www.blackdoginstitute.org.auwww.blackdoginstitute.org.au

The Black Dog Institute’s Contribution to the Assessment and Management of

Mood Disorders in Rural Areas. ACRRM Conference, October 2008.

Gordon Parker, Executive Director, Gordon Parker, Executive Director, Black Dog Institute, and Scientia Black Dog Institute, and Scientia

Professor, UNSW.Professor, UNSW.

Mood Disorders.

Distributed widely Deadly Disabling Discriminating Detection problems Dumbed down in a Dimensional

model

Distributed Widely?

Lifetime chance of a mood disorder =

25% for women; 15% for men

Deadly?

Lifetime chance of suicide = 15%.

Of those who commit suicide, at least 80% are depressed.

Disabling

A study undertaken by the World Health Organization, Harvard University and World Bank established that depression was the most disabling – and Bipolar Disorder the 6th most disabling – of all medical and psychiatric conditions.

Why? Young onset, repeated and often lengthy episodes.

How? Not getting to work and difficulty in working if at work.

Discriminating?

General destigmatization. Lack of appreciation by non-

sufferers. Employers – particularly those

that are downsizing. Insurance companies.

Detection Problems.

Depression commonly undetected.

80% of those with Bipolar Disorders miss receiving the correct diagnosis. If received – 10-15 years after onset. [Failure to detect leads to collateral damage].

Why? Denial, pride, stoicism (esp in males, rural regions) Failure to screen and ask sub-typing questions.

Dumbed Down by a Dimensional Model.

While we argue that there are several distinct types of depressions, and that the differing ‘types’ respond quite differently to differing treatments, ours is not the dominant view.

Instead, a ‘dimensional’ ‘single cause’ view dominates.

Dumbed down?

Depression is an ‘it’ – and ‘it’ is then interpreted as sufficient to dictate treatment.

Treatment is then shaped more by the practitioner’s discipline and training than by characteristics of the disorder (i.e. the patient is ‘fitted’ to the practitioner’s treatment model rather than the treatment being fitted to characteristics of the depressive condition).

Imagine if….

We treated ‘major breathlessness’

according to a similar model…..

The Black Dog Institute.

Structure

Function

Models

Strategies

Institute building

Courtyard

Organisational Model

Depressive Disorders – Multiple ‘Types’

Depressions

■ Some (e.g. psychotic depression, melancholic depression) are categorical ‘diseases’, others more environmental reflecting stressors alone, or in conjunction with certain personality styles.

Psychotic: Rare 1-2%

Melancholic: Less common2-10%

Non-melancholic: Common >90%

CLINICAL FEATURE

Psychotic features

Psychomotor disturbance

Depressedmood

DEPRESSIVE SUB-TYPE

Psychotic depression

Melancholia

Non-melancholicdepression

NEUROTRANSMITTER

DA

NA

5-HT

CLINICAL FEATURE

Psychotic features

Psychomotordisturbance

Depressedmood

DEPRESSIVE SUB-TYPE

Psychotic depression

Melancholia

Non-melancholicdepression

By Contrast….

A range of non-melancholic disorders

reflecting the impact of certain

stressors on certain personality

styles.

Stressors Contributing to Non-Melancholic Depression.

Acute reactive scenarios where affront to individual’s self-esteem. [Stress itself or stress may build on earlier stressors – ‘key and lock’ phenomenon].

Chronic stressors are ones that undermine the individual’s self-esteem in an ongoing way.

An ICONnoclastic ‘Neuronal’ Line-up Relevant to the

Non-melancholic Depressive Disorders

‘Meaningful conditions?’

■The Bipolar Disorders: ups and downs, with melancholic depression in the ‘down’ phases.

Mania

Melancholia

Hypomania

Mania

Hypomania

Melancholia

Bipolar Disorder – Some Facts.

Up to 6% lifetime risk in the general population.

Onset generally in adolescence – years 10-12 of ‘high’ school the highest risk period.

Depression Clinic

The BDI Clinic.

Initial assessment involves the computerised MAP, which provides Socio-demographic details Lifetime and current details on depression, anxiety and family. Life history of risk (medical and non-medical) factors; personality

profile Details on all previous treatments Diagnostic algorithms to determine (a) melancholic vs non-

melancholic, and (b) bipolar vs unipolar. Then interview by intake psychiatrist, who presents history to consultant

psychiatrist. Patient reinterviewed by both to clarify diagnosis and management plan (with or without relatives).

Detailed letter to referring practitioner. Review at 12 weeks.

Clinical Services

Impact – weighted to new onset and ‘treatment resistant’ disorders. Paradigm change to diagnosis and management in 80% of referrals.

Reviews show substantive improvement, high satisfaction with service and facility ambience. Too successful in terms of waiting list. Costly.

Thus, establishment of MAP centres in Sydney and rural areas.

Mood Assessment Program-MAP

■Computerised assessment and diagnostic tool for patients with mood disorders

■Based on BDI model of depression■Identifies depression, subtypes it (including

bipolar), defines personality style and identifies comorbid anxiety diagnoses

Specific Aims of the MAP

■To assist with the sub-typing of depressive disorders (e.g. psychotic, melancholic or non-melancholic depression)

■To improve the detection, and therefore treatment, of bipolar disorder

■To identify relevant factors that are likely to have contributed to the onset or maintenance of the disorder (e.g. stressful events, personality, anxiety conditions, drug or alcohol use)

PILOT MAP Centres

■Pilot MAP Centres are opening around the state in a range of settings

■These centres are testing the acceptance of the MAP as a credible tool in diagnosis and management of depression and bipolar

■First MAP centre opened end October 07 – already over MAP 1,000 assessments completed

■Positive feedback received from referring clinicians

GP Education Programs

GP Education Website

Workshops for GPs and GP registrars

■ Demystifying Depression: Managing Depression in General Practice.

■ Troubled Teens: Managing Adolescent Mood Disorders in General Practice.

■ Ups and Downs: An Introduction to Managing Bipolar Disorder■ Psychological Treatments of Depression■ Psychological Toolkit■ Making the Most of Mental Health Care Plans■ The Psychological Treatment Team: GPs, Psychologists and

Others…■ Dealing with Life-Threatening Depressions■ Dealing with Difficult Consultations In General Practice

All fully accredited by the RACGP and ACRRM

BDI Bush Bash 2008

■ Bowral Tulip Festival ■ Deniliquin Ute Muster■ Andrew Johns walk■ Tamworth Bush Bash Depression

Between 5-9 November, 2008, the Institute will be visiting Tamworth to conduct a range of programs in Tamworth. The theme of the pilot Black Dog Institute initiative is Let’s talk about depression. During the visit, the Institute will undertake:

– Public forums on mood disorders and happiness

– School Talks

– Rural Ambassador presentations

– Picnic information sessions

– Workshops for health professionals.

Black Dog Institute Bus

Andrew Johns Walks for the Black Dog

Website

Online Self-testing

MOOD ELEVATION

DISINHIBITION

MYSTICISM

IRRITABILITY

• More confident• See things in new light• Creative ideas & plans• Things vivid/crystal clear• Spend more money• Increased libido

• Say outrageous things• Feel ‘high as a kite’• Laugh more• Do outrageous things

• Lots of coincidences• Feel at one with nature• See special meaning in things• Mystical experiences

• Talk over people• Feel angry• Thoughts race• Feel irritated

Online Bipolar Disorder Educational Program

Online Depression Education Program

‘The Horses for Courses’ Model.

Logic: What type of mood disorder does

this person have? What are its underlying causes? Given such information, what

management strategies will be appropriate for this person at this time?

Our Community Initiatives

■Consumer & Community Resource Centre

Institute Books

Institute Books

‘06 v ‘07 v ‘08 Website Statistics

Less Discriminating?

Changes in Australia relatively unique

Largely reflective of several overlapping strategies: Committed organizations. Political investment (Economic argument) The ‘stories’ of prominent people (especially

politicians and sportsmen). The ‘stories’ of ‘everyday heroes’ (our books). Conferences like this.

Supporters

Thus, our Model…

There are differing meaningful conditions.

Using a non-specific approach (i.e. drugs for all ‘depressions’, counselling for ‘all depressions’), some people will be ‘under-treated’ and others ‘over-treated’.

The differing conditions benefit from differing therapeutic approaches.

Thus, the need to identify those differing mood disorders.