To explore the demographic, psychosocial and clinical characteristics of individuals known to the mental health services, who died by probable suicide in the West of Ireland.

Postmortem reports between January 2006 and May 2012 detailed 153 individuals who died by probable suicide, 58 of whom attended the mental health services. Relevant socio-demographic and clinical data was extracted from individuals’ lifetime case notes.

Recurrent depressive disorder (44%) was the most common diagnosis and hanging the most common method of death (58%). Of individuals who died by hanging, 79% previously attempted suicide by the same method. For individuals with a documented history of depression, only 32% had antidepressants detected in their toxicology reports. Similarly, only one individual (20%) with schizophrenia had antipsychotics detected in their toxicology report.

Individuals who died by probable suicide, most commonly died by hanging and drowning; with previous attempts of hanging particularly prevalent in the group who subsequently died by hanging. At the time of death, less than one-third of individuals according to toxicology reports were taking the medication that was last prescribed to them by the mental health services suggesting a high rate of treatment non-concordance in individuals who died by probable suicide.

The system of weekly psychiatric ward rounds is being challenged and multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDTMs) involving inpatients have been developed. These aim to improve integration between medical and social services and increase patient involvement in their care. However, such large meetings are potentially threatening to the patient. This survey aimed to examine inpatient experience of MDTMs and identify factors that significantly alter this experience.

In this cross-sectional survey we assessed patient opinion regarding patient inclusive MDTMs in a psychiatric inpatient unit. A total of 27 participants (response rate 90%) were included. We utilised descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact test for non-parametric data where appropriate.

In all, 85% (n=23) of patients identified the consultant psychiatrist as a member that they would like to have present at the MDTM. The ward nurse was identified by 63% (n=17) of patients. In all, 48% (n=13) of patients reported feeling anxious/threatened at the MDTM. In all, 70% (n=19) of patients stated that they would have felt less threatened at the MDTM if there were fewer people in attendance. A significant number of voluntary patients (n=11) felt threatened/anxious at the MDTM compared with involuntary patients (n=2) (χ2=4.921, df=1, p=0.026).

The central findings of this study are that patients would prefer fewer people at the MDTM and would feel less threatened/anxious if they participated in selecting those in attendance. These findings suggest that greater patient involvement in preparation for the MDTM could result in a less anxiety filled experience for them.

Training in cognitive behavioural psychotherapy (CBT) is expensive both for the students and their funding bodies.

It is important to know how graduates of CBT courses are putting their skills to use, and whether they are continuously updating those skills to achieve best practice. We also wanted to discover the similarities and differences between CBT trainees in the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland (courses in the United Kingdom being analogous to those in Ireland in content and participants).

An internet survey, derived from previous postal questionnaires, was used to enquire into the practice, experience, and continuing professional development of graduates from the CBT courses at Trinity College Dublin.

Most MDT professions were represented in the graduates, preponderantly psychiatrists and mental health nurses, but also including social workers and occupational therapists. Most participants believed that the course had enhanced their careers, and almost half had changed job since graduating. Half said that CBT was now the main focus of their job, but others reported lack of resources, funding, time, and other duties impeded their ability to conduct CBT with clients. However, most participants engaged in continuous professional development regarding CBT, and received CBT clinical supervision.

There was a difference in the proportion of the different professions undertaking this course compared with the United Kingdom and our response rate here was significantly lower. As in UK surveys, participants who may have been supported and funded to undertake the training may not afterwards be supported in implementing their skills in the workplace. The broader implications of this are discussed.

The aim of this study was to improve the quality of prescription writing in a long-term psychogeriatric inpatient unit by a combination of serial audits and interventions designed to address the identified deficiencies.

We undertook three clinical audits of the prescription sheets used in an inpatient unit providing continuing care for residents with severe and enduring mental illness and dementia. Based on the findings of the first audit a set of prescribing guidelines was implemented into the ward. Following the second audit a new prescription sheet was developed. The format of the new prescription sheet was designed to account for the needs of the unit and to adhere to Irish and UK best practise guidelines. Two months after its introduction we undertook a third audit.

Completion of the drug sensitivity box increased from 25% at audit one to 100% at audit three. Other specific aspects of prescription writing that had been poor at the beginning of the audit cycle also showed improvement: prescribing of generic psychotropic drugs increased by 69% and inclusion of the prescribers Medical Council Registration Number increased by 78%. However, some basic aspects of prescription writing remained weak such as frequency of drug administration and documentation of the stop/review date for ‘as required’ medication.

The results of this study suggest that clinical audit and feedback can improve the quality of prescriptions in an in-patient setting.

Ireland has been actively involved in peacekeeping operations since the 1950s. The unique psychological stressors associated with this form of military activity have been under-recognised and under-researched.

The aim of this paper is to bring to the attention of mental health professionals, who have been caring for military and retired military peacekeeping personnel, the unique difficulties associated with peacekeeping and how they can impact upon the mental health of the peacekeeper.

The nature of peacekeeping is outlined. There is a short review of the limited literature on the mental health effects of this kind of military deployment. There is also an outline of the positive outcomes for the majority of those who have served as peacekeepers.

Both the negative and the positive mental health outcomes depend on the particular mission. Each mission is different and the nature of a mission also changes over time. Post-traumatic stress disorder rates can vary from 3% to 15% of a peacekeeping cohort, depending upon the nature of the violence associated with the mission. The vast majority of peacekeepers have found their peacekeeping deployments as an enriching experience.

Peacekeepers are often witnesses as well as the victims of traumatic events. The restrictions placed upon their military role by the mission mandate can be a source of stress for them. Their mental health needs to be supported during the mission and after they have returned home.

The aim of this article is to draw attention to the clinical importance of disordered sleep in psychiatry and to demonstrate the growing awareness of medical illness as a complication of disordered sleep. As background to these main objectives, some general points are made to illustrate present-day approaches to the common and often serious problem of sleep disturbance.

The review is based on a literature search from which key publications were selected to illustrate, in turn, main connections between disordered sleep and psychiatric and medical conditions.

Many such connections are described. Throughout psychiatry, regarding patients whatever their age, these connections have implications for clinical assessment and management. Emphasis is placed on the risk of misdiagnosis of sleep disorders as psychiatric or medical conditions. Examples of this are provided. The growing evidence that disordered sleep can predispose to medical illness is discussed.

As the subject of sleep and its disorders is particular relevant in psychiatry, a working knowledge of modern sleep medicine is important in all branches of psychiatric and other medical practice as well as in clinical research.

This audit cycle aimed to identify deficiencies in medicines management in an adult psychiatric hospital. The original audit in 2009 highlighted that a number of improvements were needed to enhance prescribing standards. Following implementation of these recommendations, two reaudits were performed to assess both the improvements in medicines management along with evaluating the newly introduced drug prescription chart.

Local, national and international guidelines on medicines management were reviewed in 2009, following which an audit tool was designed. Recommendations from the original audit were taken on board with the introduction of a new medication chart. This chart incorporated many of the recommendations from the original audit into it. Two reaudits were then performed, each over 1 day by four assessors and included all inpatient wards.

The initial audit in 2009 outlined a number of recommendations, namely the introduction of an appropriate ‘fit for purpose’ medication chart, the need for regular postgraduate prescribing education and training and the consideration of a prescribing formulary and/or Drugs & Therapeutics Committee. Results from the reaudits revealed that considerable improvement was made in areas such as patient demographics, pharmacist involvement, generic prescribing, BLOCK capitals, inclusion of Medical Council Registration Number, PRN prescribing and discontinuation procedures.

Although significant improvement was noted, further improvement is required with regards to the need for a review date for PRN medication; the need for improved documentation of allergies, height and weight; and the importance of a working group to assess community medicines management and the need for further reaudits to assess continued improvement in all deficient areas.

To review consequences of the changing demographic profile of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use.

Case report and review of key papers.

We report here a case of a 19-year-old Irish male presenting with both medical and psychiatric side effects of methandrostenolone use. The man had a long-standing history of harmful cannabis use, but had not experienced previous psychotic symptoms. Following use of methandrostenolone, he developed rhabdomyolysis and a psychotic episode with homicidal ideation.

Non-medical AAS use is a growing problem associated with medical, psychiatric and forensic risks. The population using these drugs has changed with the result of more frequent poly-substance misuse, potentially exacerbating these risks.

A higher index of suspicion is needed for AAS use. Medical personnel need to be aware of the potential side effects of their use, including the risk of violence. Research is needed to establish the magnitude of the problem in Ireland.