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Dr Ellard, revered former Editor of Modern Medicine of Australia and later, Medicine Today, and a distinguished psychiatrist, wrote many essays between the 1970s and early 2000s on society's most controversial and vexing issues and, on occasion, the whimsical. These were published in various journals, and some were also compiled and published as books. This essay 'The recognition and management of werewolves' originally appeared in the April 1990 issue of Modern Medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the author's experience with using a placebo-based approach to treat warts in a dermatology outpatient clinic. Topics discussed include the historical use of magic and remedies for various conditions, the role of placebos in medical practice, and the need for doctors and patients to work together as partners to achieve the best outcomes.

Dr Ellard, revered former Editor of Modern Medicine of Australia and later, Medicine Today, and a distinguished psychiatrist, wrote many essays between the 1970s and early 2000s on society's most controversial and vexing issues. These were published in various journals including Modern Medicine of Australia and Medicine Today, and some were also compiled and published as books. This essay 'The future of medicine: will we be crushed by elephants?' originally appeared in the April 2000 issue of Medicine Today. It still resonates today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights delusions of infestation, citing a clinical case of a patient who firmly believes there is an ants' nest in his head, despite medical evidence to the contrary. Topics include the rarity of such cases, the distress it causes patients, the use of pimozide as a potential treatment, and unconventional methods like using denture cleaner to alleviate symptoms.

Herein we describe a series of tetrahydrobenzotriazoles as novel, potent metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGlu5) positive allosteric modulators (PAMs). Exploration of the SAR surrounding the tetrahydrobenzotriazole core ultimately led to the identification of 29 as a potent mGlu5 PAM with a low maximal glutamate potency fold shift, acceptable in vitro DMPK parameters and in vivo PK profile and efficacy in the rat novel object recognition (NOR) assay. As a result 29 was identified as a suitable compound for progression to in vivo safety evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compares data collected from the World-Wide Web (WWW) in two samples with that of traditional paper-and measure data from two university samples on three psychometric studies on a measure of self-trust, the Self-Trust Questionnaire. Benefits of using the World Wide Web; Definition of self-trust; Details on the development and psychometric assessment of the self-trust measure.

Objective: The aim of this article was to examine the concept of mental health and the policies that have been advanced to improve the wellbeing of the population. Conclusions: In the last century there have been many changes in the phenomena of psychiatric disorder, the management of those disorders and the outcomes. All of the changes have largely been due to the efforts of those working pragmatically at the coalface. There is little to suggest that the plans and programs advanced in the last half century have achieved more than enhancing the status of those who advance them. Conclusion: It is difficult to define mental health and equally difficult to develop a comprehensive program that will benefit the whole field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this paper is to consider the history of human beings killing one another and reflect upon their reasons. Has it ever been altruistic? Method: Important examples of large episodes of killing, such as wars, the Crusades, the Inquisition and genocides were examined. Results: Reasons are always advanced for killing large numbers of people who did not want to die. They were not based on logic nor on altruism but on moralities constructed from religious and political beliefs. Those who wanted to die because of unrelievable pain involved in the process of dying from an incurable illness are always preserved against their wishes. Once more, the reasons were usually religious and/or politically supported. Conclusion: The belief that it is acceptable to kill those who do not want to die but unacceptable to kill those who want to die provides a curious paradox. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To consider Dr Joseph Dunn's thoughts about the future of psychiatry. The future has begun; we are standing in it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: An attempt to discover the meaning of “disease” in general medicine and “disorder” in psychiatry. Conclusions: There is no satisfactory definition: the terms are social constructs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the duties of editors and the ways in which authors can make an editor’s life easier. Conclusions: An editor’s tasks include knowing his or her reader, making a journal attractive and ensuring articles are accurate and up to date. Authors can assist by having the reader in mind, writing in plain English and keeping articles short. Peer review is an important aspect of medical publishing but has limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundMethodsResultsConclusionThe words used to refer to weight and individuals with large bodies can be used to reinforce weight stigma. Given that most previous research has examined preferred terminology within homogenous groups, this research sought to examine terminology preferences across populations.This paper reports on data gathered with the general public, family physicians, and obesity researchers/practitioners. Participants were asked about the words they commonly: (1) used to refer to people with large bodies (general public); (2) heard in their professional contexts (physicians and obesity specialists); and (3) perceived to be the most socially or professionally acceptable (all samples).Similarities and differences were evident between samples, especially related to weight-related clinical terms, the word fat, and behavioral stereotypes.The results provide some clarity into the differences between populations and highlight the need to incorporate use of strategies that may move beyond person-first language to humanize research and clinical practice with people with large bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weight bias comprises a multitude of stereotypes about individuals with large bodies, as well as negative attitudes and discriminatory behaviors. In a culture of normative discontent that emphasizes thinness as a social ideal, many counselors will inevitably work with clients who seek assistance with weight loss. Although weight loss may be a client's identified treatment goal, counselors must consider the potential for harm working toward such a goal in therapy. In this article, we utilize justice motive theory to discuss the potential unintended harm to clients in counseling when weight bias is not considered as part of a case conceptualization. Through the examination of three common social messages related to body weight (i.e., the controllability of body weight, the morality of weight, the social acceptability of weight bias), the justice motive is used to illustrate a case example and the implications for counseling. Considerations for socially just practices in counseling are discussed, as well as future research directions. Public Significance Statement: Negative attitudes and stereotypes about individuals with large bodies, known as weight bias, are a serious problem that can impact health care, including experiences in counseling. This article provides a framework for understanding how unintentional weight bias can negatively impact counseling practice and provides practice considerations from a social justice perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor about David Maddison's article on organization of hospitals into multiple group functions at different levels.

Offers tips to psychiatrists on conducting rewarding psychiatric research that can facilitate promotion.

Comments on the article by R. Morstyn about the process notes in psychotherapy. Confidentiality of psychotherapy; Legal status of private notes; Compromising duties under the Medical Practitioners Act; Exclusions for politicians in the Act.

Comments on the article 'Way Out of Tune: Lessons From Shine and Its Expose,' by G. Rosen and G. Walter which appeared in the January 2000 issue of the periodical 'Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry.' Pressures on filmakers in making films; Problems arising in the need for making everything marketable.

Presents a letter to the editor about movement disorders and the treatment of schizophrenia.

Comments a critique of the author's study on psychiatric research. Omission in relation to seeking research grants.

Presents a reply to the study on traumatic stress in the 21st century. Issue behind the reluctance on accepting the importance of adult experience in psychopathology; Neglect in the disturbing consequences of severe trauma.

Two studies explored Dion and Dion’s ( Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 775–780, ) suggestion that the belief in a just world may contribute to the “beauty is good” stereotype. In Study 1, we found that participants rated the death of a woman as more tragic and unfair when she was physically attractive than less attractive. Participants were also more punitive towards agents of harm when the victim was physically attractive. In Study 2, we varied the extent to which a woman suffered from a house fire and asked participants to later recognize the woman’s picture among several choices varying in physical attractiveness. Participants who learned that the woman suffered a great deal remembered her to be less physically attractive than when her suffering was minimal. The results are discussed in terms of how the justice motive contributes to the evaluative and moral importance attached to physical attractiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on theory from the literatures both on close relationships and on stress and coping, the present study attempts to enhance our understanding of the ways women cope with physical and emotional abuse while remaining with their abusive partners. Women who had experienced conflict and/or violence in a close relationship with a man were recruited through public service announcements. One hundred and thirty women (78.3% response rate) returned completed questionnaires assessing several variables, including characteristics of the abuse, positive aspects of their relationships, the use of downward comparisons, and attributions for positive behaviors and for the abuse. Forty-four (34.4%) women were still involved in the abusive relationship, while 86 (65.6%) were no longer involved with their abusive partner. Results of a discriminant function analysis suggest that women who remain with abusive partners appear to employ cognitive strategies that help them perceive their relationship in a positive light. For women still involved with their abusive partners, this positive relationship appraisal is unrelated to whether or not they have ever left their partners in the past. Moreover, it is unrelated to the frequency of moderate or severe physical abuse, but appears less likely the more frequently verbal abuse is experienced. In addition, women still involved with their abusive partners are not differentiated from those no longer involved in terms of their level of psychosocial adjustment. Our results suggest that it may be useful to adopt a stress and coping perspective and to view abusive relationships as a special class of close relationships in order to more fully understand the reasons why women may remain with their abusive partners. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We present 4 experiments that explore relational differences in how individuals respond to the harmful behavior of others, finding that revenge is less likely against romantic partners than against various other kinds of offenders (i.e., strangers, coworkers, roommates) both for a laboratory provocation and using hypothetical vignettes. We also implicate trust as a viable explanation for these findings, showing that individuals view the actions of a trusted other (i.e., a romantic partner) as less intentional relative to a less trusted other (i.e., a coworker) and that an experimental manipulation of trust in an offender alters levels of vengeful desires. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: A range of 3,6-di(hetero)arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine ATP-competitive inhibitors of CHK1 were developed by scaffold hopping from a weakly active screening hit. Efficient synthetic routes for parallel synthesis were developed to prepare analogues with improved potency and ligand efficiency against CHK1. Kinase profiling showed that the imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazines could inhibit other kinases, including CHK2 and ABL, with equivalent or better potency depending on the pendant substitution. These 3,6-di(hetero)aryl imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazines appear to represent a general kinase inhibitor scaffold. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We examined whether people might distort and selectively remember the past in ways that enable them to sustain a belief in a just world (BJW; Lerner, M. J. (1980). The belief in a just world: A fundamental delusion. New York: Plenum Press). In Study 1, recall of a lottery prize reflected participants’ justice concerns, such that the average lottery amount recalled was lowest when a “bad” versus “good” person won. In Study 2, an unrelated experience of just world threat (versus affirmation) enhanced biased recall of the lottery prize when the winner was undeserving. In Study 3, participants who experienced a fortuitous bad break selectively remembered more bad deeds from their recent past, whereas participants who experienced a good break selectively remembered more good deeds. Study 4 demonstrates that such selective memory biases specifically serve to portray chance outcomes as more fair. Taken together, these findings offer support for the notion that reconstructing and selectively recalling the past can serve to sustain a BJW. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

1 Stroke is the third most common cause of death in the world, and there is a clear need to develop new therapeutics for the stroke victim. To address this need, we generated a combinatorial library of polyamine compounds based on sFTX-3.3 toxin from which L-Arginyl-3,4-Spermidine (1-Arg-3,4) emerged as a lead neuroprotective compound. In the present study, we have extended earlier results to examine the compound's neuroprotective actions in greater detail. 2 In an in vitro ischaemia model, L-Arg-3,4 significantly reduced CAI cell death when administered prior to induction of 60 min of ischaemia as well as when administered immediately after ischaemia. Surprisingly, L-Arg-3,4 continued to prevent cell death significantly when administration was delayed for as long as 60 min after ischaemia. 3 L-Arg-3,4 significantly reduced cell death in excitotoxicity models mediated by glutamate, NMDA, AMPA, or kainate. Unlike glutamate receptor antagonists, 300 μM L-Arg-3,4 did not suppress synaptic transmission as measured by evoked responses in acute hippocampal slices. 4 L-Arg-3,4 provided significant protection, in vitro, in a superoxide mediated injury model and prevented an increase of superoxide production after AMPA or NMDA stimulation. It also decreased nitric oxide production after in vitro ischaemia and NMDA stimulation, but did so without inhibiting nitric oxide synthase directly. 5 Furthermore, L-Arg-3,4 was significantly neuroprotective in an in vivo model of global forebrain ischaemia, without any apparent neurological side-effects. 6 Taken together, these results demonstrate that L-Arg-3,4 is protective in several models of neurodegeneration and may have potential as a new therapeutic compound for the treatment of stroke, trauma, and other neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents reflections of psychiatrists on their professional practice. Hope for future development on the field of psychiatry; Thrill in dealing with problems of patients; Commitment for the common good.