SANE Australia

About: SANE Australia is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Mental health & Mental illness. The organization has 18 authors who have published 33 publications receiving 1516 citations.

People living with psychotic illness in 2010: the second Australian national survey of psychosis.

Abstract: Objective The 2010 Survey of High Impact Psychosis (SHIP) is Australia's second national psychosis survey. This paper provides an overview of its findings, including comparisons with the first psychosis survey and general population data. Methods The survey covered 1.5 million people aged 18-64 years, approximately 10% of Australians in this age group. A two-phase design was used. In phase 1, screening for psychosis took place in public mental health services and non-government organizations supporting people with mental illness. In phase 2, 1825 of those screen-positive for psychosis were randomly selected and interviewed. Data collected included symptomatology, substance use, functioning, service utilization, medication use, education, employment, housing, and physical health including fasting blood samples. Results The estimated 1-month treated prevalence of psychotic disorders in public treatment services was 3.1 people per 1000 population; the 12-month treated prevalence was 4.5 people per 1000. The majority (63.0%) of participants met ICD-10 criteria for schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder. One-half (49.5%) reported attempting suicide in their lifetime and two-thirds (63.2%) were rated as impaired in their ability to socialize. Over half (54.8%) had metabolic syndrome. The proportion currently smoking was 66.1%. Educational achievement was low. Only 21.5% were currently employed. Key changes in the 12 years since the first survey included: a marked drop in psychiatric inpatient admissions; a large increase in the proportion attending community mental health clinics; increased use of rehabilitation services and non-government organizations supporting people with mental illness; a major shift from typical to atypical antipsychotics; and large increases in the proportions with lifetime alcohol or drug abuse/dependence. Conclusion People with psychotic illness face multiple challenges. An integrated approach to service provision is needed to ensure that their living requirements and needs for social participation are met, in addition to their very considerable mental and physical health needs.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors for People with Mental Illness

Abstract: Objective: The objective of this study was to document the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease among people with chronic mental illness.Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 234 outpatients attending a community mental health clinic in the North-western Health Care Network in Melbourne, Australia. Prevalence of smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, hypertension, salt intake, exercise and history of hypercholesterolemia was assessed.Results: Compared with a community sample, the mentally ill had a higher prevalence of smoking, overweight and obesity, lack of moderate exercise, harmful levels of alcohol consumption and salt intake. No differences were found on hypertension. Men, but not women, with mental illness were less likely to undertake cholesterol screening.Conclusions: Psychiatric outpatients have a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors which may account for the higher rate of cardiovascular mortality among the mentally ill. Further research is needed ...

Psychosis prevalence and physical, metabolic and cognitive co-morbidity: data from the second Australian national survey of psychosis

Abstract: Background: There are insufficient data from nationwide surveys on the prevalence of specific psychotic disorders and associated co-morbidities. Method: The 2010 Australian national psychosis survey used a two-phase design to draw a representative sample of adults aged 18-64 years with psychotic disorders in contact with public treatment services from an estimated resident population of 1 464 923 adults. This paper is based on data from 1642 participants with an International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 psychotic disorder. Its aim is to present estimates of treated prevalence and lifetime morbid risk of psychosis, and to describe the cognitive, physical health and substance use profiles of participants. Results: The 1-month treated prevalence of psychotic disorders was 3.10 cases per 1000 population aged 18-64 years, not accounting for people solely accessing primary care services; lifetime morbid risk was 3.45 per 1000. Mean premorbid intelligence quotient was approximately 0.5 s.d.s below the population mean; current cognitive ability (measured with a digit symbol coding task) was 1.6 s.d.s below the population mean. For both cognitive tests, higher scores were significantly associated with better independent functioning. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was high, affecting 60.8% of participants, and pervasive across diagnostic groups. Of the participants, two-thirds (65.9%) were current smokers, 47.4% were obese and 32.4% were sedentary. Of the participants, half (49.8%) had a lifetime history of alcohol abuse/dependence and 50.8% lifetime cannabis abuse/dependence. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need for comprehensive, integrative models of recovery to maximize the potential for good health and quality of life for people with psychotic illness. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 The online version of this article is published within an Open Access environment subject to the conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.

People living with psychotic illness 2010. Report on the second Australian national survey

Abstract: The second Australian national survey of psychotic illness was conducted in 2010. The aim was to provide updated information on the lives of people with psychotic illness who receive public specialised mental health services. The main focus of the 2010 survey was on consumers of public specialised mental health services administered by state/territory governments. It also included a sample of people who were only in contact with non-government organisations. It did not cover people with psychotic illness who were being treated only in the private sector or by their general practitioner. This survey follows the first National Study of Psychotic Illness in 1997-98, which provided the first data on the prevalence of psychotic illness in the Australian population. Public specialised mental health services and non-government organisations providing mental health services in seven catchment sites, participated in the survey. Together these sites cover 10% of the Australian population. The sample for the survey was drawn from people receiving these services over the period from April 2009 to March 2010.

Reducing mental illness stigma and discrimination - everybody's business.

Abstract: ■ The stigma associated with schizophrenia is pervasive, both in the community and among healthcare workers, and forms a real barrier to optimal recovery from the illness. ■ The negative consequences of stigma include discrimination in housing, education and employment, and increased feelings of hopelessness in people with schizophrenia. ■ Health professionals have a responsibility to improve their own attitudes and behaviour towards people with schizophrenia so they do not contribute to the stigma. ■ Educational campaigns aimed at people in the community and media personnel could help to demystify mental illness and reduce the portrayal of offensive stereotypes of people with schizophrenia.