Australian Defence Force Centre for Mental Health Second Opinion Clinic - first ten years of operation.

Abstract

The aim is to report the operation of the Australian Defence Force Centre for Mental Health (ADFCMH) Second Opinion Clinic (SOC) after its first 10years of operation. Demographic data and clinical data were recorded and analysed for all Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel (n=209) seen at the clinic from 2011 to 2021. Assessment at the clinic led to a change in diagnosis from that given at the time of referral in 40.7% (n=85) of members seen. Of the total members assessed at the SOC, 55.9% (n=117) had been on an at least one operational deployment. Mood disorders were the most common mental disorders seen among personnel at the SOC. The ADFCMH SOC is a valuable clinical resource supporting ADF health services nationally and provides an example of an effective mental health tertiary referral service.