Checklist for psychiatrists
Working in
partnership with psychiatrists and carers
Issues of concern to carers of people with mental illness
What to tell the carer
- This checklist has been designed after
consultation with carers. It aims to help the psychiatrist give
carers the information they need about the diagnosis, treatment and
support of the person they care for. This should help to establish
a trusting relationship between all concerned.
- Not every carer will need all the answers to
all the questions, but the checklist should provide a helpful
framework.
- The information you can provide may be limited
by medical confidentiality, if the person being cared for does not
want their carer to be involved.
- For carers to have time to prepare
themselves for the initial or subsequent consultations, these
checklists could be sent before the first appointment, or when
appropriate. Using these checklists, particularly with carers, may
help to reduce their anxiety. You are not expected to have to deal
with all the questions personally, as many of them can be answered
by other members of the care team. The availability of written
information about different conditions and their treatment will
benefit all concerned.
- This checklist has been designed in tandem with
similar checklists for carers, and for the person being cared for
(see end of this checklist for further details). Our hope is that
taken together, these checklists will improve clarity of
communication between psychiatrists and carers, thereby improving
the quality of care we are able to offer our patients.
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About the
illness |
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Has a diagnosis has been made
yet?
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If not, what are the possibilities? |
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If yes, what is the diagnosis?
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What are the signs and
symptoms that suggest this diagnosis?
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What
is known about the causes of this illness? |
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What
is likely to happen in the future? |
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Do you
have any written information about this disorder? |
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About assessment |
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What specific investigations or
assessments have been done?
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Are there any additional tests or investigations that
might be needed? |
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Has a
physical examination been done? |
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Have
any physical or other problems been discovered? |
| |
Have
their background and culture been taken into account? |
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About care and treatment |
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What does the care plan consist
of?
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What
are the aims of the care and treatment? |
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Who else is, or will be, involved in the
treatment, or on-going care?
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Who is the care
coordinator/keyworker?
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What
exactly is their role? |
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How
often will you see the person? |
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How
long will the treatment take? |
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What
happens if they refuse treatment? |
| |
Would talking treatments (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy,
family therapy) be helpful? if so, are they vailable
locally? |
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Care Programme Approach (CPA) |
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Does the person being cared for
know what the CPA is?
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Are they on the CPA? If not, why not? |
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What
level of CPA are they on? |
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What
difference does this make? |
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Is the
carer involved in the CPA? |
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The
carer and the treatment |
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Will the carer be involved in
discussions concerning the management of the illness?
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What do
you see as the carer’s role in the provision of treatment? |
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How can the carer get in touch with you?
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Who does the carer contact if they are concerned about
something? Who does the carer contact in an emergency? |
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If the carer is not satisfied with the treatment the
person is receiving, can they ask for a second opinion?
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Have
you discussed confidentiality issues with the person and the
carer? |
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Medication |
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What medication is to be
used?
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Why have you chosen this particular medication?
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What should be the benefit of this medication?
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Is the lowest effective dose being prescribed?
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Can they take a low dose at first and increase it when
necessary?
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How often will the medication be reviewed?
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Will they have to take it for the rest of their life?
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Are
there any other medications that could be used if this one is
unsuitable? |
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Do you
have any written information about this medication? |
| |
What are
the possible side-effects of this medication? |
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Short-term
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Long-term
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| |
Hospital
treatment |
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Does the person have to be admitted to hospital? And
if so, for how long?
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If they have to go into hospital,
which one would it be?
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What
level of security is needed? |
| |
If not
admitted to hospital |
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What alternatives are there to hospital admission?
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Is the carer willing to have the person living with them?
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What arrangements will be made for their care and monitoring,
after discharge from hospital? |
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Do you know of any self-help techniques which will assist in
the patient’s recovery? |
| |
Carers'
needs |
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Does the carer have any specific needs? |
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Does the carer know that they are entitled
to an assessment and a care plan of their own?
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Who will support the carer? |
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Do you know of any self-help/support organisations for
the carer? |
Any other questions
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There are 2 other checklists available in
the series
Further help
The Princess Royal Trust for
Carers
Provides information, support and advice for
carers. Email: support@carers.org
This leaflet was produced as part of the
Partners in Care campaign, a joint initiative between the Royal
College of Psychiatrists and The Princess Royal Trust for
Carers.
One of the aims of the Partners in Care campaign was to show
that if all
those involved in the care of people with mental health problems or
learning disabilities can work together, a trusting partnership can
be development between carers, patients and professionals which
will be of benefit to all.
Editor: Dr Philip Timms, chair, Royal College of Psychiatrists'
Public Education Editorial Board.
Carer input: Members of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers
© April 2011. Review date: April 2013.
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