Dual Diagnosis and Medical Comorbidity

Last update: 28 March 2012,
by Maureen Bell

Lists of books and journal articles relating to dual diagnosis can be found on my bibliographies and reading lists page. There is also a separate list on smoking and mental illness

For practice guidelines related to dual diagnosis treatment options click here.

Abstracts of reviews from the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group are on my evidence-based mental health page.

Australian Links

Barriers to Service Provision for Young People with Presenting Substance Misuse and Mental Health Problems (2005)
Prepared for the National Youth Affairs Research Scheme (NYARS) in October 2004 by Tricia Szirom, Debbie King and Kathy Desmond.

Comorbidity - Australian Drug Information Network
A useful compilation of links to resources, both Australian and international.

Comorbidity treatment service model evaluation: final report
The final report presents the findings from the evaluation survey, identifies elements of good practice, and makes recommendations arising from the evaluation. Australian Institute for Primary Care, August 2009.

Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: An Investigation of Service System Modifications and Initiatives Designed to Provide an Integrated Treatment Response
By Gary Croton, Eastern Hume Dual Diagnosis Service, April 2004. From dualdiagnosis.org.au

Dual Diagnosis: Stopping the Merry-go-round
Part 1, Final report on dual diagnosis treatment options for the ACT., by Leigh Cupitt, Elizabeth Morgan, and Marilyn Chalkley. Prepared for the ACT Department of Health and Community Care, April, 1999.

Psychiatric & Medical Comorbidities Research Group
From the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Adelaide. The psychiatric-medical co-morbidity research group is built around the idea that physical and brain processes are interrelated in a bidirectional way.

Tasmanian Comorbidity Framework
Alcohol, Tobacco & other Drugs Council Tasmania Inc. (ATDC)

Overseas Links

Death of the Smoking Den
The initial impact of no smoking legislation in psychiatric units in England. This report discusses results of a 2008 survey which uncovers widespread problems with the implementation of the smoking ban in psychiatric units in England. Mental Health Foundation, June 2009.

Dual Diagnosis and Mental Illness
A booklet produced for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill by Agnes Hatfield in 1993.

Dual Diagnosis: Good Practice Handbook
By Stuart Watson and Caroline Hawkings. Edited by Liz Aram. London, Turning Point, 2007.

Dual Diagnosis : Toolkit
Produced in 2004 by Rethink, in partnership with Turning Point, the UK's leading social care organisation, this toolkit provides background information to the issues surrounding dual diagnosis and offers a practical guide to delivering services. It includes information about substance misuse, mental health and policy background and features current treatment modules along with case studies and exercises for individuals or group work.

Dual Diagnosis Website
This site is designed to provide information and resources for service providers, consumers, and family members who are seeking assistance and/or education in this field. It is maintained by Kathleen Sciacca.

Long-Term Conditions and Mental Health: the cost of comorbidities
By Chris Naylor, Michael Parsonage, David McDaid, Martin Knapp, Matt Fossey, and Amy Galea. Kings Fund and Centre for Mental Health, February 2012.

MedlinePlus: Dual Diagnosis
A collection of resources on this topic from MEDLINEplus, the National Library of Medicine's information service for the public.

Mental Disorders and Medical Comorbidity
By B. G. Druss, and Walker E. Reisinger. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, February 2011. People with co-occurring physical and mental conditions represent a significant and costly portion of the population. This synthesis examines the evidence on physical and mental comorbidity including its prevalence, origins and models for effective treatment.

Service Delivery for People with Co-existing Mental Health and Addiction Problems - Integrated Solutions 2010
New Zealand Ministry of Health, April 2010.

Smoking and mental health
Free full text of a number of reports from ASH (Action on Smoking and Health)

Smoking and Mental Illness: A Population-Based Prevalence Study
An article by Karen Lasser and others
JAMA November 22/29 2000, 284(20) 2606-2610

Taking a Deep Breath: The Mental Health Implications of Anti-smoking Legislation
The evidence examined in this report shows that care is needed to ensure that the smoking ban brings opportunities for people with mental health problems to give up smoking. It also shows that careful monitoring is needed to ensure that imposition of the ban does not cause unnecessary distress and harm in in-patient settings. London, Mental Health Foundation, June 2007.

Treatment Improvement Exchange - Special Topics - Dual Disorders
The Treatment Improvement Exchange (TIE) is a resource sponsored by the Division of State and Community Assistance of the Center for Substance Abuse, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, of the United States. The site contains the full text of documents and links to other resources.