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Questions to ask the psychiatrist
Carers need information and psychiatrists are busy.
Carers may not always find out what they need to
know about the person they are caring for. This
checklist is designed to help you get all the
information you need about the diagnosis and
treatment of the person you care for.
You may be able to get some of this information from
other members of the clinical team involved, or from
written information that they can provide.
If the person gives you permission, the psychiatrist
will be able to give you information about their
condition and care.
Although you may not want to ask all the questions
listed, you may find that they help you in preparing
to meet the psychiatrist and the mental health team.
Not everyone will need all the answers to all these
questions at the same time. You may have questions
that are not covered in this leaflet. Even so, it
should provide a helpful framework for deciding what
you do need to know.
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About the illness |
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What is the diagnosis or problem? |
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If a
diagnosis has not yet been made, what are
the possibilities? |
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Why has
this happened to them? |
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Will they recover? |
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If a
diagnosis has been made |
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What symptoms suggest this
diagnosis/illness? |
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What is
known about the causes of this
disorder/illness? |
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What is
likely to happen in the future? Will it get
better or worse? |
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Where can I get written information about
this disorder? |
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About the assessment |
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What assessments have
already been done? |
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Are there
any other assessments that might be needed? |
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Are there any
physical problems that have been discovered?
If so, what will need to be done? |
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Have culture and background been
considered? |
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Care
Programme Approach (CPA) |
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What is the CPA? |
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What does
the CPA mean? |
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Is the
person on the CPA? If not, why not? |
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Will I be involved in the CPA? |
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About care and treatment |
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What are the aims of the care and
treatment? |
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What is a
care co-ordinator? |
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What part
will the care coordinator play in the
person’s care? |
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Who else will be involved in the treatment? |
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What is your
plan for treatment? |
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For how long
will they need treatment? |
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Would talking treatments
(e.g. cognitive
behavioural therapy, family therapy) be
helpful? If so, are they available locally? |
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What happens
if they refuse treatment? |
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Sharing of information |
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Have you asked them about
how much information they are happy to share
with me? |
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Will I be informed about
important meetings concerning their care and
treatment? |
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Can I see you on my own? |
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Would you
like to ask me for any other information
about them or the family? |
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Can I tell you things
that will not be shared with the person or
other members of staff? |
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Are their
views on confidentiality clearly marked in
their notes? |
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Care and treatment |
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What can I do
to help? |
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Are there any
local self-help or carers’ groups that can
help me understand the illness? |
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How can I get advice and training in the
day-to-day management of the illness? |
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Are there any
local groups that can provide support? |
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Getting help |
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How can I
get in touch with you? |
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How do I
arrange to see you? |
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Who do I contact if I’m worried about their
behaviour? |
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What do I do
if I’m worried that they are becoming ill
again? |
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Who do I
contact in an emergency? What help might
be available? |
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How can I
get a second opinion? |
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Carers |
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What is the
difference between a carer, a nearest
relative and a nominated person? |
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I understand that, as a
carer, I am entitled to an assessment and
care plan of my own. Who should I speak to? |
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If I have specific needs of my own, who
should I ask? |
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If I need
help, to whom should I turn? |
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Medication |
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What
medication is to be used, and how? |
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Is the
lowest effective dose being prescribed? |
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Can a low dose be taken at first and
increased if necessary? |
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How often
will the medication be reviewed? |
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Will I be
involved in future discussions about the
dose or type of medication? |
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What
should the benefits of this medication be? |
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In the
short-term |
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In the long-term |
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What are the possible side-effects of this
medication? |
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In the
short-term |
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In the long-term |
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Managing the medication |
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Why have you chosen this particular
medication? |
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How long
will the medication have to be taken for? |
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Are there
any other medications that could be used if
this one does not work? |
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What symptoms might mean that the dose
should be changed? |
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What should
I do if they experience unpleasant
side-effects |
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What will
happen if they stop taking the medication? |
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Do you have
any written information about this
medications to give me? |
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Hospital treatment |
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Do
they need to be admitted to hospital? If so,
for how long? |
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If they
have to go into hospital, which one will it
be? |
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Will they
be on a locked ward? |
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If they get short-term leave from
hospital, when and how will I be informed? |
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How often
will I be able to see them? |
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Discharge from hospital |
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What arrangements will be
made for their care and monitoring after
discharge from hospital? |
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If I am not
able to look after the person when they are
discharged, what will happen? |
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Am I expected to help with anything,
especially medication? |
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Do you know of any
self-help techniques that will help their
recovery? |
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If not admitted to hospital |
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Do they
need to be admitted to hospital? |
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Are there any alternatives to hospital
admission? |
Any other questions
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