Care Plans by Providers
Providers at AOA Clinic create care plans for ADHD and other mental health conditions that impact executive functioning. Executive functions help us achieve health, work & life goals and include the ability:
- to be self-aware and monitor our inner world
- to control impulses
- to see and hold things in one’s mind to achieve things
- to use the mind's voice in a productive way
- to regulate emotions
- to motivate oneself to complete task
- to plan, time manage, and problem solve
Adult ADHD
- Two appointments with an AOA GP and then an interview by a psychiatrist is required for referral questions about possible adult ADHD. Patients must be residing in VIC, QLD, NSW, SA, ACT or WA. If residing in NT or TAS, your GP must be requesting and willing to apply for a permit to prescribe. Providers at AOA Clinic do not accept external psychological reports.
- One short general interview with the GP (Medicare item 92115 - new patient) to rule out other diagnoses which may cause problems with attention and/or hyperactivity or influence the choice of treatment recommended.
- One longer interview with the GP which also includes interview with parents/siblings, for a DIVA assessment.
- A subsequent one- hour interview with (Medicare 291 or 306) focused on ADHD and reviewing collateral information (parents, siblings, school reports) to determine if you meet criteria or not. Assessment does not guarantee ADHD diagnosis.
Long term problems with executive function and ability to self-regulate/motivate since childhood
| Hyperactivity Symptoms
| Impulsivity Symptoms
| Inattention Symptoms
|
Depression
Executive Function areas impacted by depression: concentration and attention, working memory, planning, problem solving, motivation, emotional regulation, cognitive flexibility
| Symptoms
| Function
|
PTSD
Emotional reaction to trauma (after one month of event) where own or other people's life was threatened
| Hypervigilance
| Avoidance
| Re-Experiencing
|
Psychotic Disorders
Distortion of reality and bizarre behaviour
Hallucinations - Across all the five senses, but commonly “voices”
Delusions - False beliefs despite evidence and not consistent with person's culture
Disorganized thoughts & speech - Thoughts (via speech) are illogical or disjointed
Disorganized behaviour - odd and bizarre
Negative symptoms - withdrawn, slowed
Cognitive Deficits - problems with executive function
Bipolar Disorder
Uncharacteristic mood cycling that causes problems in function
| Mania/Hypomania
| Depression
|
Anxiety Disorders
Worries, heart racing, body tension
- Panic Disorder - Sudden feeling of doom
- Social Anxiety Disorder - Fear of embarrassment
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder - Worry about different things
- Specific Phobia - Fear of a particular thing
- Illness Anxiety Disorder - Fear of getting an illness & Seeking reassurance
BPD
Significant Problem with interpersonal hypersensitivity
| Impaired Relatedness
| Affective Dysregulation
| Behaviour Dysregulation
| Cognitive Perceptual Disturbances
|
Somatic Symptom Disorder
Excessive thoughts, emotions, and behaviours about a physical condition such as pain
physical symptoms (such as pain) cause distress or disrupts the person’s life daily.
Excessive thoughts, emotions, or behaviours related to the physical symptoms such as:
- Out of proportion to the physical complaint
- High level of anxiety about the physical complaint
- Excessive time and energy spent on the physical complaint
OCD
Thoughts, images and urges that are unwanted and/or rituals
Obsessions - Intrusive & Unwanted thoughts that are repetitive & Persistent
Compulsions - Repetitive behaviours or mental acts to reduce anxiety of an obsession or to follow specific rules