A Family Guide to Concurrent Disorders
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Caroline P. O’Grady W. J. Wayne Skinner aving concurrent substance use and mental health problems obviously affects the person Hexperiencing the problems directly, but they also have powerful effects on family members and friends. Families need help to deal with the impact of concurrent disorders, but families are also a key to finding effective solutions. A Family A Family Guide to Concurrent Disorders is based on the collection of materials that was developed for a family support and education group at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Part I is an overview of concurrent disorders, an introduction to treatment options and Guide to information about substance use problems, mental health problems and how they interact. Part II focuses on the impact of concurrent disorders on family life. It includes information on self-care strategies for family members and understanding and coping with the effects of stigma. Part III explores treatment and support for people affected by concurrent disorders. It includes Concurrent strategies for navigating the mental health and substance use treatment systems, information about psychosocial and medication treatment options, recognizing and planning for relapses, and anticipating and coping with crisis situations. Part IV talks about the journey to recovery. Disorders A Family Guide to Concurrent Disorders Guide to Concurrent A Family Also available from CAMH: Addiction: An Information Guide Anxiety Disorders: An Information Guide Bipolar Disorder: An Information Guide Concurrent Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders: An Information Guide Couple Therapy: An Information Guide Depressive Illness: An Information Guide The Forensic Mental Health System in Ontario: An Information Guide Caroline P. O’Grady Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: An Information Guide Schizophrenia: An Information Guide Women, Abuse and Trauma Therapy: An Information Guide W. J. Wayne Skinner Women and Psychosis: An Information Guide For information on other CAMH publications or to place an order, please contact: Sales and Distribution Tel: 1 800 661-1111 or ISBN 978-0-88868-628-2 416 595-6059 in Toronto Email: [email protected] A Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization Collaborating Centre Website: www.camh.net 3222/09-07 A Family Guide to Concurrent Disorders Caroline P. O’Grady, RN, MN, PhD W. J. Wayne Skinner, MSW, RSW A Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization Collaborating Centre Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication O’Grady, Caroline P., 1961- A family guide to concurrent disorders [electronic resource] / Caroline P. O’Grady, W. J. Wayne Skinner. Includes bibliographical references. 1. Dual diagnosis. 2. Dual diagnosis--Patients--Family relationships. I. Skinner W. J. Wayne, 1949- II. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. III. Title. RC564.68.O37 2007a 616.86 C2007-904957-5 ISBN: 978-0-88868-628-2 (PRINT) ISBN: 978-0-88868-629-9 (PDF) ISBN: 978-0-88868-6305 (HTML) Product code PM077 Printed in Canada Copyright © 2007 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Any or all parts of this publication may be reproduced or copied with acknowledgment, without permission of the publisher. However, this publication may not be reproduced and distributed for a fee without the specific, written authorization of the publisher. Suggested citation: O’Grady, C. P., Skinner, W. J.W. (2007). A Family Guide to Concurrent Disorders. Toronto: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. A reproducible copy of this publication is available on the Internet at: www.camh.net/About_Addiction_Mental_Health/Concurrent_Disorders/CD_priority_projects.html For information on other CAMH publications or to place an order, please contact: Sales and Distribution Toll-free: 1 800 661-1111 Toronto: (416) 595-6059 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.camh.net Disponible en francais sous le titre Guide a l’intention des familles sur les troubles concomitants. This book was produced by: Development: Caroline Hebblethwaite Editorial: Martha Ayim, Jacquelyn Waller-Vintar Design: Eva Katz Cover photography: W. J. Wayne Skinner Typesetting: Tracy Choy, BTT Communications Production: Christine Harris 3222/09-07 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project has been an amazing journey. To start with, we owe so much to the family members who participated. They were our teachers in many ways, and their generosity and commitment to this project has inspired our belief in the importance of partnering with families. Elaine Mason of Elmgrove Outpatient Services co-ordinated the family project at our study site in Brockville and continues to actively collaborate in our workshops and com- munity forums throughout the province. We are fortunate to work in an organization that has an explicit priority commitment to concurrent disorders and to families. We have also benefited from the opportunity to work with talented and passionate colleagues who helped to sustain and expand the scope of our project. Christine Bois has been a true champion of concurrent disorder capacity building in Ontario. Monique Bouvier is co-ordinating an ambitious provincial dissemination effort, supported by a great team in CAMH’s provincial services. A special thanks goes to editors Martha Ayim and Jacquelyn Waller-Vintar and designer Eva Katz. And finally we want to thank Caroline Hebblethwaite who managed the development and execution of the manual from the first family group meeting through to the final production. She has been an extraordinarily inspiring guide—resourceful, generous, tireless, skilled and wise. Contents Preface ix Dealing with the impact of concurrent disorders ix History of the project ix Using this resource x PART I: WHAT ARE CONCURRENT DISORDERS? 1 Introduction to concurrent disorders 3 How common are concurrent disorders? 4 The relationship between substance use and mental health problems 6 The impact of concurrent disorders 7 An introduction to treatment 8 References 11 2 Substance use problems 13 Substance-related disorders 14 What is the risk of addiction? 15 Why do people develop addictions? 16 Types of substances 18 References 29 3 Mental health problems 31 Why do people develop mental health problems? 32 Mental health disorders 33 Personality disorders 45 References 49 PART II: THE IMPACT ON FAMILIES 4 How concurrent disorders affect family life 53 Behaviour changes 54 Relationship changes 55 Increased responsibility 57 Impact on caregivers 58 References 66 5 Self-care 67 Resilience 68 Short-term self-care strategies 73 Long-term self-care strategies 77 Building a self-care plan 83 References 86 6 Stigma 87 Understanding stigma 88 Experiencing stigma 91 Surviving stigma 95 Combating stigma 98 References 104 PART III: TREATMENT 7 Navigating the treatment system 107 Is there a system? 108 What should happen: Integrated treatment 108 What may happen: Sequential or parallel treatment 109 Access points 110 Screening, assessment and diagnosis 113 Treatment planning 114 Treatment 119 Treatment approaches 129 Co-ordinating treatment 133 Continuing care 134 References 135 8 Medication 137 Drug therapy for mental health problems 138 Drug therapy for substance use problems 140 Medication management 142 Medication abuse or dependence 148 Drug interactions 149 Ongoing treatment 151 Stopping medication 151 References 152 9 Relapse prevention 153 What is relapse? 154 Relapse prevention for substance use problems 154 Relapse prevention for mental health problems 156 10 Crisis and emergency 161 Understanding crises and emergencies 162 Whose crisis is it? 162 Limit-setting 163 Dealing with inappropriate behaviour 163 Example of an escalating crisis 164 When a crisis becomes an emergency 168 Creating an emergency plan 174 Creating a crisis plan 174 References 177 PART IV: RECOVERY 11 Recovery 181 What is recovery? 182 Key factors in recovery 183 References 199 12 Resources 201 Websites 203 Online publications 207 Books and booklets 208 Preface DEALING WITH THE IMPACT OF CONCURRENT DISORDERS Over the past few years, we have received numerous calls from family members of people who have co-occurring substance use and mental health problems. The family members were often overwhelmed as they tried to cope with difficult issues. We know that the mental health and substance use systems could be better at helping families become more resilient, at recognizing the work that family members do every day to find solutions and resources for problems related to concurrent disorders. Families need help to deal with the impact of concurrent disorders, but families are also a key to finding effective solutions. To help their relatives on the journey to recovery, families need: • information about substance use and mental health problems—and above all, to know that families do not cause the problems • a common language with treatment providers—to make it easier to collaborate • strategies to cope with issues associated with concurrent disorders • strategies to look after themselves and reduce the impact of their relatives’ problems on their own lives. HISTORY OF THE PROJECT In 2004–05, we offered a support and education group to help family members: • learn about concurrent disorders • develop skills that would help them deal with the impact of concurrent disorders on their family life • collaborate with their relatives with concurrent disorders as well as treatment providers to find ways to manage substance use and mental health problems. The feedback we have received—both directly from family members and indirectly from the research measures