Mental health clinician ^{Footnote 1}

The requirements for psychosocial care in DMD include:

• Care coordination between the patient and MDT members

  • Provide information, coordinate and schedule appointments and facilitate communication across disciplines
  • Act as a point of contact for patients with DMD

• Routine mental health screening

  • Quality of life should be screened at every neuromuscular clinic visit
  • Plans should be in place in case of signs of mental distress which emerge in screening
  • Caregiver and sibling support should be available

• Psychological care

  • When mental health concerns are identified, cognitive or behavioural treatment should be available
  • Evaluations of neuropsychological status should be done at baseline and every 2–3 years thereafter
  • Neuropsychological evaluations should support education and transition to adulthood

• Pharmacological interventions

  • Mental health support should include provision of pharmacological interventions including:
    • SSRIs for depression, anxiety and OCD
    • α-Adrenoceptor agonists or atypical antipsychotics for aggression and anger or emotional dysregulation
    • Stimulants or α-adrenoceptor agonists for ADHD