Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 13218719 2014 918080, 2014
The relationship between mental illness and firesetting remains poorly understood, with limited g... more The relationship between mental illness and firesetting remains poorly understood, with limited guidance available for clinicians required to assess mentally ill firesetters. The aim of this study was to describe firesetting behaviour, psychiatric symptoms and motivations at the time of firesetting and identify firesetter sub-groups. Arson offences referred to a Mental Health Court over a 10-year period were reviewed. Data were collected from files of 59 individuals using a structured proforma. Persecutory delusions were found to be prevalent (68%) and 58% of fires were at the patient's residence. Motivations for firesetting primarily revolved around psychosis (88%), revenge6 anger (34%) and suicide (20%). Only three persons were recorded as having juvenile firesetting histories. Cluster analysis identified three sub-groups labelled "angryÀantisocial," "spree firesetters" and "persecutedÀsuicidal."
The relationship between mental illness and firesetting remains poorly understood, with limited g... more The relationship between mental illness and firesetting remains poorly understood, with limited guidance available for clinicians required to assess mentally ill firesetters. The aim of this study was to describe firesetting behaviour, psychiatric symptoms and motivations at the time of firesetting and identify firesetter sub-groups. Arson offences referred to a Mental Health Court over a 10-year period were reviewed. Data were collected from files of 59 individuals using a structured proforma. Persecutory delusions were found to be prevalent (68%) and 58% of fires were at the patient's residence. Motivations for firesetting primarily revolved around psychosis (88%), revenge6 anger (34%) and suicide (20%). Only three persons were recorded as having juvenile firesetting histories. Cluster analysis identified three sub-groups labelled "angryÀantisocial," "spree firesetters" and "persecutedÀsuicidal."
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 1996
Objective: To evaluate Queensland Health's recruitment campaign of 15 full-time psychiat... more Objective: To evaluate Queensland Health's recruitment campaign of 15 full-time psychiatrists to non-metropolitan areas between July 1992 and December 1993. Method: A detailed 170-item Likert-type questionnaire was designed and mailed to all 15 ...
Persons subject to forensic mental health orders imposed by the courts form a small but political... more Persons subject to forensic mental health orders imposed by the courts form a small but politically salient group. Their management provides a number of challenges for mental health services and for governments throughout Australia. Although their overall management has been enhanced by recent developments in forensic services, there is a lack of consistent cross-border agreements between states and territories. This paper will discuss how this situation is not conducive to effective risk management and is a denial of patients' legitimate demands for freedom of movement. A proposal for the adoption of appropriate principles to improve the current state of affairs is outlined. Legislative reform is required to ensure the safe and ethical management of mentally disordered offenders subject to forensic mental health orders in Australia.
Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2015
Systematic reviews are one of the major building blocks of evidence-based medicine. This overview... more Systematic reviews are one of the major building blocks of evidence-based medicine. This overview is an introduction to conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) represent the most robust form of design in the hierarchy of research evidence. In addition, primary data do not have to be collected by the researcher him/herself, and there is no need for approval from an ethics committee. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are not as daunting as they may appear to be, provided the scope is sufficiently narrow and an appropriate supervisor available.
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 13218719 2014 918080, 2014
The relationship between mental illness and firesetting remains poorly understood, with limited g... more The relationship between mental illness and firesetting remains poorly understood, with limited guidance available for clinicians required to assess mentally ill firesetters. The aim of this study was to describe firesetting behaviour, psychiatric symptoms and motivations at the time of firesetting and identify firesetter sub-groups. Arson offences referred to a Mental Health Court over a 10-year period were reviewed. Data were collected from files of 59 individuals using a structured proforma. Persecutory delusions were found to be prevalent (68%) and 58% of fires were at the patient's residence. Motivations for firesetting primarily revolved around psychosis (88%), revenge6 anger (34%) and suicide (20%). Only three persons were recorded as having juvenile firesetting histories. Cluster analysis identified three sub-groups labelled "angryÀantisocial," "spree firesetters" and "persecutedÀsuicidal."
The relationship between mental illness and firesetting remains poorly understood, with limited g... more The relationship between mental illness and firesetting remains poorly understood, with limited guidance available for clinicians required to assess mentally ill firesetters. The aim of this study was to describe firesetting behaviour, psychiatric symptoms and motivations at the time of firesetting and identify firesetter sub-groups. Arson offences referred to a Mental Health Court over a 10-year period were reviewed. Data were collected from files of 59 individuals using a structured proforma. Persecutory delusions were found to be prevalent (68%) and 58% of fires were at the patient's residence. Motivations for firesetting primarily revolved around psychosis (88%), revenge6 anger (34%) and suicide (20%). Only three persons were recorded as having juvenile firesetting histories. Cluster analysis identified three sub-groups labelled "angryÀantisocial," "spree firesetters" and "persecutedÀsuicidal."
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 1996
Objective: To evaluate Queensland Health's recruitment campaign of 15 full-time psychiat... more Objective: To evaluate Queensland Health's recruitment campaign of 15 full-time psychiatrists to non-metropolitan areas between July 1992 and December 1993. Method: A detailed 170-item Likert-type questionnaire was designed and mailed to all 15 ...
Persons subject to forensic mental health orders imposed by the courts form a small but political... more Persons subject to forensic mental health orders imposed by the courts form a small but politically salient group. Their management provides a number of challenges for mental health services and for governments throughout Australia. Although their overall management has been enhanced by recent developments in forensic services, there is a lack of consistent cross-border agreements between states and territories. This paper will discuss how this situation is not conducive to effective risk management and is a denial of patients' legitimate demands for freedom of movement. A proposal for the adoption of appropriate principles to improve the current state of affairs is outlined. Legislative reform is required to ensure the safe and ethical management of mentally disordered offenders subject to forensic mental health orders in Australia.
Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2015
Systematic reviews are one of the major building blocks of evidence-based medicine. This overview... more Systematic reviews are one of the major building blocks of evidence-based medicine. This overview is an introduction to conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) represent the most robust form of design in the hierarchy of research evidence. In addition, primary data do not have to be collected by the researcher him/herself, and there is no need for approval from an ethics committee. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are not as daunting as they may appear to be, provided the scope is sufficiently narrow and an appropriate supervisor available.
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