General Medical Practitioners play a crucial role in the detection and referral of mental health problems in primary care. This study describes the referral patterns of Irish General Practitioners (GPs) to psychological therapies and profiles the range of psychological therapies available.

A 21-item study-specific questionnaire exploring referral processes to psychological therapies was sent to all GPs listed by the Irish College of General Practitioners in one county in Ireland. A 19-item questionnaire exploring details of psychological therapies offered and referral pathways was sent to members of psychological therapy accrediting bodies in the same county.

Of 97 GP respondents (33% response rate), their estimation of the percentage of their patients who have presenting or underlying mental health issues averaged 22%. When asked to indicate which psychological therapies they consider for referrals, psychiatric referrals was the most frequent referral option (94%), followed by Counsellors (69%), Clinical psychologist (60%) and Psychotherapists (30%). GPs indicated they had some or very little knowledge of specific psychological therapies. Of 129 psychological therapists (45% response rate), self-referral and GP referral were their main referral pathways; 80% worked in private practice; highest qualification level was Undergraduate/Higher Diploma (66%), Master Level (39%) and Doctoral Level (5%).

GPs refer patients presenting with mental health problems to psychiatrists with significantly lower percentages referring to other types of psychological therapists. Findings demonstrate that there is a need for greater education and information-sharing between GPs and providers of accredited psychological therapies to increase knowledge on specific therapies and their evidence base.

With prevention and treatment of mental disorders a challenge for primary care and increasing capability of electronic medical records (EMRs) to facilitate research in practice, we aim to determine the prevalence and treatment of mental disorders by using routinely collected clinical data contained in EMRs.

We reviewed EMRs of patients randomly sampled from seven general practices, by piloting a study instrument and extracting data on mental disorders and their treatment.

Data were collected on 690 patients (age range 18–95, 52% male, 52% GMS-eligible). A mental disorder (most commonly anxiety/stress, depression and problem alcohol use) was recorded in the clinical records of 139 (20%) during the 2-year study period. While most patients with the common disorders had been prescribed medication (i.e. antidepressants or benzodiazepines), a minority had been referred to other agencies or received psychological interventions. ‘Free text’ consultation notes and ‘prescriptions’ were how most patients with disorders were identified. Diagnostic coding alone would have failed to identify 92% of patients with a disorder.

Although mental disorders are common in general practice, this study suggests their formal diagnosis, disease coding and access to psychological treatments are priorities for future research efforts.

Client Satisfaction with services is an important predictor of health care seeking, treatment compliance and health status outcome. Given that both parents and young people may have different views of services offered, this study examines both perspectives with respect to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Ireland.

Following ethical approval, the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8) were sent to all open cases attending three urban CAMHS. Returned questionnaires were received from 426 (280 parents and 146 adolescents) giving a response rate of 49%.

No significant differences were observed between parents and adolescents regarding general satisfaction with CAMHS (Mann–Whitney U-test; Z=−0.255; p=0.799) with a range of good and excellent ratings between 77.1% (for the extent that program met user’s needs) and 93.1% (for recommendation of program to a friend). Significant positive associations were found between age of child (Spearman’s ρ=0.159; p=0.017), receiving a diagnosis (Mann–Whitney U-test; Z=−2.14; p=0.032), frequent attendance (χ2=8.74; df=3; p=0.033) and living in close proximity to the service (χ2=9.24; df=3; p=0.026). There was a strong negative correlation between reduction in impairment and levels of satisfaction (ρ=−0.44, n=275, p<0.000). Waiting time or duration in service were not associated with CSQ and 53% (145) requested clinic opening hours outside of 09:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m.

Regular user feedback, a robust and distinct measure of service quality, will ensure the development of effective, accessible, client-centered and responsive services, which can evolve in partnership with families and young people.

Offenders with an intellectual disability pose a major challenge to Intellectual Disability Service providers in the Republic of Ireland. This is especially so as no national Forensic Intellectual Disability Service currently exists.

The Forensic Intellectual Disability Working Group of the Irish College of Psychiatrists was established in order to take steps to address this issue by establishing the level of need for a Forensic Intellectual Disability Service in Ireland and developing a college position paper.

No previous study has been carried out to measure offending behaviour amongst persons with an intellectual disability attending mental health services in Ireland.

A postal survey was undertaken targeting the lead clinicians of all Intellectual Disability Psychiatry, General Adult Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry Services in the Republic of Ireland. This survey requested anonymous data regarding service users with an intellectual disability and offending behaviour in this population.

Data relating to 431 service users was returned. Those reported to engage in offending behaviour were predominantly young males. Assault was the most common offence type. A significant number of serious offences such as unlawful killing, sexual assault and arson were reported.

There is an urgent need for the development of a Forensic Intellectual Disability Service in the Republic of Ireland. The current efforts of the National Forensic Mental Health Service to establish such a service by the creation of a post of Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist (special interest in intellectual disability) are to be welcomed.

To report new prescriptions of psychotropic medications among adolescents presenting with new onset psychotic symptoms during a 5-year period.

The Northern Ireland Early Onset Psychosis Study is a naturalistic longitudinal observational study of patients with an early onset first psychotic episode. All patients aged <18 years presenting to specialist mental health services across Northern Ireland with new onset psychotic symptoms between 2001 and 2006 were recruited (n=113). Clinical case notes were analysed retrospectively for details of subsequent treatment with psychotropic medications.

A total of 100 patients (88.5%) were prescribed some form of psychotropic medication. Over three-quarters of patients received an antipsychotic as their first medication. Risperidone (45.8%), olanzapine (24.0%) and chlorpromazine (12.5%) were the most commonly prescribed first-line antipsychotic medications. Of a total of 160 antipsychotic prescriptions, 81 (50.6%) were off-label. Prescriptions were most likely to have been deemed off-label owing to medications not being licensed in under-18s (71.6% of off-label prescriptions) but other reasons were medications being used outside licensed age ranges (23.5%) and outside licensed indications (4.9%).

This is the first study examining psychotropic prescribing patterns in a complete sample of all children and adolescents presenting with early onset psychotic episodes in a single geographical area. The observation of risperidone as the most commonly prescribed antipsychotic was in keeping with previous studies in child and adolescent populations. Rates of off-label prescribing were lower than previously observed although our study was the first to investigate off-label prescribing solely in children and adolescents presenting with psychotic symptoms.

Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) is a cross-diagnostic, patient-centred, self-management intervention for psychiatric illness. WRAP utilises an individualised Wellness Toolbox, a six part structured monitoring and response system, and a crisis and post-crisis plan to promote recovery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of WRAP on personal recovery, quality of life, and self-reported psychiatric symptoms.

A prospective randomised controlled trial, based on the CONSORT principles was conducted using a sample of 36 inpatients and outpatients with a diagnosis of a mental disorder. Participants were randomly allocated to Experimental Group or Waiting List Control Group conditions in a 1:1 ratio. Measures of personal recovery, personal recovery life areas, quality of life, anxiety, and depression were administered at three time points: (i) pre-intervention, (ii) post-Experimental Group intervention delivery, and (iii) 6-month follow-up. Data was analysed by available case analysis using univariate and bivariate methodologies.

WRAP had a significant effect on two personal recovery life areas measured by the Mental Health Recovery Star: (i) addictive behaviour and (ii) identity and self-esteem. WRAP did not have a significant effect on personal recovery (measured by the Mental Health Recovery Measure), quality of life, or psychiatric symptoms.

Findings indicate that WRAP improves personal recovery in the areas of (i) addictive behaviour and (ii) identity and self-esteem. Further research is required to confirm WRAP efficacy in other outcome domains. Efforts to integrate WRAP into recovery-orientated mental health services should be encouraged and evaluated.

Stress control (SC), a brief psycho-education course, was implemented to increase access to psychological therapies in line with Northern Irish mental health service statutory drivers. The first aim of this study was to gauge the efficacy of SC in a robust manner with clinical significance testing. The second aim was to assess whether demographics traditionally ‘hard-to-reach’ – males, younger adults and those from deprived areas – accessed SC. The third aim was to elucidate what prompted their access and the experiences of attendees at SC.

Attendees at SC were 170 adults over six iterations of the course. Pre- and post-questionnaires included the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales – 21, captured demographic details and qualitative feedback, which was subject to a mixed-methods analysis.

SC attendees reported significant decreases on depression, anxiety and stress sub-scales post-intervention. Moreover, 38.71% (n=36) of attendees who completed SC exhibited clinically significant improvement afterwards on one or more sub-scale. Attendance figures for males, younger adults and those classified as socioeconomically deprived were modest. Patterns within the data suggested prospective success for targeting these cohorts.

SC attracted people in need of mental healthcare input and affected quantifiable change within those people’s lives, while satisfying statutory demands for service delivery in an accessible community context. Recommendations to increase engagement with those traditionally ‘hard-to-reach’ for psychological services are provided, which, if implemented, have the potential to achieve further compliance with Northern Irish mental health statutory drivers.

People with Down syndrome (DS) are at high risk for developing dementia and early diagnosis is vital in enhancing quality of life. Our aim was to compare our practice to consensus recommendations on evaluation, diagnosis and pharmacological treatment of individuals with DS who develop dementia. We also aimed to establish the average time taken to make a diagnosis of dementia and to commence pharmacotherapy, and to assess tolerability to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

Retrospective chart review in an exhaustive sample containing all current service users attending our service with DS and a diagnosis of dementia (n=20).

The sample was 75% female and 70% had a moderate intellectual disability. The average age at diagnosis of dementia was 52.42 years old. The average time to diagnosis from first symptom was 1.13 years and the average time to commence pharmacotherapy was 0.23 years. A total of 17 patients commenced on acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, and of these seven discontinued medication due to side-effects or lack of efficacy.

The results on anticholinesterases add to the limited pool of data on treatment of dementia in DS. There was an identified need to improve the rates of medical, vision and hearing assessments, and prospective screening. Deficiencies in screening and diagnosis may be addressed by implementing a standardised dementia assessment pathway to include prospective screening and longitudinal assessment using easily administered scales. We highlight the importance of improving the diagnostic process, as a vital window of opportunity to commence a comprehensive care plan may be lost.

To compare mental health (MH) outcomes of and service use by children born under 1500 g in Ireland with a matched control group.

Using a retrospective cohort design, semi-structured and standardised MH assessments were conducted with parents, teachers and youth.

A total of 64 of 127 surviving children from a very low birth weight (VLBW) cohort from a National Maternity Hospital participated at a mean age of 11.6 years (s.d. 1.0), along with 51 matched controls. More VLBW children received clinical or borderline scores when rated by parents [χ2 (1, n=114)=7.3, p=0.007] or youths [χ2 (1, n=114)=4.83, p=0.028], but not by teachers [χ2 (1, n=114)=1.243, p=0.463]. There was no increase in the use of MH services. A main effect of birth weight remained on the parent Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire [F (1, 88)=5.07, p<0.05) after controlling for intelligence quotient (IQ) and socio-economic status (SES), but only on hyperactivity in males. SES, rather than IQ or birth weight, predicted identification of problems by teachers [F (1, 82)=6.99, p=0.01).

Teachers miss MH difficulties and are influenced more by SES than by IQ or birth weight. This has implications for MH service access. Initial perinatal investment needs to be matched with ongoing surveillance and psychoeducation to ensure that disorders are recognised early and offered appropriate interventions.

To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Access to Psychological Services Ireland (APSI), a primary care adult psychology service.

A repeated measures design was used to evaluate the clinical outcomes of service users who completed an intervention. Psychological distress, depressive symptomatology and anxiety symptomatology were measured using the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation–Outcome Measure (CORE-OM), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), respectively. Self-reported health and economic outcomes were measured using the EQ-5D-3L and the Eco-Psy, respectively.

A total of 381 adults were assessed as suitable for an APSI intervention, with 198 (52%) of these completing at least one intervention. Significant reductions in psychological distress were observed for completers of guided self-help and brief cognitive behavioural therapy, with service users also showing significant reductions in anxiety and depressive symptomatology. Reliable and clinically significant change on the CORE-OM was observed for 67.9% of treatment completers. Service users reported significant improvements in their health status but did not show changes in their health service usage in the 3-month follow-up period.

APSI provided an accessible service model that was clinically effective in managing a range of mild to moderate mental health difficulties. The cost-effectiveness of the service model may be enhanced by offering a wider range of high-throughput interventions and by increasing the treatment completion rate.

This study examines aspects of healthcare professionals’ knowledge and attitudes about eating disorders (EDs), which might impede the effective detection or treatment of EDs in Ireland.

A total of 1,916 healthcare professionals were invited to participate in a web-based survey. Participants were randomly allocated to view one of five vignettes depicting a young person with symptoms consistent with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, depression or type 1 diabetes. Study-specific questions examined participants’ responses to the vignettes and ED knowledge and experience.

In total, 171 clinicians responded (9% response rate). Participants had an average of 15.8 years of clinical experience (s.d.=9.2) and included psychiatrists, GPs, psychologists and counsellors. Although participants’ knowledge of EDs was moderately good overall, responses showed poor recognition of the symptoms of EDs compared with depression [χ2 (4, n=127)=20.17, p<0.001]. Participants viewed EDs as chronic disorders that primarily affected females. Participants believed that clinicians like working with patients with depression and diabetes more than with AN patients [F (4,101)=5.11, p=0.001]. Among the professionals surveyed, psychiatrists were the most knowledgeable about EDs [F (4,82)=9.18, p<0.001], and were more confident in their ability to diagnose and treat EDs than professionals of all other disciplines, except psychologists [F (4,85)=8.99, p<0.001]. Psychiatrists were also the most pessimistic about ED patients’ long-term life prospects [χ2 (4, n=65)=15.84, p=0.003].

This study recommends that specific attention should be given to EDs in professional educational programmes across healthcare disciplines. This training should not be restricted to improving healthcare professionals’ knowledge of EDs, but should also strive to increase service-providers’ awareness of how their own potentially stigmatising attitudes can undermine engagement with treatment.

There is a dearth of information relating to the prevalence of housing needs among psychiatric in-patients in Ireland. Most of the information we have to date emerged as a result of attempts to plan for the closure of old psychiatric hospitals and inappropriate community residences. This study sought to identify the prevalence of housing needs among in-patients in the acute psychiatric unit in Tallaght Hospital.

Each week, over a 12-month period, nursing managers and/or key nurses who knew the patients well were asked for numerical data. Information was collected on the numbers of in-patients with accommodation needs, number of delayed discharges due to accommodation needs and number of discharges to homeless accommodation in the previous week.

On average, 38% of in-patients had accommodation related needs at any one time. Most (98%) of delayed discharges had accommodation related needs. Delayed discharge in-patients with accommodation needs accounted for 28% of all inpatients and for 72% of all inpatients with accommodation related needs.

Accommodation need among psychiatric in-patients is underreported. Housing need data should be routinely collected and effective interagency strategies developed to address housing needs.

‘Time to Adjust’ (TTA) is a 6-week group-based cognitive-behavioural-therapy programme for patients recovering from cancer. The TTA intervention is designed to facilitate patient’s adjustment to life after cancer by enhancing existing coping skills, developing new coping skills and drawing on peer support within the context of group delivery of the programme. The study aims to explore patient psychological adjustment and to identify features of the intervention that patients find most beneficial.

This retrospective repeated measures design study represents a clinical evaluation of a group-based intervention routinely delivered by the Cancer Psychology Service at University Hospital Limerick. TTA was open to patients with a cancer diagnosis who had completed their surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment by the programme start date. Patients self-referred and suitability for the programme was assessed by pre-programme clinical interview. Pre- and post-intervention data from 59 participants was collected using self-report measures of stress and coping. A brief end-of-programme questionnaire provided descriptive feedback on patients’ experience of the programme.

Findings revealed favourable trends in the psychological adjustment of patients. Self-reported depression, anxiety and negative adjustment was lower post-TTA.

This study indicates that TTA supports patients’ psychological recovery from cancer with multiple components of the programme facilitating psychological adjustment. Findings support the delivery of group-based therapeutic interventions for this patient group. Future research could use in-depth post-intervention interviews for a richer understanding of the programme benefits. Longer-term follow-up in could examine the degree to which benefits are maintained over time.

In recent decades mental health services have become increasingly community based and multidisciplinary. However, it is unclear if referrals have changed over this period. The aim of this study was to compare referrals to a community mental health service over a 30-year period.

New referrals to a community mental health service were randomly sampled from 4 time points over a 30-year period, 1983, 1993, 2003 and 2013, using a mental health information system. Original referral letters were retrieved and anonymised. Referrals were compared with regard to referral sources, demographics, reason for referral, psychotherapy requests, urgency, risk concerns and subsequent hospital admission.

There was a 20-fold increase in the number of new referrals between 1983 and 2013. Over the 30 years there was a significant decrease in the proportion of referrals expressing concern about psychosis, but an increase in the proportion that were deemed urgent and which were concerned with suicidal risk. Referrals in 2013 were longer and more likely to contain requests for psychotherapy.

The work of community mental health teams is increasingly concerned with emotional crises. Although services are now more multidisciplinary, they have not been adequately resourced to meet these changing demands.

Movement disorders are a common problem in those receiving antipsychotic medication. Clinical guidelines recommend that these side-effects are monitored regularly throughout treatment. However, due to a lack of training, clinician confidence levels in assessment are often low and regular monitoring may be neglected.

To audit current practice in our services regarding monitoring of extrapyramidal side effects (EPSE) and improve monitoring through education of clinicians.

The clinical records of patients receiving antipsychotic treatment, seen in the outpatient clinic over a 2-week period, were reviewed. Data were collected on whether or not EPSE had been assessed. A re-audit was undertaken following a teaching session.

Documentation regarding EPSE was present in only 14% of patient records. Following a teaching session, the overall level of documentation of EPSE rose to 42%, with rates of assessment dramatically improving in non-consultant hospital doctors.

In our practice, clinicians are generally poor to assess and record EPSE. However, rates of assessment improved significantly following a teaching session, especially in NCHDs.

Visual hallucinations are a common phenomenon, among the older adult population. They can be functional or organic in aetiology. However, new onset visual hallucinations in this population are strongly suggestive of organic brain disease. Visual impairment, cerebrovascular disease and Parkinson’s disease are three causes of visual hallucinations, considered in this case series. The evidence in the literature, for the treatment of these conditions is scant at best. There is a paucity of randomised controlled trials available concerning possible therapeutic options.

We describe three case reports of visual hallucinations due to diverse underlying aetiologies. We then discuss the aetiologies of visual hallucinations in general and then in these particular cases and finally include results of a literature search examining the available evidence for any therapeutic options proposed.

Our three cases have different, underlying aetiologies. One case is of Charles Bonnet syndrome. The next is of visual hallucinations associated with vascular dementia. The final case is of visual hallucinations associated with Parkinson’s disease. The first two cases are of particular interest due to the efficacy of Amisulpride in both clinical scenarios.

Visual hallucinations are a common phenomenon in the elderly population

They can be due to a myriad of underlying causes. There are a number of neurochemical factors and neuroanatomical structures implicated. The evidence for psychopharmacological interventions is scanty. Randomised controlled trials are lacking in the area. An interesting finding in this case series, was of the clinical utility of Amisulpiride. Given this agent’s unique psychopharmacological profile it is possible that it may be efficacious in other cases of visual hallucinations associated with particular neurochemical factors.