Clinical Neuropsychiatry at RMH
Education Programs
The neuropsychiatrists and neuropsychologists at RMH run a regular seminar series for mental health clinicians interested in diagnosing and managing complex neuropsychiatric disorders. Workshops and seminars previously conducted include:
Younger Onset Dementia has been an area of clinical and research interest at the Neuropsychiatric Unit, and several workshops and symposia have been presented at national conferences on this topic. In conjunction with Alzheimer’s Australia, the Neuropsychiatry Unit has developed an information book for carers and clinicians working with patients suffering YOD. More recently the Neuropsychiatry Unit has received a grant from the Mental Health Branch to archive and collate clinical video material into a Multimedia Clinical Archive. The archive includes past videos collected by Dr John Lloyd (Director Neuropsychiatry Unit 1973 -2001) and ongoing video collection. This archive will ensure that educative and informative clinical material can be made widely available to clinicians and students.
Neuropsychology
The neuropsychologists at RMH provide onsite supervision for rural psychologists, involving supervision and training over a two week period. Through telepsychiatry (a psychology rural outreach program) the team provides monthly supervision sessions for psychologists working in aged psychiatry and a monthly case discussion and professional development for other Southwest Healthcare Network psychologists.
Clinical students
The RMH environment is active in training students from Masters and Doctorate Clinical Neuropsychology programs, as well as students completing Advanced Medical Science, Occupational Therapy, and Social Work degrees.
Neuroimaging tools used in our clinical neuropsychiatric practice
Consultant Neuropsychiatrists in the Unit have expertise in integrating the findings from neuroimaging with clinical presentations of patients. This expertise derives from years of clinical and research experience with neuroimaging of neuropsychiatric disorders. Patients benefit from the latest MRI scanning techniques, which: Have greater sensitivity to detect and monitor early brain changes in neurodegenerative disorders The on-site single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scanner allows us to monitor changes in brain metabolism Electroencephalography (EEG) is also used in neuropsychiatric conditions, including delirium, epilepsy, and drug withdrawal states