Isaac treatment

Isaac has severe OCD which has robbed him of his ability to live life. He is a young capable 24 year old who has gone from living in a flatting situation, driving his car, attending university, playing football for 2 teams to being stuck at home unless taken out by carers or family with little hope for the future. He is completely dependent on his family and carers.

Isaac has been under treatment in the local DHB. He has complied with every treatment offered including a residential service in Dunedin. None of the treatments have been effective. Isaac's situation is worsened by his Aspergers.

There is no suitable treatment available in New Zealand. Isaac's treatment team (psychiatrist, psychologist, mental health nurse and occupational therapist) have recommended a residential facility in Melbourne and he has been assessed by Prof Paul Fitzgerald in a Skype appointment and been offered a place on the program. The Skype appointment was arranged by Isaac's treating team in Auckland and his treating doctor here attended it with Isaac.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/treating-obsessive-compulsive-disorder

Isaac's treatment would be in 2 parts. Under going a course of Deep TMS at the Victoria Clinic in Melbourne and then moving on to the Exposure Response prevention program at the Melbourne Clinic.

http://www.themelbourneclinic.com.au/services/ocd-anxiety-and-depression

(please note repetitive TMS is available in NZ, deep TMS is not, Isaac requires deep TMS for his condition.)

The dTMS part of the treatment is a research project but there is very positive evidence that it helps in treatment resistant OCD and it is considered by the medical team as a valid treatment option. This is why it is not discussed in detail on the Victoria Clinic page. As the treatment is a research project we are only paying for the hospital stay not the actual treatment.

http://www.thevictoriaclinic.com.au/inpatient-services/tms-program

Isaac has been offered a start date of the 21st November. If he misses this he would have to wait till February 2017 at the earliest and the longer Isaac is not treated effectively the worse his condition gets and the more hopeless he becomes, please help us.

We do have detailed costings available but the DHB is considering assisting in funding. The likely total cost is around NZ$60,000. That is why we haven't put an exact total on the page. My Dad is happy to talk about the detail with anyone interested in donating.