30 January 2018


‘Health of the Nation’ – Thursday nights at 9.30

The RACGP returns to Macquarie Media’s weekly radio program ‘Health of the Nation’ on Thursday 1 February 2018 to speak to patients around the country.

RACGP President Dr Bastian Seidel will discuss codeine upscheduling and what the changes mean for GPs and their patients.

RACGP members can tune in to 3AW Melbourne, 2GB Sydney or 4BC Brisbane at 9.30 pm on Thursday nights to listen to Health of the Nation.

Alternatively, episodes can be streamed through the 3AW website


‘Upscheduling of codeine’ page - Resources for GPs

The RACGP has collated a repository of resources to help support GPs, practice teams and their patients with the forthcoming upscheduling of codeine, effective 1 February 2018.

The ‘Upscheduling of codeine’ page hosts a range of clinical and state resources, information for patients, GP education and a directory to state-based clinical advisory services.

Visit the RACGP website for more information.


Clinical Pearl: Cognitive behavioural therapy for panic disorder

Panic disorder affects approximately 10% of general practice patients. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is recommended as first-line therapy for panic disorder, and can be used alone or in conjunction with pharmacotherapy in adults with or without agoraphobia.

Panic disorder involves recurrent and sometimes unexpected attacks. Physical symptoms of a panic attack include a racing heart, chest pain or tightness, shortness of breath, feeling faint, sweats, blurred vision, pins and needles in limb peripheries and/or around the mouth, butterflies in the stomach, and ‘jelly legs’.

CBT can be used at any stage in the development of panic disorder. GPs can provide the appropriate psychoeducation even if they do not use all of the CBT techniques recommended for management of attacks. Face-to-face therapy is generally limited to five to 10 sessions of one hour over a maximum of four months, individually or in groups.

Visit the RACGP’s Handbook of non-drug interventions (HANDI) for more information.


Media enquiries

Journalists and media outlets seeking comment and information from the RACGP should contact:

John Ronan

Senior Media Advisor