The Psychiatry & Clinical Psychology Department focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health disorders, providing comprehensive care for patients across all age groups. This department integrates psychiatric evaluation, psychological therapy, and medication management to address a wide range of mental health conditions.
Diagnostic Services
- Psychiatric Assessment: Comprehensive evaluations to diagnose mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. This includes clinical interviews, mental status examinations, and diagnostic tools.
- Psychological Testing: Use of standardized tests and assessments to evaluate cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning. This includes intelligence tests, personality assessments, and neuropsychological evaluations.
- Neuropsychiatric Evaluation: Assessment of cognitive and behavioral changes due to neurological conditions such as dementia, traumatic brain injury, or epilepsy. This often involves collaboration with neurology.
- Substance Use Assessment: Evaluation of substance use disorders, including alcohol and drug dependence, to determine the impact on mental health and to guide treatment planning.
Medical and Therapeutic Services
- Medication Management: Prescription and monitoring of psychiatric medications to manage symptoms of mental health disorders. This includes antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and anxiolytics.
- Psychotherapy: A range of therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), psychodynamic therapy, and supportive therapy, tailored to individual patient needs.
- Group Therapy: Structured group sessions that provide support, education, and coping strategies for patients with similar conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or addiction.
- Family Therapy: Therapy sessions involving family members to address family dynamics, improve communication, and support the patient’s treatment plan. This is particularly important in cases of adolescent and child psychiatry.
- Crisis Intervention: Immediate support and stabilization for patients experiencing acute psychiatric crises, such as suicidal ideation, severe panic attacks, or psychotic episodes. This may involve inpatient care or intensive outpatient support.
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): A treatment option for severe depression, catatonia, or bipolar disorder when other treatments have not been effective. ECT is administered under anesthesia and involves inducing a brief seizure to alter brain chemistry.
Specialized Programs
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Focused care for younger patients, addressing developmental issues, behavioural disorders, and emotional challenges. This includes ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and anxiety disorders.
- Geriatric Psychiatry: Specialized care for older adults, addressing issues like dementia, late-life depression, and the psychological impact of aging. Treatment plans are often integrated with medical care for chronic conditions.
- Addiction Psychiatry: Treatment programs for individuals struggling with substance use disorders, including detoxification, rehabilitation, and relapse prevention strategies. This includes dual diagnosis treatment for patients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
- Eating Disorders Program: Comprehensive treatment for eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder, involving a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, nutritionists, and medical doctors.
- Trauma and PTSD Treatment: Specialized therapy for individuals who have experienced traumatic events, focusing on recovery from Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) through evidence-based approaches like EMDR and trauma-focused CBT.
Inpatient and Outpatient Services
- Inpatient Psychiatric Care: Intensive treatment for patients with severe mental health conditions requiring 24/7 care. This includes medication stabilization, therapy, and crisis management in a safe, controlled environment.
- Outpatient Psychiatry Services: Ongoing psychiatric care in an outpatient setting, providing regular appointments for medication management, therapy, and support. This allows patients to continue their daily lives while receiving treatment
- Day Treatment Programs: Structured day programs that offer intensive therapy and support for individuals who do not require inpatient care but need more than outpatient services can provide. These programs often include group therapy, individual therapy, and skill-building sessions.
Rehabilitation and Support Services
- Psychosocial Rehabilitation: Programs designed to help patients with chronic mental health conditions regain independence and improve their quality of life. This includes vocational training, social skills development, and life skills coaching.
- Peer Support Groups: Facilitated support groups where patients can share their experiences and coping strategies, fostering a sense of community and reducing feelings of isolation.
- Case Management: Coordination of care for patients with complex needs, ensuring they receive appropriate services, including housing, employment support, and access to community resources.
