Outpatient Psychiatric Service

  

Since the dawn of mankind, one of the main cultural tasks of man has been to ensure his own survival, not only physically, but also psychologically and socially. Various magical institutions tried to protect individuals and groups from the risk of "presence crisis" (Ernesto De Martino) allowing man to  being the master of his own existence.

For shamans and ancient priests, ensuring their existence meant mastering the psychic chaos and removing the paralyzing anguish in dramatic situations. Ancient Greek medicine preserved these roots, recognizing the need for conjugating technique (philotechnia), love for the patient (philanthropia) and knowing how to take care of the soul, the body, the disease and the person, a totally holistic approach. 

Disciplined proximity to the sick person, attention to the psychological and relational components, a continuous comparison with data (as Theophrastus Bombastus -  Paracelsus - taught in Europe, after obtaining in Ferrara part of his vagrant formation) and knowledge of the best scientific evidence are some of the essential characteristics of a medicine and a psychiatry with human foundation.

Although psychiatry was the object of deep transformations and scientific enrichments, at the beginning of a new century it continues to integrate neuro-biological and psycho-pharmacological discoveries and the psychological and interpersonal dimensions, carrying out combined interventions (pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and rehabilitation) and working in conjunction with other knowledge (general medicine, speciality medicines) in an authentic psycho-somatic perspective.

The Outpatient Service of the Section of Psychiatry began its activity in 1971-72 as a service connected to the Psychiatry Chair and to the Speciality School in Psychiatry, active since the same year. Since then, the Service has maintained an integrative and inter-disciplinary vision but has gradually adapted itself to the new needs arising from the organizational changes  of the Section of Psychiatry and the integration of the unit in the Mental Health Department of Ferrara and in the S. Anna General and University Hospital.

 

How to reach the Service

The Service is located in the S. Anna Hospital, within the Section of Psychiatry, Unit of Clinical Psychiatry (Tel +39 0532 237129; Fax +39 0532 212240).

 

Mission

The primary goals of the Service are three-fold:

  • psychopathological assesssment;
  • treatment of anxiety disorders, depression and somatoform disorders in accordance with the model of integrated therapy (psycho-pharmacological therapy and individual or group psycho-therapy, the latter as focal psychotherapy and/or time-limited psychotherapy);
  • liaison with General Medicine to handle complex clinical situations, especially for medically ill patients with psychiatric comorbidity.

 

Organization

Psychiatrysts and psychologists work in the Service and provide interventions to patients, living inside or outside the region. The service is ideally connected with the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Service.  When required, the Service provides those patients followed during their Hospital admission by the C-L Psychiatry Service, the possibility of continuing the post-discharge recommended treatment (psychopharmacology, counselling, psychotherapy).

 

Documents

Useful information on the prevalence and treatment of disorders such as anxiety,  depression and somatoform disorders is readily available on the World Health Organization website, particularly the Report 2001 on psychiatric disorders in General Medicine or the work of the European Union on the European population’s mental health  (Eurobarometer Survey 2002).  Other useful websites include Psychomedia; BioMed Health & Quality of Life Outcomes; Medical Journal of Australia-Psychiatry) (see Links per further information and journals).