Treatment for mental illness and substance abuse in a public psychiatric hospital: Successful Strategies and Challenging Problems

Although the literature on dual diagnosis has grown considerably over the last several years, reports describing inpatient treatment models are less common. We describe some of the major treatment concerns in the dual diagnosis literature, such as using 12-step self-help programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), dealing with different stages of treatment, and developing a program with integrated substance abuse and psychiatric treatment. The practical application of these treatment issues is featured by showing how they are incorporated into an innovative inpatient dual diagnosis treatment program at a public psychiatric hospital. Finally, the treatment program is described in detail regarding administrative issues, staff training, daily treatment schedules, and patient demographics.