The relationship between magical thinking, inferential confusion and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Inferential confusion is an under-researched faulty reasoning process in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Based on an overreliance on imagined possibilities, it shares similarities with the extensively researched construct of thought-action fusion (TAF). While TAF has been proposed as a specific subset of the broader construct of magical thinking, the relationship between inferential confusion and magical thinking is unexplored. The present study investigated this relationship, and hypothesised that magical thinking would partially mediate the relationship between inferential confusion and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. A non-clinical sample of 201 participants (M = 34.94, SD = 15.88) were recruited via convenience sampling. Regression analyses found the hypothesised mediating relationship was supported, as magical thinking did partially mediate the relationship between inferential confusion and OC symptoms. Interestingly, inferential confusion had the stronger relationship with OC symptoms in comparison to the other predictor variables. Results suggest that inferential confusion can both directly and indirectly (via magical thinking) impact on OC symptoms. Future studies with clinical samples should further investigate these constructs to determine whether similar patterns emerge, as this may eventually inform which cognitive errors to target in treatment of OCD.

Training in cognitive-behavioural therapy for mental health professionals: a pilot study of videoconferencing.

A foundation course in cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) was developed specifically for delivery via videoconferencing at 256 kbit/s. A two-part, 20-week programme was evaluated at seven sites, with a total of 12 participants, in rural and remote Western Australia. Eleven of the participants completed a pre- and post-training knowledge test. There was a significant improvement in their knowledge of CBT after training. Ten participants also completed a satisfaction questionnaire. The majority were satisfied with the training they received and stated that the training had given them greater confidence in their ability to use CBT with their patients. This study lends support to the use of videoconferencing in the training of rural and remote mental health practitioners.

Medical utilisation and costs in panic disorder: a comparison with social phobia.

There is considerable evidence that people with panic disorder utilise the physical health care system more frequently than people in the general community and so incur for themselves, and impose on the public health care system, considerably greater costs. Although this is probably because of specific characteristics to do with panic disorder, it may also be a function of having any anxiety disorder where panic is prominent. This study represents one of the few comparisons of medical utilisation and costs incurred by people with panic disorder to those incurred by people with another anxiety disorder, in this case, social phobia. Before treatment, 41 people with panic disorder, 15 with social phobia and 43 nonanxious controls were interviewed about their use of the medical care system over the previous 12 months. As expected, people with panic disorder had significantly higher utilisation rates than either the nonanxious controls or the socially phobic subjects, and incurred substantially higher costs. Adequate screening for panic disorder at the primary medical care level together with appropriate treatment referral therefore have the potential to substantially reduce the personal and community costs incurred by people with panic disorder.

Mental health services in Perth nursing homes.

Directors of nursing (DONs) in 42 nursing homes in Perth were asked for information concerning mental health services provided for their residents. A questionnaire similar to those used by other researchers in Sydney and in Ontario was utilised to enable meaningful comparisons among the three studies. According to the DONs' perceptions, the mean proportion of residents in Perth nursing homes with psychiatric and/or behavioural problems was between 50% and 75%. The mental health services provided to nursing homes were significantly less than that desired by the DONs. Other variables assessed in this study included the number of transfers per year because of psychiatric problems; the number of staff with psychiatric qualifications; the provision of psychiatric training for staff; the most frequently occurring psychiatric problems in residents and the most valued mental health services provided to nursing homes. Results were comparable to those of the Sydney and Ontario studies. This study suggests that there is a significant psychiatric population in Perth nursing homes that, like those in Sydney and Ontario are seriously neglected regarding appropriate professional psychiatric care. Existing psychogeriatric community assessment teams could provide more of these services if adequately staffed and resourced.