Psychology services in psychiatric rehabilitation: Service user needs and staff perceptions

Abstract

There is limited access to specialist clinical psychology services in psychiatric rehabilitation. The paper describes a needs assessment that informed decisions about the most effective way to use available psychology resources. The psychological needs of 24 service users residing in three rehabilitation units were assessed using the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales. Managers and 12 members of staff were also interviewed to elicit their views about the psychologist's potential role. Across all services, there were high levels of unmet needs that could be addressed by psychological interventions. Psychological assessments would help identify which service users would benefit from interventions and should include neuropsychological measures. Staff also reported that they would benefit from consultation and training in psychological approaches. Although this way of working would increase access to psychological resources across the services, it would require commitment from managers towards psychological-orientated models of care.

Referrers' Perceived Utility and Outcomes of Clinical Neuropsychological Assessment in an Adolescent and Young Adult Public Mental Health Service

“…Neuropsychological input has also long been recognised as a useful adjunct to the assessment and treatment of psychiatric disorders (Keefe, 1995; Lopez, Roberts, Tchanturia, & Treasure, 2008; Palmer, 2004; Silverstein, Morrison, & Weinberg, 1980), but this has been less commonly reflected in its inclusion as a standard service delivered within psychiatric settings. A recent survey of perceived unmet service needs among the staff working in psychiatric rehabilitation settings found neuropsychological assessment to be one of the most frequently cited unmet needs (Berry, 2007).…”