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Interactive quizzes are based on material found in Best Practice Journal and Best Tests. Initially, quizzes are posted out with journals and GPs are invited to submit their answers for CME credits.
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When delirium occurs in the last days of life it is usually irreversible. Pharmacological treatment is only required for patients... View Article
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) affects approximately 2% of the population and can have a significant impact on quality of... View Article
A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is usually the first-line pharmacological treatment for patients with moderate... View Article
Despite being recommended for short-term use only, and usually second-line to non-pharmacological management strategies, benzodiazepines... View Article
Stopping benzodiazepine or zopiclone treatment in people who have been taking these medicines long-term can be challenging. Strategies... View Article
We present a special edition “Case of the week” submitted by Dr Jo Lane and Dr Susan Lane, Waitematā DHB. If you would like to... View Article
The purpose of this report is to provoke thought and discussion about how and why antipsychotic medicines are prescribed to older... View Article
Advanced dementia is a terminal condition for which palliative care is appropriate, however, knowing when to initiate this process... View Article
Physical symptoms commonly experienced by people with advanced dementia include pain, difficulties with hydration and nutrition,... View Article
Most people with dementia develop behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD) at some point during their journey, which can... View Article
Dementia (mate wareware - see below) is a growing healthcare challenge. There are an estimated 70,000 people with dementia in... View Article
Declining cognitive function can be a difficult topic to raise with patients and their families. It is important to reassure older... View Article
The consequences of perinatal depression* can be severe. Suicide is the leading cause of maternal mortality† in New Zealand and... View Article
Somatisation is a maladaptive functioning of an organ system, without underlying tissue or organ damage, or where the symptoms... View Article
Differentiating short-term psychological distress from depression can be difficult, particularly at the first consultation. Diagnostic... View Article
Motivational Interviewing is a way of building and strengthening people’s drive to change longstanding behaviours that pose a... View Article
Changes in funded brands of antiepileptic medicines can lead to concern from patients or caregivers that the medicine they are... View Article
From 1 June, 2018, aripiprazole can be prescribed without Special Authority approval, making access easier for patients who require... View Article
"The most critical elements in helping those with suicidal ideation are achieving some engagement with the suicidal person and... View Article
bpacnz recognises that the assessment and management of insomnia in general practice can be difficult, especially in relation... View Article
In 2014, bpacnz published an article on the safer prescribing of clozapine. Since this time, a number of fatalities, along with... View Article
This article has been superseded by: Assessment and management of alcohol misuse by primary care bpacNZ, November 2018 If... View Article
This report provides an overview of dispensings of medicines indicated for the treatment of depression and anxiety in patients... View Article
Psychological and behavioural approaches are the cornerstone of treatment for young people with depression or anxiety. When pharmacological... View Article
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Young people experience a variety of mental health conditions. For patients with mild to moderate depression and anxiety, a stepped... View Article
This is the first of a series of articles which will examine the diverse theme of mental health in young people. Adolescence is... View Article
Benzodiazepines may be considered as a short-term treatment for insomnia and anxiety; zopiclone, a benzodiazepine-like medicine,... View Article
This article has been archived. If you would like access to the original article please contact: editor@bpac.org.nz View Article
The increased use of opioid analgesics in recent years, particularly oxycodone, has resulted in misuse and addiction issues associated... View Article
The role of opioids in the management of chronic non-malignant pain is a controversial subject due to concerns over the long-term... View Article
Bipolar disorder can be challenging to diagnose and manage. It is often assumed to be recurrent major depression, until an episode... View Article
Concerns have been raised, both in New Zealand and internationally, about the increasing off-label use of antipsychotics, and... View Article
“Beating the Blues” is a web-based cognitive behavioural programme for people with symptoms of mild or mild-moderate depression,... View Article
Comparing results between different blood glucose meters | Beating the Blues: online cognitive behavioural therapy for mild to... View Article
The term "parasomnia" describes a group of sleep disorders associated with unnatural movements, behaviours, emotions, perceptions... View Article
This report highlights four key prescribing and laboratory testing recommendations covered over the past five years. Over this... View Article
Evidence of adverse cardiac effects associated with citalopram has prompted a reduction in the recommended maximum daily dose... View Article
In this conclusion to the series on abused and neglected children we revisit key messages and highlight actions that can be taken... View Article
In the fourth article in our series on vulnerable children and young people in New Zealand, we discuss the complex mental health... View Article
The use of atypical antipsychotics such as quetiapine and olanzapine is increasing. In many cases, these medicines are used for... View Article
The third article in our series on vulnerable children and young people in New Zealand. This article aims to provide primary care... View Article
This second article in our series on children and young people in New Zealand who have been abused or neglected, aims to provide... View Article
Nearly one quarter of New Zealand children and young people come to the attention of Child, Youth and Family before they reach... View Article
Assessment and management of Depression in Older Adults References and Resources View Article
Older people respond well to treatments for depression. The management of depression in older people essentially follows the same... View Article
Depression is common in older adults, although not as prevalent as in younger adults. This may be partly due to under-recognition... View Article
Appendices for Assessment and management of Depression in Older Adults View Article
Unrecognised or untreated depression during pregnancy poses considerable risk to both the mother and the developing foetus. View Article
Appendices for Depression in the antenatal and postnatal periods View Article
The purpose of this journal is to examine the assessment and management of depression in women during the antenatal and postnatal... View Article
References for Depression in the antenatal and postnatal periods View Article
Depressive symptoms in the postnatal period represent a range of clinical conditions of varying severity from simple “baby blues”... View Article
From November 1, 2010 donepezil will be funded without Special Authority, on the Pharmaceutical Schedule. Donepezil and other... View Article
The rate of suicide in young Māori males is higher than in any other population group in New Zealand. Mental health disorder... View Article
Mental health problems are common in Māori, yet there is an unmet need for receiving treatment. Identifying mental health... View Article
It is estimated that substance misuse and other addictions are experienced by over one quarter of Māori in their lifetime.... View Article
The Antipsychotics in Dementia (A4D) programme was launched in October 2008. Since then, the use of antipsychotics in older people... View Article
Appendices for Depression in Young People View Article
A stepped care approach is used with the intensity of treatment adjusted according to the response to treatment. A combination... View Article
Evidence indicates that early interventions in a number of mental health conditions for children and young people can result in... View Article
In this section the clinical features of the common mental disorders are outlined along with a discussion of suicidal behaviours.... View Article
References for Depression in Young People BPJ special edition View Article
Anxiety disorders are the most frequently seen mental disorder in general practice and generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is one... View Article
Most adults with depression present with mild depression and can be treated in primary care. The goal of treatment is to achieve... View Article
Mental disorders are extremely common with over one third of adults who attend primary care likely to have met the criteria for... View Article
All antidepressant drugs are approximately equal in effectiveness, although individual patient response may vary markedly.10 View Article
Adult depression: Apendices View Article
Adult depression: References View Article
Adapted from: Identification of Common Mental Disorders and Management of Depression in Primary care. New Zealand Guidelines Group... View Article
Although an increasing problem in general practice, identifying drug seekers is not always simple. GPs should routinely screen... View Article
How genes and the environment work together to predict disease or behavioural outcomes. View Article
Notification and details of an educational programme on the use of antipsychotics for symptoms associated with dementia View Article
Although clozapine is a specialist prescribed drug, GPs still need to be aware of potential problems associated with its use.... View Article
There is a more recent article on managing insomnia. See: I dream of sleep: managing insomnia” https://bpac.org.nz/2017/insomnia-1.aspx Insomnia... View Article
Improving Māori mental health is a government health priority. This commitment can be achieved through tangible and culturally... View Article
Nocturnal enuresis, or bedwetting, is a common condition which children usually grow out of. Advice to parents on simple behavioural... View Article
Adding a pop-up alert for patients on clozapine. View Article
Varenicline and suicidal behaviour. Wider access to quit cards.The lung age of smokers. View Article
Depressive disorder is a major health issue for young people, affecting not only function but overall development. Recent debate... View Article
The dilemma of practicing evidence based medicine when it keeps changing. View Article
Depression in elderly people can be a significant cause of disability and is under-recognised and often complex to treat. A SSRI... View Article
This article has been archived; for a copy of the original, please email editor@bpac.org.nz View Article
Does the "seven day rule" still apply with the concomitant use of combined oral contraceptives and all antibiotics? Serotonin... View Article
Can Sumatriptan be used safely with SSRIs? Can you ever use beta-blockers in someone with a history of Asthma? View Article
Clozapine is the gold-standard treatment for people with schizophrenia who are unresponsive to, or intolerant of, other antipsychotics.... View Article
An explanation of the issues around the switching of patients to generic medication including international research in the area. View Article
Table of important drug interactions with antidepressant medications. View Article
Review of the causes, symptoms and treatment of depression. View Article
Key messages on the use of SSRIs. View Article
Mental Health Foundations aims and key services. View Article
An overview of the CYP450 system with particular reference to the metabolism of antidepressant drugs. View Article
The role of primary care clinicians in improving outcomes for people with ADHD. View Article
Covers the symptoms and causes of Serotonin Syndrome and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome View Article
Can smoking cessation affect the dose of antipsychotics?Do statins cause nightmares?How important is it to give simvastatin at... View Article
In this article we provide an overview and guidance on the management of patients taking lithium. View Article
This article covers the role and safety concerns of antipsychotics in the treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms... View Article
Identifies patients on Lithium using MedTech View Article
SSRIs can increase the risk of bleeding disorders, especially if taken with an NSAID. View Article
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are an effective alternative to selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the treatment... View Article
Identifies people under the age of 18 years on paroxetine to enable checks for suicidal and aggressive behaviour View Article
Venlafaxine: how and when to use | Antidepressants for elderly people | Antidepressants in pregnancy and breastfeeding | Suicide... View Article
Pharmacogenetics: relevance in the treatment of depression View Article
The risk of injury or death during adolescence is two to three times higher than it is during childhood. The main reason for this... View Article