- Email: [email protected]
Poster not available
402
Abstracts
taken nationwide (e.g., education on the disease), which is most likely led by psychiatrists who understand the disorder best. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2010.02.729
Poster 235 THE TEMPORAL STABILITY AND THE DETERMINANTS OF SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING UNDER ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATION IN FIRST-EPISODE PSYCHOSIS Ally Ryder1, Tim J. Lambert2, Alex Blaszczynski3 1 University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; 2BMRI, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; 3Psychology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia Background: Subjective well-being has no generally agreed upon definition. The key elements include a patient's self reported well-being specific to antipsychotic medication (as opposed to general well-being/ quality of life). Related conceptualisations include: Awad (1993) "Changed subjective state after just a few doses of neuroleptics"; Naber (1995) "Neuroleptic induced side effects which can affect not only the motor system but also cognitive and emotional abilities which are difficult to detect"; De Haan (2001) "all experiences a patient reports whether positive or negative, at the physical, emotional and cognitive levels related to the treatment with antipsychotic medication". As the SWN can be used to inform optimal pharmacotherapy from a patient's perspective (as patient's opinion of optimal treatment have been shown to differ from clinicians) and may be strongly related to a patient's adherence to their medication, we sought to examine its determinants and stability in first-episode psychosis population. Primary aim –To examine ways in which SWN may be related to the factors described in Naber (1995) and Lambert et al. (2003) model in a specific first episode population. These factors include: phase and severity of illness; medication side effects; type of medication; psychosocial management; dysaffective and dyscognitive effects of treatment; attitudes and insight; and psychopathology and symptomatic improvements. Secondary aim – To provide preliminary information on temporal stability of SWN controlling for the correlates of SWN over time. Methods: Subjects – Anyone experiencing a first episode of psychosis within last two years, using antipsychotic medication (and likely to be so for 6 months) and with a good understanding of English. Instruments – Demographics Interview (Vocation, Medications, illicit drug use, Relationships, Education, Social activities, living situation, adherence to medication); SWN (Short Form 20item); Medication side effects (LUNSERS); medication beliefs and attitudes (ROMI and DAI-10); Premorbid Functioning (Information subtest WAIS-III or WTAR); Neuropsychological Tests (Proverbs subtest of DKEFS, RBANS Coding, Digit Span and Semantic Fluency, Trail Making Test and RAVLT); Personality (BFI-10); Depression, Anxiety, Stress (DASS-42); Psychopathology (PANSS). Results: Results will be presented for the first 20 subjects. In terms of preliminary analysis, from the initial interview, a decreased SWN is correlated with depressive symptoms (p< .05), and stress (p< .05), but not positive or negative symptoms, or anxiety (as measured by the DASS). In terms of personality, neuroticism factor correlated with decreased SWA (p < .01) whereas Outgoing/Agreeableness with increased SWA (p< .05). Medication side effects, most demographics, neuropsychological functioning, or attitudes towards medication do not appear to be correlated with SWA at the initial interview. Discussion: Where available base-line, 3-month and 6-month panel data will be presented and comments made on stability of the SWN over time, controlling for likely moderating influences. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2010.02.730
Poster 236 Poster not available doi:10.1016/j.schres.2010.02.731
Poster 237 Poster not available
doi:10.1016/j.schres.2010.02.732
Poster 238 THE EFFECTS OF EXPERIENCING SIMULATED AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS ON ATTITUDES TO SCHIZOPHRENIA IN FINAL YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS Cherrie A. Galletly1,2,3, Cassandra A. Burton2 1 The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia; 2Ramsay Health Care SA Mental Health Services, Adelaide, SA, Australia; 3Central Northern Adelaide Health Service, Adelaide, SA, Australia Background: Negative public attitudes towards people suffering from mental illness can hinder recovery from illness and limit social participation (Thornicroft, 2006). Mental health advocates and researchers have sought to better understand and combat stigma in the wider community. Clinicians, including doctors, may also exhibit negative attitudes towards people with mental illness. Reducing stigma amongst clinical staff is especially important in ensuring people with mental illness receive optimal health care. This study aimed to foster greater understanding and empathy towards patients suffering from schizophrenia in final year medical students. Student's attitudes to people with mental illness were measured before and after they participated in a workshop on schizophrenia that included an experience of simulated auditory hallucinations. Methods: Eighty seven final year medical students attended a three hour workshop which aimed to enhance their understanding of the experience of living with chronic auditory hallucinations. All participants gave written informed consent. The students viewed a DVD about schizophrenia, from a consumer perspective. They then worked in pairs, completing various cognitive tasks and games, for 45 minutes. During this time one student in each pair listened to simulated auditory hallucinations via an mp3 player. The simulated hallucinations were continuous recording of voices and other sounds, typical of those heard by a person with psychosis, but without suicidal or violent content. The other student was able to experience interacting with a person distracted by hallucinations. Students then swapped roles for a further 45 minutes. Attitudes towards mental illness were assessed with the Attitudes to Mental Illness Questionnaire (AMIQ, Luty et al., 2006) prior to commencement of the workshop and at completion. Students also wrote a descriptive reflection at the end of the workshop. Statistical Analysis A two tailed paired samples t-test was used to compare student's attitudes towards mental illness before and after the workshop. Results: There was a significant improvement in the student's attitudes towards mental illness following the workshop. Their mean AMIQ score improved from -1.70 (SD = 2.7) prior to the workshop to -0.62 (SD = 2.7) after the workshop (t(86) = -4.22, p < .001). They found the workshop useful and described a better understanding of the everyday difficulties of living with chronic psychotic symptoms.
Abstracts
taken nationwide (e.g., education on the disease), which is most likely led by psychiatrists who understand the disorder best. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2010.02.729
Poster 235 THE TEMPORAL STABILITY AND THE DETERMINANTS OF SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING UNDER ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATION IN FIRST-EPISODE PSYCHOSIS Ally Ryder1, Tim J. Lambert2, Alex Blaszczynski3 1 University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; 2BMRI, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; 3Psychology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia Background: Subjective well-being has no generally agreed upon definition. The key elements include a patient's self reported well-being specific to antipsychotic medication (as opposed to general well-being/ quality of life). Related conceptualisations include: Awad (1993) "Changed subjective state after just a few doses of neuroleptics"; Naber (1995) "Neuroleptic induced side effects which can affect not only the motor system but also cognitive and emotional abilities which are difficult to detect"; De Haan (2001) "all experiences a patient reports whether positive or negative, at the physical, emotional and cognitive levels related to the treatment with antipsychotic medication". As the SWN can be used to inform optimal pharmacotherapy from a patient's perspective (as patient's opinion of optimal treatment have been shown to differ from clinicians) and may be strongly related to a patient's adherence to their medication, we sought to examine its determinants and stability in first-episode psychosis population. Primary aim –To examine ways in which SWN may be related to the factors described in Naber (1995) and Lambert et al. (2003) model in a specific first episode population. These factors include: phase and severity of illness; medication side effects; type of medication; psychosocial management; dysaffective and dyscognitive effects of treatment; attitudes and insight; and psychopathology and symptomatic improvements. Secondary aim – To provide preliminary information on temporal stability of SWN controlling for the correlates of SWN over time. Methods: Subjects – Anyone experiencing a first episode of psychosis within last two years, using antipsychotic medication (and likely to be so for 6 months) and with a good understanding of English. Instruments – Demographics Interview (Vocation, Medications, illicit drug use, Relationships, Education, Social activities, living situation, adherence to medication); SWN (Short Form 20item); Medication side effects (LUNSERS); medication beliefs and attitudes (ROMI and DAI-10); Premorbid Functioning (Information subtest WAIS-III or WTAR); Neuropsychological Tests (Proverbs subtest of DKEFS, RBANS Coding, Digit Span and Semantic Fluency, Trail Making Test and RAVLT); Personality (BFI-10); Depression, Anxiety, Stress (DASS-42); Psychopathology (PANSS). Results: Results will be presented for the first 20 subjects. In terms of preliminary analysis, from the initial interview, a decreased SWN is correlated with depressive symptoms (p< .05), and stress (p< .05), but not positive or negative symptoms, or anxiety (as measured by the DASS). In terms of personality, neuroticism factor correlated with decreased SWA (p < .01) whereas Outgoing/Agreeableness with increased SWA (p< .05). Medication side effects, most demographics, neuropsychological functioning, or attitudes towards medication do not appear to be correlated with SWA at the initial interview. Discussion: Where available base-line, 3-month and 6-month panel data will be presented and comments made on stability of the SWN over time, controlling for likely moderating influences. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2010.02.730
Poster 236 Poster not available doi:10.1016/j.schres.2010.02.731
Poster 237 Poster not available
doi:10.1016/j.schres.2010.02.732
Poster 238 THE EFFECTS OF EXPERIENCING SIMULATED AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS ON ATTITUDES TO SCHIZOPHRENIA IN FINAL YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS Cherrie A. Galletly1,2,3, Cassandra A. Burton2 1 The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia; 2Ramsay Health Care SA Mental Health Services, Adelaide, SA, Australia; 3Central Northern Adelaide Health Service, Adelaide, SA, Australia Background: Negative public attitudes towards people suffering from mental illness can hinder recovery from illness and limit social participation (Thornicroft, 2006). Mental health advocates and researchers have sought to better understand and combat stigma in the wider community. Clinicians, including doctors, may also exhibit negative attitudes towards people with mental illness. Reducing stigma amongst clinical staff is especially important in ensuring people with mental illness receive optimal health care. This study aimed to foster greater understanding and empathy towards patients suffering from schizophrenia in final year medical students. Student's attitudes to people with mental illness were measured before and after they participated in a workshop on schizophrenia that included an experience of simulated auditory hallucinations. Methods: Eighty seven final year medical students attended a three hour workshop which aimed to enhance their understanding of the experience of living with chronic auditory hallucinations. All participants gave written informed consent. The students viewed a DVD about schizophrenia, from a consumer perspective. They then worked in pairs, completing various cognitive tasks and games, for 45 minutes. During this time one student in each pair listened to simulated auditory hallucinations via an mp3 player. The simulated hallucinations were continuous recording of voices and other sounds, typical of those heard by a person with psychosis, but without suicidal or violent content. The other student was able to experience interacting with a person distracted by hallucinations. Students then swapped roles for a further 45 minutes. Attitudes towards mental illness were assessed with the Attitudes to Mental Illness Questionnaire (AMIQ, Luty et al., 2006) prior to commencement of the workshop and at completion. Students also wrote a descriptive reflection at the end of the workshop. Statistical Analysis A two tailed paired samples t-test was used to compare student's attitudes towards mental illness before and after the workshop. Results: There was a significant improvement in the student's attitudes towards mental illness following the workshop. Their mean AMIQ score improved from -1.70 (SD = 2.7) prior to the workshop to -0.62 (SD = 2.7) after the workshop (t(86) = -4.22, p < .001). They found the workshop useful and described a better understanding of the everyday difficulties of living with chronic psychotic symptoms.