Reflect and connect

Welcome to Psych Scene Insights; the blog and discussion forum that connects psychiatry, medicine, business and the real world. This is a great place to canvass your views to the wider audience, create debate and hear about things that can change the way we think. Send us your articles or simply join the conversation.

9 May 2013

The 4 Questions That Really Matter in Psychiatry

Posted on 9 May 2013 by Psych Scene Insights

Last week w4 questions that mattere held the OCI / M-OCI course for registrars and exemption candidates for the RANZCP Exam. I named it “Clinical Formulation and Patient Management Masterclass”. That’s because, it really isn’t just about the exam, it’s about the patients for whom we want to make a difference. It was a great turn out of motivated and enthusiastic candidates. Over the last 4 years of teaching large groups and imparting a structure for formulation and management, I asked myself…….Is there a way of simplifying the assessment to lead to a comprehensive formulation and management plan? Finally, I think I have the answer. Continue reading “The 4 Questions That Really Matter in Psychiatry” »

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5 Apr 2013

Mental Health Training for Nurses- Overview of the Psych Scene Masterclass

Posted on 5 Apr 2013 by Psych Scene Insights

Mental health nurses trainingThe very first Psych Scene training event for mental health nurses was held in Melbourne in March this year, with a passionate and motivated group of nurses attending from across the Australian states. The aim of this new Masterclass is to impart knowledge that positions the nurse as an important bio-psychosocial strategist within the multidisciplinary team. After all, nurses spend a lot more time with the patients than consultant psychiatrists; and their observations, opinions and synthesis can be a valuable addition to the overall picture in management. Continue reading “Mental Health Training for Nurses- Overview of the Psych Scene Masterclass” »

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11 Mar 2013

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Psychiatry (PCOS): The Elephant in Psychiatric Practice

Posted on 11 Mar 2013 by Psych Scene Insights

PCOS and psychiatry

When we discuss case studies in our psychiatry training workshops, PCOS often comes up in patient histories.  Too often though, the first thing that candidates often think of is Valproate and how Valproate may have caused PCOS. The association of PCOS with Valproate has been imprinted into a trainee’s mind as I remember myself during the early years of training. Let us examine the validity of this relationship closely. Continue reading “Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Psychiatry (PCOS): The Elephant in Psychiatric Practice” »

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3 Mar 2013

Journal of Mobile Technology in Medicine- Keeping with the times

Posted on 3 Mar 2013 by Psych Scene Insights

Mobile technologyWith the advent of mobile technology and rapid growth of hand held devices, it is inevitable that medicine and health will undergo a transformation. What is unthinkable now will slowly but surely become reality in the future. In view of this, I’d like to introduce you to an exciting new journal called the Journal of Mobile Technology in Medicine. I got in touch with the editor and here an excerpt about the journal from the editor in chief, Dr Chandrashan Perera. Continue reading “Journal of Mobile Technology in Medicine- Keeping with the times” »

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26 Feb 2013

The Thyroid gland in Psychiatry (Part II) – Did you know?

Posted on 26 Feb 2013 by Psych Scene Insights

In an earlier post we covered the role of thyroid gland in psychiatry and why the TSH may not be an accurate indicator. Here are some other interesting points for the psychiatrist to keep in mind regarding the thyroid. Continue reading “The Thyroid gland in Psychiatry (Part II) – Did you know?” »

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14 Feb 2013

5 Inspirational Quotes for Health Professionals.

Posted on 14 Feb 2013 by Psych Scene Insights

Using quotes on occasions can be quite inspirational in team meetings, ward rounds and in teaching registrars and students. Here are some of my favourites. (Although you will have to figure out how to condense the first one!) Continue reading “5 Inspirational Quotes for Health Professionals.” »

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21 Jan 2013

‘The Seven Habits’ in Psychiatry

Posted on 21 Jan 2013 by Psych Scene Insights

‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’  by Stephen R. Covey is one of the best selling self-help and business books of all time. It is an absolute must for people looking for efficiency in professional and personal life. Can these seven habits be applied to psychiatric practice? Let’s take a look. Continue reading “‘The Seven Habits’ in Psychiatry” »

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11 Oct 2012

Time for Change – The Mind-Body Symposium at Swissôtel in Sydney on 17th November

Posted on 11 Oct 2012 by Psych Scene Insights

Having been in psychiatric practice for a while now, one of the most striking things to me is the continued pervasiveness of the mind-body dichotomy in medicine. Continue reading “Time for Change – The Mind-Body Symposium at Swissôtel in Sydney on 17th November” »

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27 Sep 2012

The Psychiatrist’s List of Cognitive Biases

Posted on 27 Sep 2012 by Psych Scene Insights

There is a long list of psychological terms when it comes to patients in the patient-therapist interaction. In some cases, these labels may be used to justify our own shortcomings. When a patient disagrees with our treatment, diagnoses like anti-social and narcissistic personality can be misused. This may be considered a sophisticated form of projection. In their study “Personality Disorder: the Patients Psychiatrists Dislike”, Lewis and Appelby showed that patients given a previous diagnosis of personality disorder (PD) were seen as more difficult and less deserving of care compared to control subjects who were not. So what kind of biases might we, as health professionals, be susceptible to? Continue reading “The Psychiatrist’s List of Cognitive Biases” »

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16 Aug 2012

The Thyroid Gland and Psychiatry (Part 1) – Are we thinking straight?

Posted on 16 Aug 2012 by Psych Scene Insights

A month ago, I saw a 24 year old male who was admitted for increasing feelings of low mood and thoughts of suicide. On assessment, he showed symptoms of severe depression with no psychosis. Further investigations revealed a TSH of 5.5 and a normal T4 and T3. An endocrine referral was made and the endocrinologist told me this is “mild subclinical hypothyroidism” and that we do not usually treat levels of 5.5. My jaw almost dropped to the floor!

Continue reading “The Thyroid Gland and Psychiatry (Part 1) – Are we thinking straight?” »

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