Can new approaches to synthesising evidence help achieve a consensus in psychotherapy research?

OBJECTIVE: The recent debate around the College's Clinical Practice Guidelines on mood disorders have highlighted differences in opinion on interpreting evidence from randomised control trials (RCTs) for psychodynamic psychotherapy. This paper discusses new techniques of synthesising research evidence (e.g., umbrella reviews) that may help minimise disagreements in the interpretation of RCTs and foster greater consensus on treatment guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the latest umbrella review suggest that psychodynamic therapy is an evidence-based approach, among several, for common mental disorders.

Unpeeling the onion: Digital triage and monitoring of general practice, private psychiatry, and psychology.

OBJECTIVE: The Australian federal government is considering a 'digital front door' to mental healthcare. The Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney has published a discussion paper advocating that the government should adopt a comprehensive model of digital triage and monitoring (DTM) based on a government-funded initiative Project Synergy ($30 million). We critically examine the final report on Project Synergy, which is now available under a Freedom of Information request. CONCLUSION: The DTM model is disruptive. Non-government organisations would replace general practitioners as care coordinators. Patients, private psychiatrists, and psychologists would be subjected to additional layers of administration, assessment, and digital compliance, which may decrease efficiency, and lengthen the duration of untreated illness. Only one patient was deemed eligible for DTM, however, during the 8-month regional trial of Project Synergy (recruitment rate = 1/500,000 across the region). Instead of an unproven DTM model, the proposed 'digital front door' to Australian mental healthcare should emphasise technology-enabled shared care (general practitioners and mental health professionals) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe illness.

Self-reported child maltreatment and cardiometabolic risk in 30-year-old adults.

BACKGROUND: Childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated with both dietary fat intake and obesity in later life. There is less information on associations with metabolic risk factors and specific types of CM such as physical, sexual and emotional abuse, as well as neglect. AIMS: To assess the association between five types of self-reported CM and a range of obesity and metabolic indicators in a subsample of a birth cohort. METHODS: This was a study of 1689 adults born in a major metropolitan maternity hospital in Australia and followed up 30 years later. Body mass index, bioimpedance and fasting lipid levels/insulin resistance were measured. Details on self-reported CM were collected using the Child Trauma Questionnaire. We adjusted for birth weight, parental income and relationship at participants' birth, as well as maternal age and alcohol or tobacco use. We also adjusted for participants' smoking, depression, educational level, marital and employment status at follow up. RESULTS: One-fifth reported maltreatment (n = 362), most commonly emotional neglect (n = 175), followed by emotional abuse (n = 128), physical neglect (n = 123), sexual (n = 121) and physical abuse (n = 116). On adjusted analyses, there were significant associations for CM, particularly neglect or emotional abuse, and one or more of the following outcomes: obesity, the total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL-C) ratio and HDL levels. Results for other outcomes were more equivocal. CONCLUSIONS: Of child maltreatment types, emotional abuse and neglect show the strongest associations with obesity and several cardiometabolic risk factors, therefore highlighting the public health importance of early intervention to reduce childhood adversity.

Psychiatrist and trainee moral injury during the organisational long COVID of Australian acute psychiatric inpatient services.

OBJECTIVE: This paper provides a commentary on the risk of moral injury amongst psychiatrists and trainees working in the acute psychiatric hospital sector, during the third winter of the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Moral injuries arise from observing, causing or failing to prevent adverse outcomes that transgress core ethical and moral values. Potentially, morally injurious events (PMIEs) are more prevalent and potent while demand on acute hospitals is heightened with the emergence of highly infectious SARS-CoV-2-Omicron subvariants (BA.4 and BA.5). Acute hospital inpatient services were already facing extraordinary stresses in the context of increasingly depleted infrastructure and staffing related to the pandemic. These stresses have a high potential to be morally injurious. It is essential to immediately fund additional staff and resources and address workplace health and safety, to seek to arrest a spiral of moral injury and burnout amongst psychiatrists and trainees. We discuss recommended support strategies.

The new World Mental Health Report: Believing impossible things.

OBJECTIVE: We examine whether the recent World Health Organization (WHO) report on global mental health uses severity of illness as a criterion in priority setting for resource allocation. CONCLUSIONS: The WHO does not prioritise severity in the recent landmark World Mental Health Report. It recommends instead the insuperable task of scaling-up interventions for broadly defined mental health conditions, including milder distress, amongst over a billion people, with the majority living in low- and middle-income countries. Schizophrenia, the most severe and disabling of all psychiatric illnesses, is relatively neglected in the WHO report, and the disability associated with bipolar disorder is underestimated. This is inconsistent with the ethical principle of vertical equity, where the most severe illnesses should receive the greatest priority. The global mental health movement must refocus on deinstitutionalisation, and ensure adequate community and general hospital treatment for severe illnesses, especially the 24 million people with schizophrenia.

Commentary: Is Australian headspace socioculturally westernised, educated, industrialised, rich and democratic in conceptualisation and accessibility?

OBJECTIVE: The Australian headspace model has been proposed as an internationally significant exemplar for reducing the mental health 'treatment gap' amongst young people around the world. We provide a commentary that discusses the conceptualisation and delivery of headspace services within Australia, a predominantly Westernised, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democratic (WEIRD) society, as well as examining accessibility and suitability for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. CONCLUSION: headspace was conceptualised, designed, implemented and evaluated according in a WEIRD sociocultural context, and is therefore most applicable to that setting. Australia also has CALD communities, who have not seemed to access headspace in the reported patient and staff demographics. On this basis, there may be questions about the potential generalisability of headspace models outside WEIRD societies.

Physician leadership during the current crisis in healthcare: A perspective drawn from anthropological and clinical leadership research.

OBJECTIVES: There are ongoing challenges in workforce sustainability and service delivery due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recruiting credible clinical leaders can enhance outcomes through mentoring, leading by example, and creating positive work environments. We investigate the anthropology of, and related research on leadership. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and anthropological research provides strong grounds for investing in clinical leadership. The stability of 'prestige-based' leadership can be contrasted with the outcomes of 'dominance-based' leadership that relies on force, control, and threats. Dominance-based leadership increases the risks of bullying in stressed healthcare organisations. In contrast, expert clinical leaders can exert culturally mediated effects on social learning, team cooperation and morale, and patient outcomes.

More smoke and mirrors: Fifteen further reasons to doubt the effectiveness of headspace.

OBJECTIVE: Commentary on the debate concerning the effectiveness of headspace, including the most recent independent evaluation of its services. CONCLUSIONS: The available evaluations indicate that headspace does not deliver therapy of adequate duration that results in clinically significant improvement. Most evaluations have used either short-term process measures or uncontrolled satisfaction surveys, and where there have been data on outcomes using standardised instruments, findings have been disappointing. Costs are poorly quantified and probably underestimated. Even so, headspace as a primary care intervention costs twice as much as a mental health consultation by a general practitioner and, depending on the assumptions, may not be cost effective.

Clinical update and commentary on psychiatric care for patients experiencing workplace bullying.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a brief clinical research update and commentary advice on the practical psychiatric care of patients suffering workplace bullying. CONCLUSIONS: While there is empirical research on the prevalence and impacts of workplace bullying, there is a relative dearth of clinical research into psychiatric patient care. Accordingly, we provide commentary on practical considerations that assist in psychiatric care planning and delivery.

Patients languishing in emergency departments: A descriptive analysis of mental health-related emergency department presentations in Australia between 2016-17 and 2020-21.

OBJECTIVE: In the context of concerns regarding hospital access block, this paper provides a descriptive longitudinal analysis of mental health-related ED episodes in Australian public hospitals between 2016-17 and 2020-21. METHOD: We descriptively analysed Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data for mental health-related ED presentations, outcomes and 5-year trends for Australian public hospitals. RESULTS: There were more than 300,000 Australian mental health-related ED presentations in 2020-21. Presentations increased by an average annual rate of 2.8% between 2016-17 and 2020-21, commonly involving first responder (police, paramedic) attendance. From 2016-17 to 2020-21, the average annual rate of mental health-related ED presentations receiving a triage category of resuscitation increased by 13.7%, emergency by 9.4% and urgent by 4.7%. 90% of MH-related ED presentations were completed within 14 h, which was longer than the 90th percentile for all ED presentations (up to 8 h). CONCLUSIONS: Current mental health policies have not stemmed the rising tide of ED presentations. Mental health-related ED presentations are increasing in number and severity, likely due to health systemic and societal factors. Psychiatry patients stay longer in EDs than other patients. Healthcare reforms should be targeted to provide the best outcome based on principles of equity of access.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Australia: A descriptive analysis between 2015-16 and 2019-20.

OBJECTIVE: To provide analysis and commentary on Australian state/territory child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) expenditure, inpatient and ambulatory structure and key performance indicators. METHOD: Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Bureau of Statistics were descriptively analysed. RESULTS: Between 2015-16 and 2019-20, overall CAMHS expenditure increased by an average annual rate of 3.6%. Per capita expenditure increased at a higher rate than for other subspeciality services. CAMHS admissions had a higher cost per patient day, shorter length of stay, higher readmission rate and lower rates of significant improvement. Adolescents aged 12-17 had high community CAMHS utilisation, based on proportion of population coverage and number of service contacts. CAMHS outpatient outcomes were similar to other age-groups. There were high rates of 'Mental disorder not otherwise specified', depression and adjustment/stress-related disorders as principal diagnoses in community CAMHS episodes. CONCLUSIONS: CAMHS inpatient admissions had lower rates of significant improvement and higher 14-day readmission rates than other ages. Australia's young population had a high outpatient CAMHS contact rate. Evidence-based modelling of CAMHS providers and outcomes may inform future service improvement.

Commentary on the private practice implications of the Deed of Settlement in the Honeysuckle Health - NIB Australian-Competition-Tribunal-hearing.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a commentary on the implications of the Deed of Settlement in the Honeysuckle Health - nib Australian-Competition-Tribunal Hearing. This hearing has major implications in relation to the potential for a single dominant private-health-insurance buying-group to contract for medical-purchaser-provider-agreements that might limit the clinical autonomy of patients and psychiatrists. CONCLUSIONS: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) authorised the formation of a joint buying-group for private-health-insurers in 2021 to provide collective contracting and related services to private-health-insurers and other healthcare-payers. A consequent legal challenge resulted in a Deed of Settlement on 18 July 2022 that for 5 years preserves doctor-patient autonomy in clinical decision-making, the medical gaps scheme, the transparency of contractual arrangements, and if clinical data of those insured are collected by HH-nib, it must be with the full informed consent of patients. However, there remain options for private-health-insurers to apply for formation of new buying-groups, as well as to collect data and profile the general public and insured patients using online programs. Vigilance on private-health-insurer buying-groups, and the potential for US-style managed-care is warranted.

Australian older persons mental health inpatient and ambulatory services in 2015-2020 - A descriptive analysis and commentary.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a commentary on Australian state/territory older persons mental health service (OPMHS) expenditure, inpatient and outpatient services and key performance indicators (KPIs). METHOD: Descriptive analysis of data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the World Health Organisation. RESULTS: Between 2015-16 and 2019-20, annual expenditure on OPMHS in Australia increased by an average of only 2.3%, compared to 2.9% for all population groups, despite an increase in the number of over 65 year olds. Per capita recurrent expenditure on OPMHS decreased by an average of 1% annually. Australia's total mental health beds increased, whereas OPMHS beds decreased, mainly due to a reduction in non-acute beds. Outcomes for OPMHS admissions were similar to other age groups, except for a longer length of stay and reduced readmission rate. Older Australians accessed ambulatory mental health care at a lower rate and had a lower rate of improvement after a completed episode. CONCLUSIONS: OPMHS expenditure has not increased at commensurate levels compared to other populations. The mental health of people aged over 65 appears to be a neglected policy priority in Australia. The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety may herald service and expenditure changes.

Report of the House of Representatives Select Committee on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Commentary on an expanded psychologist role and decreased GP/psychiatrist leadership in private multidisciplinary primary mental healthcare.

OBJECTIVE: This opinion paper discusses certain recommendations of the House of Representatives Select Committee on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention pertaining to psychology, GP and psychiatric professions. CONCLUSIONS: The Committee's recommendations may compromise patient care by undermining the ability of private sector medical specialists in providing direct clinical treatment and their role in the coordination of multidisciplinary teams. Expanding private psychological therapies without GP and private psychiatry support might increase the reliance on public hospital emergency departments and public sector mental health services for severe disorders and suicidal crises. Psychiatrists and GPs need to engage in more effective policy advocacy with the Australian Government, in order to maintain their roles in leading private sector collaborative multidisciplinary care.

Rapid review and commentary on the clinical implications of the population mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a rapid clinical review and commentary for psychiatrists on the population mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, including evidence-based findings and interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst there was evidence of collective psychological resilience during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, younger women, carers for those with COVID-19, and those with more household chores, childcare needs and higher economic strain, were at more risk. Interventions should therefore target people with these socio-demographic risk factors, as well as severe COVID-19 survivors, their relatives and frontline workers. However, the rapid spread of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant has the potential for greater impacts on population mental health. Innovations in telehealth and online therapy should be incorporated into standard care. Ongoing research is needed to assess who remains most vulnerable to negative mental health impacts of the current pandemic, and especially the longer term outcomes of mental ill health. Further research should also investigate evidence-based approaches to resilience and well-being. Prospective risk/benefit analyses of infection control measures, economic effects and mental health consequences are needed.

National Mental Health Performance Framework: Descriptive analysis of state and national data for 2019-2020.

OBJECTIVE: To compare key performance indicators for public state and territory specialist mental health services in Australia. METHODS: A descriptive analysis of the publicly-available National Mental Health Performance Framework key performance indicators (KPI), hosted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare for 2019-2020, at the national level and for states and territories. RESULTS: The real-world performance of public mental health services varied across the eight states and territories of Australia. Western Australia had the longest acute hospital stays and the lowest rates of involuntary admissions. Queensland (QLD) had the shortest acute hospital stays at the lowest cost. While the Australian Capital Territory had the highest rates of community treatment at the lowest cost, the Northern Territory had highest hospital and community costs with the most involuntary admissions. Victoria (VIC) had the lowest population percentage receiving specialised mental health services, the highest readmission rates after 28 days, and highest physical and mechanical restraint rates. CONCLUSIONS: The KPIs indicate that some states and territories show deviations from national benchmarks that may be important for consumers, carers and clinicians. For further improvement in quality and efficiency, more detailed contextual information is required, including detailed mapping of services.

Mental health services need action on organisational culture and justice.

OBJECTIVE: A commentary on the usefulness of the concepts of organisational culture, organisational climate and justice on the quality and safety of mental health services and how conditions may be improved. CONCLUSIONS: Organisational culture, organisational climate and justice impact upon the quality and safety of care, as well as well-being of staff, in mental health services. Psychiatrists and trainees, should consider, act and advocate for improved organisational culture, climate and justice. Improvement in these organisational domains can be achieved, through a coordinated framework that acts across all levels of administration, mid-level management and frontline clinical staff.

Is there a missing-middle in Australian mental health care?

OBJECTIVE: The term 'missing-middle' has been prominent in discourse relating to provision of mental health care in Australia, particularly by proponents of non-governmental youth mental health services such as headspace and related adult services. We investigate whether there is an empirical basis for use of the 'missing-middle' term, founded on qualitative and quantitative research. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the widespread use of the term 'missing-middle' for advocacy in Australia, there is a lack of research characterising the epidemiological characteristics of the group. The validity of advocacy predicated on the basis of the 'missing-middle' care-gap should be reconsidered. Research, such as systematic service mapping and health needs assessment, is a necessary foundation for evidence-based mental healthcare policy, planning and implementation. Without such research, vital government funds may be deployed to 'missing-middle' programmes that may not improve Australian public health outcomes.

The Consortium of Australian Academic Psychiatrists for Independent Policy Research and Analysis (CAPIPRA): Aims, model, outputs, and implications for clinical academic advocacy.

OBJECTIVE: We describe an independent model of clinical academic mental health services research that is able to provide synthesised views for medico-political organisations that are engaged in advocacy for national and state evidence-based policy and planning of mental healthcare. CONCLUSIONS: CAPIPRA focuses on independent research and policy analysis using publicly available datasets on population mental health at national and state/territory levels, published in international and national peer-reviewed journals (>50 papers since 2019). We partner with medico-political organisations in evidence-based advocacy across a wide range of issues.

Private psychiatric hospital care in Australia: a descriptive analysis of casemix and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a rapid clinical update on casemix, average length of stay, and the effectiveness of Australian private psychiatric hospitals. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive analysis of the publicly available patient data from the Australian Private Hospitals Association Private Psychiatric Hospitals Data Reporting and Analysis Service website, from 2015-2016 to 2019-2020. This was compared with corresponding reporting on public and private hospitals from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and Australian Mental Health Outcomes and Classification Network. RESULTS: In 2019-2020, there were 72 private psychiatric hospitals in Australia with 3582 acute beds. There were 42,942 inpatients with 1,286,470 days of care, and a mean length of stay 19.6 days (SD 13.9) for the financial year 2019-2020. The main diagnoses were major affective and other mood disorders (49%), and alcohol and other substance abuse disorders (21%). Clinician-rated outcome measures, that is, the HoNOS, showed an improvement effect size of 1.64, while the patient-rated MHQ-14 showed an improvement effect size of 1.18. Results are similar for previous years. CONCLUSIONS: Private psychiatric hospitals provide substantial, effective psychiatric care.