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DUKE WOMEN'S SERVICES AND PSYCHIATRY

Women Today: Changes and Challenges
 The last several decades have brought enormous change to the lives of women. In addition to the health concerns that accompany being female, such as the difficulties that can surround pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause, women today face unprecedented pressures in balancing the demands of home and career-and the personal and family stresses that often result.

The Women's Behavioral Health Program offers a full range of services to women, from assistance in incorporating health-enhancing behaviors and attitudes to treatment for serious emotional disorders. Linked to the full range of resources available through the Duke University Health System, the program is uniquely able to provide comprehensive, integrated care for women confronting a variety of mental and physical health issues.

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An Integrated Resource for Related Concerns
Rather than fall into neatly defined medical or psychological categories, the treatment of women's behavioral problems and emotional concerns often spans a variety of disciplines. Typically, however, a women seeking help must find her own way through an assortment of available therapies. By contrast, the Women's Behavioral Health Program's integrated, multidisciplinary design combines clinical care with education and research to offer women access to the cooperative efforts and combined perspectives of a variety of medical disciplines and therapeutic approaches.

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Clinical Care
The clinical staff of the Women's Behavioral Health Program brings together expertise in a range of psychosocial and medical disciplines to provide women with outstanding care. Mental health professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers work closely with both primary care providers and specialists in such fields as obstetrics/gynecology, oncology, and cardiology to provide excellence in: The most effective treatments available for emotional disorders that are specific to women, more common in women, and/or more serious in women. Unique therapies for other emotional disorders or health-risk behaviors that affect women differently than men. Preventive interventions for problems in living that place women at high risk for developing emotional or physical disorders.

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Research
As one of the world's leading medical centers, Duke University Medical Center regularly participates in some of the most sophisticated scientific and medical research being done. This includes a number of prestigious, limited-access studies in which only select institutions are invited to participate. Women in the care of our program have the unusual opportunity not only to benefit from the findings of these studies, but, in many cases, to help advance understanding of women's health through their participation.

The Women's Behavioral Health program facilitates collaborative, multidisciplinary research in the following areas: Psychosocial, behavioral, biological, and emotional factors that influence women's mental and physical health Mood and behavioral changes associated with hormones or hormonal transitions Sex and gender differences in response to treatments Effectiveness of models of health delivery for women

The program also provides consultation on sex and gender issues that may affect research outcomes; conducts clinical trials on therapies for women; and facilitates referral of women interested in participating in research related to women's health.

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Education
Because a women's behavioral health is intimately linked with her own daily actions and attitudes, and because education is crucial to ensuring consistency and excellence of care, the Women's Behavioral Health Program takes a two-tiered approach to education.

Through community education programs, we offer information and support about key women's health issues to women who are receiving care within the program and those in the community at large. These programs include monthly talks at Teer House, the gracious, comfortable home of Duke Women's Services Office of Education and Information. Focusing on topics such as depression, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), Balancing multiple roles, and blended families, the programs are either free or available at very low cost.

Through continuing education activities, we are committed to enhancing the awareness and expertise of healthcare professionals in treating women's behavioral health concerns. These activities include seminars, full-day workshops, and annual regional or national symposia on women's mental health issues.

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WOMEN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM SERVICES

        MENTAL HEALTH

  • Anxiety

  • Bereavement

  • Depression

  • Eating disorders

  • Schizophrenia

    REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

  • Emotional disorders during pregnancy

  • Female sexuality

  • Infertility

  • Menopause

  • Perinatal loss

  • Postpartum depression

  • Premenstrual syndrome

  • Reproductive choices

  • Sexual trauma

    FAMILY HEALTH

  • Care giving

  • Family and couples therapy

  • Family violence

  • Lesbian family and couples therapy

  • Parenting training

    WELLNESS

  • Balancing multiple roles

  • Body image

  • Healthy lifestyles (sleep, exercise, and nutrition)

  • Self-esteem

  • Smoking cessation

  • Stress management

  • Substance dependence and abuse

    COPING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS

  • Cancer support and coping strategies

  • Chronic medical illness

  • Chronic pain (particularly gynecological pain)

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HELPING WOMEN MAKE A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER
The Women's Behavioral Health Program welcomes enquiries from interested women and referrals from health care professionals about any of our programs and services. There is no charge for participation in clinical research studies; community education programs are usually free or available for a minimal charge. Women interested in our clinical services and therapies may wish to check with their health insurers or health maintenance organizations regarding reimbursement policies.

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FOR APPOINTMENTS, CALL 919-684-0100

For more information, contact:  Dr. Anna L. Stout, Director
Women's Behavioral Health Program
DUMC 3263
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC 27710
Telephone: (919)684-5322
FAX: (919)684-2290

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER WOMEN'S SERVICES PROGRAMS, CALL 416-DUKE.

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