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Co-existing mental health and substance use and alcohol difficulties – why do we persist with the term “dual diagnosis” within mental health services? |
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Advances in Dual Diagnosis, 4(4), 2011, pp.162-172. |
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ISSN paper: |
1757-0972 |
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Abstract: |
This paper offers a critique of dual diagnosis and the potential impact on service access and treatment, and makes practical suggestions for alternative ways of conceptualising co-existing mental health and substance difficulties. The term “dual diagnosis” has been widely accepted as referring to co-existing mental illness and substance misuse. However, it is clear from the literature that individuals with these co-existing difficulties continue to be excluded from mainstream mental health services. This paper argues that the association between mental illness and substance misuse is an intricate and often a complex relationship involving a multitude of psychosocial factors that cannot be simply explained by an individual having two co-existing disorders. From this perspective, this paper seeks to argue that the term dual diagnosis should be de-emphasised. The paper identifies five principles which support individuals with a wide spectrum of co-existing difficulties and to counteract the stigma often associated with the term dual diagnosis. These collective principles allow the practitioner to consider the needs of the service user from the service user's perspective and therefore not be distracted by the perceived set of expected behaviours that are implied by dual diagnosis. |
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article; |
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www.scie-socialcareonline.org.uk/profile.asp?guid=df588fbd-1288-4151-8d1f-95f1e25aed38 |
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