Addiction Treatment in Psychiatric Settings

This assignment examines the complexities of treating addiction within a psychiatric setting, focusing on the challenges posed by co-occurring disorders (comorbidity). It discusses how patients with both mental illness and substance abuse often experience more persistent and severe issues compared to those with single diagnoses. The paper explores current treatment approaches, including medication and behavioral therapies, highlighting the need for research in developing effective dual-action medications. It references scholarly work by Galanter (2007), Hall (2009), and Prochaska (2010) to support its analysis.

Dealing with Co-Morbidity: Addiction
treatment in a Psychiatric Setting
Student Name: Student ID:
Subject Name: Subject Code:
Date Due: Professor Name:

Comorbid situation in cases of addiction treatment with psychological setting can present
enormous amounts of challenges. While psychologists are devising ways and methods in treating
the same, there might be a diversified range of issues that crops up from such situations.
Principle provided from scientific research that needs to treat comorbid conditions are in a
difficult state currently (Hall, 2009). In comorbid situations patients with mental illness along
with drug abuse exhibits more disorders that are persistent compared to other patients, who
experiences one disorder at a time. Researchers and scholars are however making steady
progress in the domain with thorough research on existing treatment options for comorbidity
with implementation of screening and treatments (Galanter, 2007). Health services needs to
create an effective medication treatment for alcohol, treating opioid, nicotine addiction along
with other mental disorders in comorbid populations. Research depicts that one medication might
have capabilities to provide treatment to a divergent problems. Evidence related healthcare
suggests use of bupropion, which can be adopted for treating of depression, nicotine dependence
at the same time reduce drug cravings. There needs to be tremendous research in the field of
comorbidity to establish dually effective medications. Often behavioral based treatment either
alone or in combination with other drugs can be used in cases of comorbid conditions and in
treating them (Prochaska, 2010).

Reference Lists
Galanter, M. D. (2007). Assessment of spirituality and its relevance to addiction treatment.
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 257-264.
Hall, S. M. (2009). Treatment of smokers with co-occurring disorders: emphasis on integration
in mental health and addiction treatment settings. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology,
409-431.
Prochaska, J. J. (2010). Failure to treat tobacco use in mental health and addiction treatment
settings: a form of harm reduction? Drug and alcohol dependence, 177-182.