The outpatient clinic specialises in providing services for individuals with severe psychiatric disorders and substance use problems.

The service is intended for individuals who:

• have co-occurring psychiatric illness and substance use disorder (dual diagnosis)

• suffer from severe physical complications of substance use

• are pregnant, during pregnancy or postpartum

• have family members or relatives who need support

If follow-up is needed after an inpatient stay at the Department of Psychiatry, a request is sent to the outpatient clinic. An intake team evaluates the request and a treatment plan is developed in collaboration with the patient. This may include, for example, psychotherapy, detoxification, withdrawal management, maintenance therapy, and services for family members and relatives.

The service is multidisciplinary and carried out in collaboration with other departments of Landspítali as needed.

Referrals
The Outpatient Clinic for Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine accepts referrals from psychiatric inpatient units, the Landspítali Emergency Departments, other healthcare institutions, child protection services, and municipal social services.
When a request for service is received, an assessment of the individual’s needs is made. Some patients require inpatient detoxification before they can benefit from outpatient services.
Individuals who require inpatient detoxification are placed on a waiting list for admission, with prioritisation according to urgency. All patients placed on the waiting list are contacted.

Laufey Team
Laufey Community Service provides outreach services for people with severe mental illness and/or long-term substance use disorders. The service is based on psychiatry, harm reduction, recovery-oriented approaches, and motivational interviewing.

The team works with a defined group over the long term and adapts services to the needs of each client. The team includes nurses, physicians, and case managers who provide, among other things:

• Supportive counselling

• Medication management

• Needle exchange services and assessment of infections as appropriate

Each client is assigned a case manager who coordinates their care. Discharge is based on the client’s wishes or an assessment that other services better meet their needs.

Requests to the team may be submitted by healthcare professionals at Landspítali.

Confidentiality
Staff are bound by confidentiality and share information only with the consent of the client.