Abstract
The co-occurrence of substance use and mental health problems, often referred to as dual diagnosis (DD), is increasingly recognised
as commonplace within substance abuse treatment programs. Two-hundred and thirty-four individuals from 9 Australian Salvation
Army drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs completed a 3-month post-discharge telephone follow-up. Using a cut-off score
from the Psychiatric Subscale of the Addiction Severity Index (5th ed.), 66.7% were classified as likely to have DD and 33.3% as substance use disorder only (SUD). Both groups reported comparable
and decreased substance use levels at follow-up, yet DD individuals perceived less improvement in substance use problems.
Comparable improvements were reported in the areas of: symptom distress and recovery from symptoms. This was despite greater
scope for improvement in individuals with DD. Duration of treatment and access to post treatment services were also assessed.
Understanding factors effecting treatment outcomes is imperative for the implementation of effective, evidence based treatment
programs.
as commonplace within substance abuse treatment programs. Two-hundred and thirty-four individuals from 9 Australian Salvation
Army drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs completed a 3-month post-discharge telephone follow-up. Using a cut-off score
from the Psychiatric Subscale of the Addiction Severity Index (5th ed.), 66.7% were classified as likely to have DD and 33.3% as substance use disorder only (SUD). Both groups reported comparable
and decreased substance use levels at follow-up, yet DD individuals perceived less improvement in substance use problems.
Comparable improvements were reported in the areas of: symptom distress and recovery from symptoms. This was despite greater
scope for improvement in individuals with DD. Duration of treatment and access to post treatment services were also assessed.
Understanding factors effecting treatment outcomes is imperative for the implementation of effective, evidence based treatment
programs.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s11469-011-9364-z
- Authors
- Elizabeth K. Cridland, Illawarra Institute for Mental Health, University of Wollongong, Building 22, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
- Frank P. Deane, Illawarra Institute for Mental Health, University of Wollongong, Building 22, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
- Ching-I Hsu, Illawarra Institute for Mental Health, University of Wollongong, Building 22, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
- Peter J. Kelly, Illawarra Institute for Mental Health, University of Wollongong, Building 22, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
- Journal International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
- Online ISSN 1557-1882
- Print ISSN 1557-1874