Search

Despite operating from the same professional accreditation standards, discrepancies in what is recorded as Direct Client Activities (DCA) in postgraduate psychology trainee logbooks have been noted across training programs in Australia. The aim of this study was to create a consensus-based list of DCA to guide the completion of trainee logbooks while undertaking practicums in clinical psychology or clinical neuropsychology. A modified Delphi approach was used to gather data across three rounds. Two expert panels, representing the two areas of practice endorsement (AoPEs), rated the degree to which they agreed or disagreed with a range of activities being recorded as DCA in trainee logbooks. Activities with over 80% agreement or disagreement during any round were accepted or rejected from the final list, respectively. Sixteen activities for clinical psychology and 30 activities for clinical neuropsychology were endorsed by the expert panels. Only nine activities across the two panels did not reach consensus over the three rounds. This study has created a list of consensus activities within these two AoPEs which will facilitate benchmarking activities, and reduce confusion and anxiety for trainees, supervisors, and placement coordinators. Discrepancies do, however, remain across the AoPEs, warranting further clarification and definition refinement. What is already known about this topic: Logbooks are a key strategy in ensuring individual trainees and postgraduate training programs are meeting minimum standards set by accrediting bodies. Although required by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) to be recorded in trainee logbooks, there is a lack of consensus across Australian postgraduate psychology program providers as to what constitutes "Direct Client Activities". Inconsistent logging practices prevents benchmarking and creates confusion and anxiety for trainees, supervisors, and placement coordinators. What this topic adds: This paper was the first, to our knowledge, to obtain expert consensus on trainee Direct Client Activities for logbook recording within the clinical psychology and clinical neuropsychology areas of practice endorsement. The list provides greater certainty for "what counts" as Direct Client Activities for logbook recording within these two areas of practice endorsement, with 16 clinical psychology and 30 clinical neuropsychology activities endorsed. There is a need to better clarify the rationale and principles for recording Direct Client Activities across areas of practice endorsement, to inform ongoing practices in these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes to psychological practice have arisen in recent times with the rise of services being offered online as an alternative to in-person meetings. Videoconferencing is the most widely utilised form of telehealth used by psychologists, and a unique consequence of videoconferencing is that psychologists can see a synchronous self-mirror image during online sessions with clients. Research is yet to investigate psychologists' experience of the self-mirror in the context of their online work. Semi-structured interviews with 16 Australian psychologists were conducted to explore their experiences of the self-mirror during video-conferencing therapy treatment sessions with their clients. Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed several unique findings. Psychologists reported the presence of their self-mirror image during video conferencing sessions increased self-consciousness in relation to their appearance and presentation. Most reported the self-mirror to be largely distracting and disliked the presence of their own self-mirror image during online therapy sessions with clients. Some psychologists reported that the live time feedback was helpful and informative in modifying non-verbal expressions. Further challenges included uncertainty around client eye contact connection and vulnerability with client exposure to personal environments in the videoconferencing background. It is recommended that psychologists regularly evaluate the impact of having their self-mirror view on during video-conferencing sessions with clients. What is already known about this topic: (1) The growing use of telehealth videoconferencing brings with it the need to further investigate how this impacts the nature of therapeutic work for psychologists. (2) Videoconferencing is the most widely utilised online telehealth modality for psychologists, and unique to this modality is that psychologists can see a live time self-mirror image of themselves during consultations. (3) The impact of the self-mirror on psychologists' experiences of video-conferencing therapy sessions had yet to be explored and reported upon. What this topic adds: (1) This study was the first to investigate and report upon psychologists' experiences of their self-mirror in the context of online therapy with clients via videoconferencing. (2) The presence of the self-mirror during online therapy sessions can increase self-consciousness and self-critical appraisals in appearance and presentation for psychologists. The self-mirror can also be distracting and adding to cognitive load; however, some psychologists could find the self-mirror feedback helpful to inform and modify their expressions in response to clients in real time. (3) It is recommended that psychologists evaluate the impact of having their self-mirror view on during video-conferencing sessions with clients. When psychologists decide to keep their self-mirror view on, it is recommended that they monitor and regularly reflect upon the impact of the self-mirror on themselves, their clients and the therapeutic process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nurses provide technical and relational skills that are integral to the care of people with intellectual disability (ID) in Australia. However, little is known about the demographic profile of this section of the nursing workforce. Method: Administration of a survey to nurses whose primary role it is to care for people with ID nationwide Results: This brief report provides a description of the demographics of participants in the national survey. Of 101 participants, 78% were women and the mean age was 53.21 years. Participants held a variety of educational qualifications to prepare them for the care of people with ID. Conclusion: The findings suggest the need to consider the future unmet needs of people with ID given the ageing of this workforce. The ongoing support needs of people with ID depend upon the ongoing presence of nurses well prepared to meet the need of this group of people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Female models are commonly viewed as "at‐risk" for eating and body image disorders. However, the existing literature is sparse and provides inconsistent evidence. It subsequently fails to decipher whether models are truly at any greater risk for body image disorders than non‐models. Such discrepancies may exist due to differences in population, method, and assessment, particularly where previous studies have focused on evaluative body image that mostly reflect normative body image concerns. This study sought to examine body image disturbance, dysmorphic appearance concern, the rate of probable eating disorders (EDs) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), depression, anxiety, stress, self‐esteem, and functional impairment in models. Method: A sample of 100 female models was compared to 100 age‐matched tertiary students on measures of ED symptoms, body dysmorphic symptoms, psychopathology, and functional impairment. Results: Ninety‐two models met referral criteria for an ED and 26 for non‐weight related BDD, compared to 53 (ED) and 2 (BDD) students. Models also reported greater body image disturbance, dysmorphic appearance concern, depression, stress, functional impairment, and ED symptoms, but equivalent degrees of anxiety, self‐esteem, and home‐based functional impairment. Conclusions: Not only are female models at‐risk of the physical effects of maintaining a clinically underweight body, but models are at greater risk of developing body image‐related psychological illnesses, experiencing emotional stressors, and facing functional impairment than their non‐model peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI); a self‐report measure of dysmorphic appearance concern. Methods: Internal consistency, concurrent validity, and construct validity were investigated among 761 female undergraduates. Criterion validity was also investigated with respect to body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Results: The BICI appears internally consistent and displayed predictable relationships to depression, anxiety, self‐esteem, functional impairment, and body image disturbance. Three factors appeared to underlie the BICI (i.e. appearance preoccupation, appearance concern, coping behaviour), accounting for 52.13%, 7.77%, and 5.80% of the observed variance. Further analysis revealed that nine items could be removed from the BICI without notable change to its validity or reliability. This resulted in a shorter version of the BICI that demonstrated improved factor structure and internal consistency, with equivalent degrees of concurrent and criterion validity. Neither measure operated effectively as a diagnostic screen for BDD, reflected by low sensitivity and specificity values. Conclusions: Both appear to be reliable and valid measures that should predominantly be employed as continuous measures of body image preoccupation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Body dysmorphic disorder ( BDD) entails a preoccupation with a perceived appearance defect, which causes distress and/or functional impairment. The individual must also perform repetitive behaviours in response to these concerns (e.g., mirror checking, excessive grooming). Prior research has focused primarily on preoccupation, and behaviours have rarely been examined. As such, there is limited insight regarding how these activities are perceived by the sufferer. This study therefore examined how individuals with BDD experience these behaviours. Method Eight individuals diagnosed with BDD completed a 60-min, semi-structured interview. Inductive thematic analysis was employed to investigate semantic themes within the data. Results Three themes emerged: 'Routine and repetitive', 'Safety through control,' and 'Natural and automatic.' These findings portray a complex experience of distressing activities that may also provide comfort and safety, in time coming to embodying what 'normal' constitutes for the individual. Conclusions The experience of BDD behaviour is complex. Camouflaging and using make-up provided a sense of relief and/or reassurance, whereas other behaviours were reported as distressing and likely to promote further concerns. Ironically, participants were seemingly dissatisfied with these symptoms, while also drawing comfort and a sense of identify from them. This inconsistent pattern of reward and punishment supports existing conceptual models of BDD, and may explain why these symptoms are so difficult to manage and/or change (i.e., via negative reinforcement). It also suggests that different types or categories of behaviour may exist for BDD (e.g., checking vs fixing behaviours), reflecting different functions and/or underlying motivations among individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Body image disturbance encompasses various cognitive and behavioural states originating from a distressing, negative evaluation of one's appearance. It is broader than negative body image, comprising not only dissatisfaction but also distress and dysfunction, and is a core feature of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). This study had two broad aims: to establish normative values for body image disturbance within an Australian population and to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire (BIDQ). Method: Australian undergraduate students (N = 950, 744 female) from Western Sydney completed the BIDQ, along with measures of clinical psychopathology, self‐esteem, and functional impairment. Results: The BIDQ displayed good internal consistency and predictable concurrent relationships with measures of depression, anxiety, stress, self‐esteem, and functional impairment. It also yielded a single latent construct, while higher scores were noted among participants who screened positively for BDD. Conclusions: BIDQ scores for this sample differ to those originally reported, which may reflect sample differences or cultural variation. These values provide a more accurate and reliable guide for clinicians using the BIDQ in Australia than previously available. Overall, the BIDQ demonstrates good psychometric efficacy in an undergraduate sample, although future research should validate the measure among wider clinical and community populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]