Dr Mark Sachmann

Qualifications:

MA, MSW, PhD (Psychiatry) UWA.

Profile:

Dr. Mark Sachmann has 18 years experience in working with adult psychiatric presentations and specialises in the clinical management and treatment of personality disorders (in both hospital and private practice settings).  He is a clinical consultant for a number of state government and private organisations throughout Australia.  In addition to lecturing at the University of Western Australia, Mark runs a private practice specialising in the psychotherapeutic treatment of borderline personality disorders, early childhood abuse experiences and depression.

Over the last 12 years, Mark has trained clinicians throughout Australia in the psychodynamic approach to the diagnosis, management and treatment of personality disordered presentations, in particular borderline personality disorders.  His research interests focus on developing risk factor modelling incorporating early traumatic childhood experiences and genetic temperamental vulnerabilities in the aetiology of personality disorders.

Teaching Interests:

Psychiatric rehabilitation, psychopathology, psychodynamic psychotherapy, personality disorders, early childhood trauma.

Research Interests:

The development of risk factor modelling for personality disorders incorporating early childhood trauma experiences and genetic temperamental vulnerabilities in the aetiology of personality disorders, evaluating psychosocial treatment initiatives for early childhood trauma, adolescent suicidality and self harm.

Current Research:

• Chief investigator: Evaluation of Adolescent Suicide and Self-Harm Treatment Programme (Youth Link).
• Evaluation of Psychosocial Treatment Modalities in Children with ADHD. Child Development Centre.

Research, Papers and Invited Addresses:

'The aetiology of schizophrenia: a biopsychosocial approach.' Unpublished MA paper, University of Western Australia, 1989.

'The self in psychoanalytic theory: metapsychological dimensions.', University of Western Australia, 1991.

'Clinical management of borderline personality disorders in Graylands Hospital.' Paper presented to the Borderline Personality Interest Group, Graylands Hospital, 1991.

'The rapprochement sub phase of separation-individuation: its significance in the aetiology of borderline personality disorder.' Presented to the advanced clinical practice seminar at the University of Western Australia, September 1991.

'An object relations treatment approach to refractory borderline personality disorders.' Paper presented to clinical staff at the Holly Oak Institute, 1992.

'Borderline personality disorders: clinical management strategies.' Paper presented to the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. November, 1993.

'The aetiology of borderline personality disorders'. Address given to the Department of Psychiatry, Royal Perth Hospital. November, 1993.

'The psychotherapeutic management of aggressive personality disorders'. Presentation given to the Alcohol and Drug Authority (William Street), January, 1994.

'The concept of borderline psychopathology: implications for psychotherapeutic practice.' Presentation given to the Transactional Analysis Association of Western Australia. March, 1994.

‘Psychotherapeutic and clinical management strategies for regressed personality disorders’. Presentation given to staff at the De Paul Community Psychiatric Service. March 1995.

‘Borderline Personality Disorders: Clinical Management Strategies.’ Presentation given to the Breakthrough Lecture Series for ARAFMI. September. 1995.

‘Borderline Personality Disorders: Aetiology, Treatment and Psychotherapeutic Management Considerations’. Presentation Given to the Family Court Counselling Service. August, 1995.

‘Borderline personality disorders: clinical management strategies.’ Paper presented to the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. July, 1996.

‘The clinical management of personality disorders: considerations for community based treatment.’ Presentation given to the Rockingham-Kwinana Community Mental Health Service. April, 1997.

‘The management of suicidal and self-mutilating patients.’ Presentation to the Swan Health Service. February, 1998.

‘Clinical Strategies for dealing with self-harming patients.’ Presentation given to the Joondalup Community Mental Health Team. February, 1999.

‘Clinical Strategies for dealing with self-harming patients.’ Presentation given to the Self Harm/Suicide Intervention Team, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. May, 1999.

‘The Aetiology of Borderline Personality Disorder.’ Presentation given at the Feast of Psychiatry Conference. Fremantle Hospital, March 2000.

Presentation in the Association for the Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill (ARAFMI) Silver Jubilee 25th Anniversary Breakthrough Lecture Series.  'Borderline personality disorder: What is it? Wht causes it" And can we do anthing about it?'  Graylands Hospital, October 2003.

Presentation to Ministry of Justice on 'The management and treatment of borderline personality disorders: Forensic considerations', October 2003.

Paper presented to Community Justice Services Mental Health Information Series. 'Borderline Personality Disorders: Clinical Intervention Strategies', February 2004.

‘Risk factors in the perpetration of domestic violence: the role of personality dynamics', Paper presented to the Perth West Domestic Violence Action Group State Conference: Health Department, April 2005.

Professional Publications:

'The role of sexual abuse in the aetiology of borderline personality disorder' Connect: Mental Health Mattes Journal, 2000.

'The psychotherapeutic treatment of borderline personality disorders' Connect: Mental Health Matters Journal, 2000.