Glasgow Stroke Psychology Service

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.

• 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.

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

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

• 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.