Referrals are accepted from clinicians working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) supported by a consultant psychiatrist and / or clinical psychologist involved in the child or young person’s care, after a first line assessment has been completed.
If you wish to make a referral you can complete our referral form.
The National Specialist Adolescent Mood Disorders Service (NSAMS) is a specialist tertiary provision accepting referrals from across the United Kingdom. NSAMS is part of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust.
The multidisciplinary team work in collaboration with local services, providing second opinions for children and young people who have significant mood issues, for example difficult to treat unipolar depression and bipolar disorder, in addition to other complex mental health and/or neurodevelopmental disorders.
The National Specialist Adolescent Mood Disorders Service (NSAMS) formerly known as Adolescent Bipolar Service (ABS) is based at Walkergate Park, Newcastle upon Tyne and is delivered on an outpatient and/or outreach basis.
We explore
Uncertainty about a mood disorder because of complex presentations in children and young people. Impacting factors may be trauma, neurodevelopmental disorders and other co-occurring mental health difficulties
Concerns about a child or young person response to therapeutic interventions
We provide
Detailed assessments include developmental history, genogram and history of presenting issues using structure tools such as WASH-U-KSADS and cognitive assessments. Additionally, we can assess for neurodevelopmental conditions if these are required to answer the primary clinical question.
An individualised formulation and, where appropriate, diagnosis which will then inform biopsychosocial recommendations.
Specialist consultation clinics are offered to professionals who are working with children and young people with significant mood issues. These can be accessed face to face, or online.
Treatment advice can go beyond NICE or BAP guidelines. De tailed assessments include developmental history, genogram and history of presenting issues using structure tools such as WASH U-KSADS and cognitive assessments. Additionally, we can assess for neurodevelopmental conditions if these are required to an swer the primary clinical question.
An individualised formulation and, where appropriate, diagnosis which will then inform biopsychosocial recommendations.
Specialist consultation clinics are offered to professionals who are working with children and young people with significant mood issues. These can be accessed face to face, or online.
Treatment advice can go beyond NICE or BAP guidelines
Who can refer
Referrals are accepted from clinicians working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) supported by a consultant psychiatrist and / or clinical psychologist involved in the child or young person’s care, after a first line assessment has been completed.
All referrals will be considered on a case by case basis determined by the needs and risks the young person is presenting with.
It is essential that a care coordinator/lead professional is identified, along with a local psychiatrist/clinical psychologist who will retain overall clinical responsibility for the case, throughout the period of involvement from the National Specialist Adolescent Mood Disorders Service (NSAMS).
Who to refer
Children and young people under 18 years open to either NHS or private healthcare providers where there is:
• Significant mood issues impacting on their everyday functioning.
• Uncertainty about diagnosis of mood disorder, for example difficult to treat unipolar depression and bipolar disorder, additional complex mental health or psychiatric disor der(s) and/or complex presentations eg. attachment disorders.
Referral process
• The NSAMS referral form can be accessed online and details the specific information re quired by the NSAMS team. This should be emailed to the service at nsams@cntw.nhs.uk
• Funding arrangements will be sourced by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust in accordance with the relevant CCG
For further information please contact:
National Specialist Adolescent Mood Disorders Service (NSAMS),
Walkergate Park,
Benfield Road,
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE6 4QD
Tel: 0191 287 5262