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Comorbidity training needs at a state psychiatric hospital
Christiane Brems1, Mark E Johnson, Laura Bowers
1Alaska Comprehensive and Specialized Evaluation Services, University of Alaska Anchorage, 99508-8224, USA. afcb@uaa.alaska.edu
Administration and Policy in Mental Health
|April 12, 2003
Summary
Psychiatric staff need more training for clients with co-occurring disorders, specifically psychiatric and substance abuse diagnoses. Current training is limited, but staff recognize the importance of addressing these complex client needs.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Addiction Medicine
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- A significant proportion of clients in psychiatric hospitals have co-occurring psychiatric and substance abuse diagnoses.
- Existing training for clinical staff often inadequately addresses the complexities of treating comorbid clients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the training needs and perceptions of psychiatric hospital clinical staff regarding clients with co-occurring disorders.
- To identify specific challenges faced by staff when managing comorbid clients.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 147 clinical staff members at a psychiatric hospital.
- The survey assessed perceived training adequacy, client-specific concerns, and the importance of comorbidity training.
Main Results:
- Staff reported receiving limited training for working with comorbid or substance-abusing clients.
- Key concerns identified include referral to treatment and managing acting-out behaviors.
- There is a strong perceived need for enhanced training in managing comorbidity.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical and unmet need for comprehensive training programs for psychiatric staff on managing co-occurring disorders.
- Implementing targeted training is essential to improve care for the substantial population of comorbid clients in psychiatric settings.