The Initial Consultation
A complete assessment will be up to 4 hours
in total which includes:
- a face to face evaluation lasting up to 3
hours
- review of inpatient and outpatient
records (sent to our offices prior to your
appointment time)
- review self-rated forms
and scales
- review of the case with our
team of specialists
- both verbal and
written communication with referring physicians
The assessment performed by the CCS is distinct
from standard clinical evaluations that may have
been performed previously. It is a comprehensive,
lengthy, in-depth evaluation
that utilizes state-of-the art assessment procedures,
many adapted from research, so as to serve the
needs of complex, difficult to treat cases.
Patients
will meet first with a post-doctoral fellow specializing
in mood disorders to review history of symptoms
and treatment. In addition, the fellow
will administer assessment instruments and interview
family members.
Assessment instruments routinely utilized for
CCS evaluations include:
- Mini International
Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) or Structured
Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID)
- Hamilton
Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
- Hamilton
Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)
- Montgomery Asberg
Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)
- Young Mania
Rating Scale (YMRS)
- Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic
Scale (BPDS)
- Mood Disorders Questionnaire
(MDQ)
- mood charting review and interpretation
- implementation of the Antidepressant Treatment
History Form (ATHF) to assess the adequacy
of prior treatment
Other
psychological assessment instruments utilized
may include the Personality Beliefs Questionnaire,
Dysfunctional Attitudes Assessment, and
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
(MMPI), if indicated.
The patient and family then meet with the faculty
clinician to discuss their history and recommendations
for ongoing treatment. The extent and adequacy
of prior psychotherapy interventions will be
reviewed and the appropriateness for alternate
mood disorder-specific psychotherapy models determined.
Integration of the best practice of medication
and psychotherapy for each individual case
is strongly encouraged. The CCS team will assist
patients by making referrals for individual
therapy either in the home location of the patient
or within the Penn system when feasible and desirable.
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