Dual diagnosis: substance-related and psychiatric disorders

Although significant strides have been made in the treatment of dually diagnosed patients, integrated treatment still is not offered. Until behavioral health providers can broaden their perspectives and stop focusing on which came first, the mental illness or substance abuse/dependence, they will continue to evade the approach that would serve this challenging patient population most effectively and efficiently. Integration needs to occur not only within the philosophical framework, but also within the clinical interventions used. Treatment modalities that have proved or could prove most effective have been presented. The challenge now is to apply the modalities in an individualized plan of care, meeting the patient at his or her own personal level.