Chronically mentally ill patients with and without substance use disorders: a pilot study

The study was designed to assess characteristics of chronic mentally ill patients with and without a substance use disorder. Study patients (n=48) had either psychiatric illness alone (they received conventional psychiatric rehabilitation) or dual diagnoses (they received mental illness and substance abuse services). All patients were administered the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Perceived Social Support Scales, and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Higher proportions of dually diagnosed patients had schizophrenia, had higher scores on the BSI, and were less satisfied with treatment.