INTRODUCING THE ANXIETY DISORDERS TEAM

Transcription

1 INTRODUCING THE ANXIETY DISORDERS TEAM SPECIALIST MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES CANTERBURY DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD 1

2 Anxiety Disorders Team Contents Welcome What Do We Do? Where Are We? What Do We Offer? Confidentiality The Staff Alcohol, Drugs, Verbal Abuse and Violence Feedback Complaints and Compliments 2

3 Anxiety Disorders Team Welcome Welcome to the Anxiety Disorders Team Specialist Mental Health Services, Canterbury District Health Board. This booklet contains information about the services offered by the Anxiety Disorders Team. We have tried to make the material in this booklet as clear and easy to follow as possible. If you have any questions about what you read, please ask your co-ordinator or any of the staff below. Staff involved in your care include: Co-ordinator Other Staff Psychiatrist/Registrar These staff are supported by the multi-disciplinary team, some of whom may be involved in your care from time to time. For your information: Clinical Manager Claire Gilbert Consumer Advisor John Kavermann Family/Whanau Advisor Melissa McCreanor Service Manager Cheryl Duffy These people will be of assistance to you if you have concerns about the service/care you are receiving. 3

4 What Do We Do? The Anxiety Disorders Team are a specialist unit set up to provide assessment, treatment and follow-up of people who are suffering from an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are a range of disorders which include: Panic Disorder Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Social Phobia Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Agoraphobia Generalised Anxiety Disorder Specific Phobias Our team aims to decrease the impact of the anxiety disorder on clients, their families, caregivers, significant others and the community, by utilising treatments that have been proven to be effective. Where Are We? You can find us at: c/- Building 9, (recreation centre) Hillmorton Hospital Annex Road CHRISTCHURCH 8024 Private Bag 4733 CHRISTCHURCH 8140 Ph: (03) Fax: (03) anxietydisordersunit@cdhb.health.nz Our hours of opening are: Monday to Friday: 8.30am to 5.00pm Out of hours emergency cover is provided by the Psychiatric Emergency Service ph:

5 What Do We Offer? Our service provides you with an individual co-ordinator who will work with you and other important family members or friends. Your coordinator will ensure that you receive all the services you require (within the availability of resources) to meet your anxiety health needs. Clinical Assessment When you first attend the Anxiety Disorders Unit you will be involved in a comprehensive clinical assessment. The purpose of the assessment is to identify the issues associated with your anxiety and to ensure these are fully addressed. The initial assessment usually lasts between 2-2½ hours and it is done in an informal and relaxed manner. There is usually one therapist, but at times other staff may be involved for training purposes, with your permission. If it is important to you to have a female or male therapist, please let us know when you arrange your appointment, so that we can do our best to accommodate your request. When you first arrive for the assessment, you will be welcomed and asked to complete some questionnaires which will help us to understand what you are experiencing, reach a diagnosis and to begin to develop an individual treatment plan with you. At the end of the assessment, we will discuss treatment options with you, provide a written explanation of the diagnosis and let you know who your contact person or co-ordinator is. We encourage you, where possible, to bring someone with you. This person may be a spouse, whanau, significant other, family member or friend. Your Co-ordinator As previously mentioned, a co-ordinator will work with you to develop your individual treatment plan. It is their responsibility to ensure that your treatment is running smoothly and efficiently. Your co-ordinator will in most cases, be the staff person who conducted your initial assessment. 5

6 If you have any concerns or special requests during your treatment, please contact your co-ordinator. Their contact details are at the beginning of this booklet. Treatment Your individual treatment plan may involve you in some of the following services. The treatment we offer is specialist treatment, designed to reduce the anxiety problems you are experiencing. These treatments have been shown to be the most effective treatment for anxiety disorders. The main form of treatment is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Ask for as much information as you need, as it is important that you understand the benefits and effects of any treatment. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) CBT is a type of treatment which deals with the specific problem by considering the person s thoughts, feelings and behaviour. It is based on the assumption that the way people feel and behave is a result of the beliefs they have. CBT helps the person learn more helpful ways of thinking and behaving. Sometimes therapy will be on a one-to-one basis. At other times, therapy will be provided in a group setting with experienced therapists. While your care is based on your needs, people often have some shared issues which are best addressed within a group setting. Group interventions are therefore planned on this basis. You may also benefit from group and/or individual treatment with our specialist physiotherapist, who can help with the management of physical problems associated with your anxiety disorder. Medication In some cases it may be necessary to start people on medication to help 6

7 control their symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. Where this is necessary, it will be identified in your individual treatment plan. Medical staff will explain the reasons for using medication, the expected beneficial effects and any possible side effects. Sometimes blood tests will be carried out to ensure the right dosage is given. The medical staff at the Anxiety Disorders Unit will closely monitor the medication and your response to the medication. However, once a person s medication is stabilised, the person s general practitioner will take over this function. If there are no anticipated problems your general practitioner might be asked to take over prescribing and monitoring from the beginning. Minor tranquillisers (e.g. benzodiazepines) may be used in the short term to help relieve anxiety symptoms. As anxiety symptoms can occur long term, people who use these medications for long periods may become dependent on them. These medications may also interfere with concentration, memory, co-ordination and emotions. This may make it difficult to learn to effectively use psychological techniques (for example CBT) to control anxiety. For these reasons, we have a policy of reducing or withdrawing minor tranquillisers before starting CBT. A withdrawal programme may be set up following discussion with the client and their general practitioner or this may be done by the general practitioner with advice from our unit. Information and Education Throughout the course of your treatment, we will provide you with education material about the management of anxiety disorders, the different therapies being used in your treatment, as well as information about medication. We will also provide advice, education and support for your family members, significant others and those involved with your care. You will be given information about the Physiotherapy sessions covering lifestyle balance, sleep and relaxation following admission to the service. 7

8 Discharge At the end of your treatment programme, a review will be done with you to discuss the treatment we have provided and to address any outstanding issues you may have, associated with your treatment. This is also a good time for you to give feedback on what you think of the services we have provided and to give us any suggestions on how we may improve our service in the future. Support Groups There are community support groups for Agoraphobia, Social Phobia and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and you will receive further information about these from your co-ordinator. Confidentiality The information which is gathered during the course of your treatment is normally available to Mental Health Services staff only. You will have only one file within the Mental Health Services, no matter which of the services you utilise. We are developing electronic files which means that your information will be held on a computer. All Mental Health Services staff have signed a pledge not to divulge information about you to other people who are not staff. To further secure your information, staff are also not permitted to read or access your file unless it is pertinent to the treatment they are providing. Other health authorities may request information (if you are being treated outside our area) however, this will only be released to them on your written authority. Your general practitioner will be kept informed of your treatment and as such, this information will become part of your medical records with your doctor. You should also be aware that the Government Agencies may subpoena your file for legal proceedings, however you will be informed should this ever occur. 8

9 The Staff It is sometimes confusing to know who all the staff are, as most staff do not wear a uniform. However all staff wear an identification badge. Staff who may be involved in your care include: Co-ordinator Consultant Psychiatrist Psychiatric Registrar Clinical Psychologist Clinical Nurse Therapist Physiotherapist Occupational Therapist Social Worker Secretary Referrals Intake Person Data Entry Person Each member of the team is professionally qualified in the discipline they represent. Therapists at the Anxiety Disorders Unit from these various professional groups are all experienced in assessment, case co-ordination and treatment with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). The Physiotherapist has special skills in physical techniques to manage anxiety. Sometimes there are students doing placements at the Anxiety Disorders Unit. You may be asked if you are willing to have a student (under supervision) participate in part of your care. If you are not comfortable with this you have the right to refuse. 9

10 Alcohol, Drugs, Verbal Abuse and Violence We are here to provide a place of safety, care and treatment; so verbal abuse, violent behaviour, sexual harassment and damage to property is not tolerated. Alcohol and unprescribed drugs disrupt people s treatment. As the use of alcohol and other drugs can disrupt people s treatment it is recommended people do not use these substances during their treatment. Your therapist will not continue with your treatment session should you attend and have been drinking or using drugs. Feedback Complaints and Compliments Consumer care is about respecting clients and their needs. We want to know if you have any concerns about the care we provide. You and your concerns will be taken seriously and respected. We expect that you will also respect the views of staff. There may be times when you want to say thanks to someone. We appreciate positive feedback because it is another way of knowing we are doing a good job for you. Quite often, we can sort out a difficulty quickly, but we need to know about it talk to us. It is the job of the staff at the Anxiety Disorders Unit to make sure you are receiving the best possible care in the most appropriate way. Often the team involved will be able to deal with the issue then and there.. 10

11 If you have a complaint or an issue that cannot be resolved immediately, we have a formal policy to help with its resolution. A pamphlet in your information kit explains this process. Your complaint, written or verbal, will be responded to in writing and will be given full consideration, so that there is a rapid and fair resolution for all concerned. 11

12 12