Specialist staff in the department of mental health at ANAPLASI addresses problems relating to
emotion, behavior, memory,
attention and concentration. These include Clinical Psychologists, Neuropsychologist, Psychiatrist and Child Psychiatrists.
Clinical Psychologist
At ANAPLASI the Clinical psychologist is involved in with diagnosis, prevention and treatment of problems relating to behaviour, emotion, or
communication. They are particularly experienced in patients who are affected by motor dysfunction due to lesions of the central nervous system and chronic diseases.
Neuropsychologist
After evaluation by the physician, the Neuropsychologist assesses and treats disorders of higher mental functions:
Memory, Concentration, Cognition,
Attention etc in patients with lesions of the central nervous system.
Psychiatrist
The psychiatrist is involved in the mental welfare of the patient at ANAPLASI to enable them to cope with the immediate and delayed psychological reactions experienced in serious physical illness (particularly chronic illness or conditions that result in physical disability or dysfunction). They also provide support to the patient with previous mental illness undergoing a neurological rehabilitation program.
Child Psychiatrist
The Child Psychiatrist intervenes to help children and young people having physical, emotional and
learning disabilities to cope psychologically with their motor and the functional problems and effectively facilitate treatment. Our psychiatrists are experienced in the challenges faced by young people as they mature, and help them to prepare for and overcome their difficulties. They promote good relationships between parents and children, aiming to achieve
family and social integration.
Objectives
The ultimate goal of a successful rehabilitation program is measured by the patient having fulfilled her/his potential to act autonomously, have good quality of life and fully participate in home, professional and social life. All staff in the Department of Mental Health participates in the
Trans-Disciplinary Rehabilitation Team to ensure this outcome.
Our staff aims to:
- assess, prevent and/or treat disorders of behaviour and emotion causing difficulty in adapting to illness or rehabilitation therapy by analyzing and identifying problems which affect their quality of life.
- facilitate therapeutic intervention in other disciplines of the rehabilitation team.
- help patients overcome their problems, while remaining in their own environment and continuing perform their normal activities at home, at work and in their usual social environment.
Assessment
An assessment, involving interviewing the patient and his family, is supplemented where necessary by specific
psychometric tests. The assessment allows the therapist to advise on further action either in the form of preventative measures or treatment; it does not only identify the patient with mental illness but also the patient who is at risk of a detrimental psychological reaction due to the stress of concurrent illness, or who simply needs psychological support.
Prevention
Through counselling, regular monitoring and reassessment, psychological stress can be ameliorated before it produces adverse affects. By counselling the carers and relatives the therapist can also help them to cope.
Therapy
Therapy in Department of Mental Health may take many different forms according to the patients needs, and therapists may undertake individual, group and/or family therapy sessions in their respective specialties.
Therapy may take the form of specific tasks e.g. to enhance memory, concentration, understanding etc; involve adjustment or change of medication; teach the patient particular coping mechanisms e.g. relaxation exercises, or take the form of counselling-type sessions.
In Conclusion
Recognizing the importance of a holistic approach, it can be understood that psychological well-being is a major component in the successful rehabilitation of the patient.