This was given to me while I was hospitalized at Johns Hopkins in July 2000.

AFFECTIVE DISORDERS PROGRAM

Affective disorders are illnesses that affect the way people feel, think and act. They may cause patients to develop unhealthy behaviors that may easily become habits. One of the goals of the Phipps Clinic is to encourage the return of healthy behaviors that will support that patient after returning home. Our structured program supports the medical treatment that patients receive and enhances treatment outcomes. We encourage patients to participate fully in the Affective Disorder Program and to share the responsibility for their treatment by following these guidelines:

Communication:

Be informed about your illness and about your treatment. We encourage full participation in treatment and discharge planning. Discuss your concerns and your treatment plan on a daily basis with the treatment team. If your family has specific concerns they should contact the social worker.

Making everyone feel comfortable is important. Be polite and respectful in interactions with other patients, staff and visitors.

Groups:

Groups are an essential part of the program. We offer several types of groups - education, support and occupational therapy groups. These groups are designed to help you learn more about your illness and develop skills to help you cope with your illness. They also give us important information that help us assess your progress; so it is important to attend all your scheduled groups. We ask that you use on campus privileges only during non-group times and ask visitors, including any out-of-town visitors, to come during non-group times.

You may also be given assignments designed to address your treatment goals. It is important to complete your assignments.

Medications:

You will receive education about your medications. Try to learn as much as possible about your medications and to get into the habit of taking medications at the regularly scheduled times. You are encouraged to approach your nurse for your medications on time. This will help establish the health habit of taking responsibility for taking medication at specific times while you are still in the supportive surroundings of the hospital.

Activities of Daily Living:

The symptoms of the illness may lead patients with affective disorder to neglect activities of daily living, e.g., getting out of bed, maintaining personal hygiene, eating meals, etc., which can lead to worsening of the depressions and other complications. We encourage patients to maintain appropriate activities of daily living by maintaining proper hygiene, grooming and appropriate dress. Please ask your nurse if you will need assistance.

Physical Activity:

It is also important to keep active by getting some physical activity each day, in the gym or on walks. We encourage you to stay out of your room at least 6 hours a day and not isolate yourself from others.

Sleep Habits:

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We encourage you to be up and out of bed by 8:30 AM. To promote proper sleep hygiene, we recommend that patients retire to their rooms by 12:00 midnight during the week, and by 1:00 AM on weekends. Adolescents are to be in bed by 11:00 PM on weekdays and 12:00 midnight on weekends.

Nutrition:

We will be assessing your food and fluid intake to see if you are maintaining proper nutrition. Meals should be eaten in the dining area. To facilitate getting the meal that you ordered, please complete your menus for the next day by 1:00 PM.

Privileges:

Patient safety is our highest priority. For this reason, if we think a patient is at risk for harming himself or herself, we have the patient stay on the inpatient unit on observation until he/she is safe. Once a patient is safe to go off the unit the first privilege is to go on campus with staff for tests and groups.

The next privilege level is to go on campus with family, then later in the hospitalization, on campus alone for periods of time.

Towards the end of the hospitalization, the patient may be given a therapeutic leave of absence (TLOA) to assess one's mood and level of functioning off the unit.

You are strongly encouraged to follow these guidelines which we have found to be helpful in our treatment of many patients with affective disorders. Participation in the entire Affective Disorder Program is considered when the Treatment Team determines what privilege level is appropriate for you.

• Patient Information
• Affective Disorders Program Information
• ECT Information

about juliet ~ what hypomania, mania, mixed state feels like
being hospitalized ~ husband on juliet's illness

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