The Psychological Toolkit

The Psychological Toolkit is a collection of practical resources available for GPs to assist in the management of mood disorders in their clinical work. Comprised of five sections, the materials include fact sheets for GPs and patients, questionnaires to assist GPs in the assessment of depression, charts to assist with treatment protocols, tools for self-monitoring, and exercises for patients. Health professionals are welcome to download copies of these resources for use in their clinical work, retaining the acknowledgement of the Black Dog Institute as the source.

Section 1 - Depression information for GPs

1. Introduction to the Black Dog Institute Model [PDF, 71KB]
2. About non-melancholic depression [PDF, 67KB]
3. About melancholic depression [PDF, 102KB]
4. About psychotic depression [PDF, 37KB]
5. About Bipolar Disorder [PDF, 118KB]
6. Resource list (books, websites, etc) [PDF, 72KB]

Section 2 - Assessment and management tools for GPs to use

1. Integrated depression model [PDF, 116KB]
2. Assessment and management tips for depression types in general practice [PDF, 48KB]
3. Diagnostic and treatment algorithm [PDF, 39KB]
4. Antidepressant regimes [PDF, 62KB]
5. Management strategies for Bipolar Disorder - pharmacological [PDF, 75KB]
6. Mood stabilisers [PDF, 46KB]
7. Management strategies for Bipolar Disorder - non-pharmacological [PDF, 73KB]
8. Questions to introduce difficult topics [PDF, 58KB]
9. Making an effective referral [PDF, 40KB]

Section 3 - Depression information for patients

1. Symptoms of depression [PDF, 89KB]
2. Types of depression [PDF, 122KB]
3. Causes of depression [PDF, 137KB]
4. Treatments for depression [PDF, 159KB]
5. Depression in adolescents and young people [PDF, 127KB]
6. Bipolar Disorder in young people
7. Depression in older people [PDF, 151 KB]
8. Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder [PDF, 137KB]
9. Causes of Bipolar Disorder [PDF, 98KB]
10. Treatments for Bipolar Disorder [PDF, 142KB]
11. Depression during pregnancy and the postnatal period [PDF, 130KB]
12. Safety of antidepressants during pregnancy and breastfeeding [PDF, 137KB]
13. Treatments for Bipolar Disorder during pregnancy and the postnatal period [PDF, 87KB]
14. Helping someone else [PDF, 155KB]
15. St John's wort [PDF, 56KB]

Section 4 - Patient handouts: Exercises, activities & helpful hints (in alphabetical order)

1. Alcohol: Talking about alcohol [PDF, 45KB]
2. Anger: Dealing with anger and impulsivity [PDF, 100KB]
3. Change: GP notes on stages of change [PDF, 47KB]
4. Change: Appraising change and change plan sheet [PDF, 32KB]
5. Communication: Honest communication [PDF, 73KB]
6. Exercise: Use it or Lose it (with GP notes on prescribing exercise) [PDF, 75KB]
7. Goal setting (with GP notes) [PDF, 45KB]
8. Lifestyle sheet [PDF, 42KB]
9. Men: For men only prompt sheet [PDF, 98KB]
10. Mindfulness in everyday life (with GP notes) [PDF, 74KB]
11. Mood chart for depression and how to monitor your progress [PDF,738KB]
12. Mood chart for Bipolar Disorder [PDF, 107KB]
13. Prioritising: Identifying your priorities (with GP notes on suggested approaches) [PDF, 58KB]
14. Problem analysis and solving: GP notes on how to use [PDF, 46KB]
15. Problem analysis exercise [PDF, 37KB]
16. Problem - Structured problem solving exercise [PDF, 131KB]
17. Relaxation: Quick relaxation techniques (with GP notes) [PDF, 59KB]
18. Relapse signature: Learning from your experience (with GP notes) [PDF, 42KB]
19. Stress: Hints to avoid harmful stress [PDF, 40KB]
20. Wellbeing plan for Bipolar Disorder [PDF, 124KB]

Section 5 - Proformas: Outcome tools and mental health care plans (in alphabetical order)

1. Bipolar screening sheet (with instructions) [PDF, 41KB]
2. CORE assessment scoring sheet [PDF, 28KB]
3. DASS-21 (with scoring sheet) [PDF, 40KB]
4. DMI - 10 (with instructions) [PDF, 55KB]
5. K10 (with instructions) [PDF, 31KB]
6. Mental Health Care Plan (item 2710) & Mental Health Review (item 2712) [PDF, 28KB] (Soure: Department of Health and Ageing website, 22 October 2007)