Psychiatry Department Expands its Reach
The Department of Psychiatry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Faulkner Hospital prides itself in providing superlative clinical care and education. Under relatively new leadership–Chair David Silbersweig, MD, has been at the helm since late 2008–the department is expanding its reach to patients with specialized programs that also foster research and teaching.
“We are now focusing on enhancing care even more, and on integrating more research, investigation and academics at every level, at every site,” said Silbersweig. “In all four of our department’s domains–medical psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, women’s psychiatry and mental health and cancer psychiatry–we combine cutting-edge research and the latest evidence-based approaches with compassion and psychologically sophisticated approaches to be able to help our fellow caregivers and their patients and families.”
One example is a new, one-stop-shopping model introduced with other clinical neurosciences departments in the Institute for the Neurosciences in December 2009.
“Because the brain is the organ of the mind, patients don’t just present with a brain or a mind disorder. There is a tremendous overlap,” said Silbersweig. “Our new model enables patients to visit with a number of specialists in one day. In one morning, a patient with Parkinson’s Disease can see a Parkinson’s neurologist, a deep brain stimulation neurosurgeon, a neuropsychiatrist, a neuropsychologist and get a brain scan.”
Medical Psychiatry
The Medical Psychiatry Division, led by David Gitlin, MD, addresses the psychiatric aspects of medical and surgical conditions and care. “If a person has a heart attack, they’re much more likely to present with depression. And, if they’re depressed after their heart attack, their cardiac morbidity goes up substantially,” said Silbersweig. “Treating the depression improves the cardiac outcome, not just the emotional outcome.”
The Medical Psychiatry Division also has a large training program and provides consultation for medical psychiatric conditions and addictions in the ED and across all services in the hospital. “In an era of bundled care, working with other medical subspecialties and primary care can make not only a medical difference, but it can also provide substantial cost savings,” said Silbersweig.
The department’s ambulatory division is led by Jan Erb, MD, who recently restructured it to provide more access, more evidence-based care and enhanced training.
Neuropsychiatry
The Department of Psychiatry’s Neuropsychiatry Division is part of the Center for Brain/Mind Medicine, which also brings together cognitive and behavioral neurology and neuropsychology to provide comprehensive and integrative evaluations of brain/mind disorders.
Led by Kirk Daffner, MD, academic clinicians and researchers trained in a variety of disciplines evaluate and treat patients with complex clinical pictures that may not be fully understood within the traditional boundaries or neurology or psychiatry.
Women’s Psychiatry and Women’s Mental Health
The Women’s Mental Health Program, under the direction of Laura Miller, MD, vice chair for Academic Clinical Services, provides integrated and expert care for women who suffer with medical, OB/GYN and psychiatric conditions, across the reproductive cycle and life span. “The women’s mental health sites and services are developing in concert with the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department and the Connors Center for Women’s Health,” said Silbersweig. “BWH’s Fish Center for Women’s Health has a women’s mental health service, and we also have a growing women’s mental health services in our outpatient division, in our inpatient consultation services and at Faulkner Hospital.”
Cancer Psychiatry
BW/F is committed to working with patients suffering from cancer and mental health issues, to develop an individualized treatment plan that optimizes their ability to deal with illness. Under the leadership of Susan Block, MD, the Department of Psychosocial Oncology works closely with oncologists, nurses, social workers and other clinical staff to provide comprehensive, individualized care.