Cystic Fibrosis Unit Psychology Service

Location: Chest Clinic, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace

What is Cystic Fibrosis?

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a progressive multisystem disease characterised mainly by chronic lung disease and problems associated with the pancreas and enzyme transportation. It is a genetic condition, meaning that the gene causing CF is passed through families (inherited). Therefore, people with CF are born with it, and they have to develop and implement ways of managing it throughout their whole lives. Unfortunately people with CF have a shorter life span than the average and there is no cure as yet. However, with advances in treatment, people with CF are generally leading healthier and longer lives and achieving adult goals.

More information about CF can be found at http://cysticfibrosis.org.au/ or by contacting Cystic Fibrosis SA Inc at cfsa@cfsa.org.au.

Why offer a clinical psychology service in the CF Unit?

It is generally well accepted that the best possible health anyone can achieve depends on the successful management of both physical and psychological well-being. It is therefore important to be aware of emotional as well as physical health maintenance.

Emotional discomfort can occur in response to all sorts of situations, and this can make life more difficult and less enjoyable. Whilst emotional discomfort is experienced by everyone from time to time, people living with a chronic illness such as CF can experience additional stresses and strains in many areas of life which can impact adversely on their psychological well-being. In turn, psychological concerns can impact upon one’s physical health, such as through behaviour (eg. not paying as much attention to our health when we feel down) and through the effects of stress on the body. 

The clinical psychologist is the member of the CF team who specialises in helping people deal with emotional and psychological difficulties, and who can provide them with extra support and assistance if required.

How can the clinical psychologist help?

Sometimes a person might just want to "get things off their chest" or get a different perspective on things. Many people find it helpful to talk through their thoughts and feelings with someone outside their immediate circle. Alternatively, a person may need to look at ways of making some useful changes in life in order to feel better, such as changing unhelpful thinking patterns or modifying behaviours.  Often people just appreciate some extra encouragement to mobilise their usual coping skills or to learn some new ones.

The clinical psychologist on the CF team is available to assist people with CF in making any necessary changes so that they can feel better about issues that may be bothering them and so that they can achieve their goals in life more effectively.

Specific concerns that a person with CF might choose to talk about with the clinical psychologist include (among many other things):

• emotional ups and downs;
• uncomfortable feelings such as anxiety, depression, anger, guilt, helplessness;
• unhelpful thinking patterns;
• stress management;
• grief, loss and change;
• persistent worries;
• fears and phobias;
• sleeping problems;
• chronic pain or discomfort;
• family and relationship concerns;
• eating and body-image;
• confidence and self-esteem;
• coping with treatment routines;
• problem solving, life planning and decision-making;
• communicating their needs.

People with CF have access to the clinical psychologist during their outpatient clinic appointments in the Chest Clinic and when they are undergoing inpatient treatment. At the Royal Adelaide Hospital CF Unit, seeing the clinical psychologist is a routine part of a CF patient’s treatment, and the aim is to achieve good overall health management.