Ageism refers to discrimination against older persons. It may not appear apparent that this could, let alone should, happen in healthcare systems, but it regrettably does. This narrative review outlines 15 studies that looked at attitudes to ageing amongst nurses,
The Carer Appraisal Scale – a new way to communicate.
One of the commonest complaints of mental health services is a perceived failure of communication between caregivers and clinicians regarding those with mental health issues. With this in mind, a few of us put together a form that could
Elder Abuse – A National Legal Response
I work in an old age mental health service. We have a patient, a 77 year old woman, who used to live in her family’s backyard in a tent. She would sleep each night in the cold, regardless of
Grey Expectations
My interview regarding the plight of the elderly in Australia.
Mentorship – The Meaning of Life For the Elderly
I look after the mental health of older adults in the community. Despite common opinion, older adults are usually not more depressed – whilst physical deterioration commonly occurs, one is statistically more likely to enjoy better mental health as one
Glutamate and Dopamine – why it matters in Schizophrenia
Published in MindCafe February 2017 Dopaminergic theories of schizophrenia predominate most psychopharmacological teaching regarding relevant receptor contributions to mental illness. We discuss dopamine-mediated flow through prefrontal and limbic regions, with a certainty borne from decades of successful drug development
Psychotherapy and the Older Person – A Review
In the latest Australasian Psychiatry journal, I provide an update regarding the current state of evidence for psychotherapeutic interventions for the elderly.
Analysing Trump: Pitfalls and Professionalism
No political figure has ever mobilised, and frustrated, the mental health profession as much as President Trump. Prior to Mr Trump’s inauguration, 3 professors of psychiatry called for a ‘neuropsychiatric evaluation’. Shortly after, with the first wave of chaos from
Breaking free of unhelpful fantasies about ageing
“Break Free” is a commercial created by German student Eugen Merher. Intended for Adidas, it shows a gentleman in an aged care facility who becomes obsessed with reliving his glory days as a marathon runner. Restrained from leaving the
The Role of the Father
A famous study on parenting styles had two groups of psychiatrists being shown the same video clip. In the clip, a man is seen seated reading a newspaper, whilst his child is playing on the floor in front of him.