Dr Antonio Da Costa is a Consultant Neuropsychiatrist with an extensive training and experience in this field. Neuropsychiatry is a subspecialist of Medicine that deals with disorders in the interface between the Brain and the Mind. As a specialist Dr Da Costa has undergone training in a range of fields of neuroscience including Psychiatry, Neurology, Psychology and Neuro-rehabilitation. Dr Da Costa has also worked as part of complex MDTs including trauma Neurosurgery, Neuro-oncology, Epilepsy surgery and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS).
Dr Da Costa primary training in Neuropsychiatry has been in India and UK. Dr Da Costa worked as the Clinical lead for Neuropsychiatry Service at the Prestigious Walton Centre, the only NHS Neuroscience centre in the UK, before moving to Australia and making Melbourne his new home. He is passionate to get his evidence based experience to treat people who suffer from these debilitating disorders and also provide them access to the right specialist support.
As a Neuropsychiatrist Dr Da Costa sees patients in the broad 4 categories:
- People who suffer from a new or existing Neurological disease and have comorbid psychiatric disorder as a result e.g Parkinson’s disease or epilepsy related Behavioural or mood difficulties
- People who have a new and existing Psychiatric disorder and develop a Neurological disorder e.g. Schizophrenia with Epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease
- People struggling with their mental health due to trauma, injury or insults to their brain e.g. Acquired Brain injury (ABI), Behaviour/Personality changes due to BI, Memory and cognitive difficulties due to BI
- People presenting with Neurological symptoms that have a psychological or psychiatric basis e.g. Functional Neurological disorder
Additionally Dr Da Costa has expertise in:
Neuro-modulation techniques
Substance Misuse and Impulse disorder
Dissociative phenomenon/Syndrome
Neuro-cognitive syndrome
Sleep disorder
Eating disorder
Tics/Tourettes
General Psychiatric disorder include Psychosis, Anxiety/OCD and Mood disorders
FAQs for Referrers:
How is a Neuropsychiatrist different from a Psychiatrist?
Neuropsychiatrist have specific training in the speciality and uniquely spend time examining and treating the sub class of such complex patients. The role and use of medications in the treatment of Neuropsychiatric disorders are also different compared to those used to treat general psychiatric disorders e.g. not all antipsychotics can be prescribe to patients with Parkinson’s disease. The general approach in management also differs when examined by a Neuropsychiatrist. A Neurologist will frequently find referring to a Neuropsychiatrist helpful as a ‘’second pair of eyes’’ when dealing with complex conundrum of illness.
What are the different type of Neuropsychiatric disorders?
The RCPsych-UK as well as the RANZCP has set clear demarcation in the category of illness that are classed as specialist and specific to what a Neuropsychiatrist would treat. The general and simple means to demarcate these would be to consider the word ‘Neuro’. If a patient presents with disorder of mood, thought, perception, behaviour and cognition and has also got a “neurological’ cause/condition/suspicion; you are right to refer them to a Neuropsychiatrist.
What about referring to a Neuropsychiatrist versus a Neuropsychologist?
Neuropsychologist are specialist in assessment of neurocognitive disorders and you would find them beneficial if you need specific domains of the brain function to be assessed and to have an objective report. They also assist in complex psychological formulations, treatments and therapies in patients with neurological disorders. Neuropsychiatrist on the other hand are Medical doctors who also undergo some training in Neuropsychological assessments and may utilise such skills when consulting a patient but don’t have expertise in that area.
What do you expect in a routine consultation with a Neuropsychiatrist?
The usual new consultation can last anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour. On certain occasions the Consultant might want to rebook you for further explorative consultation depending on complexity. The usual consultation would involve detailed history of your Neurological and Psychiatric symptoms, relevant history of other aspects of your psycho-social health. This would be followed by examination of your mental state, neuropsychological assessment and relevant neurological tests. The Doctor would spend concluding time discussing about diagnosis if any and treatment options as necessary.
The general conditions list covered under Neuropsychiatry include:
- Neuropsychiatry of Epilepsy
- Neuropsychiatry of movement disorder including PD, HD, TS
- Psychiatry symptoms as a result of Neurological event including Traumatic BI and other brain injuries
- Neurological symptoms in a patient with pre-existing psychiatry disorder e.g. ongoing management/oversight needed from Psychiatry by Neurology/Neuro specialist
- Neuro-cognitive disorder* including dementia/memory challenges of all ages
- Neuro-immunological disorders including acute and chronic infections and immunological disorder presenting with neuropsychiatric comorbid symptoms
- Neuro-developmental disorders* e.g. Autism and Intellectual disability presenting with Neuropsychiatric symptoms
- Functional Neurological disorder including Dissociative disorders
- Sleep disorder* including OSA, parasomnias and nightmare disorder
- Neuromodulation individuals planned for and post intervention including DBS