At the Centre for Development Disability Health Victoria (CDDHV), our goal is to improve health outcomes for people with developmental disability.
Psychiatry
Psychiatric Clinics
- General Adult
- Older Persons
- Down Syndrome Clinic
All referrals to CDDHV medical clinics are reviewed at the fortnightly clinical review meeting attended by CDDHV medical practitioners. People with behavioural or psychiatric problems may be offered an appointment with one of CDDHV's general practitioners or with one of CDDHV's psychiatrists. CDDHV general practitioners have years of experience managing behavioural and psychiatric disorders in people with developmental disability. At times they may seek further advice from one of the CDDHV psychiatrists or refer on to a CDDHV psychiatric clinic for assessment of more complex problems. More information regarding referrals and clinic services can be found here http://www.cddh.monash.org/general-practice.html.
As the CDDHV clinics bulk bill it is essential that a valid referral to see a psychiatrist is completed if the person has behavioural or psychiatric problems. The referring doctor may tick the box requesting a psychiatric assessment or write a separate referral letter. This does not necessarily mean that the person will be seen in the psychiatric clinic - that will be decided at the clinical meeting. However if it is decided at the clinical review meeting that the person should be seen in one of the psychiatric clinics the lack of a valid referral will cause unnecessary delays.
If the person is being referred to the CDDHV for a second psychiatric opinion then we encourage you to discuss this with the treating psychiatrist. CDDHV psychiatric clinics do not have the capacity to provide ongoing care and it is important that the treating psychiatrist be informed and included in the process of assessment and the development of a management plan.Down Syndrome Clinic
The Down Syndrome Clinic was established to provide an assessment service for people with Down syndrome and suspected Alzheimer's Disease. Up to 75% of people with Down syndrome may develop Alzheimer's disease by the age of 65 years. The average age of diagnosis is 50 years. Most people with Down syndrome diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in the CDDHV clinic are aged between 40 and 50 years. Changes in mood, behaviour and skills may be due to many other causes and a comprehensive assessment is completed over 2 appointments.
If appropriate cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept, Exelon, Reminyl) may be prescribed to ameliorate the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. It is available on the PBS for mild-moderate Alzheimer's disease. Ebixir, a different class of medication, is approved for moderate/severe Alzheimer's disease but it is not yet available on the PBS. In the future treatments that delay the progression of Alzheimer's disease will hopefully become available.
The Down Syndrome Clinic has received a Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences Strategic Research Grant to commence a longitudinal study of adults with Down syndrome. The clinic will be offering assessments to adults with Down syndrome over the age of 18 years to establish baseline health and functioning. We hope to be able to track people over many years and to identify risk factors for the development of Alzheimer's disease and indicators of early changes of Alzheimer's disease.
Other projects include investigating carer burden and care pathways.
