AIM

The Psychotropic Drug Advisory Service provides independent information on medicines used to treat psychiatric illnesses, as well as other psychoactive substances, to a broad customer base in a timely manner. Many psychiatric services are set up to provide treatment and support to persons with a mental illness. The Psychotropic Drug Advisory Service provides medicines specific support to clinicians working in these services, as well as providing comparable and appropriate information to consumers and carers, thus bridging a gap in service provision.

The service is predominantly telephone-based, with pharmacist Christine Culhane answering enquiries from psychiatrists, other medical practitioners, allied health care professionals, consumers, carers and community based support organisations. The service is funded by a grant from the Department of Human Services and receives consultant clinical support from Professor Nicholas Keks of the Clinical Research Unit at Delmont Private Hospital, which evaluates treatments for schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.

HIGHLIGHTS

Medications are an important part of the treatment of mental illnesses and relieve many of the distressing symptoms experienced by patients. Research into mental health regularly results in new drug treatments and better or more effective ways of using existing medications.

While many people respond well to the first medication prescribed, there are many and varied individual responses to treatments. One person may react quite differently to another with the same diagnosis and similar symptoms when given a particular medication; therefore it is important to have other alternative treatment options available to tailor treatment to the individual needs of sufferers. For some, this can be a complex process fraught with trials of different medications or combinations of medications.

This service provides advice to medical practitioners and the general public on treatment choice, response, adverse effects of medications and interactions with other medications; as well as specific information on the use of medications by special populations such as children and adolescents, the elderly and women who are pregnant or breast feeding. The media often report on developments in health and wellbeing. When these reports involve treatments for psychiatric illnesses they frequently generate enquiries for the service.

A fundamental aspect of Christine Culhane’s role is to review new research findings and currently available information and appraise the quality and source of new data before considering its implications. This ensures that the most reliable, accurate and unbiased information is provided to callers to meet their needs. The service has no commercial affiliations and is able to provide independent advice and information on the broad range of medicinal therapies available, while ensuring that it is appropriate to the caller and their query.

Another aspect of the Psychotropic Drug Advisory Service is its ongoing role in presenting up to date information on psychotropic drugs to diverse audiences. Christine has been involved with presentations to groups around the metropolitan area, and in Warrnambool and Horsham. These groups include occupational therapy, social work and pharmacy students, psychologists, medical practitioners, and staff of mental health services as well as consumers and carers. Christine has also been involved with presenting, or organising experts to present, to pharmacists; as organised by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Victorian Branch and the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia Victorian Branch.

There are a number of programs in the community established to support carer networks and this service has maintained its engagement with several of these. For example, the Association of Relatives and Friends of the Emotionally and Mentally Ill (ARAFEMI) sponsor a program called ‘Bridging the Gaps’. As part of this program, Christine speaks to groups of carers and consumers about current developments in medications as well as discussing the available treatments and responding to enquiries from the audience. A similar relationship is established with Sage Hill Carers Service, with Christine travelling to southwestern Victoria to speak with carers, consumers and mental health workers about psychotropic medications. The Mental Illness Fellowship, SANE and beyondblue also utilise the service and refer clients for specific information as needed.

For the service to provide the most accurate and current information it is essential to keep abreast of the latest developments in psychopharmacology research. Christine attends a variety of professional education activities to ensure that the advice provided is consistent with the latest research in management and treatment of psychiatric disorders. Networking with other psychiatric practitioners is a valuable asset. Christine also regularly reviews the current professional literature.

In April 2006, Christine co-presented a paper titled ‘Medicines Information to Rural and Isolated Carers’ at the VICSERV Richmond Fellowship conference ‘Partnerships Towards Recovery’. The paper highlighted the cooperative roles of two services in facilitating the provision of information in locations accessible to their audiences.

The service reaches a wider audience via the MHRI Pharmabulletin, which is distributed to psychiatrists, general practitioners and mental health services throughout Victoria. The publication is produced with input from Christine Culhane, Professor David Copolov and Professor Nicholas Keks. It is accessible on this website.

The past year has seen Christine’s expertise called upon to review a number of external publications. She was a contributor to the review of the Department of Human Services’ simple language information leaflets on psychotropic medications, reviewed the medications section of The SANE Guide to Medication and Other Treatments published by SANE Australia, and reviewed the section on psychotropic drug interactions for the Australian Medicines Handbook.

The service has continued to provide information to a significant number of callers. Enquiries from the general public have again exceeded the number of calls from health professionals, reflecting the community need to have more information on prescribed treatments. The total number of calls to the service exceeds 2,000 per year, highlighting the strong and continuing need for this specialised service.