Overall, lower diazepam use significantly predicted higher levels of general aggression. However, when diazepam-preferring participants were examined in isolation of the larger s le (23.5% of s le), problematic (dependent) diazepam use was associated with greater aggression scores, as was dependence risk for alprazolam-preferring participants (39.7% of s le). The findings highlight the importance of motivational factors and benzodiazepine use patterns in understanding benzodiazepine-related aggression, with implications for violent offender rehabilitation.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 18-10-2022
DOI: 10.1136/BJSPORTS-2021-104388
Abstract: Professional team athletes experience a range of mental health problems, both sports and non-sports related. However, there is limited information available for those charged with responsibility for managing these mental health conditions, particularly within the context of professional sporting clubs. This paper reports on consensus findings from a study of club doctors, who are primary care providers for professional team athletes within a specific code, the Australian Football League (AFL). Drawing on findings from a systematic literature search, a two-round Delphi procedure was used to develop a consensus on best practice for managing mental health conditions for club doctors as primary care providers for professional team athletes. Participants in this study were current and former club doctors employed in professional AFL clubs across Australia, with 28 doctors participating across two survey rounds. Overall, 77 statements were presented, with 50 endorsed as essential or important by ≥ 80% of the participants across the two rounds. Primary themes across nine domains include: (1) Prevention and Mental Health Promotion Activities (2) Screening (3) Engaging External Specialists (4) Duty of Care (5) Treatment: Assessment, Treatment and Case Coordination (6) Communication (7) Confidentiality (8) Sleep Management and (9) Substance Use Management. This study is the first to offer club doctors working in professional team settings consensus guidelines for the management of mental health conditions, and the opportunity for greater clarification and consistency in role delivery.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-07-2021
DOI: 10.1111/PAPT.12297
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-2018
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-08-2023
DOI: 10.1002/JCLP.23579
Abstract: Negative urgency (NU) and distress tolerance (DT) are two similar yet distinct constructs with putative transdiagnostic relevance, particularly across psychopathology characterized by impulsivity (e.g., substance use disorders [SUD], eating disorders featuring binging and/or purging ED‐B/P, and borderline personality disorder [BPD]). Yet, there remains a lack of research into NU and DT across SUD, ED‐B/P, and BPD symptomatology in clinical populations. The present study sought to elucidate the transdiagnostic utility of NU and DT across impulsive‐type psychology by examining the unique and interactive roles of NU and DT across SUD, ED‐B/P, and BPD symptomatology within a treatment‐seeking s le of young people. Participants ( N = 385 62.3% female aged 16–25 years) were recruited from youth health services across Melbourne, Australia. Participants completed an online survey including self‐report measures of NU and DT as well as SUD, ED‐B/P, and BPD symptoms. Mixed effects logistic regression was used to explore unique and interactive associations of NU and DT with symptoms. Both NU (adjusted odds ratio [OR adj ] = 1.22 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.16, 1.28]) and global DT (OR adj = 0.59 95% CI = [0.47, 0.74]) uniquely predicted symptoms. However, associations with global DT and most of its components differed across psychopathology types. No significant interactions between NU and DT in predicting symptoms were found. These results support the transdiagnostic utility of NU across SUD, ED‐B/P, and BPD, while suggesting the role of DT across these disorders is more nuanced. These findings have important implications for NU and DT as potential intervention targets.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.JSAT.2011.05.004
Abstract: Rates of borderline personality disorder (BPD) among in iduals with substance use disorder (SUD) are estimated to be as high as 65%. Such elevated rates present considerable challenges for drug treatment services given that in iduals with co-occurring SUD and BPD have higher rates of relapse, treatment noncompliance, and poorer outcomes than those with either diagnosis alone. A systematic review investigating current treatment options for co-occurring SUD and BPD was conducted using Medline and PsycINFO. Randomized controlled trials were the focus. Six studies were included that examined the use of three psychosocial therapies: dialectical behavior therapy, dual focused schema therapy and dynamic deconstructive psychotherapy. Despite all studies demonstrating some treatment gains over time, there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend one treatment over another. Further research is needed to examine effective treatment options for co-occurring SUD and BPD, especially those that are likely to be applicable in mainstream drug treatment settings.
No related grants have been discovered for Kate Hall.