Report of the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services / [Ceylon].

  • Ceylon. Civil Medical Department.
Date:
[1949]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services / [Ceylon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    65/178 (page 63)
    increase is also registered in the number of cases referred by members of the Visiting Staff of the General, and occasionally, of the Maternity Hospital. Many cases were also referred by Medical Boards. The availability of Electro- Shock Therapy as an out-patient service has also been of increasing benefit and convenience, to patients, and numbers treated have increased. The Clinic dealt with early psychiatric disorders, but since the advent of the Viennese Medical Officer a considerable number of purely neurological cases in ail stages have been seen bv him. o The accommodation provided for the work has not been satisfactory. The appointment of an additional officer without additional working space has com¬ plicated the situation still further. Three Medical Officers have been compelled to work in the same place at the same time, a situation which is fundamentally unsatisfactory in psychiatric work. (C)—CHILD GUIDANCE AND YOUNG PEOPLES’ CLINIC It is gratifying to record that the numbers attending this Clinic have increased considerably. The work has increased to such a degree that the Clinic will very soon have to function on three or four evenings a week besides the daily morning sessions. When this happens it would be necessary to find more accommodation. The staff still consists of one Medical Officer and one Psychiatric Social Worker. The Clinic cannot function efficiently with this staff and many patients will have to be refused attention for want of time and assistance. The Viennese Neuro-Psychiatrist has given some of his time in neurological examinations. The salient features of the work done at the Clinic are Psycho-Therapy, Play Therapy, Speech Therapy, advice to parents and teachers, Intelligence testing, Vocational Guidance; Reports on young delinquents to Courts and Probation Officers; Treatment of Epileptics and behaviour disorders. In accordance with accepted teachings in Mental Hygiene special stress is- laid on advising parents regarding their behaviour towards their children. Many congenital defectives have applied for treatment but this problem cannot be ameliorated without a Home for Defectives and this does not come within the scope of this Clinic. The following personnel are. urgently required: — (1) Trained Officer for Intelligence Testing. (2) Assistant Psychiatric Social Worker. (3) Clerk. The following is an analvsis of the work done for 1949: — O Diseases; Behaviour Problems ... . 23 Personality Disorders ... 3 Speech ... .. 12 Sex ... 6 Epileptics ... 70' Psycho-Somatic Disorders ... 20 Neurological cases ... 16 Psychosis ... 24 Dull normal cases ... • » • • • • •• 5 Mental Defectives ... ... 67 Deaf Mutes ... ... 14 Referred to other clinics ... ... 13 Total 273 Total number of attendances for Psycho Therapy, Play Therapy, Speech Therapy, &c. ... ... 1,280 Number of visits by Psvchiatric Social Work to Home and School for Psychological Investigations, &c. ... 19h 1948 1949 Number of Patients 229 273 Number of attendances 550 1.280 Number of visits to Homes and Schools 151 195