Physiotherapy in Mental Health

Hi there! I'm keen to chat with any physios working in the mental health sector. I'm in NZ and physiotherapy in mental health is highly undeveloped here. Keen to share knowledge!

What type of patients do you see there most of the time? The most common types of patients suffering from the following problems need a physiotherapist

Anxiety States
Depression
Hysterical conversion syndrome
Phobias
Illness phobias
Obsessive Compulsive States
Substance abuse
Personality Disorders

The General aims of physiotherapy in these patients are:

1-To promote health and fittness-exercise tolerance, co ordination, strength, stamina and concentration
2-To help patient develop a knowledge and understanding of their own bodies- inparticular to teach correct breathing patterns, and to help patients to understand the effects of autonomic nervous system.
3-To encourge alternative ways of controlling stress levels by exercise, relaxation and life style adjustment.
4-To provide a friendly, relaxed, and supportive atmosphere where problems can be comfortably discussed.
5- To help patients to regain their self esteem, to return to their normal function
6-To help patients deal with the disturbing effects of their psychiatric symptoms.
7-To assist patients in coping with the effects of drugs and give helpful feedback on performance to other team members.
8- To maintain the joint mobility, strength, endurance and educate gait or motivate him to move in case of psychiatric disorders like conversion hysteria.

I think that it will be of help to you. Please, feel free to discuss more ideas.

Hi there,

I work in an acute psychiatric unit and I mainly see depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders, somatoform disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, eating disorders and con-current substance abuse with severe mental illness. I also am involved highly with education groups about sleep, exercise, nutrition, stress, relaxation and also CBT and DBT. I am passionate about increasing physical activity on the unit (sports afternoons, swimming, gym sessions etc) especially given the side-effects of most anti-psychotic medication (and some anti-depressants) is weight-gain. I also encourage group participation and inter-personal skills and "recovery" processes (based on the recovery model).

I teach a physiotherapy in mental health module in the local university to final year physio students and am always up for new innovative ways to facilitate this in a fun way.

There is also a conference in Belgium in February 2006 for physiotherapy in mental health... hoping to go to that to pick up some new ideas. I'm really keen to link up with other physios working in the mental health field to bounce ideas off or simply to discuss practice.

Hi there,
I work at a mental hospital in Canada, (mind you it is not an acute hospital), and we see a very broad range of problems. Some are ordinary ortho problems, sore backs, hips, knees, etc., but what can make these a challange is the inability of the patients to give a clear history, if any at all. We also have a lot of neuro problems, head injuries, effects of longstanding substance abuse, dementias, Parkinson's, Huntington's, brain disorders due to infections,etc. A large part are also problems relating to medications, gait and balance problems, movement disorders etc. It can be very challenging, and certainly is never dull
have fun.
neving

Hello everybody,

I am a final year physio student. I would like to know what a physio can help patients with psychiatric symptoms in terms of the participation level of the ICF model. What sequelae of mental health dysfunctions are addressed by physiotherapy services?

Looking forward to your sharings!

Hi there,
acc.to the latest agenda to change if i have 6-7 yrs of experience in MH what banding salary should i be in ,please suggest?