Download Introducing the Anxiety Disorders Team

INTRODUCING
THE
ANXIETY DISORDERS
TEAM
SPECIALIST MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
CANTERBURY DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD
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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
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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.
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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:
x Panic Disorder
x Social Phobia
x Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
x Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
x Agoraphobia
x Generalised Anxiety Disorder
x 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:
Fax:
Email:
(03) 364 0421
(03) 338 6857
[email protected]
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: 364 0482.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
.
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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.
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