Home Page Home page NSW Health
Logo

Medical Psychology

Medical Psychology

Westmead Hospital Anxiety Treatment and Research Unit

Head

Ms Tamsen St Clare, BA (Hons), M.Psychol.
Clinical Psychologist
Department of Medical Psychology
Westmead Hospital
Westmead, NSW, 2145
Telephone: 9840 4095
Facsimile: 9840 3387
E-mail: Tamsen_St_Clare@wsahs.nsw.gov.au

Affiliations:
Member Australian Psychological Society
Executive Committee Member - Australian Association for Cognitive Therapy
Honorary Clinical Associate, Schools of Psychology, University of Sydney, University of NSW, University of Western Sydney, and Wollongong University.
Organising Committee - AACBT National Conference, 2006
Interests:
Cognitive theories and therapy for obsessive compulsive disorder, sexual and relationship functioning in obsessive compulsive disorder, treatment of social anxiety in stuttering, treatment of health anxiety.

Primary Contacts (for Referrals):

Ms Juliette Drobny, B.Sc. (Psychol.), M.Psychol (Clin.)
Clinical Psychologist
Department of Medical Psychology
Westmead Hospital
Westmead, NSW, 2145
Telephone: 9840 4095
Facsimile: 9840 3387
E-mail: Juliette_Drobny@wsahs.nsw.gov.au
Affiliations:
Clinical Associate: School of Psychology, University of New South Wales; School of Psychology, University of Western Sydney.
Invited Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, Westmead Hospital and University of Sydney
Interests: The effect of enhancing therapists-patient communitation on treatment outcome, possible detrimental effects of using non-cognitive treatments for panic disorder.

Mr. Brian O'Grady, BSc(Hons), MPsychol(Clinical)(Hons), MAPS
Department of Medical Psychology
Westmead Hospital, Westmead NSW 2145
Telephone: 9840 4095
Facsimile: 9840 3387
E-mail: brian_ogrady@wsahs.nsw.gov.au
Affiliations:
Member of Australian Psychological Society's College of Clinical Psychologists
Member of Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Organising Committee, Anxiety Practitioners Network
Honorary Clinical Supervisor - University of NSW, Macquarie University, University of Sydney
Interests: Role of anxiety in psychotic disorders.


1. Services
The Anxiety Treatment and Research Unit provides psychological assessment and treatment services for individuals who are suffering from an anxiety disorder. This anxiety disorder needs to be seriously impacting the individual’s life and must be the primary diagnosis at the time of treatment. We accept individuals with the following diagnoses: Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Specific Phobia, Social Phobia, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The treatment consists of a short-term, cognitive behavioural intervention. Treatment may be provided either on an individual basis or in a group setting. The Unit has developed a reputation for providing quality cognitive behavioural interventions, and has become known specifically as a centre of excellence for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

We accept referrals from both prospective clients and health professionals. All patients must be subject to a comprehensive assessment to ensure suitability for CBT before being accepted for treatment.

2. Specific Programs
The Anxiety Treatment and Research Unit provides a number of specific treatment programs. Group treatment is offered for panic disorder and agoraphobia. The group consists of 9 weekly sessions, of approximately two hours duration. Most sessions are run during the evening. Group members are educated about the nature of their panic symptoms, and are taught to become less fearful of them.

Individual treatment is offered for all other anxiety disorders. All treatment at the clinic is aimed at helping individuals understand the nature of their symptoms, and to change the thoughts and behaviours that are maintaining their disorder.

We are currently involved in a research trial comparing two treatments for obsessive-compulsive washing. Both treatments are known to be effective in this population. In order to be considered for this study, the individual must: a) meet DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for obsessive compulsive disorder, and; b) present with washing as the primary feature of the OCD. The individual must not have had any psychological treatment for their OCD for at least six months. If the individual is suitable for this trial, they are guaranteed immediate treatment by an experienced clinician. Treatment consists of 12 weekly sessions.

3. Grants
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative 2004 ($328,744) in collaboration with the Western Sydney Division of General Practice and the WSAMHS Depression Management Clinic.
National Health and Medical Research 1999 ($25,000 for Westmead site) Danger Ideation Reduction Therapy in Obsessive Compulsive Washers: A Multicentre Trial.

Research Projects
1. Role of magical thinking in Atypical presentations of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
2. A randomised controlled trial of cognitive treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Washing (Second Site in NHMRC trial) Collaborative project with A/Prof Menzies and Dr M. Jones, University of Sydney.
3. Exploration of sexual dysfunction in Obsessive Compulsive Washers.
3. Quality of Life for patients and their carer in social phobia, panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder", Collaborative project with Dr C Hunt and Ms V Layer, University of Sydney.
4. "Prospective study of long-term outcome in anxiety disorders following cognitive behaviour therapy."

Research Publications
Anstey, K., Dain, S., Andrews, S., & Drobny, J. (2002). Visual abilities in older adults explain age-differences in Stroop and fluid intelligence but not face recognition: Implications for the vision-cognition connection. Aging, Neuropsychology & Cognition, 9(4), 253-265.

Drobny, J., & Einstein, D. (2003). Computerised Treatment Programme for Social Phobia. www.climate.tv.

Einstein, D. A. & Lanning,K. (1998). Shame, guilt, ego development and the five factor model of personality, Journal of Personality, 66 (4), 555 – 582.

Einstein, D.A., Lovibond, P.F. & Gaston, J.E. (2000) Relationship between perfectionism and emotional symptoms in an adolescent sample, Australian Journal of Psychology, 52, 89-93.

Einstein, D.A. & Menzies, R.G. (in press) Atypical presentations In R.G. Menzies & P. De Silva (eds) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Theory, research and treatment. London: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lutz, W., Lowry, J., Kopta, M., Einstein, D.A., & Howard, K.I. (2001) Prediction of dose-response relations based on patient characteristics, Journal of Clinical Psychology, 57, 889-900.

Manicavasagar, V., Silove, D., Wagner, R., & Drobny, J. (2003). A self-report questionnaire for measuring Separation Anxiety Disorder in adulthood. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 44(2), 146-153.

McColl, T. (in press) Assessment Procedures. In R.G. Menzies & P. De Silva (eds) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Theory, research and treatment. London: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

McColl, T., Onslow, M., Packman, A., & Menzies, R.G. (2001). A cognitive behavioural intervention for social anxiety in adults who stutter. Proceedings of the 2001 Speech Pathology Australia National Conference, 93-98.

Menzies, R.G., Harris, L., Cummings, S. & Einstein, D.A. (2000) The relationship between inflated personal responsibility and exaggerated danger expectancies in obsessive-compulsive concerns, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 38, 1029-1037.

Silove, D., Manicavasagar, V., & Drobny, J. (2002). Associations between juvenile and adult forms of separation anxiety disorder: A study of volunteers with histories of school refusal. Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease, 190(6), 413-414.

Silove, D., Steel, Z., McGorry, P., & Drobny, J. (1999). Problems Tamil asylum seekers encounter in accessing health and welfare services in Australia. Social Science and Medicine, 49, 951-956.

Silove, D., Steel, Z., McGorry, P., Miles, V., & Drobny, J. (2002). The impact of torture on post-traumatic stress symptoms in war-affected Tamil refugees and immigrants. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 43(1), 49-55.
St. Clare, T. (2003). Assessment Procedures. In R.G. Menzies & P. de Silva, Osessive-compulsive disorder: theory, research and treatment (pp. 239-257). Chichester: Wiley

Conference/ Seminar Presentations

Blaszczynski, A., Steel, Z., & Drobny, J. (1999). Predictors of treatment compliance in pathological gambling. Invited paper presented at the Ninth National Association of Gambling Studies Conference, 1999, Gold Coast, Queensland

Blaszczynski, A., Steel, Z., & Drobny, J. (1998). Predictors of compliance and an integrated pathways model for pathological gamblers. Invited paper presented at the Twelfth National Conference on Problem Gambling, 18-20 June, 1998, Alexis Park Resort, Las Vegas.

Einstein, D. A. & Lanning, K. (1994) Relationships between shame, guilt, ego development and the five factor model of personality. Poster session presented at the Annual Conference of the American Psychological Association, Los Angeles, CA.

Einstein, D. A. & Lovibond, P. (1996) Perfectionism, procrastination and psychological symptoms in final year high school students. Paper presented at the 19th Annual Conference of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy, Sydney, NSW.

Einstein, D. A. & Lovibond, P. (1996) Perfectionism, procrastination and psychological symptoms in final year high school students. Paper presented at the 19th Annual Conference of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy, Sydney, NSW.

Einstein, D.A. & Menzies, R.G. (2001) The relative importance of schizotypy and Thought Action Fusion in Obsessive Compulsive symptoms. Poster presented at the World Congress of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Vancouver, Canada.

Einstein, D.A. & Menzies, R.G. (2000) The role of magical thinking in obsessive-compulsive concerns. Paper presented at the National Conference of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, London, United Kingdom.

Lutz, W., Einstein, D.A., Lowry, J., Kopta, M. & Howard, K.I. (1999) Outcomes research: patient profiling - a new method of evaluating treatment progress. Paper presented at AACBT 22nd National Conference, Fremantle, Western Australia.

Atkins, J., Block, S., Bryant, C., Menzies, R.G., St Clare, T., McGartland, M., Onslow, M. & Packman, A. (2003). The Effect of Cogniitve Behaviour Therapy in the Treatment of Adult Stuttering: A further report. Paper presented at the 2003 Speech Pathology Australia National Conference, Hobart, Australia.

Bryant, C., Block, S., Menzies, R.G., McColl, T., McGartland, M., Onslow, M. & Packman, A. (2002). The Effect of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in the Treatment of Adult Stuttering: An interim report. Paper presented at the 2002 Speech Pathology Australia National Conference, Alice Springs, Australia.

Cavanagh, M., Menzies, R.G., Jones, M.J., Krochmalik, A., Einstein, D.A., & McColl, T. (2001). The Development of an Exposure-free Treatment Package for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Paper presented at the World Congress of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Vancouver, Canada.

Drobny, J. (2004). Panic Disorder and the General Medical System: A Cause for Panic?! Paper presented at the Department of Medical Psychology Biennial Health Psychology Conference, 27 February, 2004, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales.


McColl, T. (2001). Treating Intractible Anxiety Disorders In Adults. Invited Seminar for the Australian Association of Cognitve Behaviour Therapy (NSW). Sydney: November.

McColl, T. & Menzies, R.G. (2001). A Preliminary Exploration of Sexual Behaviour in Obsessive Compulsive Washing. Poster presented at the 24th National Conference of the Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Sydney, Australia.

McColl, T. & Menzies, R.G. (2002). Contemporary Issues in the Management of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Paper presented at the 25th National Conference of the Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Brisbane, Australia.

McColl, T., Menzies, R.G., Onslow, M., Packman, A., & Block, S. (2002). Unhelpful Beliefs About Stuttering: The development of a new Australian measure. Paper presented at the 2002 Speech Pathology Australia National Conference, Alice Springs, Australia.

McColl, T., Onslow, M., Packman, A., & Menzies, R.G. (2001). Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Social Anxiety in Adults who stutter. Paper presented at the 2001 National Speech Pathology Australia Conference. Melbourne, Australia.

McColl, T., Onslow, M., Packman, A., & Meznies, R.G. (2001). A Cognitive Behavioural Treatment Package for Social Anxiety in Adults who Stutter. Poster presented at the 24th National Conference of the Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Sydney, Australia.

Menzies, R.G., Jones, M.J., Krochmalik, A., Einstein, D.A., & McColl, T. (2001). The Development of an Exposure-free Treatment Package for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Paper
presented at the 24th National Conference of the Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Sydney, Australia.

St Clare, T. (2004). Sexual Impairment associated with obsessive-compulsive washing: A preliminary investigation. Paper presented at the Department of Medical Psychology Biennial Health Psychology Conference, Sydney, Australia.

St Clare, T. & Menzies, R.G. (2003). Sexual Dysfunction Associated with Compulsive Washing: A preliminary investigation. Paper presented at the 26th National Conference of the Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Adelaide, Australia.

St Clare, T. & Menzies, R.G. (2003). Sexual Functioning in Compulsive Washers: A preliminary investigation. Paper presented at the Sydney Anxiety Practitioners Network Annual Conference, Sydney Australia.

Honorary Associates of the Clinic:

Associate Professor Ross Menzies
School of Behavioural and Community Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
University of Sydney
Phone: + 61 2 9351 9283 Fax: +61 2 9351 9540

Danielle Einstein
Clinical Psychologist
Private Practice
Crows Nest and City
Phone: 0414 256796

 

Updated:   3 Jan 2006

 

Top

© SWAHS. Contact: SWAHS Executive Unit
Sydney West Area Health Service
P.O. Box 63 Penrith, NSW 2145
Telephone: (02) 4734-2129
eMail: wsahs@wsahs.nsw.gov.au
http://www.wsahs.nsw.gov.au