Introduction

Mood disorders lead to more long-term disability than any other medical or psychiatric illness in Ireland, especially in the effects they can have on employment, social interaction and family.  Despite this, psychiatric services in Ireland or elsewhere have not traditionally specialised in the treatment of those suffering from mood disorders.  Long delays in receiving appropriate treatment and, in particular, under-treatment of patients with recurring mood disorders are common.

The Mood and Anxiety programme at St. Edmundsbury Hospital was developed therefore to intensively treat patients with both first episode and recurring mood disorders with the aim of full recovery and improvement in overall functioning.

The programme is broad and multidisciplinary in nature with the aims of education, relapse prevention, and optimal pharmacological and psychological treatment of mood disorders.