[Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Bradford City / County Borough.

  • Bradford (West Yorkshire, England). Metropolitan District Council.
Date:
1964
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Bradford City / County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    174/264 (page 136)
    The extra evening session introduced last year allo\\'s patients to attend without leave from work. This is valuable as in some quarters neurosis is still equated with evasion. As a rule, the patient with a clinical neurosis is a most conscientious worker and is not to be confused with the patient with psychopathic or other character disorder. Table 1 New patients examined by Consultant Psychiatrist in 1964 Male Female Total Adults 29 37 66 Children 107 46 153 Adult cases were referred from General Practitioners, Probation Officers, Marriage Guidance Council, Mental Welfare Officers, and other sources as in previous years. Table 2 Adults referred to Psychiatric Social Worker for follow-up and treatment in 1964 Origin of Referral Male Female Total After-care — 23 23 Self (or relatives) 2 2 4 Health Visitor — 6 6 Hospital Consultant 4 22 26 M.O.H. or Dr. Burrowes .. — 4 4 Consulting Psychiatrist — 3 3 Almoner — 1 1 Mental Welfare Officer — 1 1 General Practitioner 1 — 1 69 The figures show a continued demand in the same proportions as in previous years. It is notable that some general practitioners sent patients regularly; others we hardly hear from. All doctors must be dealing with the same kind of case at one time or another, but I have heard it said that some have no time for psychological approach. I have to report that the wide use of tranquillising drugs continues. The tranquilliser addict is now let loose on the public. Originally taking their drugs on medical advice, they become unable to do without them. Physi- cal treatments in all kinds of psychological disorder are, in my opinion, resorted to too often and too soon. After these attempts have failed, a patient may come to see us for our psychological approach whereas, of course, the reverse should be the case. There is a place for E.C.T. and tranquillisers but they do not answer the problems of living. There are now two opposed philosophies in the field of psychological treatment—one seeks to produce social conformity by the suppression of deviant symptoms; the other to encourage the patient to cope better with his social and personal life and so reduce the ‘need’ for symptoms. Co-