The advent of readily accessible, inexpensive Web-conferencing applications has opened the door for distance psychotherapy supervision, using video recordings of treated clients. Although relatively new, this method of supervision is advantageous given the ease of use and low cost of various Internet applications. This method allows periodic supervision from point to point around the world, with no travel costs and no long gaps between direct training contacts. Web-conferencing permits face-to-face training so that the learner and supervisor can read each other's emotional responses while reviewing case material. It allows group learning from direct supervision to complement local peer-to-peer learning methods. In this article, we describe the relevant literature on this type of learning method, the practical points in its utilization, its limitations, and its benefits.

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The clinical efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy (PDT) has undergone extensive study and review. Recently, researchers have studied the effects of this treatment on brain metabolic or synaptic activity, but the collective findings have never been reviewed. The objective of this review was to describe the findings of all neuroimaging studies of any form of PDT treatment. An extensive literature search through databases along with surveying of research groups were undertaken to acquire all available published studies. Eleven series were included in the final sample, consisting of 2 randomized controlled trials, 5 controlled trials and 4 case series, altogether involving 210 people: 94 healthy controls and 116 people with mood disorders, panic disorder, somatoform disorders and borderline personality disorder. A variety of neuroimaging techniques were used to examine regional metabolic activity and synaptic neurotransmission before and after treatment. The common finding was normalization of synaptic or metabolic activity in limbic, midbrain and prefrontal regions, occurring in association with improved clinical outcomes. PDT has demonstrable effects on brain function in diverse clinical populations as evidenced by a modest group of mixed neuroimaging studies.

Advertising is a commonly used means of recruiting an egg donor within Australia. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and outcomes of people's attempts to recruit an egg donor through advertising in a printed publication, Melbourne's Child. Individuals and couples who placed a new advertisement between July 2007 and December 2008 were invited to participate (n = 84), and those who expressed interest were mailed a questionnaire specifically designed for the purposes of this study. Thirty-one advertisers (37%) agreed to be sent the questionnaire and 28 were completed and returned (33%). Results showed that over half (56%) of respondents successfully recruited an egg donor through their advertisement in Melbourne's Child, 75% received at least one genuine reply and most people received a response within 2 weeks (50%) or 1-2 months (32%) after publication. At the time of completing the questionnaire, 48% had undergone a treatment cycle using donor eggs. Advertising was recalled as a stressful experience and 79% of respondents felt that more information about the success of advertising would have been helpful prior to embarking on this process. Results will be used to inform current clinical practice in assisting patients to recruit an egg donor.

Objective: To explore the medical and psychosocial experiences of HIV serodiscordant patients attending an Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART) programme. Design: Twenty couples in treatment from June 2008 to June 2009 were sent written invitations to participate in the study. Method: A semi-structured interview investigating the client's HIV history, family decision-making, engagement with and experiences of the programme was conducted. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic content analysis was used. Results: Six couples expressed an interest to participate in the study, with a final sample of 10 participants comprising of 4 couples and 2 individuals. Participants demonstrated varying levels of understanding in relation to the medical implications of treatment including vertical and horizontal transmission risks and ART procedures. Infertility-related stresses were highlighted including the quality of the couple's interpersonal relationships, the emotional, physical and financial burden of treatment and the impact of fertility treatment on their work/life balance. Disclosure of HIV status and managing confidentiality were also significant challenges for participants of this programme. Conclusion: Participants' experiences of the programme have been positive, though varied. They expressed high expectations of the programme, particularly regarding the likelihood of a pregnancy. HIV was not seen by the clients to be a clinical indicator for infertility.