Assessment of co-occurring addictive and other mental disorders

Abstract

Summary Points
l Co-occurring addictive and other mental disorders (AMDs) are common,
especially in treatment services, so screening for substance use
and mental health symptoms should be routine.
l Low levels of substance use or psychological problems can have a
substantial impact if a companion disorder is severe or if functioning
is poor. Screening should not exclusively focus on severe disorder.
l AMDs are often more than dual, involving multiple substances and
mental disorders, and complex life problems. Comprehensive management
requires a wide-ranging assessment.
l Symptoms of disorders often overlap, and a confident diagnosis often
requires repeated or retrospective assessments.
l AMDs sometimes occur in primary–secondary relationships, but
often are mutually interacting, and their relationships may change
over time. Treatment planning requires consideration of current and
future relationships between problems.
l Several screening instruments have demonstrated utility in detecting
AMDs. Detection of substance use can sometimes be increased by