How our service can help you
The Trauma and Dissociation Service (TDS) is a national specialist, outpatient assessment, consultation and treatment service for adults who are suffering psychological difficulties following trauma and/or dissociative disorders. We assess and treat survivors of a range of traumatic events (both adult and childhood) including domestic violence, childhood abuse, assault, torture, war, rape, major disasters and accidents.
We are the only NHS specialist service offering treatment for people presenting with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe dissociative disorders.
- Treatment type: Outpatient
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Contact the service
Site Location: Maudsley Hospital Email: TDS@slam.nhs.uk Phone Number: 020 3228 2969 -
Address:
Maudsley Hospital
Denmark Hill,London, SE5 8AZ - Conditions: Trauma, Dissociation, Outpatients
Other essential information
Interventions
NICE guidelines— in exceptional circumstances as these are available via primary and/or secondary care
- Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Trauma-focussed cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT)
Innovative attachment-based therapies
- Individual sensorimotor psychotherapy (SMP)
- Individual lifespan integration therapy (LI)
Group therapy
- Sensorimotor psychotherapy (SMP)
Other
- Psycho-education family sessions
- Medication advice
All therapy, whether group or individual, is time limited. Treatment includes a range of interventions lasting between 14 and 24 sessions, for simpler cases, and for up to three to five years for more complex cases.
Teaching and training
We offer consultations, supervisions and bespoke teaching at a National and International level (e.g. NHS Trusts, NGOs, Private clinical care providers).
Honorary and training posts available (e.g. psychologists, psychotherapists and medical/psychiatric doctors at National and International levels)
Eligibility criteria
Eligibility criteria
- 18 years and over
- A suspected diagnosis of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), dissociative disorders. PTSD cases in adulthood are only seen by our service when there are complicating factors (eg head injury)
- Treatment resistant PTSD/dissociative disorders
- PTSD with comorbid disorders when standard treatments have not been effective. Single event adolescent and/or adult traumas often are managed at primary or secondary level
- Symptoms of depression, anxiety, psychosis, dissociation and personality disorders
- People with head injuries and PTSD
- Survivors of childhood abuse (physical, sexual or neglect)
- Survivors of domestic violence if presentation is complex and day-to-day safety has been established
- Asylum seekers, refugees and veterans if presentation is complex
- For complex trauma cases we often request that the patient is supported by their local community mental health team (CMHT) before therapy can commence
- If patient is being referred by a short-term intervention services (e.g. A&E or community liaison services specialist services who will be discharging) the GP must be made aware of the referral.
Exclusion criteria*
- Active psychosis
- Active suicide risk
- Severe self-harm
- Significant risk of harm to self or others including severe eating disorders
- Current alcohol or drug abuse and/or dependency
- Certain psychotropic/ addictive medications may not be eligible for treatment in our unit commonly interferes with processing of traumatic material
- When primary issues are forensic related
- Severe learning difficulties
- Severe pain or disability and physical illness that is not stabilised and may prevent or interfere with treatment engagement
- This is not a conclusive list of exclusion criteria as there are other clinical/social factors that may impact the final referral outcome of the clinical decision to exclude
*Some of these exclusion criteria may be suitable for second opinion assessments or consultation/supervision on a case-by-case basis. Please send specific enquiries to TDS@slam.nhs.uk
Outcomes
- Diagnosis or differential diagnosis
- Proposed treatment plan
- Reduction in symptoms
- Reduction in risk behaviour
- Enhanced self-esteem
- Improvement in interpersonal relationships and quality of life
Care Options
Referrals
All referrals to the service require sign off by a GP or senior clinician from the referring service (i.e. head of service and/or consultant).
All information related to referrals must be received from the referring team and it is the responsibility of the referring team to communicate the referral outcome with the patient.
To make a referral please complete this Referral Form in full and email to tds@slam.nhs.uk
