Stroke Psychology Services

Inpatient Stroke Psychology Service

Service overview

The Glasgow Stroke Psychology Service considers inpatient referrals for a range of psychological problems that are associated with a confirmed diagnosis of stroke. The service offers psychological assessment, formulation and intervention, including neuropsychological assessment and advice/rehabilitation. The service also offers consultancy to other professionals to help them meet a patient’s psychological needs within their work.

Intervention may take different forms, this might include brief individual work with the patient or family or recommendations for staff working with the patient. Referrals will be responded to as quickly as possible. If the patient will shortly be discharged, please consider whether an outpatient referral would be more appropriate. Likewise if the psychological problem is not directly related to the individual’s stroke, please refer to Liaison Psychiatry using their regular referral protocol.

Essential referral criteria

The psychological problem is associated with the person’s stroke and is impacting on their ability to engage in effective rehabilitation.
The psychological problem requires input on an inpatient basis (e.g. the problem is having a significant negative impact on rehabilitation, input is required to facilitate discharge planning etc). If this is not the case, highlight any concerns to the stroke liaison nurses upon discharge for consideration of referral to Stroke Clinical Psychology Service on an outpatient basis.

How to make a referral

Referrals should be instigated by a senior member of the ward team and the patient must consent to the referral being made. If the patient has already been referred to the Liaison Psychiatry Service, please clearly state the additional referral question that you wish the Glasgow Stroke Psychology Service to address. If you are uncertain about the appropriateness of a referral then please speak to the local Stroke Psychologist to discuss the case further.

To download an up to date copy of our referral form please click here: Inpatient referral form
For additional guidance on the suitability of potential referrals please consider our suitability guidance: Referral flow chart

Outpatient Stroke Psychology Service

Service overview

The service considers referrals for a range of psychological problems that are associated with stroke. The service offers psychological assessment, formulation and intervention, including neuropsychological assessment and advice/rehabilitation. The service also offers consultancy to other professionals to help them meet a patient’s psychological needs within their work. Examples of difficulties we might be able to help with include:

Psychological distress, including mood-related difficulties (e.g. anxiety, depression) that:
- Does not resolve over time
- Interferes with life activities and/or rehabilitation
- Cannot be managed by other members of the multidisciplinary team
Adjustment disorder (e.g. to loss of function, role or mobility)
Health Anxiety disproportionate to diagnosis
Neuropsychological assessment
Management of cognitive difficulties

Essential referral criteria

The psychological problem is associated with the person’s recent onset confirmed stroke.

If you are uncertain about the appropriateness of a referral then please speak to the local Stroke Psychologist to discuss the case further. Where mental health difficulties are present but not related to the stroke, referrals should be directed to the relevant community mental health service.

How to make a referral

To make a referral, please complete an outpatient referral form or a letter including the purpose of the referral, and send to strokepsychology@ggc.scot.nhs.uk or by mail to Stroke Psychology Service Glasgow, 2^nd Floor, West ACH, Dalnair Street, Glasgow, G3 8SJ.

To download an up to date copy of our referral form please click here: Outpatient referral form
For additional guidance on the suitability of potential referrals please consider our suitability guidance: Referral flow chart

Patient and Carer Information

Patient and Carer Information on Stroke Psychology Services

Information for Patients and Carers

Useful Websites and Links

There is a lot of information available on the internet about stroke, and although this can be useful it can also sometimes be overwhelming. The Stroke Association and Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland are good places to start. They provide up to date information on a broad range of factors linked to stroke including psychological wellbeing and information for carers. Your clinician may also recommend additional resources specific to your needs. Links to the Stroke Association and Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland websites and some useful resources can be found below:

What can the Stroke Psychology Team help with

When working with individuals who have had a stroke Clinical Psychologists can offer support in several areas including:

Psychological distress linked to the stroke, including mood-related difficulties (e.g. anxiety, depression or anger).
Difficulties controlling your emotions.
Difficulties with adjustment to life after stroke.
Neuropsychological assessment – Administering tests to evaluate how the stroke might have effected functions of your brain such as memory, attention or language.
Adapting to changes in brain function such as memory problems or difficulty concentrating

The type of support needed will be based on your needs identified at assessment. This might involve signposting/linking into services, education on particular topics or psychological therapy.

Information on remote appointments

Sometimes we are offering appointments via telephone or video link. Below you will find some useful tips and things that might help you make the most of remote appointments via video or telephone.

Prior to appointments

If you are due to have a video appointment your clinician will include instructions on how to access this with your appointment letter. There is a ‘Test Call’ function on the link you will have received to enable your appointment. This will check your equipment is capable and your internet connection is strong enough to enable a successful video consultation. It is worthwhile testing this out prior to your appointment.
- You might also have the opportunity to check your equipment/ familiarise yourself with it with a member of the admin staff prior to your appointment.
- If you are using a laptop or desktop computer, the internet connection is better if you can use an Ethernet cable plugged directly into your router, rather than Wi-Fi.
- If possible, limit the number of devices in the house using Wi-Fi, switch mobile phones onto airplane mode, and close any unused tabs / programmes on your devices.
If you are due to have your appointment via telephone, before the appointment make sure you have a quiet, private space free from distractions, in which you will not be disturbed before the appointment.

During appointments

You may wish to wear headphones (if using a mobile phone) to increase privacy
The member of staff may have sent you a contract to sign in advance and will discuss this at the first session as well as the pros & cons of this way of working
You may also have been sent information between appointments- it would be helpful to have this to hand
It can be helpful to have a pen/ paper to hand to jot down notes, any goals agreed and take a note of the next appointment

After appointments

The staff member might send out relevant materials by post or e-mail following the session. If possible, please read over this and try any strategies suggested prior to your next session
The staff member might want to evaluate the mode of communication used for your sessions. It would be very helpful to have honest feedback in order to make improvements to the service
Please let the staff member know of any concerns/ difficulties you are experiencing with this way of working

Information for Staff

Staff Information on Inpatient and Outpatient Stroke Psychology Services