ABOUT US

A diagnosis of a serious physical illness, particularly cancer, can be an overwhelming experience for many people. Emotions of fear, anxiety, anger, uncertainty and sadness can be commonly felt at any stage-during assessment, at diagnosis, during treatment and follow up times- by patients and family members alike. Psychological support is found to be of benefit during this time.

We, at the Psycho-oncology and Psychiatry Unit at Tata Memorial Hospital, provide psychological support services for patients and their family members. This service is for both admitted patients as well as those attending outpatient clinics. We work in a team of Psychiatrist and Clinical Psychologists, on a consultation-liaison model of service.

Referrals for psychiatric and psychological assessments can be arranged by staff working with the patients. Self-referrals (patients and/or family members) are also accepted. We comprehensively evaluate the patients with a bio-psycho-socio-environmental model and use evidence based approaches in the clinical care of the patients. We believe that the caregivers are an integral part of the patient-family unit and consider their emotional and other concerns during the patient evaluation.

Psychological support services are also available for staff working in the hospital, keeping in mind that working in specialized area of oncology and can be overwhelming at times, leading to stress.

We are involved too in education and training pertaining to topics related to psycho-oncology, communication skills, stress management and palliative care psychiatry. We have Observership placements in the department for students of Psychology and Counselling and Psychiatry.

Our clinical and research interests are spirituality, paediatric and geriatric psycho-oncology, survivorship programmes and support groups.

We conducted the first ever Psychosocial Academy of the International Psycho-oncology Society to be held in India in TMH in 2013. We are involved in the Psycho-oncology programme and workshop in the Indian Cancer Congress to be held in Bengaluru in November 2017.

DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITY

Clinical:
Outpatient clinic
Consultation – liaison inpatient rounds
Liaison clinics – Survivorship programme for childhood cancer survivors and palliative care
Caregiver emotional support

STAFF SUPPORT

Neurocognitive assessment

EDUCATION

Training and placement of students of Psychology

Observership training and placement

Participation in Oncology Nursing, Palliative Medicine, Summer School in Oncology

Patient and caregiver education groups

RESEARCH

Areas of ongoing research – Neurocognitive assessment in cancer patients, spirituality, paediatric psycho-oncology, psychiatric disorders in cancer, validation of different tools for depression and anxiety.

CONTACT  DETAILS

Departmental Office: Room 20, Golden Jubilee Building Basement, Tata Memorial Hospital, Dr. E. Borges Road, Parel, Mumbai 400012

Referrals:

For admitted patients

For admitted patients

Please phone the departmental office at Room 20, Golden Jubilee Building basement Ext 4515 (Mon-Fri ) during hospital working hours, for arranging referrals

For General OPD patients

For General OPD patients

Patients can be referred to the General OPD which is located in Room 20, Golden Jubilee Building basement (Ext 4515) Mon-Fri during hospital working hours

For Private OPD patients

For Private OPD patients

Patients can be referred to the Private OPD which is located in Room 68, Homi Bhabha Building Ground  Floor Mon-Fri  2-4 pm

For Faculty And Staff

For Faculty And Staff

Dr. Jayita Deodhar

 

Designation: Adhoc officer in-charge,department of Palliative Medicine & Professor and Physician 'F'(PSYCHIATRY)

Qualification:MD(Psy), D.P.M., DNB(Psy), DMH(UK), MRCPsych, CCST in Gen Adult Psychiatry (UK), Prof Cert in Management (Open University, UK) 

Contact:+91-22-24177000 Extn. 4515    Email: deodharjk@tmc.gov.in

Special Interests: Member, Education Committee, International Psycho-Oncology Society
Member, LMIC Committee, International Psycho-Oncology Society
Affiliate Member, Board of Psycho-oncology Journal
Ex Hon. Secretary, Bombay Psychiatric Society
Ex-Hon. Editor, Archives of Indian Psychiatry
Ex-Chairperson, Membership Subcommittee, Indian Psychiatric Society - Western Zonal Branch
Core group, Dr. N. S. Vahia Foundation

 

Mrs. Savita Goswami

 

Designation: Senior Clinical Psychologist and Psycho-oncologist

Qualification: Member, Bombay Psychiatric Society, PhD scholar

Contact: +91-22-24146750  Extn.  4515 Email: savitata@yahoo.co.in

Special Interests: Mentor, Ugamm (Childhood cancer survivors support group)

 

Ms. Lekhika N. Sonkusare

 

Designation:Clinical Psychologist and Psycho-oncologist

Qualification: Member, Bombay Psychiatric Society

Contact:+91-22-24146750 Extn. 4515 Email:sonkusare-lekhika14@rediffmail.com