Background:
There are high rates of co-morbidity between mental health difficulties and
gynaecological and female reproductive system disorders. Many common
gynaecological conditions are associated with psychological or psychiatric
disturbance and impaired quality of life, especially endometriosis, polycystic ovarian
syndrome, adenomyosis, and chronic pelvic pain. Many modern medical services are
fragmented, impeding holistic care and under-treating illnesses that affect multiple
systems. Sláintecare and Sharing the Vision reports have identified greater
integration of care between physical and mental healthcare as an unmet need.
This project aims to develop a framework for the integrated delivery of mental health
care within gynaecology and provide the building blocks for an evidence-based
model.
Methodology:
This study has 4 Work Packages:
1. Work Package 1 will comprise scoping work defining the need for integrated
gynaecology and mental healthcare. It will include a survey of gynaecological
services and a cross-sectional study of mental health needs in gynaecology.
2. Work Package 2 will apply this knowledge to developing evidence-based
clinical services, utilising the literature. This literature review will be the basis
of a trauma-informed model for joint work between mental health
professionals and clinical professionals in women-specific healthcare
settings, such as benign gynaecology, menopause clinics, and women’s
health primary care.
3. Work Package 3 will develop educational resources to skill up the
multidisciplinary teams working with benign gynaecology through the
gynaecology hubs.
4. Work Package 4 will design and implement a pilot mental health service for
pelvic pain in the benign gynaecology clinic. This Work Package will develop
a screening tool to identify mental ill-health in the gynaecology clinic and a
tiered intervention system. We will pilot a consultation-liaison psychiatry
service in gynaecology for those who need specialist intervention.
We anticipate that the findings of this study will equip us to deliver better mental
health services for women integrated with reproductive/ gynaecological health.
