Do you treat service users with anxiety disorders?
Service users suffering from anxiety disorders can benefit greatly from specialist psychological help.
The National Commissioning Group for Highly Specialist Services (NCGHSS) of the Department of Health has commissioned a service for the treatment of refractory Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Please click here for further information.
Referrals to the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma
We can only accept NHS referrals for Panic Disorder, Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia, Social Phobia and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for service users whose GP is registered within our catchment area of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Croydon**, unless they are willing and suitable to participate in research trials we may be running at the time of receipt of the referral. (Please note: we are currently recruiting for PTSD and Social Phobia Trials - for more information on these please contact either Francesca Brady, PTSD Trial Co-ordinator 020 7848 5047 or Siobhan Commins, Social Phobia Trial Co-ordinator 020 7848 5031).
**Although Croydon is part of the South London & Maudsley NHS Trust all referrals must come to us via the appropriate Croydon local Community Mental Health Team . All other types of referrals will automatically be rejected. Funding needs to be approved by the Primary Care Trust and the panel that authorizes such referrals.
We can accept NHS referrals nationally for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Specific phobias and Body Dysmorphic Disorder. However, there are various referral routes depending on the GP's registered address. For more information about the appropriate route to enable the referral to be accepted please contact Margaret Dakin, Senior Administrator on 020 3228 2101.
Please note that we do not accept referrals of people who have recently been prescribed medication in connection with their anxiety problems. Any medication of this type must have been at a stable dose for two months.
Please note that we are unable to accept private referrals from any source.
Finding a therapist
The Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma does not accept service users on a private or paying basis.
If you are not eligible for treatment at the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma because you are perhaps outside our catchment area or our treatments are not suitable for your type of problems, there are other options available to you. You should firstly see your GP about your problems and ask to be referred to your local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) or your local Department of Clinical Psychology. In some Trusts there are cognitive behaviour therapists working within psychotherapy departments.
The British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) can also help you find a therapist in your local area who deals with your type of problems. The BABCP holds a list of accredited therapists nationwide who treat service users both through the NHS and on a private basis. You can access this list at CBT register. Alternatively you can call the BABCP on 0161 797 4484.
It is, of course, hard to be sure whether a therapist you have been referred to is likely to be able to help you with your problems. It is a good idea to ask your therapist what type of therapy they will be offering and what the evidence is for its effectiveness. You might also want to ask them whether they have specific expertise in your type of problem. If you feel embarrassed about asking this type of question you might want to mention that this webpage says it is a good idea to do so. If you are intending to trust someone with something as important as your health you will want to make sure that they would be likely to be able to offer the most appropriate help in the best way possible. Please click here for more information on what to expect of your therapist and questions that you can ask prior to treatment.
Please also refer to the Centre for Anxiety Disorder and Trauma's Criteria for treatment when thinking about making a referral.