Notes on an Alcohol Withdrawal Unit in Sydney

Interdisciplinary evaluations for guardianships and conservatorships.

“…The value of the interdisciplinary approach for evaluating (and treating) persons who might be subject to a guardianship has been amply demonstrated (for the aged see, Cheah et al, 1979;Edinberg et al, 1978;Feigenbaum, 1977;Kleh et al, 1978; for the mentally ill see, Bloom & Parad, 1976;Brick & Swinth, 1980;Brunell, 1978;Cumming et al, 1976;Hartocollis, 1978;Reinharz & Lowenthal, 1979;Winslow, 1979; for those suffering from alcoholism and drug dependency see, Chegwidden, 1977;Milner, 1977; for those suffering with severe and incapacitating illness see, Aitken, 1979;Winder, 1978). Among the benefits noted are (1) the ability to differentiate between behavior dominated by mental illness as opposed to physical illness; (2) the ability to differentiate disabilities resulting from physical and psychological factors and those resulting from environmental, social, and economic factors; (3) the accurate diagnosis of all contributing factors based on a comparison and contrasting of symptoms; (4) the incorporation of different perspectives and talents resulting from divergent training and professional skills, providing greater insight into the problem under study and a wider range of appropriately proposed solutions; (5) the diminishment of noncontributive stereotypes resulting from the observation of behavior from a single perspective; (6) the clients' increased awareness of and accessibility to ancillary health care providers; (7) the avoidance of variously involved health-care disciplines unknowingly working at cross-purposes to each other; and (8) a general opportunity for the professionals to complement and supplement one another in prescribing treatment and care appropriate to the individual.…”