Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Disorder

Clients with co-occurring disorders are some of the most difficult to treat and manage. They usually comprise the most demanding and frustrating cases. Fortunately, this book presents a basic overview of current evidence-based practices for treating co-occurring disorders and focuses on individuals who have both a mental illness and a co-morbid substance use disorder.

The author provides an "integrated" approach to treatments for both disorders and presents useful interventions. Several brief clinical vignettes present actual and/or representative cases of clients with co-occurring disorders. Each case highlights the complexities of assessment and treatment. Strategies offer an overview of this integrated treatment process.

Chapters focus on the screening, assessment, and treatment of clients with psychotic disorders, anxiety, and personality disorders. In addition, topics go over affective or “mood” disorders, which are the most prevalent co-occurring disorders. The text also addresses that clients with bipolar disorder or major depression frequently have a co-occurring substance use disorder.

Key features focus on:

• psychopharmacology and the two major roles in the treatment of dual disorders
• the seven “principles of treatment” for people with co-occurring psychiatric and substance abuse disorders
• the barriers to implementation of evidenced-based practices for treatment of co-occurring disorders
• the four general principles that underlie motivational interviewing

A segment discusses that the prevalence of anti-social personality disorder and substance abuse is high. It reviews two essential features of anti-social personality disorder, which include clients having a pervasive disregard for and violation of the rights of others and an inability to form meaningful interpersonal relationships.

While all mental disorders can co-occur with a substance use disorder, the most prevalent and most severe disorders are the focus of this book. Subjects address areas such as schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, major depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and more.

This book also discusses why clients with co-occurring disorders are at a greater risk for suicide and violence than others. It addresses why potential for self-harm and harm to others should continuously be assessed. Some assessment questions include asking clients if they are having any thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or if they have thought of or planned how to kill themselves.

Designed for clinicians in either the substance abuse or mental health treatment fields, this book offers the knowledge and skills required to effectively assess and treat co-occurring disorders.