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Guest Editorial
Highlighting Bipolar II Disorder
Gordon Parker, MD, PhD, DSc, FRANZCP
(PDF)

In Review
Neurobiological Findings in Bipolar II Disorder Compared With Findings in Bipolar I Disorder
Brent M McGrath, BSc, MSc, Phillip H Wessels, MD, FRCPC, Emily C Bell, BSc, MSc, Michele Ulrich, BSc, Peter H Silverstone, MB, BS, MD, MRCPsych, FRCPC
(PDF)

Bipolar II Disorder: An Overview of Recent Developments
George Hadjipavlou, MA, MD, Hiram Mok, MA, MB, BCh, BAO, FRCPC, Lakshmi N Yatham, MBBS, MRCPsych, FRCPC3 (PDF)

Review Paper
Bipolar Disorder: It’s All in Your Mind? The Neuropsychological Profile of a Biological Disorder
Gin S Malhi, BSc, MB, ChB, MRCPsych, FRANZCP, Belinda Ivanovski, Ssc Psychol, M Clin Psychol, Viktoria Szekeres, BSc,Psychol
(PDF)

Original Research
Impact of Culture on Depressive Symptoms of Elderly Chinese Immigrants
Glenda MacQueen, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Daniel WL Lai, PhD
(PDF)

Development and Reliability of a Pictorial Mental Disorders Screen for Young Adolescents
Nicole Smolla, PhD, Jean-Pierre Valla, MD, MSc, Lise Bergeron, PhD, Claude Berthiaume, MSc, Marie St-Georges, MPs
(PDF)

Command Hallucinations Among Asian Patients With Schizophrenia
Theresa MY Lee, MBBS, MMed, Siow Ann Chong, MBBS, MMed, Yiong Huat Chan, PhD, Gangaharan Sathyadevan, MBBS, MRCPsych
(PDF)

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Concurrent Disorders Screener
Juan C Negrete, MD, FRCPC, Jane Collins, MSc, Nigel E Turner, PhD, Wayne Skinner, MSW
(PDF)

Validation de la version française du questionnaire de Sociotropie-Autonomie de Beck et collègues
Mathilde M Husky, MSc, Olivier S Grondin, MSc, Philippe D Compagnone, PhD
(PDF)

Brief Communication
Depressive Symptoms and Alcohol Consumption Among Nonalcoholic Depression Patients Treated With Desipramine
Benjamin I Goldstein, MD, PhD, Ayal Schaffer, MD, FRCPC, Anthony Levitt, MD, FRCPC, Ari Zaretsky, MD, FRCPC, Russell T Joffe, MD, FRCPC, Virginia Wesson, MD, R Michael Bagby, PhD
Pierre Bleau, MD, FRCPC
(PDF)

Letters to the Editor
(PDF)

Safety of Clozapine in 2 Successive Pregnancies

Revisiting the Diagnostic Challenges of Secondary Mania and Bipolar Disorder in a Patient With Borderline Hyperthyroidism

Dyslipidaemia and Psychiatric Patients

Dream Contents in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

Sensory Deprivation and Disorders of Perception

Re: The Internet’s Impact on the Practice of Psychiatry

Response: The Internet’s Impact on the Practice of Psychiatry

Denial and Avoidance in an Unusual Case of Death From Breast Cancer

Interferon-Induced Mania

Drug-Induced Psychosis After Long-Term Treatment With Levetiracetam

Priapism

An Ounce of Prevention: “COPEing with Toddler Behaviour”

Internet Gaming Addiction

Letters to the Editor

Re: The Internet’s Impact on the Practice of Psychiatry

Dear Editor:
Dr Styra recently reviewed the impact of the Internet on psychiatry (1). Described below is a novel example of the use of the Internet in providing care. Instant messaging services are one of the many uses of the Internet and are a popular method of communication among many Internet users.

Case Report

A young man with hearing impairment presented to the emergency department with his mother. He was referred for suicidal ideation at approximately 3:00 AM. To complete the psychiatric evaluation and to ensure confidentiality, attempts were made to obtain a sign language interpreter. An interpreter would be available only in the morning, and the wait was unacceptable to the patient. Attempts to use paper and pencil to complete the assessment were less than ideal. A novel idea of using an Internet instant messaging system to complete the assessment was offered. The patient used 2 computers that were already set up side by side to complete the assessment. The patient and clinician logged on and connected via the messenger service. The close approximation of the computers allowed the clinician to observe the patient and to note any affective cues.

Discussion

Instant messenger service allows individuals who are on-line to communicate with each other. The above case describes the use of this service to complete a psychiatric assessment in a hearing-impaired individual. American sign language is a language in itself, complete with its own syntax and subtleties. Though the method used to complete the assessment was not ideal, it sufficed under the circumstances. The use of video will improve communication via instant messaging services. The cost of this service is considerably less than those associated with telepsychiatry, and it may be a useful tool in psychiatry in the future.

References

1. Styra R. The Internet’s impact on the practice of psychiatry. Can J Psychiatry 2004;49:5–11.

Krishna Balachandra, MD
London, Ontario