Patient satisfaction with the Black Dog Institute Depression Clinic

The aim of this paper is to report on patient satisfaction with the Black Dog Institute Depression Clinic, a tertiary referral service providing assessment and treatment advice to patients with mood disorders.

Patients who attended the Depression Clinic over the period 2006-2007 received questionnaires in the mail assessing satisfaction with the services received. Of the 321 patients attending, 114 (35%) replied. Results from 110 patients were subsequently analysed.

Overall, patients were very satisfied with the services received. However, a number of priority areas were identified including provision of information about diagnosis, causal factors and treatment options; managing patient expectations about services offered; the need for improvement of communication between patient and psychiatrist; and the need for adequate de-briefing for those who receive an unexpected or differing diagnosis.

Patient satisfaction is a central component in shaping clinical service development to ensure delivery of effective health care. Findings from this study have implications for the improved delivery of psychiatric services.