Page 68 - 2017-2018 Department of Psychiatry Annual Report

education, publication and clinical and universities in Canada and
care. In addition to providing world-wide. After long dedicated
international presentations, Dr. Joel service to NS Health both in the Early Psychosis
Town led the team on a randomized Fall River center and CEH, Richard The mission of the Nova Scotia
controlled trial of Intensive Short- Zehr is retiring. We thank him for his Early Psychosis Program (NSEPP)
term Dynamic Psychotherapy for friendship and clinical care over the is to promote early detection and
Treatment Resistant Depression years. to provide optimal and timely
that showed a high remission rate, health care for persons at risk
outperforming standard clinical Consultation/Liaison Service or experiencing a first episode
care both at post treatment and in The Consultation Liaison service of psychosis. The NSEPP is a
follow-up. Dr. Angela Cooper led currently consists of four staff multidisciplinary, evidence-based
a now completed, three year pilot psychiatrists for 2.7 FTE and a clinical program that incorporates excellence
implementation of a unique clinical nurse specialist. The service provides in clinical care, education and
education service in the Dalhousie psychiatric consultation to medical/ research and advocates strongly on
Department of Family Medicine. It surgical services at the Halifax behalf of patients and their families in
showed broad gains including a 70 Infirmary, Victoria General Hospital, order to optimize outcomes. Over the
per cent drop in family physician and Dartmouth General Hosptial last three years, NSEPP has received
visits after a short treatment course sites, as well as patients admitted to on average 215 new referrals/
using ISTDP. Based on this, the Progressive and Restorative care. We consults per year. Two community
Centre was awarded a grant to provide core teaching to psychiatry programs that NSEPP developed
extend this service and will be leading residents, neurology residents and and is delivering, to better highlight
a provincial planning process for clinical clerks. We also have senior some of our activities over the last
services and education regarding the residents and fellows for elective year, include the Because Your Mind
extremely common, yet underserved experiences. Matters (BYMM) program and the
population with medically unexplained WeedMyths public awareness and
symptoms. In addition to over 20 The C/L service has developed education campaign.
publications in the past year, Dr. Allan subspecialty clinics in Oncology, The BYMM project targets young
Abbass has published his second Multiple Sclerosis and recently with people ages 18-19 years making
book Hidden from View: Clinician’s the Neurology Movement Disorders the transition to their first year
Guide to Psychophysiologic Group. The service continues to of postsecondary education, a
Disorders (unlearnyourpain.com). He develop collaborations with areas recognized time of vulnerability
continues to be highly sought out for that serve patients with a significant for development of mental
training, research and clinical service burden of neuropsychiatric disorder. disorders in youth. BYMM aims to
implementation by governments

68 DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY The WeedMyths campaign initiated by the Early Psychosis Program.