Abstract Book - International Academy of Law and Mental Health

Patricia Peppin, Queen’s University (peppinp@queensu.ca)Drugs are approved for use in certain populations and for certain purposes. These limits on usesreflect the testing conducted prior to regulatory approval. Physicians, though, may prescribebeyond these approved uses for other uses, populations, combinations and delivery systems.Such discretion provides a means of introducing further innovation into treatment in a situationwhere safety and efficacy data have been produced and approval granted. What are the risks ofsuch off-label uses? The central risk rests on the inadequacies of knowledge in the fullpopulation for which the product will be used. For example, use of antidepressants in adolescentswas such an unapproved use. Regulatory bodies limit promotion of off-label uses due to itspotential to provide a sense of certainty where unknowns exist and to expand the range ofadverse effects. How should physicians determine their legal obligations in this situation? Inparticular, the standard of care for treatment must be met, as must disclosure of risks andbenefits. The presentation will examine this question in relation to the standard of care in otherrelated situations, such as research participation and end-of-life decision-making where theprognosis is hopeless.Job Characteristics and Job Stress among JudgesTineke Hagen, Tilburg University (m.j.hagen@tilburguniversity.edu)For several years there has been growing world-wide awareness of the impact of the workcircumstances of judges. The growth in asylum cases and in more complicated cases is one wellknownchange. In international research one of the most reported job characteristics amongjudges is work pressure and there are indications for stress, burnout and secondarytraumatization. This study examines several job characteristics, the job demands (e.g., workpressure, work-home interference), the resources (e.g., autonomy and social support), and therole of personality factors—using the Job Demands-Resources Model. The effects of the jobcharacteristics and the personality factors on the well-being (e.g., burnout, post traumatic stress,absenteeism and engagement) of judges are objects of this study. Judges of five courts of firstinstance, from the criminal law, civil law, family law, administrative law and asylum lawdivisions, participated. An online questionnaire composed of several existing questionnaires wasadministered on the above-mentioned factors, supplemented by items particularly for theprofessional group of judges. Given the results the judiciary may gain an insight into therelationship between work pressure, other organizational factors and personality factors and forinstance stress and absenteeism among judges.Mapping Canadian Law and Psychology ScholarshipLouise Bélanger-Hardy, University of Ottawa (lbelhard@uottawa.ca)38