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We compared MMPI-2 (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) profiles of 2 groups of adult biological men requesting sex reassignment surgery; 1 group was diagnosed with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., rev. [DSM-III-R]; American Psychiatric Association, 1987) transsexualism and the other with gender identity disorder of adolescence and adulthood, nontranssexual type (GIDAANT). Although the mean profiles for the transsexual group did not demonstrate any psychopathology, the GIDAANT group showed moderate psychopathology. A cluster analysis indicated that 85% of the transsexual group showed low psychopathology and 47% of the GIDAANT group showed severe psychopathology. Neither the MMPI-2 results nor the DSM-III-R clinical evaluation support the conclusion of many authors that transsexualism is associated with severe personality disorder; rather, the data indicate that transsexualism and other gender identity disorders without persistent wish for sex reassignment differ significantly in degree of psychopathology.

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The hypothesis that the stressful nature of medical training is a major cause of impairment of doctors is explored in this study by examining whether changes in psychological adjustment occur during the first year, the first year is stressful, and sex differences in psychological adjustment or stress occur. All first-year medical students at an Australian university completed self-rating measures of psychiatric symptomatology, ego-resilience, depressive mood and role conflict, support and confidence at the beginning, middle and end of the year. Measures of stress were included in the latter two assessments. On average, students appeared to be reasonably well adjusted when they entered the course, and were not adversely affected by their experiences during the year. While 'academic work' and 'intimate relationships' were comparatively stressful, stress levels reported were not high. The only sex difference was in depressive symptoms. The implications of these findings for medical training are discussed.

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The reactions of a volunteer mental health team which convened in the aftermath of the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires are reported. A questionnaire designed to explore psychological and physical responses was completed by the 19 staff who made up the team. Using both open-ended and closed questions, the questionnaire tapped such areas as motivation, goals, expectations and observations, initial and later emotional and physical reactions, fantasies and evoked memories; an evaluation of the service and the experience was also included. Analysis of responses indicated that team members experienced considerable stress during their post-disaster work but also gained a great deal at both professional and personal levels. Sources of stress are discussed as are recommendations for their alleviation.

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The reactions of a volunteer mental health team which convened in the aftermath of the 1983 ash Wednesday bushfires are reported. A question naire designed to explore psychological and physical responses was completed by all of the 19 staff who made up the team. Using both open ended and closed questions, the questionnaire tapped such areas as motivation, goals, Expectations and observations, initial and later emotional and psysical reactions, fantasies and evoked memories; an evaluation of the service and the experience was also included. Analysis of responses in dictated that team members experienced considerable stress during their post-disaster work but also gained a great deal on both professional and personal levels. Sources of stress are discussed as are recommendations for their alleviation (AU)

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In an attempt to extend the findings of previous research and to investigate the hypothesis of a link between exhibitionism and pedophilia, samples of Australian offenders undergoing presentence psychiatric assessment were compared on a number of variables. The data suggested that the exhibitionists and pedophiles in the sample represented different populations: the exhibitionists were younger, tended to come from more stable and harmonious families, and had superior school and work records. The common assumption of disinhibition as a feature of exhibitionism was questioned on the basis of the finding that almost no exhibitionists were intoxicated at the time of their offense.

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This study examined relevant Victorian data in the light of overseas findings on sex differences in psychopathology and utilisation of psychiatric treatment resources. Data sources included community health surveys and treatment statistics from the State psychiatric services, general hospitals and general practitioners. It was revealed that more Victorian women than men reported and were treated for psychiatric problems, and that women were most often diagnosed as depressed and otherwise neurotic, whereas men more often had alcohol and personality disorders. Married women had higher rates of mental illness than married men, whereas single and divorced men had higher rates of psychiatric morbidity than their female counterparts. Occupational status was related to men's, but not women's mental health. Various explanations for the findings are discussed, with some stress on the possible contribution of the sex role socialisation and cultural expectations of men and women.

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