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Over 20% of cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients have a comorbid mental health disorder, resulting in an increased risk of recurring major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and mortality. Despite the higher risk, patients with comorbid depression or anxiety disorders are twice as likely to be non-adherent to secondary prevention. Therefore, better understanding of the adherence experiences of this subgroup is needed to inform service delivery and enhance adherence for this higher risk group. This study aims to explore the perceptions, understandings, and experiences of adherence to secondary prevention amongst 33 cardiac patients with diagnosed depression and/or anxiety disorder. Participants were recruited as part of the Cardiovascular Health in Anxiety or Mood Problems Study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and data were analysed via inductive thematic analysis. Patient understandings of adherence to secondary prevention were limited, with medication compliance considered the marker of adherence. Further, participants did not perceive unintentional non-adherence to constitute non-adherence, rather an intent to engage was viewed as defining adherence. Participants also reported that a lack of practitioner understanding and management around their mental health negatively impacted the practitioner–patient relationship and their engagement with secondary prevention. Results highlight that unique barriers, especially around management of comorbid mental health exist for this subgroup. Additionally, adherence to secondary prevention might be limited by patients' narrow understandings of adherence as the intent to engage and as medication compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Pre-treatment side effect expectancies often influence subsequent experiences; however, expectancy-based reduction strategies are lacking. We explored whether framing information about adverse responses (in positive or negative formats) altered expectancies and experiences of a cold pressor task. We further investigated associations between expectancies and experiences, to inform potential interventions. Design: Healthy volunteers (N = 134), randomised to receive positively- or negatively-framed pre-cold pressor task information, self-rated 12 expectancies for cold pressor experiences, emotional state and coping style. Main Outcome Measures: Self-reports of the same 12-experiences (recorded during and after the experiment) were assessed. Results: Framing had minimal impact on expectancies and experiences; however, discomfort threshold (p =.08, d = 0.22) showed a trend in the expected direction. Hierarchical regressions revealed expectancies uniquely, significantly predicted 6–23% of the variance for 11 subsequent experiences. Following a popular charity event (Ice Bucket Challenge), all participants showed higher 'discomfort thresholds' (p =.001, d = 0.59), and those in the negative frame reported more overall 'discomfort' (p =.01, d = 0.60) than participants in the positive condition. Conclusion: Expectancies uniquely influenced subsequent cold pressor experiences. Framing had minimal impact in this 'analogue' medical setting, only influencing 'discomfort threshold'. 'Discomfort threshold' and overall 'discomfort' were also impacted by a social media challenge, highlighting a potential area for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: As Australia becomes more diverse it is essential for the psychology profession to examine training, cultural competency, and professional development needs of psychologists working in languages other than English. In this exploratory study of bilingual/multilingual psychologists in Australia, we aimed to investigate their self‐perceived language skills, multicultural counselling competency, and professional development needs; understand their training and practice experiences; and seek recommendations for policy and practice. Method: An online survey including demographic and practice information, the Multicultural Counselling Inventory and open‐ended text questions was completed by 38 bilingual/multilingual psychologists working in Australia in 2015. Eleven participants undertook supplementary telephone interviews which along with survey responses were transcribed for qualitative thematic analysis. Results: Most participants trained in English. They expressed concerns about their application of psychological concepts in other languages, despite good conversational fluency. Participants highlighted language barriers to entering the profession; limited multicultural and multilingual training and supervision in Australia; and the need for more transcultural mental health resources, particularly for small/new migrant communities and people outside large cities. Conclusion: To effectively serve clients, significant changes are required to psychology training in Australia, including but not limited to bilingual and multilingual psychologists. These include enhanced training and competency standards in MCC and using interpreters. The profession must actively support supervision, professional development, and practice in community languages. The Psychology Board of Australia and the universities need to examine policies operating as barriers to the admission of culturally and linguistically diverse people to the psychology profession in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate correlates of Australian university students’ help‐seeking intentions and actual service usage, testing and extending new models based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Behavioural Model of Health Services Use. Method: 611 Australian domestic students (209 males and 402 females, mean age = 21 years; SD = 5.6) completed standardised measures and commented on facilitators, barriers, benefits, and potential improvements to student mental health services. Results: A model based on Chinese university student data also fit the Australian data best. Bootstrapping revealed relationships between several predictors (knowledge concerning mental health and services, evaluated and perceived need, anticipated benefits, stigma concerns, and Asian values) and help‐seeking intentions were significantly mediated by attitudes toward help‐seeking and subjective norms. Logistic regression analysis identified predictors of service usage: help‐seeking intentions, perceived behavioural control, gender, study major, knowledge of mental health, social support, income, self‐rated mental health status, perceived need for help, and Asian values. Conclusions: Practitioners need to consider psycho‐educational and marketing approaches to engage students, raise awareness of available services, increase understanding of mental illness and treatments, and reduce stigmatized attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Community-based rehabilitation can help to maximize function following acquired brain injury (ABI); however, data on treatment outcome is limited in quantity. Objective: To describe and evaluate client outcomes of an outpatient programme for adults with moderate-to-severe traumatic and non-traumatic ABI. Methods: Two phase design involving retrospective and longitudinal study of programme completers with ABI ( n = 47). Changes in functioning were measured with the Mayo-Portland Inventory (MPAI-4), administered pre- and immediately post-rehabilitation and at 3 years follow-up. Self-ratings were supplemented with MPAI-4 data from significant others ( n = 32) and staff ( n = 32). Results: Injured individuals and informants reported improved physical and psychosocial functioning immediately following the completion of community rehabilitation, with medium-to-large and significant treatment gains noted on the MPAI-4 ability, adjustment and participation sub-scales (Cohen's d range = 0.31-1.10). A deterioration in individuals' adjustment was further reported at follow-up, although this was based on limited data. Issues with longer-term rehabilitation service provision were additionally noted. Conclusions: The data support the need for continuity of care, including ongoing emotional support, to cater to the complex and dynamic needs of the ABI population. However, these results need to be considered in the context of a small sample size and quasi-experimental design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Cognitive impairment is a pervasive feature of schizophrenia, and is a major determinant of the functional disability that is characteristic of the disorder. However, research investigating whether patients with schizophrenia show a deficit awareness remains unclear. The present study aimed to replicate and extend previous research comparing subjective and objective measures of cognition. Methods. Thirty patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were administered the subjectively assessed Schizophrenia Cognitive Rating Scale (SCoRS) and the objective Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), which each assess overall global functioning and four specific neurocognitive domains (i.e., Verbal Memory, Working Memory, Processing Speed, and Reasoning and Problem Solving). Because deficit awareness may influence the likelihood of patients engaging in treatments designed to improve cognitive functioning, patients' attitudes towards such therapies were also contrasted with these subjective and objective measures of cognitive functioning. Results. Patients' subjective appraisals did not significantly correlate with the objective neuropsychological assessments for global functioning or any specific neurocognitive domains. However, patients accurately deduced that their memory domains were more impaired than the other domains, and there was a trend for patients to exaggerate their Reasoning and Problem Solving deficits. This suggests that patients show some level of deficit awareness, when overestimating “deficits” for domains that are not impaired. Finally subjective, but not objective, measures of cognitive functioning correlated significantly with willingness to participate in cognitive-enhancing therapies. Conclusions. These results suggest that although patients' perceptions of their cognitive function are no substitute for objective neuropsychological test data, patients do possess a level of deficit awareness which may, in turn, influence willingness to participate in interventions such as cognitive rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to explore how refugee people utilised their coping resources and strategies to find meaning in their past and present experiences. Using an experience-centred narrative approach, we analysed the stories of 24 former refugees from two African countries resettled in South Australia. Data analysis revealed altruism and helping behaviour as a prominent and recurring theme of participants' narrated lives. This meta-theme encompassed four subthemes: (a) surviving war and exile, (b) adapting to Australian society, (c) reaching back home, and (d) meaning making through religious beliefs. Helping, cooperating, and sharing were entwined with participants' coping strategies and meaning making of experience. Participants' socio-historical, cultural, and religious context influenced the interpretations of their experiences. Taken together, our findings identified a counter narrative in refugee mental health research beyond trauma and psychopathology. Specifically, we have shown that when the refugee experience is also accompanied by situational contingencies such as receiving help and being called upon to help, together with evaluations such as empathy, identification with suffering, and gratitude, people can be motivated to help others. Future research is needed to explore how altruism and helping behaviour can promote healing from trauma, alleviate distress of separation, and ameliorate acculturation stress among diverse refugee populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is considerable evidence for an association between pathological gambling and scores on validated psychometric measures of erroneous gambling-related cognitions. However, a potential problem with this literature is that samples of pathological gamblers score higher on indicators of co-morbidity (e.g. substance misuse) that are also associated with poorer decision-making and reasoning abilities. We aimed to examine the relationship between pathological gambling and gambling-related erroneous beliefs after controlling for alcohol misuse. A sample of 140 regular gamblers completed a detailed psychological assessment including measures of pathological gambling (NORC DSM-IV Screen Self-Administered), delusion proneness (the Peters et al. Delusions Inventory), alcohol use (the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and gambling beliefs (Gambling-Related Cognitions Scale). Pathological gamblers scored higher than other regular gamblers on all these measures. Although alcohol use disorder was not directly related to delusion proneness, a combination of higher alcohol use disorder and delusion proneness was associated with higher gambling-related cognition scores. Our findings confirm previous evidence supporting an association between pathological gambling and greater endorsement of erroneous gambling-related cognitions. Alcohol misuse and delusion proneness may be factors that strengthen this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study explored the relationships between baby boomer grandparents' mental health and the multiple roles they commonly fulfil: Grandchild care, other family care, home duties, and paid work. There is limited research on non-custodial grandparenting. Studies to date have suggested that psychosocial distress may be more associated with satisfaction levels than with actual time spent on activities, but these studies are mainly qualitative and have not always excluded grandparents who only provide secondary grandchild care. Our on-line survey asked 148 non-custodial Australian boomer grandparents (90 female, 58 male) providing regular sole or primary childcare for at least one grandchild about their experiences. Spearman correlations confirmed significant correlations between satisfaction and psychological health (distress and self-esteem), whereas time spent providing care was not significantly related to psychological health. Unlike previous researchers we identified few significant gender differences, perhaps because we focussed on grandparents providing sole or primary care. These outcomes provide direction for parents, grandparents, and policy makers addressing the needs of this social group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study highlights psychosocial needs of gynecological cancer survivors, contributing to evaluation of the Cancer Survivors Unmet Needs measure. Of the 45 participants, 28.9% reported clinical anxiety, 20.0% mild-to-severe depression, and 15.6% had probable posttraumatic stress disorder. Strength of unmet needs was associated with anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, poorer quality of life, younger age, and greater time since diagnosis. Linear regressions showed clinical measures, quality of life, optimism, and self-blaming coping style explained 56.4% of strength of unmet needs. Anxiety, functional well-being, posttraumatic stress, and emotional well-being accounted for 40.7% of variance in fear of recurrence, with emotional well-being the strongest predictor. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We aimed to explore how refugee people utilised their coping resources and strategies to find meaning in their past and present experiences. Using an experience-centred narrative approach, we analysed the stories of 24 former refugees from two African countries resettled in South Australia. Data analysis revealed altruism and helping behaviour as a prominent and recurring theme of participants' narrated lives. This meta-theme encompassed four subthemes: (a) surviving war and exile, (b) adapting to Australian society, (c) reaching back home, and (d) meaning making through religious beliefs. Helping, cooperating, and sharing were entwined with participants' coping strategies and meaning making of experience. Participants' socio-historical, cultural, and religious context influenced the interpretations of their experiences. Taken together, our findings identified a counter narrative in refugee mental health research beyond trauma and psychopathology. Specifically, we have shown that when the refugee experience is also accompanied by situational contingencies such as receiving help and being called upon to help, together with evaluations such as empathy, identification with suffering, and gratitude, people can be motivated to help others. Future research is needed to explore how altruism and helping behaviour can promote healing from trauma, alleviate distress of separation, and ameliorate acculturation stress among diverse refugee populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]