Two Problems, Many Solutions, Report Turns Spotlight On Dual Diagnosis

So says a report produced in partnership with the Primary Care Trust Network, Mental Health Network and National Mental Health Development Unit which says that a third of mental health users, half of substance misuse service users and 70 per cent of prisoners are subject to this kind of dual diagnosis.

The report, Seeing double: meeting the challenge of dual diagnosis, looks at the challenges posed to the NHS by people who have either developed problems with alcohol or drugs because of a pre-existing mental health condition, or have had a mental health condition caused by misusing alcohol or drugs.

It addresses the way provision of services for mental health and drug and alcohol misuse have developed separately and looks at how stronger links between the two, along with better workforce development and awareness, can provide a better service and potentially save money.

The report references research, which has shown service users with a dual diagnosis typically use NHS services more and cost more.

The report cites a study of services in south London, which found a greater proportion of patients with dual diagnosis used the support of community psychiatric nurses, inpatient care and emergency clinics.

Their analysis found dual diagnosis patients had significantly higher ‘core’ psychiatric service costs and non-accommodation service costs than patients without a dual diagnosis.

Steve Shrubb, director of the NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network, said the report was an important statement of the best current thinking on how to tackle a difficult issue.

“If we are going to get this right then there needs to be training for staff in drug, alcohol and outreach teams so they can deal with dual diagnosis. There also needs to be effective commissioning and joint working between mental health trusts, primary care trusts (PCTs) and local authorities.

“Primary care and outreach services are becoming actively aware of dual diagnosis issues, and there also needs to be a focus on dual diagnosis in prisons, as well as meaningful service user involvement in the design and implementation of services.”

Reference:

“Two problems, many solutions, Confederation report turns spotlight on dual diagnosis.” NHS Confederation. 24 Sept. 2009. Web. 19 Oct. 2009. <http://www.nhsconfed.org/Pages/home.aspx>.