Integrating care for people with co-occurring alcohol and other drug, medical, and mental health conditions.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Sterling, Stacy Chi, Felicia Hinman, Agatha
Copyright Year	2011
Abstract	Most people with alcohol and other drug (AOD) use disorders suffer from co-occurring disorders (CODs), including mental health and medical problems, which complicate treatment and may contribute to poorer outcomes. However, care for the patients’ AOD, mental health, and medical problems primarily is provided in separate treatment systems, and integrated care addressing all of a patient’s CODs in a coordinated fashion is the exception in most settings. A variety of barriers impede further integration of care for patients with CODs. These include differences in education and training of providers in the different fields, organizational factors, existing financing mechanisms, and the stigma still often associated with AOD use disorders and CODs. However, many programs are recognizing the disadvantages of separate treatment systems and are attempting to increase integrative approaches. Although few studies have been done in this field, findings suggest that patients receiving integrated treatment may have improved outcomes. However, the optimal degree of integration to ensure that patients with all types and degrees of severity of CODs receive appropriate care still remains to be determined, and barriers to the implementation of integrative models, such as one proposed by the Institute of Medicine, remain.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC3625993&blobtype=pdf
ISSN	15357414
Journal	Alcohol Research & Health [Alcohol Res Health]
Volume Number	33
PubMed Central reference number	PMC3625993
Issue Number	4
PubMed reference number	23580018
e-ISSN	19300573
Language	English
Publisher	National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Publisher Date	2011-01-01
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	Unless otherwise noted in the text, all material appearing in this journal is in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission. Citation of the source is appreciated.
Subject Keyword	Alcohol and other drug use (AODU) disorders comorbidity co-occurring disorders mental health health care treatment treatment outcomes integrated treatment combined treatment
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Medicine