NCJ Number
197939
Journal
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly Volume: 20 Issue: 1 Dated: 2002 Pages: 45-59
Date Published
2002
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article explores various assessment and treatment models of co-morbid health disorders and substance use disorders.
Abstract
Focusing on the unique clinical challenges imposed by co-morbid health disorders and substance use disorders, this article examines a variety of assessment and treatment models. After arguing that increases in co-morbid health and substance use disorders required the development of special diagnosis and treatment models designed to modify the delivery of services and improve treatment outcomes, the authors discuss the ways that depression, panic attacks, dissociation, and anxiety may complicate the accurate assessment of clients presented for mental health treatment. After arguing that assessing treatment options for anxiety and related disorders coexisting with chemical dependency is a complicated process, this article describes various heterogeneous anxiety disorders such as post traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Maintaining that treatment of such disorders involves multi-discipline fluidity, the authors argue that focused therapeutic community models that integrate a variety of service and collateral treatments, coordinated by one central provider, is the most effective and efficient way to treat the clinical needs of the co-morbid, anxiety disordered population who also experience drug and alcohol abuse. References