Use of mental health care and substance abuse treatment among adults with co-occurring disorders

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated patterns of use of mental health care and substance abuse treatment for a nationally representative sample of adults with co-occurring mental health problems and a substance use disorder and compared these patterns with those of persons with either a mental health problem or a substance use disorder. METHODS: Data were from the 2001 and 2002 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. The study examined rates of substance use disorders and mental health problems among adults aged 18 years and older, rates of substance use disorders among adults with mental health problems, and rates of mental health problems among adults with substance use disorders. Next, rates of substance abuse treatment and mental health care use were calculated among five groups that were formed on the basis of the presence of a substance use disorder, mental health problems, or both in the past year. RESULTS: A total of 2,851 respondents had a substance use disorder only, 1,633 had a substance use disorder with one or more mental health symptoms and without serious mental illness, 1,872 had a substance use disorder with serious mental illness, 13,759 had one or more mental health symptoms only, and 7,530 had a serious mental illness only. A substantial proportion of adults with comorbid mental health problems and a substance use disorder did not receive any treatment (46 percent of those with serious mental illness and 65 percent of those with one or more mental health symptoms). Co-occurring substance use disorder was not associated with increased use of mental health care. The likelihood of receiving any substance abuse treatment increased with the presence and severity of mental health problems. Across all five groups, use of mental health care was more common than use of substance abuse treatment. Less than one-third of patients with comorbid mental health problems and a substance use disorder who used mental health care also received substance abuse treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The large proportion of untreated individuals with mental and substance use disorders reinforces existing concerns about barriers to beneficial treatment. Low rates of use of substance abuse treatment among patients who have comorbid mental health problems and a substance use disorder and use mental health care suggest that recommendations that substance use disorders be treated before, or concurrently with, mental disorders have not been widely adopted.     

The relationship between supply and hospitalization rates for mental illness and substance use disorders

This study investigated the extent to which mental illness and substance use hospitalization rates were related to the supply of psychiatric treatment services. Supply variables, notably the per capita rate of psychiatrists, primary care physicians, and specialty units, were strongly related to mental illness and substance use hospitalization rates to acute care hospitals across 114 small geographic areas in Iowa. The supply of outpatient services was not related to hospitalization rates. The need to study the reliability of patient assessment processes, refine guidelines and admissions criteria, and understand the contributions of supply variables to hospitalization rates are indicated by these results. A conceptual model is offered within which the dynamic cycle from patient functioning to service delivery may be framed.     

Violent victimization of persons with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the frequency with which persons in the community with psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders, and both types of disorders are victims of violence. METHODS: The relationship between diagnosis, gender, and victimization over a one-year period was examined in two cross-sectional data sets, one drawn from a study of adaptation to community life of persons with severe mental illness in Connecticut (N=109) and the other drawn from assessments made by caseworkers in a Connecticut outreach project for persons with psychiatric and substance use disorders (N=197). Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the frequency of victimization across diagnostic categories in each data set. RESULTS: People with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders had significantly more episodes of victimization than those with either a psychiatric or a substance use disorder only. Gender was not associated with victimization. Qualitative data from focus groups indicated that social isolation and cognitive deficits leading to poor judgment about whom to trust may leave people with serious mental illness vulnerable to drug dealers. CONCLUSIONS: Social environmental mechanisms, such as exploitation by drug dealers, may play an important role in maintaining victimization among persons with co-occurring disorders.     

Perceived unmet need for mental health care for Canadians with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders

OBJECTIVE: Previous analyses demonstrated an elevated occurrence of perceived unmet need for mental health care among persons with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders in comparison with those with either disorder. This study built on previous work to examine these associations and underlying reasons in more detail. METHODS: Secondary data analyses were performed on a subset of respondents to the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey (unweighted N=4,052). Diagnostic algorithms classified respondents by past-year substance dependence and selected mood and anxiety disorders. Logistic regressions examined the associations between diagnoses and unmet need in the previous year, accounting for recent service use and potential predisposing, enabling, and need factors often associated with help seeking. Self-reported reasons underlying unmet need were also tabulated across diagnostic groups. RESULTS: Of persons with a disorder, 22% reported a 12-month unmet need for care. With controls for service use and other potential confounders, the odds of unmet need were significantly elevated among persons with co-occurring disorders (adjusted odds ratio=3.25; 95% confidence interval=1.96-5.37). Most commonly, the underlying reason involved a preference to self-manage symptoms or not getting around to seeking care, with some variation by diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight potential problems for individuals with mental and substance use disorders in accessing services. The elevated occurrence of perceived unmet need appeared to be relatively less affected by contact with the health care system than by generalized distress and problem severity. Issues such as stigma, motivation, and satisfaction with past services may influence help-seeking patterns and perceptions of unmet need and should be examined in future work.     

Clinical barriers to effective pharmacotherapy in co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders

Prescribing medications to patients with cooccurring psychiatric and substance use disorders often evokes distressing emotional responses from both clinician and patient that affect the delivery of appropriate pharmacological treatment. One important polarization revolves around the clinician under-prescribing to avoid feeling like he or she is overmedicating the patient versus over-prescribing when risk levels are minimized. A case report illustrates some common, rapidly shifting responses to both medication and clinician. These reactions include 1) an idealized, passive relation to the medication followed by disappointment in its weakness, 2) minimizing the danger of medication through idiosyncratic and potentially dangerous overuse to replicate effects of the addictive substance, or 3) experiencing the medication as harmful, leading to phobic avoidance and underutilization. The recommended clinical response is to avoid these polarizations and to engage with the patient's suffering and dangerous behavior by 1) taking reasonable pharmacological risks, 2) establishing provisions for safe use and frequent monitoring, 3) conveying tolerance for idiosyncratic use within safe limits, 4) regular exploration of the meaning of the medication with links to both the addiction history and the treatment relationship, and 5) frequent psychoeducation.     

A national survey of care for persons with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders

OBJECTIVE: The delivery of appropriate treatment to persons who have mental and substance use disorders is of increasing concern to clinicians, administrators, and policy makers. This study sought to describe use of appropriate mental health and comprehensive substance abuse care among adults in the United States with probable co-occurring disorders. METHODS: Data from the Healthcare for Communities survey, which is based on a national household sample studied in 1997 and 1998, were used to identify individuals who had probable co-occurring mental and substance use disorders. The sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of these individuals and their use of services were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify variables associated with receipt of mental health and substance abuse treatment and with receipt of appropriate treatment. RESULTS: Estimates for the U.S. adult population based on the weighted survey data indicated that 3 percent of the population had co-occurring disorders. Seventy-two percent did not receive any specialty mental health or substance abuse treatment in the previous 12 months; only 8 percent received both specialty mental health care and specialty substance abuse treatment. Only 23 percent received appropriate mental health care, and 9 percent received supplemental substance abuse treatment. Perceived need for treatment was strongly associated with receipt of any mental health care and with receipt of appropriate care. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the availability of effective treatments, most individuals who had co-occurring mental health and substance use problems were not receiving effective treatment. Efforts to improve the care provided to persons who have co-occurring disorders should focus on strategies that increase the delivery of effective treatment.     

General psychiatric services for adults with intellectual disability and mental illness

BACKGROUND: Adults with intellectual disability (ID) and mental illness may use general or specialist psychiatric services. This review aims to assess if there is evidence for a difference in outcome between them. METHODS: A literature review was conducted using a variety of electronic databases and hand-search strategies to identify all studies evaluating the outcome of people with ID and mental illness using general psychiatric services. RESULTS: There is no conclusive evidence to favour the use of general or specialist psychiatric services. People with ID stay less time on general psychiatric than specialist inpatient units. People with severe ID appear not to be well served in general services. Older studies of inpatient samples suggest a worse outcome for people with ID. Novel specialist services generally improve upon pre-existing general services. Assertive outreach in general services may preferentially benefit those with ID. Recent studies suggest similar lengths of stay in general psychiatric beds for people with and without ID. CONCLUSIONS: Although 27 studies were located, only two were randomized controlled trials. The evidence is poor quality therefore further evaluation of services employing a variety of designs need to be employed to give more robust evidence as to which services are preferred.     

Use of mental health care services by Canadians with co-occurring substance dependence and mental disorders

OBJECTIVES: This study contributes to knowledge of the processes underlying help seeking by those with mental and substance use disorders by examining relationships among need, service use, and satisfaction with mental health care in a population-based sample. METHODS: Secondary data analyses were performed on responses to the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey (N=36,984). Diagnostic algorithms classified respondents by past-year diagnostic status, including substance dependence and selected mood and anxiety disorders. Logistic regressions examined associations between diagnostic status and service use, satisfaction, and unmet need for care. RESULTS: Ten percent of Canadians and 39% of Canadians with a mental disorder or substance dependence sought services in the year preceding data collection. Although those with co-occurring substance dependence and mental disorders reported the poorest mental health and were most likely to seek care, the presence of a mental disorder, regardless of co-occurring substance dependence, contributed primarily to help seeking. Among those who sought services, the use of informal sources of care, including self-help groups, was more common among those with substance dependence. Those with co-occurring disorders reported the lowest satisfaction with care and the greatest prevalence of unmet need. CONCLUSIONS: The differential use of services, satisfaction, and unmet need across diagnostic status allowed for speculation on differing levels of disability and stigma in the help-seeking process for different types of disorders. The strong association between co-occurring disorders and unmet need for care, including a large proportion of respondents who stated they preferred to self-manage their symptoms, is particularly troubling and deserves future research attention.     

Family support and substance use outcomes for persons with mental illness and substance use disorders

This paper explores the relationship between direct support from family members and friends and substance use outcomes for people with co-occurring severe mental illness and substance use disorders. Data are from a 3-year randomized trial of 203 patients in treatment for dual disorders. Informal (family) caregivers for 174 participants were asked about economic assistance and direct care that they provided to participants. Associations between family support and substance use outcomes were examined with bivariate comparisons of abstainers and nonabstainers and with regression models using change in substance use and cumulative substance use as dependent measures. Family economic support was associated with substance abuse recovery in bivariate and regression analyses. Caregiving hours were significantly associated with substance use reduction but not with cumulative substance use. Informal support was not associated with changes in psychiatric symptoms. The findings suggest that direct family support may help people with dual disorders to reduce or eliminate their substance use. Further research is needed to confirm this connection and to establish the mechanisms by which support is useful.     

Families' perceptions of psychiatric hospitalization of relatives with a severe mental illness

This paper reports the experience with psychiatric inpatient care of families with mentally ill relatives. Most families report great dissatisfaction with their involvement with the staff and treatment at psychiatric hospitals. Recommended methods of reducing the family burden and improving a productive alliance are engaging the family at admission, inclusion in the treatment process, family education, proactive engagement and training which addresses the family perspective.     

A review of treatments for people with severe mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders

Several interventions for people with co-occurring severe mental illnesses and substance use disorders have emerged since the early 1980s. This paper reviews 26 controlled studies of psychosocial interventions published or reported in the last 10 years (1994-2003). Though most studies have methodological weaknesses, the cumulative evidence from experimental and quasi-experimental research supports integrating outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatments into a single, cohesive package. Effective treatments are also individualized to address personal factors and stage of motivation, e.g., engaging people in services, helping them to develop motivation, and helping them to develop skills and supports for recovery. Accumulating evidence from quasi-experimental studies also suggests that integrated residential treatment, especially long-term (one year or more) treatment, is helpful for individuals who do not respond to outpatient dual disorders interventions. Current research aims to refine and test individual components and combinations of integrated treatments.     

Predictors of physical functioning among adults with severe mental illness

OBJECTIVES: Living conditions and treatment-related factors contribute to high rates of comorbid medical illness among adults with severe mental illness and undermine their physical well-being. This study examined physical functioning scores for this population and compared them with national norms. METHODS: A total of 309 residential care clients completed interviews. Diagnostic and sociodemographic variables were examined for significant associations with physical functioning, which was assessed with the Medical Outcomes Health Survey Short Form 36 (SF-36), and selected variables were entered into a hierarchical multiple regression analyses. Cross-sectional comparisons examined differences in scores between ten-year age groups in this sample and in the national data for men and women. RESULTS: In the final regression model, male gender, younger age, having earned income in the past six months, having less lifetime smoking, and having an admission diagnosis other than depression or schizophrenia spectrum disorders predicted better physical functioning. Functioning scores for the sample deviated from the national normed scores. Differences in functioning increased with each ten-year increment in age; study participants' functioning resembled that of cohorts ten to 20 years older. CONCLUSIONS: Determinants of physical functioning in this sample included well-known demographic predictors of health outcomes. The more striking finding was a deviation from normative data that began for study participants at the age of 25 years, indicating an early onset of limitations. The consistent trend of poorer functioning with each successive age group raises questions about the pace of physical decline among adults with mental illness that may be addressed in longitudinal studies.