Comorbidity Guideline PDF

Guidelines on the management of
Guidelines on the management of
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SECOND EDITION
SECOND EDITION
Christina Marel
Christina Marel
Katherine L Mills
Katherine L Mills
Rosemary Kingston
Rosemary Kingston
Kevin Gournay
Kevin Gournay
Mark Deady
Mark Deady
Frances Kay-Lambkin
Frances Kay-Lambkin
Amanda Baker
Amanda Baker
Maree Teesson
Maree Teesson
Guidelines on the
management of co-
occurring alcohol and
other drug and mental
health conditions in alcohol
and other drug treatment
settings
NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
University of New South Wales
Sydney, Australia
Christina Marel, Katherine L Mills, Rosemary Kingston, Kevin Gournay, Mark Deady, Frances Kay-
Lambkin, Amanda Baker, Maree Teesson
© Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use at NDARC (National Drug and
Alcohol Research Centre) at UNSW Australia (The University of New South Wales) 2016.
This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form only
(retaining this notice) for your professional, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. All other
rights are reserved. Requests and enquiries concerning use and reproduction should be addressed to the
Information Manager, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney,
NSW 2052, Australia.
ISBN 978-0-7334-3609-3
Design/typeset by Brendan Kennedy (Alba Print Management).
Disclaimer
These Guidelines were funded by the Australian Government and developed by NDARC to support health
services and AOD (alcohol and/or other drug) treatment service workers to more accurately identify and
manage the needs of comorbid clients. These Guidelines do not claim to reflect all considerations. As with
all guidelines, recommendations may not be appropriate for use in all circumstances. These Guidelines
should only be followed subject to the AOD worker’s judgement in each individual case.
Whilst the Guidelines are considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in
circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the Guidelines. While the
Guidelines have been prepared and presented with all due care, UNSW Australia does not warrant or
represent that the Guidelines are entirely free from error or omission. They are made available on the
understanding that UNSW Australia and its employees and agents shall have no liability (including liability
by reason of negligence) to the users for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred or arising by reason
of using or relying on the Guidelines.
Links to a selection of available Internet Sites and resources are identified. Links to other Internet Sites that
are not under the control of NDARC at UNSW Australia are provided for information purposes only. Care
has been taken in providing these links as suitable reference resources. It is the responsibility of users to
make their own investigations, decisions and enquiries about any information retrieved from other Internet
Sites. The provision and inclusion of these links do not imply any endorsement, non-endorsement, support
or commercial gain by UNSW Australia.
While the Guidelines were prepared after an extensive review of the literature, review by an expert
advisory committee and broad consultation, the authors do not bear any clinical responsibility for actions
undertaken on the basis of this information.
Copies of the full guidelines available at www.comorbidity.edu.au
The suggested citation for this document is: Marel C, Mills KL, Kingston R, Gournay K, Deady M, Kay-
Lambkin F, Baker A, Teesson M (2016). Guidelines on the management of co-occurring alcohol and other
drug and mental health conditions in alcohol and other drug treatment settings (2nd edition). Sydney,
Australia: Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, National Drug and Alcohol
Research Centre, University of New South Wales.
The updating of these Guidelines through the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University
of New South Wales was supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the members of the Expert Panel (see p.iii), Discussion
Forum, key-stakeholders, and all other individuals who have made contributions to this important
document. Specifically, we would like to acknowledge and thank Melinda Beckwith, Rob Chase, Ruth
Collins, Angela Corry, Gary Croton, Marie Coughlan, Neil Frazer, Deb Gleeson, Penny Glover, Sukalpa
Goldflam, Rosemary Hambledon, Paul Harvey, Naomi Henderson, Bronwyn Hendry, Kate Hewett, Breanne
Hobden, Kah-Seong Loke, Danny McCulloch, Jane Moreton, Hoa Nguyen, Marcus Pastorelli, Brendan Pont,
Michael Quaass, Greg Robertson, Melanie Schofield, Jessica Smedley, Amanda Street, Elizabeth Stubbs,
Michelle Taylor, Deb Tipper, Gerard Tracey, Sharon Tuffin, Frankie Valvasori, and Barry White.
We would also like to thank Cath Chapman, Sharlene Kaye, Mary Kumvaj, Mark Mulgrew, Suzanne
Nielsen, Joanne Ross, Lexine Stapinski, and Matt Sunderland for providing invaluable advice, support, and
comment.
Our sincere thanks also go to the Australian Government Department of Health for funding the update and
revision of these Guidelines.
Finally, we would like to acknowledge previous work that has influenced the development of these
Guidelines; in particular:
Australian Department of Health and Ageing. (2007). Alcohol treatment guidelines for Indigenous
Australians. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Baker, A., Kay-Lambkin, F., Lee, N. K., Claire, M., & Jenner, L. (2003). A brief cognitive behavioural intervention
for regular amphetamine users. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Department of Health and
Ageing.
Baker, A. & Velleman, R. (2007). Clinical handbook of co-existing mental health and drug and alcohol
problems. New York, NY: Routledge.
Croton, G. (2007). Screening for and assessment of co-occurring substance use and mental health
disorders by alcohol and other drug and mental health services. Wangaratta, Australia: Victorian Dual
Diagnosis Initiative Advisory Group.
Deady, M. (2009). A review of screening, assessment and outcome measures for drug and alcohol settings.
Strawberry Hills, Australia: Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies.
Jenner, L. & Lee, N. (2008). Treatment approaches to users of methamphetamine: A practical guide for front
line workers. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Lee, N., Jenner, L. Kay-Lambkin, F., Hall, K., Dann, F., Roeg, S., et al. (2007). PsyCheck: Responding to mental
health issues within alcohol and drug treatment. Canberra, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.
Marsh, A., Dale, A., & Willis, L. (2007). A counsellor’s guide to working with alcohol and drug users (2nd
edition). Perth, Australia: Drug and Alcohol Office.
Marsh, A., O’Toole, S., Dale, A., Willis, L., & Helfgott, S. (2013). Counselling guidelines: Alcohol and other drug
issues (3rd Edition). Perth, Australia: Western Australia Drug and Alcohol Office.
Acknowledgements i
NSW Department of Health. (2007). Mental health reference resource for drug and alcohol workers.
Sydney, Australia: NSW Department of Health.
NSW Department of Health. (2008). NSW Health drug and alcohol psychosocial interventions: Professional
practice guidelines. Sydney, Australia: NSW Department of Health.
Teesson, M., Degenhardt, L., Hall, W., & Proudfoot, H. (2012) Addictions: Clinical psychology module (2nd
edition). East Sussex, UK: Psychology Press.
Teesson, M. & Proudfoot, H. (2003). Comorbid mental disorders and substance use disorders: Epidemiology,
prevention and treatment. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
ii Acknowledgements
Expert panel
Prof Steve Allsop National Drug Research Institute
A/Prof Michael Baigent Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders University
Ms Nicky Bath NSW Users and AIDS Association
Prof Tim Carey Centre for Remote Health
Mr Kelvin Chambers Drug and Alcohol Multicultural Education Centre
Dr Derek Chong Institute of Urban Indigenous Health
Dr Janette Curtis Drug and Alcohol Nurses Australasia
A/Prof Adrian Dunlop Hunter New England Health; University of Newcastle
Dr Suzie Hudson Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies
Mr Chris Gibbs Mental Health Professionals’ Network
Mr Mark Goodhew Medically Supervised Injecting Centre
Ms Jennifer Holmes Drug and Alcohol Nurses Australasia; Medically Supervised Injecting Centre
A/Prof Nicole Lee National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction
Dr Steve Leicester Headspace
Ms Leonie Manns Consumer Advocate; Co-chair of Executive Advisory Board, NHMRC Centre
of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use
Emeritus Prof Ian Webster University of NSW
Expert panel iii

Contents
Acknowledgements i What are depressive disorders? 32
Expert panel iii What are anxiety disorders? 35
Contents iv What is obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD)? 39
Abbreviations ix
What are trauma-related disorders? 40
Glossary x
What are feeding and eating disorders
In a nutshell... xi (ED)? 43
About these guidelines 1 What are personality disorders? 45
Part A: What is comorbidity and why is it What are substance-induced disorders? 48
important?
Part B: Responding to comorbidity 51
A1: What is comorbidity? 6
B1: Holistic health care 53
Why does comorbidity occur? 7
What is a holistic health care
Does causality matter? 9 framework? 54
A2: How common is comorbidity and What does this mean for AOD workers? 60
why is it of concern? 11
B2: Identifying comorbidity 62
How common are mental health
disorders? 11 Case formulation 63
How common is comorbidity among Informal assessment 65
clients of AOD treatment services? 12
Standardised screening and assessment 74
What are the harms associated with
comorbidity? 14 B3: Risk assessments 79
What is the impact of comorbidity on Suicidality 80
treatment outcomes? 14
Domestic and family violence 86
A3: Guiding principles of working with
clients with comorbidity 15 B4: Care Coordination 88
A4: Classification of disorders 21 What is coordinated care? 90

What is attention deficit/hyperactivity Barriers to effective coordinated care 92
disorder (ADHD)? 23
Referrals 93
What are schizophrenia spectrum and
other psychotic disorders? 24 Communicating with other services 94
Communicating with the client about
What are bipolar disorders? 28
referral 96
Contents iv
Contents
Discharge planning 96 Treating bipolar disorders 125
B5: Approaches to comorbidity 97 Summary 128
Models of care 97 Depression 130
Approaches to comorbidity 99 Clinical presentation 130
Psychological approaches 99 Managing depressive symptoms 130
Pharmacological approaches 102 Treating depressive disorders 131
Self-help groups 105 Summary 138
E-health interventions 105 Anxiety 140
Physical activity 105 Clinical presentation 140
Complementary and alternative Managing symptoms of anxiety, panic,
therapies 106 or agitation 140
B6: Managing and treating specific Treating anxiety disorders 141
disorders 107
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) 142
Attention defecit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD) 110 Panic disorder 143
Clinical presentation 110 Social anxiety disorder (SAD) 144
Managing ADHD symtoms 110 Summary 146
Treating ADHD 111 Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) 148
Summary 114 Clinical presentation 148
Psychosis 116 Managing symptoms of OCD 148
Clinical presentation 116 Treating OCD 150
Managing symptoms of psychosis 116 Summary 153
Treating psychotic spectrum disorders 118 Trauma and post traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) 154
Summary 121
Clinical presentation 154
Bipolar disorders 123
Managing trauma-related symptoms 154
Clinical presentation 123
Treating PTSD 156
Managing symptoms of bipolar 123
Summary 160
v Contents
Contents
Eating disorders (ED) 162 B7: Worker self-care 185
Clinical presentation 162 Holistic self-care: AOD workers 186
Symptoms of ED 162 Burnout 186
Anorexia nervosa 162 Secondary traumatic stress 187
Bulimia nervosa 163 Clinical supervision 188
Binge eating disorder 164 Part C: Specific population groups 189
Managing ED 164 Indigenous Australians 189
Treating ED 165 Culturally and linguistically diverse
groups 193
Treating anorexia nervosa 165
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered
Treating bulimia nervosa 167 and intersex individuals 195
Treating binge eating disorder 169 Rural/remote communities 196
Summary 171 Homeless persons 197
Personality disorders 173 Women 199
Clinical presentation 173 Men 199
Managing symptoms of personality Coerced clients 200
disorders 173
Young people 201
Treating personality disorders 174
Older people 202
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) 174
Appendices (See page vii) 205
Antisocial personality disorder
(ASPD) 176 Worksheets (See page viii) 262
Summary 177 References 276
Confusion or disorientation 179
Cognitive impairment 179
Grief and loss 180
Aggressive, angry, or violent behaviour 181
Concluding remarks 184
Contents vi
Appendices
Appendix A: Other guidelines 205 Appendix T: Cognitive behavioural
techniques 255
Appendix B: Other useful resources 208
Cognitive restructuring 255
Appendix C: Research and information
organisations 214 Structured problem solving 257
Appendix D: DSM-5 and ICD-10 Goal setting 257
classification cross-reference 216
Pleasure and mastery events
Appendix E: Motiviational interviewing 218 scheduling 258
Appendix F: Mental state examination 229 Appendix U: Anxiety management
techniques 259
Appendix G: Integrated Motivational
Assessment Tool (IMAT) 231 Progressive muscle relaxation 259
Appendix H: Additional screening tools 232 Controlled or abdominal breathing 260
Appendix I: CANSAS-P 234 Calming response 260
Appendix J: Kessler psychological Visualisation and imagery 260
distress scale (K10) 236
Grounding 261
Appendix K: The PsyCheck Screening
Tool 237
Appendix L: Depression Anxiety Stress
Scale (DASS 21) 241
Appendix M: The Primary Care PTSD
Screen (PC-PTSD) 243
Appendix N: Trauma Screening
Questionnaire (TSQ) 244
Appendix O: Psychosis Screener (PS) 245
Appendix P: Indigenous Risk Impact
Screener (IRIS) 246
Appendix Q: Adult ADHD Self Report
Scale (ASRS) 247
Appendix R: Suicide risk screener scorer
and interpretation 251
Appendix S: Referral pro forma 253
Appendices vii
Worksheets
Identifying negative thoughts 262
Cognitive restructuring 263
Structured problem-solving worksheet 265
Goal setting worksheet 266
Pleasure and mastery worksheet 268
Progressive muscle relaxation 270
Controlled abdominal breathing 271
Visualisation and imagery 272
Food and activity diary 273
Common reactions to trauma 274
Common reactions to grief and loss 275
Worksheets viii
Abbreviations
ADHD Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder K10 Kessler Psychological Distress Scale
AOD Alcohol and Other Drugs LSD Lysergic acid diethylamide
Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment

ASPD Antisocial Personality Disorder MANTRA
for Adults
ASRS Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale MAOI Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
BDI Beck Depression Inventory MI Motivational Interviewing
BMI Body Mass Index NaSSA Noradrenaline and specific serotonergic agent
BPD Borderline Personality Disorder NDARC National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
UK National Institute for Health and Care

CALD Culturally and Linguistically Diverse NICE
Excellence
CAN Camberwell Assessment of Need NHMRC National Health and Medical Research Council
Camberwell Assessment of Need Short

CANSAS NRI Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitor
Appraisal Schedule
CBT Cognitive Behavioural Therapy NRT Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Australian National Survey of Mental Health and

CBT-E Cognitive Behavioural Therapy-Enhanced NSMHWB
Wellbeing
CVD Cardiovascular Disease OCD Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
DASS Depression Anxiety Stress Scale PC-PTSD Primary Care PTSD Screen
DBT Dialectical Behavioural Therapy PCP Phenylcyclohexylpiperidine
DBT-S Dialectical Behaviour Therapy-S PS Psychosis Screener
DDP Dynamic Deconstructive Psychotherapy PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
DFST Dual Focus Schema Therapy RCT Randomised Controlled Trial
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

DSM RIMA Reversible Inhibitor of Monoamine Oxidase A
Disorders
ECT Electroconvulsive Therapy SAD Social Anxiety Disorder
ED Feeding and Eating disorders SAK Suicide Assessment Kit
EDE Eating Disorder Examination SCL-90-R The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised
ERP Exposure and Response Prevention SNRI Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitor
GAD Generalised Anxiety Disorder SRQ Self Reporting Questionnaire
GHQ General Health Questionnaire SSCM Specialist Supportive Clinical Management
GLBTI Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex SSRI Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
GP General Practitioner TCA Tricyclic Antidepressants
ICD International Classification of Diseases THQ Trauma History Questionnaire
IPT Interpersonal Psychotherapy TLEQ Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire
IRIS Indigenous Risk Impact Screen TSQ Trauma Screening Questionnaire
Abbreviations ix
Glossary
The following terms are used throughout this document and are defined here for ease of reference.
Alcohol and/or other The presence of an AOD use disorder as defined by the DSM-5. This term
drug (AOD) use disorders is used interchangeably with ‘substance use disorders’, and includes the
use of alcohol; benzodiazepines; cannabis; methamphetamines, cocaine,
and other stimulants; hallucinogens; heroin and other opioids; inhalants;
and tobacco.
AOD workers All those who work in AOD treatment settings in a clinical capacity. This
includes, but is not limited to, nurses, medical practitioners, psychiatrists,
psychologists, counsellors, social workers, and other AOD workers.
AOD treatment settings Specialised services that are specifically designed for the treatment of
AOD problems and include, but are not limited to, facilities providing
inpatient or outpatient detoxification, residential rehabilitation,
substitution therapies (e.g., methadone or buprenorphine for opiate
dependence), and outpatient counselling services. These services may
be in the government or non-government sector.
Comorbidity Use of the term ‘comorbidity’ in these Guidelines refers to the co-
occurrence of one or more AOD use disorders with one or more mental
health conditions. The terms ‘comorbid’ and ‘co-occurring’ are used
interchangeably throughout this document.
Mental health disorders Refers to the presence of a mental health disorder (other than AOD use
disorders) as defined by the DSM-5.
Mental health conditions Refers to those with a diagnosable mental health disorder as well as
those who display symptoms of disorders while not meeting criteria for a
diagnosis of a disorder.
Glossary x
In a nutshell...
These Guidelines aim to provide alcohol and other drug (AOD) workers with evidence-based information
to assist with the management of co-occurring, or comorbid, AOD and mental health conditions. They
represent an update and revision of the first edition of these Guidelines published in 2009.
Population estimates indicate that more than one-third of individuals with an AOD use disorder have at
least one comorbid mental health disorder; however, the rate is even higher among those in AOD treatment
programs. Additionally, there are a large number of people who present to AOD treatment who display
symptoms of disorders while not meeting criteria for a diagnosis of a disorder.
The high prevalence of comorbidity means that AOD workers are frequently faced with the need to
manage complex psychiatric symptoms that may interfere with their ability to treat clients’ AOD use.
Furthermore, clients with comorbid mental health conditions often have a variety of other medical, family,
and social problems (e.g., housing, employment, welfare, legal problems). As such, it is important that AOD
workers adopt a holistic approach to the management and treatment of comorbidity that is based on
treating the person, not the illness (see Chapter B1).
The first step in responding to comorbidity is being able to identify the person’s needs (see Chapters B2
and B3). Despite high rates of comorbidity among clients of AOD services, it is not unusual for comorbid
mental health conditions to go unnoticed. This is mostly because AOD workers are not routinely looking
for them. It is a recommendation of these Guidelines that all clients of AOD treatment services should be
screened and assessed for comorbidity as part of routine clinical care.
Once identified, symptoms of mental health conditions may be effectively managed while the person is
undergoing AOD treatment (see Chapters B5 and B6). The goal of management is to allow AOD treatment
to continue without mental health symptoms disrupting the treatment process, and to retain clients
in treatment who might otherwise discontinue such treatment. Comorbidity is not an insurmountable
barrier to treating people with AOD use disorders. Indeed, research has shown that clients with comorbid
mental health conditions can benefit just as much as those without comorbid conditions from usual AOD
treatment.
Some clients with comorbidity may require additional treatment for their mental health problems (see
Chapter B6). Some interventions have been designed for the treatment of specific comorbidities; however,
these interventions generally have not been well researched. Where there is an absence of specific
research on comorbid disorders, it is recommended that best practice is to use the most effective
treatments for each disorder. Both psychosocial and pharmacological interventions have been found to
have some benefit in the treatment of many comorbidities. Consideration should also be given to the use
of e-health interventions, physical activity, and complementary and alternative therapies, as an adjunct to
traditional treatments.
In addition to mental health services, AOD workers may need to engage with a range of other services to
meet clients’ needs, including housing, employment, education, training, community, justice, and other
support services. A broad, multifaceted, and co-ordinated approach is needed in order to address all of
these issues effectively, and it is important that AOD services and workers develop links with a range of
local services (see Chapter B4).
In a nutshell... xi
About these
guidelines
Key Points
• The purpose of these Guidelines is to provide AOD workers with
up-to-date, evidence-based information on the management of
comorbid mental health conditions in AOD treatment settings.
• All AOD workers should be ‘comorbidity informed’ – that is,
knowledgeable about the symptoms of the common mental health
conditions that clients present with and how to manage these
symptoms.
• The Guidelines are not a policy directive and are not intended to
replace or take precedence over local policies and procedures.
• The Guidelines should be used in conjunction with existing
guidelines and discipline-specific practice standards.
• The Guidelines do not provide formal recommendations, but rather
guidance for AOD workers when working with clients who have
comorbid mental health conditions.
• The Guidelines are based on the best available evidence and draw
upon the experience and knowledge of clinicians, researchers,
consumers, and carers.
Rationale
In 2007, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing funded the National Drug and
Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) to develop ‘Guidelines on the management of co-occurring alcohol and
other drug and mental health conditions in alcohol and other drug treatment settings’ (hereafter referred to
as the Guidelines) [1]. The development of these Guidelines was funded as part of the National Comorbidity
Initiative in order to improve the capacity of AOD workers to respond to comorbidity.
About these guidelines 1

Since publication in December 2009, over 10,000 hard-copies and electronic copies have been distributed
to clinicians and treatment services across Australia. In addition, this resource is a recommended text for
students studying tertiary courses in AOD and mental health. The impact of this resource is demonstrated
not only by its popularity, but by its perceived utility. Respondents to an online survey of AOD workers from
a range of occupations and service types across Australia indicated that the Guidelines were both relevant
and useful to their clinical practice, and that the Guidelines enabled them to respond to comorbidity related
issues with greater confidence [2].
While the Guidelines have proved to be an extremely successful clinical resource, the scientific evidence
regarding the management and treatment of comorbid disorders has grown considerably since they were
first published. Consequently, the Australian Government Department of Health funded the NHMRC Centre
of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, NDARC, to update and revise the Guidelines
to bring them up to date with the most current evidence. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the
aims, scope, and development of the revised Guidelines.
Guideline aims
These Guidelines aim to provide AOD workers with up-to-date, evidence-based information on the
management of comorbid mental health conditions in AOD treatment settings. They are based on the best
available evidence and draw upon the experience and knowledge of clinicians, researchers, consumers,
and carers. The intended outcome of the Guidelines is increased knowledge and awareness of comorbid
mental health conditions in AOD treatment settings, improved confidence and skills of AOD workers,
and increased uptake of evidence-based care. By increasing the capacity of AOD workers to respond to
comorbidity, it is anticipated that the outcomes for people with comorbid mental health conditions will be
improved.
These Guidelines are not a policy directive and are not intended to replace or take precedence over local
policies and procedures. The Guidelines are not formal recommendations, but instead provide guidance for
AOD workers when working with clients who have comorbid mental health conditions. The Guidelines are
not a substitute for training; rather, they should be used in conjunction with appropriate comorbidity training
and supervision. Workers should use their experience and expertise in applying recommendations into
routine clinical practice.
Intended audience
The Guidelines have been designed primarily for AOD workers. When referring to AOD workers, we are
referring to all those who work in AOD treatment settings in a clinical capacity. This includes nurses,
medical practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, social workers, and other AOD workers.
AOD treatment settings are those specialised services that are specifically designed for the treatment of
AOD problems and include, but are not limited to, facilities providing inpatient or outpatient detoxification,
residential rehabilitation, substitution therapies (e.g., methadone or buprenorphine for opiate dependence),
and outpatient counselling services. These services may be in the government or non-government sector.
Although these Guidelines focus on AOD workers, a range of other health professionals may find them
useful. However, it should be noted that comorbidity is not homogenous, and different patterns of
comorbidity are seen across different health services [3]. For example, AOD treatment services are most
likely to see comorbid mood, anxiety, and personality disorders; mental health services, on the other hand,
are more likely to see individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder comorbid with AOD use disorders
[4].
2 About these guidelines

These Guidelines have been developed with the assumption that the management and treatment of
comorbid AOD and mental health conditions will be provided by trained practitioners. AOD workers differ
in their job descriptions, education, training, and experience. This may range from those who are highly
educated with little experience to those with little education but much experience [5]. The amount of time
that AOD workers spend with clients also varies widely depending on the type of service provided, and the
presentation of the client. For example, AOD workers may have very brief contact with clients who present
in medical or psychiatric crisis (who may then be referred to other services); they may work with them for
one week if they are entering detoxification, or they may work with them for several months or years if they
present for substitution therapy, residential rehabilitation, or outpatient counselling.
Given these differences in AOD workers’ roles, education, training, and experience, it is not expected that
all AOD workers will be able to address comorbid conditions to the same extent. Each AOD worker should
use these Guidelines within the context of his/her role and scope of practice. At a minimum, however, it
is suggested that all AOD workers should be ‘comorbidity informed’. That is, all AOD workers should be
knowledgeable about the symptoms of the common mental health conditions that clients present with
(see Chapter A4) and how to manage these symptoms (see Chapter B6). The provision of opportunities for
continuing professional development for AOD staff in the area of comorbidity should be a high priority for
AOD services.
Relationship with existing guidelines

These Guidelines should be used in conjunction with existing guidelines and discipline-specific practice
standards. There are a growing number of guidelines being developed on the management and treatment
of people with comorbid mental health and AOD use disorders across jurisdictions and disciplines. Other
existing guidelines are listed in Appendix A. These Guidelines have drawn on these key resources and
reference is made to them throughout this document.
All AOD workers should refer to the standards and competencies relevant to their own professions; for
example, those specified by the Australian Psychological Society, the Royal Australian and New Zealand
College of Psychiatrists, the Australian Medical Association, the Nursing Board, the Australian Association
of Social Workers, the Australian Counselling Association, and Volunteering Australia. In addition, the
National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Services [6] provide practice standards for services and
professionals who work with people who have mental health conditions.
Development
The current Guidelines represent an update, revision, and expansion of the original Guidelines [1], and
are based on comprehensive reviews of the best available evidence. The revision process also involved
consultation between academic experts in the field of mental health and substance use, consumer groups
and clinicians, and as such, the current Guidelines reflect the collective experience of an expert panel of
academic researchers, clinicians, consumers and carers (see p.iii). In addition to reviewing, synthesising, and
updating the evidence to date, feedback on the original Guidelines was obtained from key-stakeholders,
and areas for improvement identified.
Both clinical and scientific knowledge about what treatment modalities may help those with comorbidity
has been included, and as such, a variety of psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies are discussed. We
have also included discussion of physical activity, some complementary and alternative therapies, as well
as e-health interventions. The clinical evidence for the efficacy of these interventions varies greatly, and
it is critical to note that although there may be limited scientific evidence to recommend a treatment as
best practice, that does not necessarily mean that the treatment is ineffective. That is, the quality of some
studies evaluating some interventions is not as rigorous as others, and does not provide adequate support
or evidence for clinical guidance.

Holistic health care
Given the multitude of problems with which clients present to treatment, the goal of any service should
be to improve clients’ quality of life across all domains, including health, social welfare and housing,
employment, criminal justice, and of course, AOD and mental health. As such, these Guidelines adopt a
holistic health care approach to the management and treatment of comorbidity, which is based on the
adage ‘Treat the person, not the illness’ [7]. It is essential to consider the whole person, taking into account
psychological, physical, and sociodemographic perspectives when consulting with clients with comorbid
mental health conditions (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Holistic health care framework: Physical and mental health
Mental health
Environmental
factors Wellbeing Physical health
Social factors
Comparison with 2009 Guidelines

Development
Although the fundamental approach to the development of the revised Guidelines was the same as
that used for the first edition, there were minor changes. The multidisciplinary panel of experts was
supplemented by an additional discussion forum, membership of which was comprised of stakeholders
who wished to contribute to the revision process.
4 About these guidelines

Structure
The structure of the revised Guidelines has significantly changed from the first edition, and is formatted in
four parts:
• Part A addresses the nature and extent of comorbidity, and discusses why it is important for AOD
services to respond. Information regarding the prevalence, guiding principles, and classification of
disorders are contained in Part A.
• Part B contains information regarding responding to comorbidity, including holistic health care,
identifying comorbidity, risk assessments, care coordination, approaches to comorbidity, managing and
treating specific disorders, and worker self-care.
• Part C addresses specific population groups.
• Useful resources, techniques, and worksheets are contained in the appendices.
It should be noted that although the first edition of the Guidelines had separate chapters for information
regarding managing and treating comorbidity, the revised edition has combined these into one cohesive
section (see Chapter B6), which addresses specific disorders. In addition, the revised edition has included
discussion of comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as feeding and eating
disorders (ED).
Changes in diagnostic criteria
The diagnostic criteria for mental health disorders are defined in internationally accepted diagnostic
manuals. Research settings most commonly use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association. Although the fifth version of this
manual (DSM-5) was in use during the development of these guidelines, the large majority of studies
included in the literature reviews relied on DSM-IV-TR criteria for mental disorders. As such, we refer
to both DSM-IV-TR and DSM-5 criteria where appropriate. The other major classification system is the
International Classification of Diseases (ICD), with the current version being ICD-10. ICD-11 is currently under
development. Although widely used in clinical practice in many parts of the world, ICD is rarely used in the
type of research studies included for review. Nevertheless, ICD is referred to in these guidelines where
appropriate.
Case studies
A series of case studies have been included to highlight some of the presenting issues that are
experienced by AOD clients with comorbid mental health conditions and demonstrate some examples of
pathways through treatment.
Limitations of the Guidelines

As noted above, the Guidelines are not intended to be used prescriptively; rather AOD workers should use
their experience and expertise in applying the Guidelines.
These Guidelines are based on the evidence currently available. As new and emerging treatments will
likely contribute to a strong evidence base which should be included in future revisions, it is recommended
that the Guidelines be updated every five years.

Part A: What is comorbidity and why is it important?
and why is it
comorbidity
important?
What is
Part A:
A1
A1: What is
Section
Heading
comorbidity?
Goes here
Ipsandi te nus, omnime corat verum
nam vitecup tatem. Nam quaero ea
ipsam quidem aut audandelique apisit
eosapid itaturi tatendi tasperrum que
est laborum rest, esecte nis rem sit
aspe quas experit re et ulpa.
A1: What is
comorbidity?
Key Points
• Although other types of ‘comorbidity’ exist, the use of the term in
this document refers to the co-occurrence of an AOD use disorder
with any other mental health condition.
• In this document, we use the term comorbid ‘mental health
disorder’ when referring to those who have a diagnosable mental
health disorder, as defined by the DSM.
• When using the term ‘mental health condition’, we are referring
to both those who have a diagnosable disorder as well as those
who display symptoms of disorders while not meeting criteria for a
diagnosis of a disorder.
• There are a number of possible explanations as to why two or
more disorders may co-occur. It is most likely, however, that
the relationship between comorbid conditions is one of mutual
influence.
Use of the term ‘comorbidity’ in these Guidelines refers to the co-occurrence of one or more AOD use
disorders with one or more mental health conditions. This phenomenon is often referred to as ‘dual
diagnosis’; however, this term is often misleading, as many clients present with a range of co-occurring
conditions of varying severity [8]. It should be noted that there are other types of comorbidity. For example,
a person may have co-occurring AOD use disorders (i.e., more than one AOD use disorder). Indeed, one of
the most common and often overlooked comorbidities in AOD clients is tobacco use (discussed in Chapter
B1) [9-12]. Other conditions that are often found to co-occur with AOD use disorders are physical health
conditions (e.g., cirrhosis, hepatitis, heart disease, diabetes), intellectual and learning disabilities, cognitive
impairment, and chronic pain [13-20]. While there are a number of different types of comorbidity, these
Guidelines focus on the co-occurrence of AOD use disorders and mental health conditions.
To be classified as having a mental health disorder, a person must meet a number of diagnostic criteria
(see Chapter A4 for a discussion of the classification of mental health disorders). There are, however, a

large number of people who present to AOD treatment who display symptoms of disorders while not
meeting criteria for a diagnosis of a disorder. For example, a person may exhibit depressed mood or anxiety
without having a diagnosable depressive or anxiety disorder. Although these individuals may not meet
full diagnostic criteria according to the classification systems, their symptoms may nonetheless impact
significantly on their functioning and treatment outcomes [21]. For example, people who report symptoms
of depression but do not meet diagnostic criteria have reduced productivity, increased help-seeking,
and an increased risk of attempted suicide [22]. Therefore, rather than viewing mental health as merely
the presence or absence of disorder, mental health conditions can be viewed as a continuum ranging
from mild symptoms (e.g., mild depression) to severe disorders (e.g., schizophrenia or psychotic/suicidal
depression).
In this document we use the term comorbid ‘mental health disorder’ when referring to those who have a
diagnosable mental health disorder, as defined by the DSM [23, 24]. When using the term ‘mental health
condition’, we are referring to both those who have a diagnosable disorder as well as those who display
symptoms of disorders while not meeting criteria for a diagnosis of a disorder.
Why does comorbidity occur?

There are a number of possible explanations as to why comorbidity may occur (see Figure 2):
• The presence of a mental health condition may lead to an AOD use disorder, or vice versa (known as
the direct causal hypothesis).
• There may be an indirect causal relationship.
• There may be factors that are common to both the AOD and mental health condition, increasing the
likelihood that they will co-occur.
Direct causal hypothesis

The AOD use disorder may be a consequence of the mental health condition
In some cases where there is comorbidity, the AOD use disorder occurs as a consequence of repeated
AOD use to relieve or cope with mental health symptoms. This is often described as the ‘self‐-medication
hypothesis’, in that substances are used in an attempt to medicate mental health symptoms [25-28]. In
these circumstances, mental health conditions may become more apparent after the AOD use has ceased.
Certain mental health conditions may also impair a person’s ability to make sound judgements regarding
his/her AOD use. For example, individuals with some personality characteristics or cognitive impairment
may have difficulty identifying social cues about appropriate use. This may lead the person to use in greater
quantities or with greater frequency, increasing the likelihood of developing an AOD use disorder.
The mental health condition may be a consequence of AOD use
Alternatively, AOD intoxication and withdrawal can induce a variety of mental health symptoms and
disorders, such as depression, bipolar, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and psychotic disorders (see
Chapter A4 for a discussion of substance-induced disorders). For example, alcohol use and withdrawal
can induce symptoms of depression or anxiety [29-31]; manic symptoms can be induced by intoxication
with stimulants, steroids, or hallucinogens; and psychotic symptoms can be induced by withdrawal
from alcohol, or intoxication with amphetamines, cocaine, cannabis, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or
phenylcyclohexylpiperidine (PCP) [32, 33]. Other disorders that may result from AOD use include substance-
induced neurocognitive disorder, sexual dysfunction, and sleep disorder [24]. In the majority of cases,
these effects subside and eventually disappear with abstinence [34-36]. For some, however, symptoms
may continue even after they have stopped drinking or using drugs. Regardless of whether the comorbid
disorder is classified as independent or substance-induced, it may be associated with poorer treatment
outcomes [37].
7 A1: What is comorbidity?

Indirect causal relationship
An indirect causal relationship is said to exist if one condition has an effect upon an intermediary factor
that, in turn, increases the likelihood of developing the second condition [38]. For example, research has
shown that the presence of early onset AOD use reduces the likelihood of completing high school, entering
tertiary education, and completing tertiary education [39, 40]. This poor level of education may lead to later
life difficulties (e.g., unemployment) that may lead to other problems, such as depression [38]. Similarly, the
reverse is possible, whereby a depressive disorder may lead to difficulties in completing study and work
commitments, which may in turn lead to difficulties finding employment, increasing the risk of AOD misuse
[41-43].
Common factors
The co-occurrence of two conditions may also come about due to the presence of shared biological,
psychological, social, or environmental risk factors. That is, the factors that increase the risk of one
condition may also increase the risk for another [38, 44-47]. For example, both AOD and mental health
conditions have been associated with lower socioeconomic status, cognitive impairment, the presence of
conduct disorder in childhood and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). It is also possible that a genetic
vulnerability to one disorder may increase the risk of developing another disorder [47-49].
Figure 2: Explaining comorbidity
Direct causal hypothesis
Mental health
AOD use
condition
Mental health
AOD use
condition
Indirect causal hypothesis
Intermediary factors Mental health

AOD use
condition
Mental health Intermediary factors AOD use

condition
Common factors hypothesis
Common factors Mental health

AOD use
condition

Does causality matter?
In the past, there has been a focus on establishing the order of onset of conditions to identify which is the
primary disorder. Conditions may occur in any order, or they may develop at the same time. The evidence
regarding the typical order of onset of disorders is not consistent, and differences have been observed
between males and females [50]. It appears, however, that social anxiety disorder (SAD), specific phobia,
agoraphobia, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) tend to predate the AOD use disorder in most
cases; generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, depression, and dysthymia, on the other hand,
tend to have their onset after the onset of an AOD use disorder [30, 51].
Establishing the order of onset of conditions can be useful in understanding the relationship between
conditions. It is important to note, however, that once comorbid conditions have been established it is most
likely that the relationship between them is one of mutual influence rather than there being a clear causal
pathway [32, 52] (see Figure 3). Regardless of how the comorbidity came about, both conditions may serve
to maintain or exacerbate the other. For example, a person may engage in AOD use to reduce symptoms of
anxiety; however, research suggests that repeated use may lead to increased anxiety [53]. It is also possible
that the relationship between disorders may change over time [52, 54]. For example, depression may trigger
alcohol use on some occasions, while it may be the result of alcohol use on others [55]. Irrespective of what
order comorbid conditions have developed, the strategies used to manage these conditions are the same.
9 A1: What is comorbidity?

Figure 3: Example of a relationship of mutual influence between AOD use and mental
health conditions
Mental health
symptoms
AOD use
Temporary relief
from mental health
symptoms
Return/worsening
of mental health
Increased AOD use
symptoms. Increased
tolerance to AOD
Return/worsening
of mental health
Increased AOD use
symptoms. Increased
tolerance to AOD
Temporary relief
from mental health
symptoms

A2: How
Section
Heading is
common
A2
Goes here
comorbidity
and why is it of
concern?
A2: How
common is
comorbidity
and why is it of
concern?
Key Points
• Mental health disorders are common among clients of AOD
services.
• The most common comorbid mental health disorders are anxiety,
depression, PTSD, and personality disorders.
• In addition to those with mental health disorders, there are a
number of people who present to AOD treatment who display
symptoms of disorders while not meeting criteria for a diagnosis of
a disorder.
• Although people with comorbid mental health conditions may
have more complex profiles, they have been found to benefit as
much from traditional AOD treatment methods as those without
comorbid mental health conditions.
How common are mental health disorders?

In Australia, mental disorders are the third leading cause of burden of disease following cancer and
cardiovascular disease (CVD) [56]. Research conducted on the general population indicates that
approximately one in two people will develop a mental disorder at some point in their life [50, 57, 58]. The
2007 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing (NSMHWB) found that more than 41%
of Australian adults (45% of men and 38% of women) had experienced a substance use, anxiety, or mood
disorder in their lifetime [50]. The projected lifetime prevalence of these disorders is 28%, 25%, and 23%
respectively [59]. Just over 10% of Australian adults had experienced two classes of mental disorders, and
just over 4% had experienced three [50].
A2: How common is comorbidity and why is it of concern? 11

The 2007 NSMHWB also found that one in five Australian adults (18% of men and 22% of women) had a
substance use, anxiety, or mood disorder in the past year, representing close to 3.2 million Australian adults
[58]. Approximately 25% of people with mental disorders were found to have two or more classes of mental
disorder [18]. The prevalence of single and comorbid substance use, anxiety, and affective (i.e., mood)
disorders among Australian men and women from the NSMHWB is depicted in Figure 4. The overlapping
portions of the circles indicate the proportion of the population who have co-occurring disorders. For
example, 1.3% of men and 0.8% of women have a substance use and anxiety disorder only.
Figure 4: Prevalence (%) of single and comorbid DSM-IV affective, anxiety and
substance use disorders amongst Australian males (left) and females (right) in the
past year
Males Females
Substance Substance
Anxiety 1.3 Use Anxiety 0.8 Use
6.7 4.3 12.6 1.7
0.9 0.6
0.6 0.2
2.0 3.9
Affective Affective
1.9 2.5
Source: Teesson et al. [18].
How common is comorbidity among clients of AOD

treatment services?
Comorbidity among clients of AOD treatment services is not a new phenomenon: AOD workers have been
responding effectively to comorbidity for many years with very little guidance from the research field. There
has, however, been an increase in awareness of this phenomenon due to the development of structured
diagnostic interviews, and their use in large-scale population surveys [18, 60]. The high prevalence of
comorbid mental health disorders among individuals with AOD use disorders in the Australian general
population was highlighted by the 2007 NSMHWB (see Table 1). These estimates indicate that 35% of
individuals with a substance use disorder (31% of men and 44% of women) have at least one co-occurring
affective or anxiety disorder, representing nearly 300,000 Australians. Furthermore, of the 183,900
Australians who used alcohol or other drugs nearly every day, 63% had a 12-month mental disorder [61]. The
prevalence of comorbidity is even higher among individuals entering AOD treatment programs, because
the presence of co-occurring disorders increases the likelihood of treatment seeking [62-64].
A variety of mental health disorders have been found to co-occur in clients of Australian AOD services.
Studies that have undertaken comprehensive assessments of mental health disorders indicate that
between 50–76% of Australian clients meet diagnostic criteria for at least one comorbid mental disorder
[65-67]. At least one in three have multiple comorbidities [65, 66, 68]. The proportion of clients who have a
mental disorder documented in their medical records, however, ranges from 42–52% [68-71], indicating that
a number of cases likely go unrecognised.
12 A2: How common is comorbidity and why is it of concern?

Table 1: Prevalence (%) of mental health disorders in the past year among adults with
substance use disorders in the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing
Disorder % Men % Women % Total
Affective disorders
Major depressive disorder 16.1 20.3 17.4
Dysthymia 7.5 7.9 7.6
Bipolar affective disorder 3.9 5.1 4.3
Any affective disorder 19.1 22.0 20.0
Anxiety disorders
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) 11.5 10.7 11.3
Social phobia 10.9 14.7 12.1
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 9.3 19.8 12.6
Panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) 6.6 4.1 5.8
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) 9.1 10.2 9.5
Agoraphobia (without panic disorder) 2.3 4.7 3.1
Any anxiety disorder 28.1 38.5 31.4
Any disorder (affective/anxiety) 31.1 44.0 35.2
As in the general population, the most frequently seen disorders among people seeking AOD treatment are
anxiety disorders (45–70%), most commonly GAD [65, 66, 72, 73]; depression (26–60%) [65-67, 70, 73-76],
PTSD (27–51%) [65, 67, 74, 76]; and personality disorders, in particular, borderline personality disorder (BPD)
(37–66%) [76] and ASPD (61–72%) [72, 76]. Although less common, studies have also found elevated rates
of bipolar disorders (4–10%) [65, 67]; psychotic disorders (2–10%) [65, 68-71]; obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD) (1–10%) [65, 67]; ADHD (6%) [70]; and ED (2–9%) [68, 69].
A recent Australian study found that 82% of those in current residential rehabilitation had experienced an
anxiety disorder in their lifetime (70% were experiencing a current anxiety disorder), and just over 79% had
experienced depression in their lifetime (55% were experiencing current depression) [73]. Similarly, rates of
trauma exposure and PTSD have been shown to be extremely high across a number of settings [74, 77, 78].
It should be borne in mind that the prevalence of mental health disorders may vary between substances.
Little research has been conducted comparing the rates of mental health disorders across different types
of AOD use disorders; however, there is some evidence to suggest that co-occurring disorders are higher
among those who use stimulants and opioids [64]. For example, the prevalence of PTSD is much higher
among individuals with opioid, sedative, or amphetamine use disorders compared to those with alcohol or
cannabis use disorders [79].
The number of potential combinations of disorders and symptoms is infinite. Furthermore, as mentioned
in Chapter A1, there are a large number of people who present to AOD treatment who display symptoms
of disorders while not meeting criteria for a diagnosis of a disorder [80]. Individuals who display a number
of symptoms of a disorder but do not meet criteria for a diagnosis are sometimes referred to as having
A2: How common is comorbidity and why is it of concern? 13

a ‘subsyndromal’ or ‘partial’ disorder. Although these individuals may not meet full diagnostic criteria
according to the classification systems (described in Chapter A4), their symptoms may nonetheless impact
significantly on their functioning and treatment outcomes [21, 81-84].
What are the harms associated with comorbidity?

The high prevalence of comorbidity means that AOD workers are frequently faced with the need to
manage complex psychiatric symptoms, which may interfere with their ability to treat the clients’ AOD
use [85]. Clients with comorbidity present to treatment with a more complex and severe clinical profile,
including poorer general physical and mental health, greater drug use severity, and poorer functioning (see
Figure 5) [66, 86-90]. It is not only AOD workers who must cope with the increased burden associated with
comorbidity. The presence of comorbid mental health conditions can place an enormous strain on clients’
families and others close to them, both emotionally and financially.
Figure 5: Harms associated with comorbidity
Poorer
social and
occupational
Poorer Greater drug
functioning
physical health use severity
Harms
Increased stress
on relationships
associated Increased risk
(including family with of self-harm
and suicide
and friends)
comorbidity
Increased risk Poorer mental

of violence health
Increased
homelessness
What is the impact of comorbidity on treatment

outcomes?
Some studies have shown that clients with comorbid mental health disorders have poorer treatment
outcomes [67, 89, 91]. There are, however, a growing number of studies that have clearly demonstrated that
clients with comorbidity benefit as much as those without comorbid conditions in terms of their AOD use,
general physical and mental health, and functioning – even those with severe mental health disorders [66,
92-95]. However, while both those with and without comorbid conditions follow a similar course in terms
of their treatment outcomes (i.e., both groups improve), those with comorbid conditions continue to drink
or use more, be in poorer physical and mental health, and display poorer functioning following treatment.
These findings indicate that AOD services and AOD workers do exceptionally well at treating AOD use
(despite the poorer clinical profile described in the previous section) and its associated disability, but that
the disability associated with the comorbid condition remains.
14 A2: How common is comorbidity and why is it of concern?

A3: Guiding
Section
Heading of
principles
Goes here
working with
clients with
comorbidity
A3
A3: Guiding
principles of
working with
clients with
comorbidity
Key Points
• When working with clients l Conduct ongoing monitoring of
with comorbid mental health symptoms and assessment of
conditions, it is recommended client outcomes.
that AOD services and AOD l Adopt a holistic approach.
workers take the following
l Adopt a client-centred
principles into consideration:
approach.
l First, do no harm.
l Emphasise the collaborative
l Work within your capacity. nature of treatment.
l Engage in ongoing professional l Have realistic expectations.
development.
l Express confidence in the
l Recognise that the effectiveness of the treatment
management of comorbidity program.
is part of AOD workers’ core
l Adopt a non-judgemental
business.
attitude.
l Provide equity of access to
l Adopt a non-confrontational
care.
approach to treatment.
l Adopt a ‘no wrong door’ policy.
l Involve families and carers in
l Recognise that comorbidity is treatment.
common and that all clients
l Consult and collaborate with
should be routinely screened
other health care providers.
for comorbid conditions.
l Ensure continuity of care.
A3: Guiding principles of working with clients with comorbidity 15

When working with clients with comorbid mental health conditions, it is recommended that AOD services
and AOD workers take the following principles into consideration. AOD services need to provide the
infrastructure, policy, and systems support for AOD workers to put these principles into practice. The
implementation of these principles may help to engage the client in treatment, enhance the therapeutic
alliance, and increase the likelihood of improved client outcomes.
First, do no harm
The principle ‘first, do no harm’ is not unique to comorbidity; it underscores the provision of all health care.
AOD workers must consider the risks and benefits of potential actions and avoid those that may result in
harm to the client.
Work within your capacity
In line with the principle above, each AOD worker should work within his/her capacity to address comorbid
conditions. As mentioned in Part A, AOD workers differ with regard to their roles, education, training, and
experience. It is not expected that all AOD workers will be able to address comorbid conditions to the same
extent. It is essential that appropriate supervision be provided to those working with comorbid clients,
particularly for those who are less experienced in mental health.
Engage in ongoing professional development
All AOD workers should be knowledgeable about the symptoms of the common mental health conditions
that clients present with and how to manage these symptoms. Where AOD workers do not have these
skills, professional development should be provided to bring them to a level of confident and competent
performance. The provision of opportunities for continuing professional development for AOD staff should
be a high priority for AOD services. AOD workers should seek out, and actively engage in, comorbidity-
specific training. It is important that professional development in this area be ongoing, as it is an evolving
area of research with many studies currently underway. AOD workers are encouraged to update their
knowledge by accessing new research and training opportunities, and new clinical guidelines as they
emerge (Appendix C provides a list of research organisations).
Recognise that the management of comorbidity is part of AOD workers’ core business
AOD treatment services and AOD workers need to recognise that working with comorbidity is part of their
core business. Indeed, managing comorbidity is the core business of all health care providers.
Provide equity of access to care
Cases have been documented where clients of AOD services have received prejudicial treatment or were
refused entry to treatment due to the presence of comorbid disorders [96]. All clients, regardless of their
mental health status, are morally and legally entitled to equal access to the highest quality of care [97].
Adopt a ‘no wrong door’ policy
In line with the above principles, AOD services (and all other health services) should adopt a ‘no wrong
door’ policy. No client should be turned away from treatment; rather, it is necessary to establish where the
client will receive the most appropriate care. When a person presents at a facility that is not equipped to
provide a particular type of service, he/she should be guided to appropriate facilities (using active referral
methods discussed in Chapter B4), with follow-up by staff to ensure that he/she receives appropriate care
[94, 98]. In this way, every door in the health care system should provide access to the services needed.
Guidance about which sector of the health care system should have primary responsibility for comorbid
presentations is provided in Figure 6. It should be noted, however, that it can be difficult to discern
16 A3: Guiding principles of working with clients with comorbidity

which areas should take primary responsibility for individual cases as the severity of conditions may be
interpreted differently by various service providers.
Figure 6: Clinical governance
AOD services Mental health services
Primarily responsible for people severely Primarily responsible for people severely disabled
disabled by current substance use and adversely by current mental health problems and adversely
affected by mental health problems. affected by substance use.
AOD and mental health services General practitioners
Shared responsibility for people severely Primarily responsible for people with mild to
disabled by both substance use and mental moderate AOD and/or mental health conditions
health disorders. The client should be treated by but with access to specialist AOD and mental
the service that best meets his/her needs. health services as required.
Source: NSW Health [99].
Recognise that comorbidity is common and that all clients should be routinely
screened for comorbid conditions
Despite the fact that comorbid mental health conditions are common among people with AOD use
disorders, they are often overlooked in AOD treatment settings [100]. This is mostly because AOD workers
are not routinely looking for them. As part of routine clinical care, all clients should be screened for
comorbidity. Chapter B2 discusses how to screen and assess for comorbidity.
Conduct ongoing monitoring of symptoms and assessment of client outcomes
Assessing mental health is a process, not a one-off event. It is important to monitor a person’s mental
health symptoms throughout treatment as they may change over time. For example, a person may present
with symptoms of anxiety and depression upon treatment entry; however, these symptoms may subside
with abstinence. Alternatively, a person may enter treatment with no mental health symptoms, but such
symptoms may develop after a period of reduced use or abstinence.
Clients should also be provided with feedback regarding changes in their mental health. It is often difficult
for clients to detect subtle changes over time. Evidence of a reduction in psychiatric symptoms may help
to maintain their motivation. On the other hand, evidence that there has been no change or that their
psychiatric symptoms have worsened may help them understand why they have been using substances
and alert them to the need to address these issues.
Focus on engaging the client in treatment
The development of a trusting therapeutic alliance with the client is essential to engaging the client in
the treatment process [101, 102]. Engaging clients in treatment can be difficult, particularly clients with
personality or psychotic disorders. This may be due to a history of poor relationships with AOD and
other health professionals; a bias towards suspiciousness or paranoid interpretation of relationships; or a
chaotic lifestyle, making appointment scheduling and engaging in structured work more difficult [103]. The
following strategies may assist in engaging the client in treatment [99]:

• Express empathetic, non-judgemental, and compassionate attitudes.
• Provide individualised care that includes identified strengths as well as problems.
• Adopt a holistic approach.
• Be flexible with appointments.
• Protect confidentiality and privacy.
• Promote self-efficacy.
• Work with the client’s current stage of readiness to change (as discussed in Chapter B2).
Adopt a holistic approach
The primary goal of AOD treatment services is to address clients’ AOD use. In order to do so effectively,
AOD workers must take into account the broad range of issues that clients present with, including their
mental health. When considering comorbidity, one cannot look at the person’s AOD use and mental health
alone. Clients with comorbid conditions often have a variety of other medical, family, and social problems
(e.g., housing, employment, welfare, and legal problems). These problems may be contributing to the
client’s AOD and mental health conditions, or they may be the product of his/her AOD and mental health
conditions. Clients also need to be viewed in light of their age, gender, sexual orientation, culture, ethnicity,
spirituality, socioeconomic status, and cognitive abilities.
Adopt a client-centred approach
AOD workers are specialists in their field. It important to acknowledge, however, that it is the client who
is the expert on him/herself. It is important that AOD workers listen to what clients want to achieve from
treatment. This will assist in developing the treatment plan and identifying other services that may need to
be engaged.
In terms of clients’ AOD use, the goal of abstinence is usually favoured, particularly for those whose mental
health conditions are exacerbated by AOD use. Abstinence is also preferred for those with more severe
mental disorders (or cognitive impairment) because even low level substance use may be problematic
for these individuals [54]. Those taking medications for mental health conditions (e.g., antipsychotics,
antidepressants, mood stabilisers) may also find that they become intoxicated even with low levels of
AOD use due the interaction between the drugs. Although abstinence is favoured, it is recognised that
many people with comorbid conditions prefer a goal of moderation. In order to successfully engage with
the client, AOD workers should accommodate a range of treatment goals and adopt a harm reduction
approach [104].
Emphasise the collaborative nature of treatment
Clients with comorbid conditions often feel that they have very little control over their lives. It is important
that they understand that you will be working together throughout treatment, to help them re-establish a
sense of control.
Have realistic expectations
It is important that AOD workers have realistic expectations regarding the course of treatment and
outcomes to be expected of clients with comorbidity. It is commonly believed that clients with comorbid
mental health conditions are more difficult to treat, require more intensive treatments, and have poorer
treatment outcomes. However, comorbidity is not an insurmountable barrier to treating people with AOD
use disorders. As discussed in Chapter A2, research has shown that clients with comorbid mental health
conditions can benefit just as much as those without comorbid conditions from usual AOD treatment [66,
94, 95, 105].

Express confidence in the effectiveness of the treatment program
As mentioned above, positive outcomes can be achieved in clients with comorbid conditions. AOD workers’
confidence in the treatment will increase clients’ confidence that the treatment they are entering can help
them.
Adopt a non-judgemental attitude
Clients with comorbid problems have often been subjected to stigmatisation and discrimination in relation
to their AOD use (particularly those who use illicit drugs) and their mental health condition. People with
mental health disorders have traditionally been viewed by society as violent, brain damaged, intellectually
disabled, unimportant, untrustworthy, or worthless. As a result, clients with comorbidity will often feel
too ashamed or embarrassed to tell people about it, even health professionals [97]. It is important that
clients with comorbid conditions do not feel that AOD workers have the same negative attitudes towards
them. AOD and other health professionals should view and treat people with comorbidity with the same
respectful care that would be extended to someone with any other health condition. Just as people with an
AOD use disorder should not be thought of or referred to as an ‘addict’, a person with schizophrenia should
not be referred to or thought of as ‘schizophrenic’. The mental health condition does not define the person;
rather, it is one aspect of the person.
Adopt a non-confrontational approach to treatment
Sustained emotional distress can worsen a number of mental health conditions and a highly demanding
or confrontational treatment approach may be harmful to those with mental health conditions [54].
Emotional distress may be triggered by criticism, rejection, or an inability to deal with task demands [106].
It is recommended instead that a non-confrontational approach, such as a motivational enhancement
approach, be taken with clients with comorbidity. Motivational interviewing (MI) techniques are described in
Appendix E.
Involve families and carers in treatment
With the client’s consent, AOD workers should involve the client’s family and carers where possible and
appropriate. Families and carers should be involved as much as possible in decisions regarding treatment
and discharge planning, as they will often need to facilitate the client’s access to other services. With the
client’s consent, family members/carers should be provided with regular feedback so that they know
their views and feelings are valued. It is important to clarify with clients specifically what information they
consent to being shared with their families or carers. Families and carers should also be informed of
services available to them in the form of advocacy and support groups.
Two useful resources are available, and may have relevant information for families, friends, carers, and
friends:
• Tools for change: A new way of working with families and carers, developed by the Network of Alcohol
and Drug Agencies, available as part of the Families and Carers Toolkit [107]. http://www.nada.org.au/
resources/nadapublications/resourcestoolkits/familycarertoolkit/
• Guidelines to consumer participation in NSW drug and alcohol services, developed by the NSW
Ministry of Health [108]. http://www0.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/gl/2015/pdf/GL2015_006.pdf

Consult and collaborate with other health care providers
AOD clients present with diverse issues that cannot possibly be addressed by one health professional
or service alone. A broad, multifaceted, and multidisciplinary approach is needed in order to address all
of these issues effectively [97, 109]. It is important that AOD services and AOD workers develop links with
local services and engage them in clients’ treatment. Such services include mental and community health
practitioners, as well as housing, employment, and welfare services. General practitioners (GPs) in particular
play an important role in delivering care to people with comorbidity, as they are often their first and most
consistent point of contact [110, 111]. Ideally, case management and treatment should be shared by health
care providers/services, and there should be good communication and sharing of information between
these professionals.
Ensure continuity of care
People with comorbid conditions often have difficulty navigating their way through the services required
to address all of their needs. It is crucial that systems be established that ease clients’ transitions between
services to prevent them from ‘falling through the gaps’ between services [98]. Chapter B4 discusses
methods that may be used to refer clients to other services.

A4:
Section
Heading
Classification
Goes
of disorders
here
A4
A4:
Classification
of disorders
Key Points
• Disorders represent particular combinations of signs and
symptoms that are grouped together to form criteria. A certain
number of criteria need to be met within a certain timeframe for a
person to be diagnosed as having a disorder.
• Not all AOD workers are able to formally diagnose the presence
or absence of mental health disorders. Diagnoses of mental health
disorders should only be made by suitably qualified and trained
health professionals.
• It is nonetheless useful for all AOD workers to be aware of the
characteristics of disorders so that they are able to describe and
elicit information about mental health symptoms when undertaking
screening and assessment, and to inform treatment planning.
• It is important that clients suspected of having a comorbid
mental health condition undergo a medical assessment as many
symptoms of mental health disorders mimic those of physical
disorders.
This chapter provides a brief overview of the mental disorders most commonly seen among clients of
AOD treatment settings. Not all AOD workers are able to formally diagnose the presence or absence of
mental health disorders. Diagnoses of mental health disorders should only be made by suitably qualified
and trained health professionals (e.g., registered or clinical psychologists, and psychiatrists). It would be
unethical for non-trained workers to use diagnostic labels in clinical notes, or to inform the client that they
have a diagnosis, unless they have received written confirmation from a suitably qualified professional.
A4: Classification of disorders 21

It is nonetheless useful for all AOD workers to be aware of the characteristics of disorders so that they are
able to describe and elicit information about mental health symptoms when undertaking screening and
assessment (discussed in Chapter B2), and to inform treatment planning. Many more people will present
with some symptoms than will meet criteria for a diagnosis of a disorder; however, these symptoms are
distressing and need to be managed nonetheless. It is hoped that the descriptions provided here will
increase AOD workers’ knowledge and awareness of different signs (i.e., what is objectively visible about
the client, such as sweating) and symptoms (i.e., what the client describes, such as sadness) of disorders.
The case studies provided throughout these Guidelines also provide examples of how symptoms may
present in clients with comorbid mental health disorders.
Disorders represent particular combinations of signs and symptoms that are grouped together to form
criteria. A certain number of criteria need to be met within a certain timeframe for a person to be diagnosed
as having a disorder. There are two main classification systems used to diagnose mental health disorders:
• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, currently in its fifth edition (DSM-5) [24].
• The International Classification of Diseases, currently in its 10th revision (ICD-10) [112].
These systems are similar; however, there are a number of important differences. The disorder descriptions
outlined in this chapter are based on those provided by the most recent diagnostic manual available, the
DSM-5, which was released in May 2013 [24]. AOD workers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with
the DSM-5, in particular its uses, limitations and recommendations regarding differential diagnosis (i.e.,
determining which symptoms are attributable to which disorder).
It is important to note that substantial revisions to diagnostic and classification criteria have been made for
many mental disorders, and the disorder descriptions may vary greatly from those in the previous edition
(DSM-IV-TR [23]). In an effort to help navigate the major revisions, the primary changes between the DSM-
IV-TR and the DSM-5 disorder classification are explained. As many AOD workers may also use ICD codings,
we have cross-referenced the DSM-5 disorders described here with the corresponding ICD-10 codes in
Appendix D.
In these Guidelines we focus on 10 categories of disorder that are most commonly seen among people
with AOD use disorders:
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

• Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders.
• Bipolar disorders.
• Depressive disorders.
• Anxiety disorders.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
• Trauma-related disorders.
• Feeding and eating disorders (ED).
• Personality disorders.
• Substance-induced disorders.
There are, however, a number of other disorder types that individuals with AOD use disorders may
experience. These include somatoform disorders, sleep disorders, and adjustment disorders. For further
information on these disorders readers are referred to the DSM-5 [24].
It is also important to note that many symptoms of mental health disorders mimic those of physical
disorders. For example, heart palpitations may be related to anxiety, or they may be a symptom of a heart
condition. Similarly, depressed mood may be a symptom of major depressive disorder, or it may be a
symptom of hypothyroidism. For this reason, it is important that clients suspected of having a comorbid
22 A4: Classification of disorders

mental health condition undergo a medical assessment to rule out the possibility of an underlying physical
condition. This is particularly pertinent for those individuals with advanced AOD use disorders, who may
suffer from malnutrition or organ damage.
What is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

The fundamental feature of ADHD is an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or impulsivity-hyperactivity,
which interferes with functioning (see Table 2). Many people experience periods of excitability or
zealousness, which can sometimes be described as ‘hyperactive’. Similarly, many people experience
periods of distraction and have difficulty concentrating. ADHD is distinct from relatively short periods
of over-excitability or distraction in that it involves severe and persistent symptoms that are present in
more than one setting (e.g., home and work). A case study example of how comorbid ADHD and AOD use
disorder may present is illustrated in Box 1.
Table 2: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is characterised by a persistent and debilitating pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-

impulsivity where at least five inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms are present. Symptoms
need to have been experienced for at least six months, and several need to have been present prior to
age 12:
Inattention:
• Lacking attention to detail.

• Difficulty maintaining focus during work, study, or conversation.
• Appearing not to listen when spoken to.
• Difficulty following instructions and completing housework, work, or study.
• Difficulty organising time and materials.
• Avoiding tasks that involve constant mental energy.
• Losing material possessions.
• Easily distracted.
• Forgetting to return calls, pay bills, keep appointments.
Hyperactivity and impulsivity:
• Fidgeting, tapping hands or feet, wriggling in seat.

• Leaving seat in inappropriate situations.
• Inappropriately restless.
• Unable to relax or engage in activities quietly.
• Unable to keep still for extended periods.
• Talking excessively.
• Interrupting conversations.
• Difficulty waiting in line or for his/her turn.
• Intruding on, or taking over from others.

Box 1: Case study A: What does comorbid ADHD and AOD use look like? Ali’s story
Case study A: What does comorbid ADHD and AOD use look like?
Ali’s story
Ali, a 23-year-old unemployed man who was living with his parents, presented to the local AOD
service. His presentation followed an arrest and fine for possession of a small amount of speed.
Ali said that he had only come to the appointment to get his parents ‘off his back’, and although he
agreed to an assessment, he said he would probably not come back.
Ali’s AOD use dated back to his mid-teens, and he described using both speed and cannabis. He
admitted that some of his drug use was funded by borrowing money from friends and family and,
on occasion, stealing money from his parents. Ali said that when he first started using speed, he felt
‘inner calmness’, but as he increased the quantity and frequency of use, his life became increasingly
chaotic. However, he found that smoking a joint had helped him calm down and sleep.
During the assessment, Ali described being brought up in a loving family home, but he encountered
a number of problems at school. All of Ali’s teachers agreed that he was brighter than most of his
classmates, but his school reports often mentioned that he had difficulty paying attention to detail,
was inattentive in class, and forgot to bring in school materials or homework. During the assessment
Ali was noticeably fidgeting and often answered a question before the AOD worker had finished
asking the question.
Key points:
• What are the primary concerns for Ali?

• Where to from here?
Case study A continues in Chapter B6.
What are schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic

disorders?
People experiencing schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders lose touch with reality. Their
ability to make sense of both the world around them and their internal world of feelings, thoughts, and
perceptions is severely altered. The most prominent symptoms are delusions, hallucinations, disorganised
speech, grossly disorganised or abnormal behaviour, and negative symptoms (see Table 3).
Individuals with AOD use disorders may display symptoms of psychosis that are due to either intoxication or
withdrawal from substances. However, if the person experiences psychotic episodes even when they are
not intoxicated or withdrawing, it is possible that they may have one of the disorders described in Table 4.
These are severely disabling mental health disorders. Psychotic symptoms may also present in people with
major depressive disorder or bipolar I disorder, or from a medical condition. A case study example of how
comorbid psychosis and AOD use disorder may present is illustrated in Box 2.

Table 3: Predominant symptoms associated with schizophrenia spectrum and other
psychotic disorders
Delusions
Delusions are false beliefs that usually involve a misinterpretation of perceptions or experiences. For
example, people who experience delusions may feel that someone is out to get them, that they have
special powers, or that passages from the newspaper have special meaning for them. Delusions may
be either bizarre or non-bizarre.
• Bizarre delusions are those that are clearly implausible, not understandable, and not derived
from ordinary life experiences (e.g., the belief that one’s internal organs have been removed and
replaced with someone else’s by a stranger without leaving any wounds or scars).
• Non-bizarre delusions are those which involve situations that could conceivably occur in real life
(e.g., being followed, poisoned, or deceived by one’s partner).
Hallucinations
Hallucinations are false perceptions such as seeing, hearing, smelling, sensing, or tasting things that
others cannot. These are vivid and clear, with the impact of regular perceptions, and are not under
voluntary control. It is important to note that the classification of an experience as either a delusion or
a hallucination is dependent upon culture. That is, the experience must be one that most members of
that culture would deem a misrepresentation of reality.
Disorganised Speech
Disorganised speech involves difficulty with communication, through difficulty keeping track of
conversations, switching between unrelated topics, or incoherent words or sentences.
Grossly disorganised or abnormal behaviour
Grossly disorganised or abnormal behaviour may be evident in several ways, ranging from inappropriate
behaviour or silliness, to unpredictable agitation. There may be problems with goal-directed behaviour
interfering with usual daily activities, or difficulty maintaining hygiene. Catatonic behaviour, which is
a decreased reactivity to the environment (sometimes to the extreme of complete unawareness,
maintaining a rigid or inappropriate posture, or complete lack of verbal or motor response) may be
present, which can include purposeless and excessive motor activity.
Negative symptoms
Negative symptoms account for much of the morbidity associated with schizophrenia, but are less
prominent in other psychotic disorders. These include:
• Diminished emotional expression (i.e., reductions intensity of emotional expressiveness).

• Avolition (i.e., a lack of interest in initiating or continuing with activities).
• Alogia (i.e., restricted fluency and productivity of thought and speech).
• Anhedonia (i.e., restricted ability to experience pleasure from positive stimuli).
• Asociality (i.e., a lack of interest in social interactions).

What are the different types of schizophrenia spectrum and other
psychotic disorders?
The particular combination of symptoms a person displays, and their duration, determines what diagnostic
category they may fall into. There are five types of psychotic disorders (see Table 4):
• Schizophrenia.
• Schizophreniform disorder.
• Schizoaffective disorder.
• Brief psychotic disorder.
• Delusional disorder.
Table 4: Psychotic disorders
Disorder Symptoms
Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is one of the most common and disabling of the psychotic
disorders. It affects a person’s ability to think, feel, and act. To be diagnosed
with schizophrenia, two or more of the following symptoms must have
been continuing for a period of at least six months:
• Delusions.
• Hallucinations.
• Disorganised speech.
• Grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour.
• Negative symptoms (diminished emotional expression or avolition).
These symptoms cause significant impairment in a person’s functioning

at work, social relationships, or self-care. People are considered to have
particular ‘types’ of schizophrenia depending upon the predominance of
symptoms displayed (paranoid, disorganised, catatonic, undifferentiated, or
residual type).
Schizophreniform Schizophreniform disorder is characterised by a symptomatic presentation

disorder that is equivalent to schizophrenia except its duration is limited to more
than one month and less than six months, and it is not necessary to have a
decline in social or occupational functioning.
Schizoaffective Schizoaffective disorder is characterised by the symptoms of schizophrenia

disorder alongside a major depressive or manic episode (described later in this
chapter). This disorder may thus be divided into two types:
• Bipolar type (if the mood episode is manic).

• Depressive type (if the mood episode is major depressive).
Brief psychotic Brief psychotic disorder is a disturbance when delusions, hallucinations, or

disorder disorganised speech are present, with or without grossly disorganised or
catatonic behaviour, for at least one day but less than one month.
Delusional disorder Delusional disorder is characterised by at least one month of non-bizarre

delusions. Hallucinations and other positive symptoms of schizophrenia are
relatively absent, and functioning is not significantly impaired.

Box 2: Case study B: What does comorbid psychosis and AOD use look like? Nick’s
story
Case study B: What does comorbid psychosis and AOD use look
like? Nick’s story
Nick, a 24-year-old, had been a client of community mental health services since his late teens. His
case manager, who was becoming increasingly concerned about Nick’s AOD use, contacted the local
AOD service requesting an assessment. Nick reluctantly agreed to an assessment and consented to
his case manager providing the AOD service with some background information.
Nick was first referred to community mental health services after being discharged from an inpatient
psychiatric unit to which he had been admitted after experiencing an acute psychotic episode. Nick
remained in the unit for four months. During his admission, Nick was treated with major tranquillising
medications and discharged on a regime that included a depot injection every two weeks. Following
discharge, he went home to his parents’ house. He was withdrawn, spending all of his time in his
bedroom, wearing headphones and playing music almost all the time, to ‘block out the voices’. Nick
became convinced that messages from another planet were being transmitted via the family’s
television set, and he subsequently smashed every electrical appliance in the house that he could
find, ‘to stop messages being sent to him’. The community mental health team organised some
rehabilitative activities, and encouraged him to ‘get out more’.
Unbeknownst to any of the professionals caring for him at the time, Nick had been introduced
to stimulant medication by another patient while in hospital, and continued to use following his
discharge. Over time, Nick continued to display features of his psychosis and remained fixed in the
belief that he was receiving communications from other planets – these communications coming
from multiple sources, including the electricity supply. He also continued to hear voices, most of
which were making complimentary comments about him; however, occasionally the voices accused
him of various wrongdoings.
Nick was compliant with appointments for his depot injection, as he knew that if he wasn’t he would
be compelled to do so by hospital admission. He was prescribed other oral medication for both his
psychosis and mood, but his compliance with the regime of oral medication was very poor. By the
time Nick was assessed by the AOD service, his substance use was far more extensive than his case
manager had realised. He was smoking cannabis daily, occasionally sniffing solvents, binge drinking
once or twice a week, and using cocaine whenever he could afford to do so. Although Nick had
never injected drugs, he had smoked heroin and, over time, had ‘tried every drug under the sun’. The
community mental health team had referred him to the AOD service on a number of occasions, but
Nick failed to attend any of the appointments made for him. On this particular occasion, the AOD
worker agreed to come to the community mental health service to meet with Nick during one of his
other regularly scheduled appointments to facilitate the process.
It became apparent during the assessment that Nick’s decline in mental health and escalating
substance use had been precipitated by the death of both parents a short time apart. For a while,
Nick remained in the family home until it became uninhabitable because of the appalling standards
of hygiene. He began to spend time away from home, spending the summer months ‘sleeping under
the stars’ or in hostels for the homeless.

Box 2: Case study B: What does comorbid psychosis and AOD use look like? Nick’s
story (continued)
Key points:
• What are the primary concerns for Nick?

Case study B continues in Chapter B6.
What are bipolar disorders?

Bipolar disorders are characterised by recurrent episodes of mood disturbances. The DSM-IV-TR had
grouped bipolar and depressive disorders together as mood disorders, but in the DSM-5 they have been
separated from the depressive disorders and form their own distinct category of disorder.
There are three types of mood disturbance episodes (see Figure 7, Table 7):
• Major depressive episodes.

• Hypomanic episodes.
• Manic episodes.
Figure 7: The spectrum of bipolar episodes
Manic Episode
Hypomanic Episode
Major depressive episode
Adapted from Black Dog Institute [113].

In between episodes, the person is usually completely well. Most people with a bipolar disorder
experience their first serious mood episode in their 20s; however, the onset of bipolar disorders may
occur earlier or later in life, and can be diagnosed in children as well as adults. The first episode of illness
is most commonly a depressive illness and bipolar disorder may not be diagnosed until treatment with
antidepressant medication triggers a manic illness. Recognition of bipolar disorders can often be difficult
and many people are not diagnosed until they have experienced a number of years of severe mood
swings. People tend to seek treatment for the depressive phases of the disorder but not for the periods of
elation, so they are often mistakenly diagnosed as having a depressive disorder.
Table 5: Bipolar episodes
Major depressive episode
In a major depressive episode, some of the following symptoms are experienced nearly every day for at
least two weeks:
• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.

• Loss of interest or enjoyment in activities.
• Reduced interest or pleasure in almost all activities.
• Change in weight or appetite.
• Difficulty concentrating or sleeping (e.g., sleeping too much or too little).
• Restlessness and agitation.
• Slowing down of activity.
• Fatigue or reduced energy levels.
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive/inappropriate guilt.
• Recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, attempts, or plans.
Manic episode
During a manic episode, the person experiences an abnormally or persistently elevated, expansive,
or irritable mood and increased goal-directed activity or energy for at least one week. The episode is
characterised by the person experiencing some of the following symptoms:
• Inflated self-esteem.
• Decreased need for sleep.
• Increased talkativeness or racing thoughts.
• Distractibility.
• Agitation or increase in goal directed activity (e.g., at work or socially).
• Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences
(e.g., buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, dangerous driving).
Hypomanic episode
A hypomanic episode is the same as a manic episode, but is less severe. A hypomanic episode need
only last four days and does not require the episode to be severe enough to cause impairment in social
or occupational functioning.

What is the difference between depression and mania?
Having fluctuations in feelings, mood swings, and a wide range of emotions is very common; almost everyone
can relate to emotional upheavals and changes in mood. However, when these emotions or moods are severe
to the point of impairing a person’s ability to function, there may be a disorder present. It can be difficult to
understand how depression and mania co-exist. Table 6 compares some of the key features of both.
Table 6: Comparison of mania and depression in bipolar disorder
Mania Depression
Energy Levels Increased energy, increase in activity Loss of energy, decrease in activity
and/or goal directed activities. May and interest in activities.
spend more money.
Changes in sleep Decreased need for sleep without Disrupted sleep patterns, with trouble
pattern feeling tired. falling or staying asleep, waking too
early, sleeping too much.
Thoughts and Feeling good, high or exhilarated. May Feeling down, low, empty, hopeless,
feelings think they are chosen, special, gifted, worthless. Think they are useless, a
entitled. Increased libido. Increased burden, and the cause of their own
thinking, disorganised, flood of ideas. problems. Decreased libido. Impaired
thinking, concentration, decision
making.
Speech and Pressured speech, maybe without Speech can be slowed, with few ideas.
sensations enough time to convey all of the ideas, Dulled perception and sensation, but
inappropriate. Heightened perception in some cases some senses can be
and sensation. May have underlying heightened (e.g., taste and smell).
agitation in severe cases
Delusions, In severe cases of mania, there may In severe cases of depression, there
hallucinations be grandiose delusions (e.g., may think can be nihilistic delusions (e.g., may
they are God, or they are a superhero think their body is decaying).
sent to save the world).
Adapted from Black Dog Institute [114].
What are the different types of bipolar disorders?

There are three main types of bipolar disorders (see Table 7):
• Bipolar I disorder.
• Bipolar II disorder.
• Cyclothymic disorder.
A case study example of how comorbid bipolar and AOD use disorder may present is illustrated in Box 3.

Table 7: Types of bipolar disorders
Disorder Symptoms
Bipolar I disorder Bipolar I is characterised by one or more manic episodes, which can be
preceded or followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes.
Bipolar II Bipolar II is characterised by recurring mood episodes, consisting of at least one

disorder or more major depressive episodes and at least one hypomanic episode.
Cyclothymic Cyclothymic disorder is characterised by chronic (at least two years), fluctuating
disorder disturbances in mood involving numerous periods of hypomanic and depressive
symptoms. The symptoms do not meet the criteria for a manic or major
depressive episode.
Box 3: Case study C: What does comorbid bipolar and AOD use look like? Layla’s story
Case study C: What does comorbid bipolar and AOD use look like?
Layla’s story
Layla is a 30-year-old woman who was referred to the AOD service by her psychiatrist. Layla has been
referred to AOD services many times. On one previous occasion she attended for an assessment but
failed to return for any further appointments.
Layla grew up in a country town in what she described as a very happy family; she is the third of six
siblings. Layla described herself as always being ‘the life of the party’. She performed well at school,
enjoyed many interests and activities, and had a wide circle of friends.
Before going to university, Layla rarely drank alcohol and had never been around people who used any
drugs. However, after moving to the city to attend university, she discovered that she enjoyed a mixture
of methamphetamines, which helped her ‘to party through the night’, and cannabis, which calmed her
down.
This pattern continued for the duration of Layla’s years at university and, instead of being a star student,
she was only able to scrape through her exams. She presented to student psychological services on
several occasions requesting support in her applications for extensions and exemptions for several
assignments, describing her depressive episodes to them. She did not, however, reveal any details of
her substance use, or periods of feeling high when she had excessive amounts of physical and mental
energy.
Following university, Layla found an office job back in her country town and promised herself that she
would not engage in any more AOD use.
Several months later, Layla became more active, pursuing a wide range of social activities and became
increasingly distractible and irritable at work. She also began spending excessively on her credit card.
Several people close to her suggested that she see her doctor for some form of medical assessment,
however, Layla was reluctant see anyone and said she felt ‘on top of the world’.

Box 3: Case study C: What does comorbid bipolar and AOD use look like? Layla’s story
(continued)
Finally, to please her mother, Layla went to her GP who quickly recognised that she was experiencing a
manic episode and arranged for her to see a psychiatrist as a priority. The psychiatrist diagnosed Layla
with bipolar disorder. Despite having enormous credit card bills, loss of weight and complaints from all
of her friends that she was intolerable to be around, Layla refused to accept that there was anything
wrong. Layla would not accept any medication and stormed out of the psychiatrist’s consulting room.
Later that day, Layla was arrested in the town centre, having consumed a large amount of alcohol and
behaved in a sexually disinhibited way in a supermarket. She was admitted to hospital and prescribed
benzodiazepines.
After about a week, Layla’s mood had settled and she was prescribed a mood stabilising drug. Layla
was discharged to the care of her psychiatrist, and over three to four weeks she became well enough
to return to work. Several months later, Layla became depressed and, recognising this, went back to
see the psychiatrist who prescribed an antidepressant medication in addition to her mood stabilising
medication, and reduced her benzodiazepines.
At this point, Layla remembered how methamphetamines had lifted her mood and, for the first time
since her university days, she began taking methamphetamines on a daily basis and smoking cannabis
in the evenings to help her to sleep. Over the following years, Layla had three significant episodes of
mood disturbance – two manic and one depressive. Layla had been able to work intermittently, but it
was only because her employer was a family friend that she was able to keep her job.
During the last episode, it became clear that Layla’s compliance with her medication regime had been
poor. Layla was told on numerous occasions that she ‘needed to take the medications as prescribed
for the rest of her life’, and that the doctors and nurses ‘knew best’, and she should follow their advice.
There were no attempts made to enter into any detailed discussion about the nature and dose of
medication, which led Layla to feel a growing distance between herself and the health professionals
involved.
Key points:
• What are the primary concerns for Layla?
Case study C continues in Chapter B6.
What are depressive disorders?

The predominant feature of depressive disorders is the presence of sad, empty, or irritable mood,
accompanied by physical and cognitive changes that significantly impair an individual’s ability to function.
Differences between the depressive disorders depend largely on duration, timing, or origin.
Depressive disorders are distinct from feeling unhappy or sad (which is commonly referred to as
‘depression’) in that they involve more severe and persistent symptoms. Depressive disorders are often
long-lasting, recurring illnesses. Individuals with depressive disorders feel depressed, sad, hopeless,
discouraged, or ‘down in the dumps’ almost all the time. They also experience other symptoms including
sleep disturbances (including difficulty getting to sleep, frequent waking during the night, being unable to

wake in the morning, or sleeping too much); loss of interest in daily activities; a lack of energy, tiredness
and fatigue; restlessness, irritability, or anger; difficulty concentrating, remembering, and making decisions;
feelings of guilt or worthlessness; appetite changes (either decreased or increased appetite); loss of sex
drive; and thoughts of death or suicide.
What are the different types of depressive disorders?

There are three main types of depressive disorders (see Table 8):
• Major depressive disorder.

• Dysthymic disorder.
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
A case study example of how comorbid depression and AOD use disorder may present is illustrated in Box
4.
Table 8: Depressive disorders
Disorder Symptoms
Major Major depressive disorder is characterised by one or more major depressive

depressive episodes in which five or more of the following symptoms are experienced
disorder nearly every day for at least two weeks:
• Depressed mood.
• Loss of interest or enjoyment in activities.
• Change in weight and appetite.
• Sleeping problems (difficulty getting to sleep, frequent waking during the
night, being unable to wake in the morning or sleeping too much).
• Fatigue.
• Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Recurrent suicidal thoughts, attempts, or plans.
A person may have a single episode or they may have recurrent episodes over
his/her lifetime. The duration of depressive episodes may range from weeks to
years.
Dysthymic Dysthymic disorder is characterised by two or more chronic symptoms of

disorder depression that do not meet the diagnostic criteria for a major depressive
episode. The person experiences at least two years of depressed mood more
days than not, as well as other depressive symptoms such as appetite changes,
sleeping problems, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness.

Table 8: Depressive disorders (continued)
Disorder Symptoms
Premenstrual The essential features of premenstrual dysphoric disorder are:

dysphoric
disorder • Irritability or anger.
• Mood swings.
• Feelings of hopelessness, restlessness, anxiety, or tension.
• Difficulty concentrating or lack of interest in usual activities.
• Lethargy.
• Change in appetite.
• Sleeping too much or too little.
The symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder occur repeatedly during the

premenstrual phase of the cycle, ease around the time of menstruation, and are
usually absent throughout the rest of the month.
Box 4: Case study D: What does comorbid depression and AOD use look like? Jack’s
story
Case study D: What does comorbid depression and AOD use look
like? Jack’s story
Jack, a 51-year-old man, contacted his local AOD service at the recommendation of his psychologist.
Jack had been smoking cannabis every evening with his wife since leaving university 30 years ago.
He had also been drinking increasing amounts of alcohol. Until recently, Jack estimated that he was
drinking six to eight bottles of beer and half a bottle of wine every evening. In addition, Jack drank
several gin and tonics each weekend. Despite this being Jack’s first contact with an AOD service, he had
been a consumer of mental health services for many years.
Since his early 20s, Jack has had five separate occasions where he has felt incredibly low. The
episodes have increased in intensity, and the last two involved suicidal thoughts. Due to the increasing
severity of the episodes, Jack has needed to take a significant amount of sick leave from his work as
an accountant, and it was three months before he could return to work after the last episode. He has
worked for the same company for the past 10 years.
Jack has seen a number of psychiatrists but, due to staff turnover, he has seen three separate
consultants, all of whom have taken a comprehensive history. In the first four episodes, Jack was
managed without the need for inpatient care and received medication, which was monitored by his GP.
However, at the onset of the last episode, Jack’s presentation was so severe that he agreed to go into a
local psychiatric unit. His suicidal ideation was high and he was having trouble controlling the thoughts.
Jack had also made a plan and had the means with which to kill himself.
In addition to pharmacotherapy, Jack was referred for psychotherapy for the first time. Although
psychotherapy had previously been mentioned as potentially being part of his treatment, in practice,
there appears to have been an almost complete reliance on the use of medication. However, whilst an
inpatient, Jack started seeing a psychologist who he continued to see weekly as an outpatient following
his discharge. It was during one of these sessions that Jack first revealed details of his substance use.

Box 4: Case study D: What does comorbid depression and AOD use look like? Jack’s
story (continued)
When the psychologist asked whether he had disclosed this information to any health professional
before, Jack replied that no-one had ever asked him about any illicit substance use, and said this was
because he ‘always turned up for sessions in a suit and tie and presented as a pillar of the community’.
Jack said that when he had been previously questioned about his alcohol intake, he would say, ‘I’m just
a social drinker’ and no further questions were asked regarding the nature and quantity of his drinking.
Key points:
• What are the primary concerns for Jack?
Case study D continues in Chapter B6.
What are anxiety disorders?

Feeling anxious is not necessarily problematic. Many people feel anxious because they have reason to;
for example, they may be facing economic hardship, or difficulties with housing or relationships, or may
be preparing for a presentation at work. Many people undergoing AOD treatment will experience anxiety
which can be a consequence of intoxication, withdrawal, or learning to live without using substances. This
anxiety usually reduces over time with a period of abstinence. A person’s anxiety is problematic, however,
when it is persistent, or so frequent and intense that it prevents the person from living his/her life in the
way that he/she would like.
People with anxiety disorders often experience intense feelings of fear and anxiety. Fear is an emotional
response that refers to real or perceived imminent threat, and anxiety is the anticipation of future threat.
Although fear and anxiety overlap, they are associated with differing autonomic responses. Fear is
associated with a flight or fight response, thoughts of immediate danger, and escape. Anxiety is more
commonly associated with muscle tension, hypervigilance in preparation for danger, and avoidance.
Feelings of panic are also common among people with anxiety disorders.
Panic attacks are not a specific disorder, but rather a symptom that is common amongst many of the
anxiety disorders. The symptoms of a panic attack are outlined in Table 9, although not all panic attacks
include all symptoms. Panic attacks can be terrifying. As many of the symptoms of a panic attack mirror
those of a heart attack, many people who experience them (particularly for the first time) have a genuine
fear that they are going to die. Given the overlap in symptoms (e.g., shortness of breath, chest pain and
tightness, numbness and tingling sensations), it is important that a person displaying these symptoms be
referred to a medical practitioner.

Table 9: Symptoms of a panic attack
Panic symptoms
• Sweating • Numbness or tingling sensations

• Shaking • Chills or hot flushes
• Shortness of breath • Nausea and/or vomiting
• Feeling of choking • Fear of losing control, going crazy, or dying
• Light headedness • Feelings of unreality or being detached from
• Heart palpitations, chest pain, or tightness oneself
What are the different types of anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders differ from one another in the types of objects or situations that induce fear, anxiety or
avoidance, and duration. There are a number of different types of anxiety disorders (see Table 10):
• Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).

• Panic disorder.
• Agoraphobia.
• Social anxiety disorder (SAD).
• Specific phobia.
A case study example of how comorbid anxiety and AOD use disorder may present is illustrated in Box 5. It
should be noted that OCD, PTSD, and acute stress disorder were categorised as anxiety disorders in DSM-
IV-TR, but have been moved in the DSM-5 to other sections described later in this chapter.
Table 10: Anxiety disorders
Disorder Symptoms
Generalised GAD is marked by excessive anxiety or worry for at least six months, which a
anxiety disorder person feels more often than not. The worry or anxiety is difficult to control and
(GAD) is associated with at least three of the following:
• Restlessness or edginess.
• Being easily fatigued.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Irritability.
• Muscle tension.
• Difficulty either falling or staying asleep.
These symptoms cause significant distress, or interfere with a person’s

occupational or social functioning.
Panic disorder Panic disorder involves the experiencing of unexpected panic attacks
followed by at least one month of persistent concern or worry about having
another attack, and the implications of having another attack. As a result the
person changes his/her behaviour in relation to the attacks. Panic disorder is
sometimes accompanied by agoraphobia.

Table 10: Anxiety disorders (continued)
Disorder Symptoms
Agoraphobia Agoraphobia involves marked fear or anxiety about two or more of the
following, for at least six months:
• Using public transportation (e.g., buses, trains, taxis, planes, ships).

• Being in open spaces (e.g., parking lots, bridges).
• Being in enclosed spaces (e.g., shops, movie theatres).
• Standing in line or being in a crowd
• Being outside the home alone.
The person avoids these situations because anxiety about being in places or
situations from which escape might be difficult or embarrassing, or in which
help may not be available, in the event of a panic attack. The person avoids
these places or situations, or if such situations are endured there is considerable
distress or anxiety, or the need for a companion.
Social anxiety SAD (formerly known as social phobia) is characterised by excessive anxiety or
disorder (SAD) worry about one or more social situations for at least six months, where their
actions may be analysed by others, such as meeting new people, or eating,
drinking, performing, or speaking in public. The person fears he/she will be
negatively evaluated, humiliated, embarrassed, or rejected. The social situations
almost always provoke the same feelings of distress or anxiety, and are avoided
or endured with intense fear or anxiety, which is disproportionate to the actual
threat posed by the situation. Fearing embarrassment, humiliation, or rejection is
not necessarily unusual, but a person with SAD will fear the situation to the point
where their avoidance or anxiety causes significant distress, and interferes with
their ability to function.
Specific phobia Specific phobia is characterised by excessive or unreasonable fear of a specific

object or situation causing immediate anxiety and/or panic attacks, for at
least six months. Phobic cues may include animals; blood, injury or injections;
situations involving the natural environment (such as heights or storms); or
other specific situations such as airplanes, lifts, or enclosed spaces. The person
avoids the feared places or situations, or if such situations are endured there
is considerable distress or anxiety. Having a fear is not so unusual, but when it
interferes with performing the responsibilities in a person’s life it can become
a problem. For example, having a fear of flying is not a problem until one finds
oneself planning a holiday overseas or that he/she needs to travel for work.

Box 5: Case study E: What does comorbid anxiety and AOD use look like? Alina’s story
Case study E: What does comorbid anxiety and AOD use look like?
Alina’s story
Alina, a 33-year-old medical secretary, was referred to a clinical psychologist by her GP for treatment of
her panic attacks, which were of increasing severity. The panic attacks had caused her to begin avoiding
a range of social activities and she had begun having days off work because she was unable to face the
crowded bus that she needed to take from her home to her workplace just five kilometres away.
On assessment, Alina told the psychologist of her upbringing, her schooling and family life. After school,
Alina attended a secretarial course and then began work as a medical secretary. She had been in her
current job in a hospital for six years. Alina’s background history appeared unremarkable and it seemed
that her family life, schooling, and upbringing had been happy and fulfilling. She said that she had
always been a bit nervous, although this had never really stopped her from doing anything. Alina told
the psychologist that she’d had two significant relationships, the most recent of which had lasted for
four years, ending six months ago. It appeared as though the breakup had been very upsetting to her.
There was no evidence of abuse or domestic or family violence.
The psychologist asked about any drug use and Alina said very firmly that she had never taken any
illegal drugs and seemed upset that the psychologist might have thought that this was a problem for
her. The psychologist asked about Alina’s alcohol use and she said that this was social. When asked
about quantities, Alina said that she drank three or four times a week, either a couple of beers or two to
three glasses of wine. The psychologist asked her to keep a diary.
The next week, Alina broke down in tears saying that she had been unable to complete her diary as
things were much worse. At this point, she revealed that she had not been truthful about her alcohol
intake and felt very ashamed about her dishonesty. She said that for many years she needed a nightcap
to help her sleep and, although she rarely got drunk, she felt an increasing need to drink every day after
work. Although this was usually in the company of her friends and workmates, since the breakdown
of her relationship, Alina’s drinking had become more solitary and she had begun drinking increasing
amounts of alcohol. After drinking her nightly bottle of wine (or more), she often woke up the next
morning in a state of anxiety and then began to experience periods of panic. She had lost weight over
recent months, her appetite had greatly reduced, and she had often woken in the morning unable to
remember what she had done the night before.
Alina appeared very relieved that she had been able to tell someone exactly what was happening. Her
psychologist suggested they contact her GP to discuss various treatment options.
Key points:
• What are the primary concerns for Alina?
Case study E continues in Chapter B6.

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
Previously categorised as an anxiety disorder in DSM-IV-TR, OCD now sits within the newly formed
‘obsessive-compulsive and related disorders’ category in DSM-5, which also includes body dysmorphic
disorder, hoarding disorder, trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder), and excoriation (skin picking disorder).
OCD is characterised by the presence of compulsions or obsessions (see Table 11). It is distinct from feeling
a need for neatness, cleanliness, or order (which is sometimes referred to as ‘obsessive-compulsive’ or
‘OCD’). OCD is often long-lasting and debilitating with people feeling compelled to prevent disasters
befalling loved ones or alleviate anxiety by performing rituals which cause significant distress.
Obsessions are recurring, persisting thoughts, urges, or images that are intrusive or unwanted. Examples of
obsessions include persistent fears of contamination, thinking that he/she is to blame for something, or an
overwhelming need to do things perfectly. Compulsions are repetitive mental or physical acts that a person
feels driven to perform, in response to an obsession or rules that must be applied. Examples of compulsive
behaviours include the need to repeatedly wash one’s hands due to the fear of contamination, check that
things have been done (e.g., whether doors or windows have been locked, appliances switched off), or
avoid certain objects and situations (e.g., holes in the road, cracks or lines in the pavement). A case study
example of how comorbid OCD and AOD use disorder may present is illustrated in Box 6.
Table 11: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
OCD is characterised by the presence of time-consuming (at least one hour per day) obsessions
or compulsions (or both), which are performed in order to prevent or reduce anxiety or distress, or
prevent a dreaded situation. However, the behaviours are not realistically connected with what they
are designed to prevent, or are excessive (for example, symmetrically ordering items so as to prevent
harm coming to a loved one). The behaviours or mental acts cause significant distress and, as the
performance of these rituals is time-consuming, they can significantly interfere with the person’s social
and occupational functioning.
Box 6: Case study F: What does comorbid OCD and AOD use look like? Jenny’s story
Case study F: What does comorbid OCD and AOD use look like?
Jenny’s story
Jenny is a 31-year-old self-employed jewellery designer, who lives at home with her parents. She was
brought by ambulance to the emergency department of her local hospital after vomiting large amounts
of blood. Jenny was diagnosed with alcoholic gastritis (stomach inflammation and erosion due to
alcohol intake), received a blood transfusion and was kept in hospital for several days. While she was in
hospital, she was visited by an AOD consult liaison nurse.
Jenny broke down in tears and told the nurse that her GP had prescribed her some Xanax to help her
manage her obsessive thoughts and panic attacks. She said that since her early 20s she had been
unable to stop herself ritualistically cleaning and checking. She had also been plagued by obsessive
ruminations that she might harm other people, or that she might perpetrate sexual abuse on children.
These thoughts had led to Jenny avoiding public places as much as possible, and made her highly
anxious around children.

Box 6: Case study F: What does comorbid OCD and AOD use look like? Jenny’s story
(continued)
Jenny told the liaison that although her GP had referred her to a psychologist, she had been unable to
travel to the appointment because of her anxiety and avoidance. She had also been consumed with
irrational and obsessional fears that she might somehow harm the psychologist during the consultation,
and went back to see her GP. Over the next several years, Jenny began experiencing panic attacks, for
which her GP continued to prescribe Xanax.
Although Jenny’s GP had told her the Xanax was for short-term use, due to the severity of the panic
attacks, her GP increased the dose. Jenny told the liaison nurse that she found taking Xanax in the
evening and at night helped her to sleep and temporarily suppressed her obsessive thoughts. However,
eventually her GP refused to prescribe Jenny any more Xanax, and suggested a program of tapering the
medication down before discontinuing. Jenny told the liaison nurse that she was not able to follow this
program, and had found a regular supply of Xanax through the internet, although this often left her with
hangover-type symptoms. These were compounded by the fact that Jenny had begun to supplement
Xanax with increasing amounts of alcohol, and was drinking a bottle of wine daily.
Up until her hospitalisation, Jenny had been conducting her business from home, but her use of
benzodiazepines and alcohol had made her feel tired for most of the day, and she had problems
fulfilling orders, eventually losing a number of clients. Although her distressing ruminations had been
somewhat supressed by her use of benzodiazepines and alcohol, they gradually began to lose their
effectiveness and Jenny became increasingly anxious.
Key points:
• What are the primary concerns for Jenny?
Case study F continues in Chapter B6.
What are trauma-related disorders?

Traumatic events refer to situations in which a person experiences, witnesses, or is confronted with a
situation in which they fear for their own or another’s safety. A trauma may be a one-off event or it may be
prolonged, having occurred over a period of time. Examples of traumatic events include (but are not limited
to) combat exposure, being in a place of war, experiencing a natural disaster (e.g., fire, flood), actual or
threatened physical or sexual assault, being in a life-threatening accident, being kidnapped, taken hostage,
or threatened with a weapon, or witnessing any of these events. Symptoms may be especially long-lasting
when the trauma is interpersonal and intentional (e.g., torture, sexual violence).
Reactions following exposure to a traumatic event are varied, and can include anxiety or fear-based
symptoms, aggression or anger-based symptoms, or dissociative symptoms. Although emotional and
behavioural disturbances following a traumatic event are to be expected, for some people the reaction
to the event can result in prolonged and significant distress, as well as impaired social and occupational
functioning.

What are the different types of trauma-related disorders?
There are two main trauma-related disorders:
• Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

• Acute stress disorder.
These disorders were previously classified as anxiety disorders in DSM-IV-TR, but have formed their own
category in the DSM-5, which also includes other stressor-related disorders. It should be noted that the
DSM-5 does not require a person to have experienced a sense of fear, helplessness, or horror at the time
of the traumatic event, in order to meet criteria for either of these disorders, as was the case in DSM-IV-TR.
The structure of the criteria has also changed (there are now four symptom clusters instead of three) and
three new symptoms have been added. A summary of the DSM-5 criteria are provided in Table 12; however,
readers are encouraged to refer to DSM-5 for a more detailed explanation of the changes made between
editions. A case study example of how comorbid PTSD and AOD use disorder may present is illustrated in
Box 7.
Table 12: Trauma-related disorders
Disorder Symptoms
Post traumatic PTSD is a disorder that may develop after a person has experienced a traumatic
stress disorder event during which the individual perceived his/her own (or someone else’s) life
(PTSD) or physical integrity to be at risk.
Following the event, for at least one month, the person experiences some of the
following symptoms:
• Re-experiencing: Spontaneously re-experiencing the event in the form

of unwanted and intrusive memories, recurrent dreams or nightmares, or
‘flashbacks’.
• Avoidance: Avoiding memories, thoughts, feelings, or external reminders of
the event (e.g., people, places or activities).
• Negative cognitions and mood: Feeling a distorted sense of blame of self or
others, feeling detached from others or less interest in activities, or inability
to remember key aspects of the event.
• Arousal: Aggressive, reckless, self-destructive behaviour, sleep disturbances,
hypervigilance, or increased startle response.
These symptoms may begin immediately after the traumatic event, or they may
appear days, weeks, months, or years after the trauma occurred.
Acute stress Acute stress disorder is similar to PTSD but lasts for less than one month
disorder following exposure to a traumatic event.

Box 7: Case study G: What does comorbid PTSD and AOD use look like? Emily’s story
Case study G: What does comorbid PTSD and AOD use look like?
Emily’s story
Emily is a 42-year-old woman, presenting to her local AOD service for her tenth admission for inpatient
detoxification from heroin, alcohol, and cannabis. Emily has been using heroin since she was 17 years
old. Although heroin has always been her main drug of concern, Emily also drinks heavily and smokes
cannabis daily, particularly on days when she cannot obtain heroin. She occasionally used stimulant
drugs but didn’t particularly like the effect.
In addition to her nine previous attempts at inpatient detoxification, Emily has been on a methadone
program on three occasions. The first time, she stayed on methadone for 10 years before being
imprisoned for her involvement in a break and enter. Emily stayed clean for the duration of her sentence,
but returned to use soon after she was released. Emily had also tried going cold turkey, and detoxing by
herself numerous times, with the help of non-prescribed benzodiazepines and buprenorphine - none of
which were successful. Her longest period of abstinence since she started using was two years after the
birth of her first child, who is now 16 years old. Emily has four children, ranging in age from 4–16 years,
all of whom are in foster care. Emily relies on the disability support pension to pay the rent towards her
Department of Housing flat, which she shares with her current boyfriend. She has never been able to
hold down a job for more than a few weeks.
Emily is highly motivated to stop using all drugs so that she may have more contact with her children
and hopefully one day have them returned to her custody. Emily was coping with withdrawal relatively
well until one night when a male client accidently walked into her room when trying to find the
bathroom. Emily was awoken by the feeling that someone was watching her and could hear heavy
breathing. His shadowed appearance in the half-light caused her to become hysterical and she lashed
out violently. Staff quickly arrived and calmed Emily and the male client who was swearing at her and
calling her a ‘crazy bitch’. Emily was given a sedative to help her sleep and permitted to sleep with the
lights on that evening.
The following morning, the incident was reported during staff handover. The psychologist starting her
shift identified seeing Emily as a priority. The psychologist told Emily that she had heard about what
happened last night and asked whether she was okay. Emily was still a little shaken but said that she
was okay now, she was just startled and overreacted. She explained that it had reminded her of a time
when one of her previous boyfriends had come into their bedroom one night and started beating her.
The psychologist asked whether she was hurt at the time, to which Emily replied that she required
surgery for internal injuries and was hospitalised. Emily appeared reluctant to talk about it. She said
that she tried not to think about it and avoided any possibility of running into him. Despite her efforts
to forget about it, she often had bad dreams, trouble sleeping, and had to take large amounts of
benzodiazepines to sleep.
After talking with Emily, the psychologist made a time to talk with her some more later in the day. During
this session, the psychologist asked more questions about how Emily felt after she was beaten and how
this had affected her. The psychologist was mindful of reassuring Emily that she did nothing to deserve
being treated this way, and her reactions were completely normal. Emily was shaking as she described
the incident in more detail, and later confided that she was also raped during this attack – something
that she had not previously told anyone.

Box 7: Case study G: What does comorbid PTSD and AOD use look like? Emily’s story
(continued)
Key points:
• What are the primary concerns for Emily?
Case study G continues in Chapter B6.
What are feeding and eating disorders (ED)?

The predominant feature of ED is a persistent disturbance in eating or eating-related behaviours that
impacts on food intake and impairs physical health or psychosocial functioning (see Table 13). Some
people with ED describe symptoms similar to those associated with AOD use, such as craving and patterns
of compulsive use. It is thought this may in part be due to the shared neural pathways, including those
involved in self-control and reward, however, in general the shared features are not well understood [24].
What are the different types of ED?

There are several types of ED, four main types are included here (see Table 13):
• Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.

• Anorexia nervosa.
• Bulimia nervosa.
• Binge eating disorder.
A case study example of how comorbid ED and AOD use disorder may present is illustrated in Box 8.
Table 13: Feeding and eating disorders (ED)
Disorder Symptoms
Avoidant/ Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder is characterised by disturbances in

restrictive food eating, due to a lack of interest, or a concern about the negative consequences
intake disorder of eating. This is accompanied by significant weight loss, significant nutritional
deficiency, dependence on oral nutritional supplements, and impaired
psychosocial functioning.
Anorexia There are three primary features of anorexia nervosa:

nervosa
• Persistent restriction of energy intake.
• Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat.
• Disturbance in self-perceived weight or shape.
Maintained body weight is below minimally normal for age, sex, development,
and physical health.

Table 13: Feeding and eating disorders (continued)
Disorder Symptoms
Bulimia nervosa Bulimia nervosa is characterised by three essential features, which must occur
on average at least once a week for three months:
• Recurrent episodes of binge eating (e.g., eating a much larger amount

of food in less than two hours than most people would eat under similar
circumstances).
• Recurrent inappropriate behaviours that attempt to prevent or compensate
for weight gain (e.g., vomiting, use of laxatives, excessive exercise).
• Distorted self-image that is unduly influenced by body shape or weight.
People with bulimia nervosa are typically ashamed of their eating problems and
attempt to hide their symptoms, and may be within a normal weight range.
Binge eating The predominant feature of binge eating disorder is recurrent episodes of binge
disorder eating that occur at least once a week for three months. The episodes of binge
eating are accompanied by a sense of lack of control, where the person feels
that once they have started eating, they are unable to stop, and cause significant
distress to the person.
Box 8: Case study H: What does comorbid ED and AOD use look like? Charlotte’s story
Case study H: Identifying co-occurring ED and AOD use:

Charlotte’s story
Charlotte is a 19-year-old university student who lives at home with her parents. Her GP referred her to
the local AOD service after she requested several prescriptions for Valium and sleeping pills. Charlotte’s
GP made the referral as she had provided several prescriptions for Charlotte in the past few months,
who said that she needed Valium to help her sleep.
Charlotte was not planning on following up the referral and attending the AOD service, but her mother
found her referral and forced her to go, accompanying her to the appointment. She had also been
concerned about Charlotte, as she noticed that Charlotte had been increasingly jittery, agitated, and
irritable, often snapping at her for no reason.
On assessment, Charlotte was uncommunicative, slumped in her chair and answered questions
monosyllabically. Charlotte’s mother attempted to fill in the gaps. When the AOD worker continued the
assessment privately, Charlotte told her to ‘butt out’, and mind her own business. When the AOD worker
asked about Charlotte’s use of Valium, she told her that she needed it to help her to calm down and
sleep. The AOD worker noted that Charlotte was visibly jittery, was bouncing her legs, and fidgeting.
When asked about her noticeable agitation, Charlotte admitted that she had been taking stimulants
every day, which she said were to help with her university work.
The AOD worker conducted some MI, and Charlotte agreed to come back and talk to the AOD worker.

Box 8: Case study H: What does comorbid ED and AOD use look like? Charlotte’s story
(continued)
Key points:
• What are the primary concerns for Charlotte?
• Where to next?
Case study H continued in Chapter B6.
What are personality disorders?

Personality traits refer to a person’s individual patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. These patterns of
thinking and behaving usually begin in childhood and continue through to adulthood. Our personality traits
make us who we are – they are what make each of us unique. However, personality traits can be a problem
when they cause problems with relationships, education or employment, and sometimes with the law. If
patterns of thinking, feeling, or behaving are creating lots of problems in many areas of a person’s life, he/
she may have a personality disorder [115].
There is a wide range of personality disorders (see Table 14). All of them involve pervasive patterns of
thinking and behaving, which means that the patterns exist in every area of a person’s life (i.e., work, study,
home, leisure, and so on). The most significant feature of personality disorders is their negative effect
on personal relationships. A person with an untreated personality disorder often has difficulty forming
long-term, meaningful, and rewarding relationships with others. Individuals with a personality disorder
are generally not upset by their own thoughts and behaviours, but may become distressed by the
consequences of their behaviours [115].
AOD use disorders may cause fluctuating symptoms that mimic the symptoms of personality disorders
(e.g., impulsivity, dysphoria, aggressiveness and self-destructiveness, relationship problems, work
dysfunction, engaging in illegal activity, and dysregulated emotions and behaviour) making it difficult to
determine whether a person has a personality disorder.
What are the different types of personality disorders?

Based on their similarities, personality disorders are grouped into three clusters (see Table 14):
• Cluster A: Individuals with these personality disorders often appear to be odd or eccentric. They
have significant impairment but infrequently seek out help. Cluster A includes paranoid, schizoid, and
schizotypal personality disorders.
• Cluster B: Individuals with these personality disorders tend to be dramatic, emotional, and erratic.
Generally they experience significant impairment and they are of considerable concern to health care
providers. Of all the personality disorders, people with Cluster B disorders are the ones that most
commonly present to services. Cluster B includes antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic
personality disorders.
• Cluster C: Individuals with these personality disorders tend to be anxious and fearful and are generally
less impaired than those with Cluster B personality disorders. Cluster C includes avoidant, dependent,
and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.
Among those with AOD use disorders, two Cluster B personality disorders, ASPD and BPD, are most
prevalent and tend to impact most upon treatment [116-118]. These are discussed in turn.

Table 14: Personality disorders
CLUSTER A
Paranoid personality disorder is characterised by a pattern of distrust and suspiciousness such that
others’ motives are interpreted as malevolent.
Schizoid personality disorder is characterised by a pattern of detachment from social relationships

and a restricted range of emotional expression.
Schizotypal personality disorder is characterised by a pattern of acute discomfort in close

relationships, cognitive or perceptual distortions, and eccentricities of behaviour.
CLUSTER B
Antisocial personality disorder (APSD) is characterised by a pattern of disregard for and violation of
the rights of others. Individuals with this personality disorder are typically aggressive, unlawful and
impulsive.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterised by a pattern of instability in interpersonal

relationships, self-image, and feeling states, with marked impulsivity and chaos.
Histrionic personality disorder is characterised by a pattern of excessive emotionality including being

dramatic, attention-seeking, and seductive.
Narcissistic personality disorder is characterised by a pattern of grandiosity and self-centredness and

thus lacking empathy for others.
CLUSTER C
Avoidant personality disorder is characterised by a pattern of social inhibition with feelings of

inadequacy and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation. Individuals tend to be needy but scared of
relationships. There is some debate that this is a form of long-term social phobia.
Dependent personality disorder is characterised by a pattern of submissive and clinging behaviour

related to an excessive need to be taken care of. These individuals tend to be indecisive and fear
abandonment.
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is characterised by a pattern of preoccupation with

orderliness, perfectionism, and control; thus, these individuals are rigid and inefficient.
Antisocial personality disorder (APSD)
The main feature of ASPD (previously known as ‘psychopathy’ or ‘sociopathy’) is a pattern of complete
disregard for the rights of others. Deceit and manipulation are central features of this disorder. ASPD begins
in childhood or early adulthood and continues into adulthood. For a diagnosis of ASPD to be made, the
individual must be at least 18 years old, and have had a history of some symptoms of ‘conduct disorder’
before age 15. The behaviours characteristic of conduct disorder fall into the following characteristics:
aggression to people and animals, destruction of property, deceitfulness or theft, and serious violation of
rules. This pattern of antisocial behaviour then continues into adulthood.

The main characteristics of ASPD are:
• Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviour. Individuals with ASPD may
repeatedly be involved in actions that are grounds for arrest (e.g., destroying property, harassing
others, stealing, or pursuing illegal occupations). They tend to have disregard for the wishes, rights, and
feelings of others.
• Being deceptive and manipulative in order to gain personal profit or pleasure (e.g., to obtain money, sex,
or power). Individuals with ASPD may repeatedly lie or con others.
• Reckless disregard for their own or other’s safety (e.g., recurrent speeding, driving while intoxicated,
multiple accidents, or high-risk sex).
• A tendency for impulsive behaviour due to a failure to plan ahead. Decisions may be made on the spur
of the moment, without forethought, and without consideration of the consequences for themselves or
others. This may lead to sudden changes of jobs, residences, or relationships.
• Irritability and aggression; repeated involvement in physical fights or assaults.
• Consistent and extreme irresponsibility. Behaviour that is indicative of this may include irresponsible
work behaviour; for example, long periods of unemployment despite several job opportunities,
abandonment of jobs without a plan for getting another, or repeated unexplained absences from work.
Financial irresponsibility may include acts such as defaulting on debts and failing to provide child
support.
• The absence of remorse for the consequences of their actions. Individuals with ASPD tend to provide
superficial excuses for having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from someone. They may blame the victims
of their actions for being foolish, helpless, or deserving their fate. They generally fail to correct their
wrongdoings, or to apologise or show remorse for their behaviour.
A case study example of how comorbid ASPD and AOD use disorder may present is illustrated in Box 9.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
BPD is marked by persistent patterns of instability in relationships, mood, and self-image. BPD is also
characterised by marked impulsivity, particularly in relation to behaviours that are self-damaging. The main
characteristics of BPD include:
• Extreme efforts to avoid rejection or abandonment (these threats of rejection may be real or imagined).
• A pattern of unstable and intense relationships, whereby the person alternates between idealising a
person and completely devaluing him/her.
• Unstable self-image or sense of self (e.g., the individual may suddenly change his/her goals or values
in life, jobs or career aspirations, sexual identity, friends).
• Impulsivity, particularly in relation to behaviours that are self-damaging (e.g., spending money
irresponsibly, binge eating, substance abuse, unsafe sex, and reckless driving).
• Recurrent suicidal behaviour, gestures, threats, or self-mutilating behaviour (e.g., cutting or burning) are
also common.
• Unstable mood (e.g., intense dysphoria, irritability, or anger usually lasting only a few hours).
• Chronic feelings of emptiness.
• Inappropriate intense anger or difficulty controlling anger.
• Transient, stress-related paranoid thoughts or severe dissociative symptoms (i.e., where the person
temporarily loses touch with where he/she is in time and/or space).

Box 9: Case study I: What does comorbid ASPD and AOD use look like? Luke’s story
Case Study I: What does comorbid ASPD and AOD use look like?
Luke’s story
Luke is a 28-year-old man who was referred into AOD treatment from his local court as part of a
diversionary program. Luke was assessed on the day of his court appearance, where he was to face
charges for burglary. Luke was assigned to AOD treatment through the referral program, and his
burglary charges adjourned pending his involvement in the program. Luke had a history of heroin
use dating back at least 10 years. He had been on methadone a number of times in the past, but his
compliance was always short lived.
Luke had an abusive stepfather and at times, experienced abuse from his mother. He spent some time
in foster care before being returned to his mother when he was around 10 years old. Luke began sniffing
solvents and smoking cannabis, frequently wagged school before leaving school early (during year 9),
and worked casually on building sites. He joined a boxing club and later indicated that he would often
look for people to fight on nights out, and that he enjoyed inflicting injury on others. He told his therapist
that he often acted impulsively, destroying public property, and getting into fights.
Over the past 10 years, Luke had been in two long-term relationships, both with women who also used
heroin. During these relationships, Luke was sometimes violent towards his partner, but showed little
remorse. Following the breakup of his latest relationship, Luke had been sleeping in shelters and ‘couch
surfing’ at friends’ houses. He continued to have sporadic part-time work in the building industry but
much of his income was derived from shoplifting and opportunistic theft of mobile phones, wallets, and
so on
Key points:
• Whatare the primary concerns for Luke?
Case study I continues in Chapter B6.
What are substance-induced disorders?

Substance-induced disorders are disorders that occur as a direct physiological consequence of AOD
intoxication or withdrawal. For a diagnosis of a substance-induced disorder to be made, symptoms of the
disorder must only be present following intoxication or withdrawal. If the person displays symptoms of the
disorder in the absence of intoxication or withdrawal, it is possible that they have an independent mental
health disorder. Symptoms of substance-induced disorders tend to reduce over time with a period of
abstinence [119].
Symptoms of mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders may all be induced as a result of AOD use or
withdrawal. For example, alcohol use and withdrawal can induce symptoms of depression or anxiety [29];
manic symptoms can be induced by intoxication with stimulants, steroids, or hallucinogens; and psychotic
symptoms can be induced by withdrawal from alcohol, or intoxication with amphetamines, cocaine,
cannabis, LSD, or PCP [32]. Other disorders that may result from AOD use include substance-induced
delirium, amnestic disorder, dementia, sexual dysfunction, and sleep disorder.

Substance-induced psychotic disorder
It is often extremely difficult to distinguish substance-induced psychosis from other psychotic disorders.
With substance-induced psychosis, symptoms (usually delusions and/or hallucinations) tend to appear
quickly and last a relatively short time, from hours to days, until the effects of the drug wear off. For some,
however, psychosis can persist for days, weeks, months, or longer [34]. It is possible that these individuals
were already at risk for developing a psychotic disorder which has been triggered by substance use [120].
Visual hallucinations are generally more common in substance withdrawal and intoxication than in primary
psychotic disorders [121]. Stimulant intoxication, in particular, is more commonly associated with tactile
hallucinations, where the patient experiences a physical sensation that they interpret as having bugs under
the skin. These are often referred to as ‘ice bugs’ or ‘cocaine bugs’. Tactile hallucinations can also occur in
alcohol withdrawal; however, auditory and visual hallucinations are more common [121].
Those with stimulant psychosis will sometimes be more agitated, hostile, energetic and physically strong,
more challenging to contain in a safe environment, and more difficult to calm with sedating or psychiatric
medication, than people with psychosis not related to the use of stimulants [122, 123]. Other features that
differentiate substance-induced psychosis from schizophrenia include higher likelihood of polysubstance
dependence, a forensic history, ASPD, trauma history, and a lack of negative and cognitive symptoms with
a return to normal inter-episode functioning during periods of abstinence [122]. A case study example of
how substance-induced psychosis may present is illustrated in Box 10.
It is important to differentiate between symptoms of psychosis and delirium. Delirium presents as a

disturbance of consciousness and cognition that represents a significant change from the person’s
previous level of functioning. The person has a reduced awareness of his/her surroundings, his/her
attention wanders, questions often have to be repeated, he/she has difficulty concentrating, and it may
be difficult to engage him/her in conversation. Changes in cognition may include short-term memory
impairment, disorientation (in regards to time or place), and language disturbance (e.g., difficulty finding
words, naming objects, writing). Perceptual disturbances (e.g., hallucinations) may also occur. Delirium
develops over a short period of time (usually hours to days) and tends to fluctuate during the course of
the day. For example, a person may be coherent and co-operative in the morning but in the afternoon may
be disruptive and wanting to go home to a partner who died years ago. The identification of substance-
induced delirium is particularly important for clients undergoing alcohol withdrawal as delirium may
progress to delirium tremens, a serious complication that may result in death [124].
Box 10: Case study J: What does substance-induced psychosis look like? James’ story
Case Study J: What does substance-induced psychosis look like?

James’ story
James is a 28-year-old graphic designer who was brought by ambulance to Emergency. He and his
girlfriend had been on holiday to celebrate their two-year anniversary, and celebrated the occasion by
getting new tattoos. After leaving the tattoo studio, James and his girlfriend had a few drinks at a nearby
pub and then walked to the beach where they both smoked some cones.
Over the next hour, James’s behaviour became increasingly erratic: he began to believe that the
symbols in his new tattoo had hidden meaning and power, that it was trying to control him, and that the
tattoo artist was having an affair with his girlfriend. When they arrived back at their hotel, James went
through his girlfriend’s bags and searched her phone, looking for evidence of her affair. He threatened
to kill himself and attempted to jump out of the window. His girlfriend managed to calm James down
and convinced him to go to sleep, believing that the episode would resolve and he would sleep it off.

Box 10: Case study J: What does substance-induced psychosis look like? James’ story
(continued)
The next morning, however, James appeared to be both paranoid and delusional, again threatening to
jump out the window. He also threatened to kill his girlfriend the next time she was asleep. Frightened,
she rang for an ambulance, and James was taken to Emergency, and later admitted to an acute
inpatient psychiatric unit.
James had been smoking cannabis on and off from the age of 18, daily for the past five years. He
maintained that he had not used any other illicit substances, and rarely drank alcohol. In the past year,
James has been hospitalised twice for symptoms of mania and once for suicidal ideation. He was
prescribed lithium, and had been functioning well for the past three months. His father had a bipolar
disorder and his paternal grandfather committed suicide.
After two days of hospitalisation, James realised that his tattoo did not have any hidden messages or
power over him, and his girlfriend wasn’t cheating on him. The following day, he recognised that his
paranoia was the result of cannabis intoxication, and was discharged with an appointment to see his
psychiatrist.
Key points:
• Symptoms of psychosis emerged within hours of AOD use, which were followed by suicidal and
homicidal ideation. Following AOD withdrawal, the psychotic symptoms dissipated within a few
days, and James regained insight into the situation.
• This pattern of symptoms corresponds with DSM-5 substance-induced psychotic disorder, which
requires delusions or hallucinations that develop during or soon after substance intoxication or
withdrawal. The fact that James’s symptoms resolved within three days further supports a cannabis-
induced psychotic disorder – this would not be the case for an independent psychotic disorder.
Adapted from American Psychiatric Association [125].

Part B: Responding to comorbidity
Responding to
comorbidity
Part B:
B. Responding
to comorbidity
This section of the Guidelines aims to provide workers with a range of options for managing and treating
mental health symptoms within a holistic health care approach that involves multiple services and
integrated care coordination. Mental health symptoms can be identified through screening and assessment
processes (see Chapter B2), or they may arise spontaneously during the client’s treatment. There is a
distinction between the management of comorbid mental health conditions and their treatment. The goal
of management is to allow AOD treatment to continue without mental health symptoms disrupting the
treatment process, and to retain clients in treatment who might otherwise discontinue such treatment.
Without further treatment, these techniques on their own may not provide long-term relief from symptoms;
however, they may allow the client’s AOD use to be treated in the interim. Both the management and
treatment of specific comorbid disorders are discussed in Chapter B6.
It is essential to consider the whole person and accept that one approach is not necessarily going to work
for all clients. Different clients present with unique psychological and sociodemographic backgrounds
and it is important to take these factors into consideration when responding to comorbidity. It is also
critical to remember that the process of assessments, screenings, monitoring, cooperation, collaboration,
and partnerships are indeed processes, which should be ongoing throughout all stages of management
and treatment. Figure 8 illustrates a pathway through care model, highlighting the continuing stages of
reassessment, monitoring, and client involvement.
B: Responding to comorbidity 51
Figure 8: Pathway through care model
Person presents with possible mental health disorder
Does the client have a

balanced lifestyle (see B1)?
Do they smoke, exercise,
eat, and sleep well?
Screening and
assessment (see
B2), including risk
assessment (B3)
Consider the addition of
an adjunctive therapy, Involvement of other
(i.e., psychological or agencies and/or
pharmacological, as services to deliver
appropriate) (see B5 & coordinated care to
B6) the client (see B7)
If no
Reassess/monitor:
With the client, consider In partnership with
Is there an adequate the addition of e-health
response to the client, consider
interventions, physical
treatment? activity, complementary evidence-based
and alternative therapies, if treatments (see B5 &
appropriate (see B5) B6)
If Yes
Consider increasing
Reassess/monitor:
the intensity If no
of therapy (i.e., Is there an adequate
psychological or response to
pharmacological, as treatment?
appropriate)
If yes, consider
continuation of therapy
and relapse prevention
(see B4)
52 B: Responding to comorbidity
B1
B1: Holistic
Section
Heading
health care
Goes here
B1: Holistic
health care
Key Points
• People with comorbid AOD and mental health conditions are at
increased risk of physical health problems, with higher mortality
rates than the general population.
• Those with comorbidity are at particular risk of developing CVD,
due to high rates of smoking, overweight and obesity, diabetes,
poor diet, physical inactivity, high alcohol consumption, and the use
of some antipsychotic medications.
• Recent research has highlighted the need for interventions that
focus on overall wellbeing, including reducing smoking, improving
dietary habits, increasing physical activity, and sleep patterns.
• Crucial to this approach is the inclusion of multiple service
providers who reflect the complex needs of clients, and are able to
deliver the right care, to the right person, at the right time.
The co-occurrence of poor physical and mental health has been well documented in recent years, with
greater attention paid to the role that mental health plays in increasing vulnerability to physical disability
and poorer outcomes [126-130]. Consumers of mental health services have more than double the mortality
rate than the general population [126], especially due to CVD [131].
Risk factors for CVD are prominent among people with AOD and mental health conditions [132]. These
include high rates of smoking [133-135], overweight and obesity [136-138], diabetes [127], poor diet [131,
139, 140], physical inactivity [141-143], excessive alcohol consumption [144], and use of some antipsychotic
medication [130].
Furthermore, these risk factors also place individuals at risk for metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome
is the presence of three or more of the following risk factors [145]:

• Elevated waist circumference (or central obesity).
• Raised triglycerides.
• Increased blood pressure.
• Increased glucose.
• Lowered high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
One third of Australians are currently diagnosed with metabolic syndrome [146], which has been found
to be directly affected by sleep, physical activity, and dietary behaviours [147, 148]. Research has found
that people with mental health disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD, BPD)
should be considered a high-risk group for metabolic syndrome and associated morbidity and mortality,
particularly those prescribed antipsychotics [149-152].
What is a holistic health care framework?

Given the multitude of risk factors for premature mortality and poor physical health among those with
AOD and mental health conditions, recent research has highlighted the need for interventions that focus
on overall wellbeing. There has been some reluctance on the part of service providers to address multiple
health behaviours due to the belief that making too many lifestyle changes will undermine a person’s
recovery from AOD use, which has been particularly evident in relation to efforts to introduce smoking
cessation [153]. However, this view is not sustained by the evidence which supports the use of multiple
health behavioural changes [154, 155]. For example, a meta-analysis of smoking cessation interventions
found that addressing smoking during AOD treatment actually enhanced long-term AOD treatment
outcomes [156]. AOD service providers have a significant opportunity to address multiple risk behaviours of
comorbid clients, and help reduce the risk factors and incidence of chronic disease. There are four primary
behavioural risk factors with which AOD workers should be familiar:
• Smoking.
• Diet.
• Physical activity.
• Sleep.
Smoking
Smoking rates among those attending AOD treatment are substantial, ranging between 74-98% [157].
People with AOD and mental health conditions also smoke substantially more cigarettes per day, and
are more likely to be nicotine dependent, than the general population [158]. Despite tobacco accounting
for the highest rate of mortality among people with AOD and mental health conditions, the focus of
treatment has primarily centred on substances other than tobacco [159]. This reluctance to address
smoking by AOD workers may be due to the belief that doing so might exacerbate other AOD use [155],
and increase psychiatric symptoms and aggression [160, 161]. However, this view is not supported by the
evidence, which indicates no adverse outcomes on symptoms of psychosis [162]. On the contrary, smoking
cessation is associated with improvements in depression [163]. Two recent Cochrane reviews have been
conducted to examine the evidence pertaining to the treatment of nicotine dependence in schizophrenia
[164] and depression [165]. The findings indicate that rates of smoking abstinence were increased by the
use of bupropion among people with schizophrenia, without threat to their mental health [164], and by
the inclusion of a psychosocial mood management component to standard smoking cessation treatment
among those with current and past depression [165].
Nicotine is known to interact with the metabolism of some medications and drugs. Changes in how some
medications are metabolised (particularly clozapine and olanzapine) can occur following the cessation of
smoking or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) [166, 167]. If AOD clients are withdrawing from nicotine, they
54 B1: Holistic health care

should be made aware of the potential for changes in metabolism, and increased absorption of caffeine
(i.e., in coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks), which can lead to restlessness and lack of sleep [168].
NRT can be used to minimise the physiological symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, and is available in
patches, gum, inhalers, lozenges, and microtabs [169]. NRT is not recommended without a clinical
assessment, or as first line of treatment for AOD clients who [168]:
• Are pregnant or likely to become pregnant.

• Are currently breastfeeding.
• Have significant cardiac or active vascular disease.
• Have nicotine sensitivities or allergies.
Clinicians managing clients on NRT should regularly monitor clients’ withdrawal so as to tailor the NRT
dose, and address triggers, cravings, and stress through accompanying psychosocial interventions.
There have been several trials of healthy lifestyles interventions among people with mental health
disorders, all of which have included a smoking component. Baker and colleagues [170] conducted a pilot
trial to reduce CVD risk in 43 people with acute psychotic disorder, using MI with cognitive behavioural
therapy (CBT), accompanied with NRT. The study found significant reductions in CVD risk and smoking, and
participants indicated high levels of satisfaction with the program.
More recently, Baker and colleagues [171] provided up to 24-weeks supply of NRT to smokers with stable
psychotic disorder. This was accompanied by feedback provided to each participant on their smoking
and levels of dependence, and a case formulation developed with participants, focusing on individual risk
factors for CVD and unhealthy behaviours, utilising a MI approach and CBT approaches. The study found
that both NRT plus a telephone based intervention for smoking cessation (focused on monitoring smoking
and discussing CVD risk factors) and NRT plus an intensive face-to-face Healthy Lifestyles intervention
were effective in reducing smoking among people with severe mental health disorders.
Kelly and colleagues [153] are currently conducting the first study to address multiple CVD risk factors
within an AOD treatment setting, which will include health-focused psychoeducation, goal setting,
monitoring, MI, and CBT to help clients reduce smoking, increase fruit and vegetable intake, and increase
levels of physical activity.
Despite evidence to suggest that smoking can be effectively addressed in clients of AOD and mental
health services, there have been inconsistencies with the implementation of smoking interventions in AOD
agencies. A greater number of AOD staff smoke in comparison to the general population, and sometimes
smoke with clients in order to promote a therapeutic relationship [172]. Negative attitudes among treatment
staff have been acknowledged as potential barriers to effectively targeting nicotine dependence [173], with
staff who smoke themselves less likely to initiate smoking cessation among clients, and be less successful
when they do [174-176].
Diet
Clients of AOD treatment services tend to have poor dietary habits, electing to eat nutrient-poor, energy-
dense food, often to excess [143]. It is common for those accessing AOD treatment to report unhealthy
eating patterns, weight gain, and obesity, which suggests that energy-dense diets are sometimes used
to substitute AOD during recovery [136, 177]. Programs targeting the preparation of nutritional food can
produce lasting weight loss among people with mental health conditions [178], and AOD workers can assist
by encouraging adherence to Australian dietary guidelines (see Figure 9). Specifically, clients should be
encouraged to [171]:

• Eat a variety of foods that are high in fibre and low in fat.
• Eat seven or more fruits and vegetables per day.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Make healthy food choices and eat regularly.
• Manage healthy eating patterns (e.g., ensuring that breakfast is eaten every day, and eating patterns
are maintained on weekends and weekdays).
Figure 9: Australian dietary guidelines
Enjoy a variety of nutritious

foods from these five food Grain foods,
groups every day. mostly whole
grains high Vegetable and beans
Drink plenty of water. fibre
Fruit
Lean meats, Milk,
poultry, fish, yoghurt,
eggs, tofu, cheese,
nuts, seeds, reduced fat
beans
Adapted from the NHMRC [179].

AOD workers may also find the spending structure displayed in Table 15 useful. Developed under the
Foodcents program to promote healthy eating on a limited budget, the spending structure is designed to
be utilised alongside the Australian Government Department of Health’s healthy eating guidelines [180]. It is
recommended that 60% of food budget is allocated to food from the ‘eat most’ group, and 10% to the ‘eat
least’ group.
Table 15: Food spending structure guide
Category Examples Recommended spending
Eat most Bread, cereals, rice, pasta, flour, fruit, 60% of budget
vegetables, baked beans, lentils
Eat moderately Lean meat, chicken, fish, eggs, nuts, 30% of budget
milk, cheese, yoghurt
Eat least Butter, oil, sugar, biscuits, cake, 10% of budget

chocolate, chips, soft drink, coffee,
salad dressing, sauce
Source: Western Australian Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies [181], Foodcents [180].

Physical activity
Although the physical and psychological benefits of physical exercise have been well established, it
is estimated that a quarter of adults are inactive, with few achieving the recommended 30 minutes of
moderate intensity exercise most days [182, 183]. Insufficient physical inactivity accounts for approximately
9% of premature mortality worldwide [184], and an increasing amount of research has focused on the
potential benefits of exercise in AOD and mental health treatment [185]. Physical activity is highlighted as a
safe alternative behaviour, that is naturally rewarding and engaging, with various health benefits [186-188].
Physical activity and exercise have been associated with improved health [189-192], improved depression
and mood [193-198], reduced levels of anxiety [199, 200], reduced effects of withdrawal [201-205], and
are considered to be safe when exercises have been properly tailored for individuals [189, 190]. Taken
in combination, these factors make physical activity an appealing, adjunctive intervention to assist with
relapse prevention among those in treatment for AOD use.
Physical activity has shown to be inversely related to smoking status (i.e., non-smokers are more physically
active than smokers) [182], number of cigarettes smoked, and nicotine dependence, and recent evidence
suggests that exercise may be an effective complementary intervention to smoking cessation strategies
[182, 188, 202, 203, 206-211]. Physical activity improves cardiovascular, pulmonary, and immune functioning,
which can in turn assist with the prevention of chronic disease [134]. Smoking cessation is more successful
for those who exercise during their attempts to quit smoking [203, 206, 209], and exercise can assist with
the prevention of relapse [206, 209]. Physical activity can also alleviate symptoms of smoking withdrawal,
such as irritability, depression, restlessness, and stress [182, 188, 202, 206-208, 210, 211].
Research suggests that although people with AOD use disorders may be interested in increasing their
levels of physical activity [212], it is unclear how frequently those in AOD treatment regularly engage in
moderate to vigorous levels of exercise, with few treatment programs incorporating dedicated time for
exercise [185, 213-215]. Although treatments for AOD use are focused on addressing behavioural patterns, it
is up to the person to avoid automatic behaviours (e.g., drinking or using other drugs) when they are faced
with a craving or desire to drink or use [185]. Particular social settings, activities, or times of day associated
with AOD use can become environmental cues, which can increase the risk of relapse [216, 217]. Rather
than using AOD when cravings or urges to use arise, engaging in an immediately rewarding, accessible,
sustainable, and safe behaviour, such as exercise and physical activity, can reduce the likelihood of relapse
[185]. Regular exercise is also often associated with other positive behaviours, such as healthy diet and
sleep patterns [218, 219], and overall feelings of wellbeing, vitality, high energy, and motivation to maintain
healthy lifestyle practices [220]. A systematic review of the literature examining the effects of exercise-
based interventions for AOD use on recovery, physical fitness, and psychological health found that exercise
is a potentially promising accompanying treatment for AOD use, with reductions in AOD use, improvements
in depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as significant fitness improvements in the exercise groups [186].
Despite this, the ideal dose (i.e., type of exercise, duration, and intensity) of exercise to maximise the effects
of potential health and psychological benefits is not clear, and is still the subject of research. Evidence
to date suggests that the ideal dose varies considerably between people, and depends on individual
preferences, as well as baseline physical fitness levels [221]. However, given that many people with AOD
use are fairly inactive, an initial program of light to moderate intensity exercise is likely to be more beneficial
than vigorous exercise, which may also assist with program adherence and retention [203, 212, 222].
Supervised physical activity may be useful, to ensure information about safe exercise (e.g., importance of
warm-up, cool-down, and stretching) and exercise intensity are provided (e.g., using heart-rate monitors)
[185]. Encouraging the pursuit of home-based exercise is likely to be important for clients to establish
and maintain exercise levels after the conclusion of the activity program, and integrating exercise into
psychotherapy may enhance treatment outcomes [185].

A study examining the exercise attitudes and behaviours of individuals in AOD treatment identified that
although the majority of those in treatment were interested in participating in physical activities as part
of their AOD recovery, many were reluctant due to perceived barriers which included financial costs
and lack of motivation [214]. As such, techniques such as self-monitoring, goal setting, contingency
management, and relapse prevention planning may be useful [223-225]. Devices that track physical activity
(e.g., pedometers, heart-rate monitors, fitness trackers) can be used as motivational tools, but have not
been tested as exercise interventions among AOD populations [226, 227]. Cardiovascular (e.g., running),
resistance (e.g., weight training), yoga, and isometric exercise have all been successfully piloted as aids to
assist smoking cessation, but need further testing in larger randomised controlled trials (RCTs) among AOD
populations [228]. Education and behaviour change strategies focused on diet and exercise among those
with mental health disorders [229] and preventing olanzapine-related weight-gain have been shown to be
effective [230].
Research has also highlighted the importance of physical activity and exercise among comorbid
populations. Anxiety and depression have been associated with AOD relapse and treatment retention,
particularly in the early stages of recovery [187, 231, 232]. A study examining the effects of an 8-week
structured exercise program (treadmill and weight training) on depression and anxiety symptoms
among newly abstinent methamphetamine users in treatment found that those in the exercise group
had significantly greater reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms than the control group (health
education sessions) [233]. Further, a dose effect was found, whereby those who had attended more
exercise sessions during the 8-week program illustrated greater reductions in depression and anxiety
compared to those who had attended fewer sessions [233]. These findings support the important role of
physical exercise in improving mood symptoms among comorbid AOD populations.
There are six physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines for adults, outlined in Table 16.
Table 16: Physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines for adults
Physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines for adults (aged 18–64 years)
• Any physical activity is better than none. If there is currently none, start with a small amount and
gradually build up to the recommended amount.
• Be active most days, and preferably all days, of the week.
• Accumulate 150–300 minutes (2 ½–5 hours) of moderate intensity physical activity (i.e., out of
breath but can still say a few words) or 75–150 minutes (1 ¼–2 ½ hours) of vigorous intensity
physical activity (i.e., out of breath, difficulty talking), or a combination of both, each week.
• Incorporate muscle strengthening exercises each week.
• Minimise the amount of time spent in prolonged sitting.
• Break up long periods of sitting as often as possible.
Adapted from the Australian Government Department of Health 2014 [234].
Despite the overwhelming evidence of poor physical health among those with mental health conditions,
relatively few workers address the physical health of their clients as part of their practice [235]. This may
in part be due to clinicians questioning whether health and wellness are achievable goals for people with
mental health conditions, due to perceived lack of motivation, lifestyle challenges, and the side effects and
complications of many medications (e.g., weight gain, glucose and lipid abnormalities, and cardiac side-
effects) [130, 131, 235]. Although some research suggests that clients may prefer to make simultaneous
behavioural changes [236, 237], clinicians may feel ill-prepared to manage the physical health of clients,
particularly with standard screening tools and assessments not addressing the importance of health
screening in mental health patients [235]. AOD workers may find the food and physical activity diary located
in the Worksheets section of these Guidelines useful.

Sleep
Sleep problems can be experienced in many ways, and range from difficulty falling asleep, maintaining
sleep throughout the night, or waking too early or too often. Most people will experience some trouble
sleeping at some point in their lives, with less sleep associated with long work days, commuting times,
increases in evening or night work, and overuse of television, computers or the internet [178, 238]. Sleep
disturbances have been associated with the use of, and withdrawal from, AOD; in particular, alcohol [239,
240], marijuana [241], tobacco [242], caffeine [243], and cocaine [244]. Although some report the use of
substances to promote sleep [245], in general, the direction of the relationship is not well understood. It
remains unclear as to whether sleep problems are an additional risk factor contributing to an individual’s
AOD use, or whether the use of AOD contributes to sleep disturbances [246-249].
Better understood are the poor health outcomes associated with insufficient sleep duration. The quality and
duration of sleep has been linked to chronic disease, with insufficient sleep associated with higher body
mass [250], weight gain [251, 252], obesity [253], diabetes [254], CVD [255] and premature mortality [256].
Recent research suggests that the ideal amount of sleep varies with age. For adults aged between 18–64
years, the recommended duration of daily sleep is between seven and nine hours [257]. The increased risk
of chronic diseases, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and CVD, however, is associated with both too little
(i.e., less than 6 hours) and too much sleep (i.e., more than 9 hours) [255, 258].
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends the healthy sleep habits outlined in Table 17:
Table 17: Healthy sleep habits
Sleeping tips
• Maintain a regular sleeping schedule, on weekdays and weekends (i.e., go to bed around the same
time each night, and wake at the same time each morning).
• Ensure at least seven hours sleep.
• Do not go to bed unless tired.
• Get out of bed if not asleep within 20 minutes.
• Practise relaxing bedtime rituals (e.g., mindfulness, meditation, relation exercises).
• Only use the bed for sleep and sex.
• Ensure the bedroom is calm and relaxing, and maintain a cool, comfortable temperature.
• Limit exposure to bright lights before bedtime.
• Do not eat large meals before bedtime. If hungry, have a light, healthy snack.
• Exercise regularly.
• Avoid caffeine in the late afternoon and evening.
• Avoid alcohol before bedtime.
• Reduce fluid intake before bedtime.
Adapted from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine [259].

What does this mean for AOD workers?
There is strong evidence that supports the need for holistic approaches to health care that deliver the
appropriate services to clients at the right time. This includes the involvement of multiple services in a
coordinated client-centred approach. AOD workers should be prepared not only to address the mental
and physical wellbeing of their clients, but also involve, and partner with, other services that can provide
complete, individualised care.
From an AOD worker’s perspective, it should be remembered that physical and mental health are
fundamentally entwined. As such, be prepared to take steps to manage clients’ physical and mental health:
consult with clients and assist with strategies to reduce smoking; assist with the planning of healthy meals
incorporating fruits and vegetables; encourage clients to become more physically active; and recommend
healthy and regular sleep patterns. A case study example of the interrelatedness of physical and mental
health is provided in Box 11.
Box 11: Case study K: Managing comorbid physical, mental, and AOD use disorders:
Sarah’s story
Case study K: Managing comorbid physical, mental and AOD use

disorders: Sarah’s story
Sarah is a 38-year-old woman who has lived in a large city for much of her life. She has a history of
psychosis dating back to her teenage years. Around the time she first noticed symptoms, she was using
cannabis, ecstasy, and methamphetamine. Although she had periods of further education and worked
on and off in hospitality, she has been largely unemployed since she was 25 years old.
The pattern of Sarah’s psychosis has been unpredictable. While she had some periods of stability, her
auditory hallucinations, paranoid ideas, and mood fluctuations have recently become more frequent.
Although Sarah had a number of admissions to inpatient psychiatric units in her early 20s, since that
time she has been managed within the community mental health care services. However, Sarah’s recent
lifestyle has been chaotic, and she has moved across the city several times. As such, Sarah has been
under the care of several different community mental health services, with no single clinician knowing
her well. Due to her frequent moves, Sarah has also been under the care of several different GPs.
Sarah presented to the emergency department of an inner city hospital because of injuries suffered
during an argument with another resident in the hostel where she was staying. Her injuries were
relatively minor, but the doctor and nurse who assessed her noted that she had high blood pressure
and that she was overweight (with a body mass index (BMI) of 32). It was also noted that Sarah had a
cough, which she attributed to her smoking 20 cigarettes a day. When asked about her blood pressure,
Sarah told the doctor that her GP had prescribed her medication, but she had not taken it, and had not
attended any follow-up appointments. This information was brought to the attention of the community
mental health service who were caring for Sarah. At the first opportunity, her current community mental
health nurse made an assessment not only of her mental state and AOD use, but also attempted to
gather as much information as possible about Sarah’s physical health.

Sarah asked the community mental health nurse why there were so many questions about her physical
health, saying that nobody had ever asked these questions before. The community mental health nurse
explained that it was important to ensure that, apart from her psychiatric care, all her health needs were
being met. Sarah’s nurse contacted her GP to explain that she wished to conduct a comprehensive
assessment of need, including not just psychiatric matters but also physical health. The GP was very
pleased to be involved, as he had been concerned having not seen Sarah for a while. This was a relief
to Sarah, as she thought the GP might be angry with her as she had missed several appointments. The
nurse helped Sarah to make an appointment and showed her how to put a reminder in her phone the
day before, and morning of, her appointment.
Over many years Sarah had been prescribed various antipsychotic medications and mood stabilisers
and it became clear that she had put on a great deal of weight. Despite her long-term use of
antipsychotic medication and high BMI, Sarah could not recall having been tested for type II diabetes,
or undergoing routine blood glucose measurement. More generally, the GP also noted that Sarah had
not previously received routine blood tests to cover matters such as liver function, thyroid function, and
haemoglobin (for anaemia), nor had she ever had any cervical smears, although she had been offered
these.
Key points:
• What are the primary concerns for Sarah?
Case study K continues in Chapter B4.

B2: Identifying
Section
Heading
comorbidity
B2
Goes here
B2:
Identifying
comorbidity
Key Points
• Given the high rates of co-occurring mental health conditions
among clients of AOD treatment services, it is essential that routine
screening and assessment be undertaken for these conditions as
part of case formulation.
• Screening and assessment set the scene for the future client-
worker relationship and need to be conducted in a friendly and
empathic manner.
• It is important to consider a range of aspects in the process of
case formulation, not only AOD and mental health issues (e.g.,
sociocultural factors, motivation, living situation, and medical and
personal history).
• Full assessment should ideally occur subsequent to a period
of abstinence, or at least when not withdrawing or intoxicated.
Multiple assessments should be conducted throughout a person’s
treatment as symptoms may change over time.
• It is important to provide assessment feedback to the client in a
positive, easily understood manner.
Despite high rates of mental health conditions among clients of AOD services, it is not unusual for
these comorbid conditions to go unnoticed by AOD workers [100, 260]. This is mostly because they
are not routinely looking for these conditions. Many of the signs and symptoms of common mental
health conditions (e.g., depression) are not immediately obvious or visible, and may be overlooked if not
specifically asked about. As mentioned in Chapter A3, all clients should be screened and assessed for

comorbidity as part of routine clinical care. This chapter describes methods of screening and assessing for
mental health conditions, which should form part of the case formulation process for all clients.
Assessing and identifying the client’s needs is the first step. It is important to recognise whatever needs
the client may have as they will undoubtedly impact upon AOD treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment
of mental health disorders can improve treatment outcomes [261-263]. Identification does not necessarily
mean that the AOD worker has to personally treat the difficulty the client is experiencing; however,
they do need to consider the impact of these difficulties, manage them accordingly, and engage other
services where necessary. It is often difficult to determine which symptoms are attributable to which
disorders. Once symptoms are identified, more specialised assessment may be required by mental health
providers, psychologists, or psychiatrists to determine whether the person has a diagnosable disorder
(care coordination is discussed further in Chapter B4). It is equally important that other issues identified
(e.g., problems involving employment, housing, medical care) are dealt with appropriately, which may also
require consultation with other services.
Case formulation
Case formulation involves the gathering of information regarding factors that may be relevant to treatment
planning, and formulating a hypothesis as to how these factors fit together to form the current presentation
of the client’s symptoms [264, 265]. The primary goal of AOD treatment services is to address clients’ AOD
use. However, in order to do so effectively, AOD workers must take into account the broad range of issues
that clients present with. As discussed in Chapter A2, clients of AOD treatment services, and those with
comorbid conditions in particular, often have a variety of other medical, family, and social problems (e.g.,
housing, employment, welfare, or legal problems). These problems may be the product of the client’s AOD
and mental health conditions, or they may be contributing to the client’s AOD and mental health conditions,
or both. According to stress-vulnerability models (e.g., Zubin and Spring [266]), the likelihood of developing
a mental health condition is influenced by the interaction of these biological, psychological, and social
factors. These factors also affect a person’s ability to recover from these symptoms and the potential for
relapse.
After developing a case formulation, the AOD worker should be aware of:
• What problems exist, how they developed, and how they are maintained.
• All aspects of the client’s presentation, current situation, and the interaction between these different
factors and problems.
This information is the first step to devising (and later revising) the client’s treatment plan. There is no
standardised approach to case formulation [267], but it is crucial that a range of different dimensions be
considered, including history of present illness, AOD use history (amount and frequency, presence of
disorder), physical/medical conditions, mental state, psychiatric history, trauma history, suicidal or violent
thoughts, readiness to change, family history, criminal history, and social and cultural issues. Consideration
also needs to be given to the client’s age, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, spirituality, socioeconomic
status, and cognitive abilities.
Given the high rates of co-occurring mental health conditions among clients of AOD treatment services,
it is essential that routine screening and assessment be undertaken for these conditions as part of case
formulation. Screening is the initial step in the process of identifying possible cases of co-occurring mental
health conditions [268]. This process is not diagnostic (i.e., it cannot establish whether a disorder actually
exists); rather, it identifies the presence of symptoms that may indicate the presence of a disorder. Thus,
screening helps to identify individuals whose mental health requires further investigation by a professional
trained and qualified in diagnosing mental health disorders (e.g., registered or clinical psychologists, or
psychiatrists).
63 B2: Identifying comorbidity

The potential clinical issues that these conditions can present suggest that screening for co-occurring
mental health conditions should always be completed in the initial phases of AOD treatment. Early
identification allows for early intervention, which may lead to better prognosis, more comprehensive
treatment, and the prevention of secondary disorders [261, 262, 269].
Diagnostic assessment should ideally occur subsequent to a period of abstinence [270, 271], or at least
when the person is not intoxicated or withdrawing. While the length of this period is not well established, a
stabilisation period of between two to four weeks is recommended [272]. A lengthier period of abstinence
is recommended for longer-acting drugs, such as methadone and diazepam, before a diagnosis can be
made with any confidence, whereas shorter-acting drugs such as cocaine and alcohol require a shorter
period of abstinence [270]. If symptoms persist after this period, they can be viewed as independent
rather than AOD-induced. In practice, however, such a period of abstinence is rarely afforded in AOD
treatment settings and, therefore, to avoid possible misdiagnosis, it has been recommended that multiple
assessments be conducted over time [80, 94, 273]. This process allows the AOD worker to formulate a
hypothesis concerning the client’s individual case and to constantly modify this formulation, allowing for
greater accuracy and flexibility in assessment.
Screening forms the first part of the assessment process. Unlike screening, assessment is a process rather
than a one-off event, which involves the ongoing monitoring of clients’ mental health symptoms. Ongoing
assessment is important because clients’ mental health symptoms may change throughout treatment.
For example, a person may present with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression upon treatment entry;
however, these symptoms may subside with abstinence. Alternatively, a person may enter treatment with
no mental health symptoms, but symptoms may develop after a period of reduced use or abstinence,
particularly if the person has been using substances to self-medicate these symptoms.
Groth-Marnat [274] suggests that a combination of both informal and standardised assessment techniques
is the best way to develop a case formulation. Figure 10 depicts how these techniques work together. In
addition to these assessments, with the client’s consent, it may be useful to talk with family members,
friends, or carers; they can provide invaluable information regarding the client’s condition which the client
may not recognise or may not want to divulge (see Chapter A3) [275].
Figure 10: The ongoing case formulation process
Treatment
Discharge
Informal assessment Use of standardised screening &

(including mental state examination) assessment tools (as required)
Intake
Note: Figure 10 illustrates the need for assessment to be repeated throughout treatment, from intake
through to discharge, to inform the ongoing revision of a person’s treatment plan.

Informal assessment
The informal assessment takes the form of a semi-structured interview and should cover the following:
• Mental state.
• Source of referral and current health care providers.
• Presenting issues.
• AOD use history.
• Current situation.
• Personal, medical, and family history.
• Trauma history.
• Psychiatric history.
• Risk assessment.
• Criminal history.
• Strengths and weaknesses.
• Readiness for change.
For an effective assessment, it is important to provide a non-judgemental, empathetic, private, and

confidential environment. Any limits to confidentiality should also be explained.
Mental state
A crucial component of the assessment process is the evaluation of the client’s mental state and
presentation. An assessment of mental state should include:
• Appearance.
• Behaviour.
• Speech and language.
• Mood and affect.
• Thought content.
• Perception.
• Cognition.
• Insight and judgement.
The type of information sought in each of the above domains is outlined in Table 18. It should be noted
that all of the aforementioned factors may be affected by intoxication or withdrawal from substances. The
mental state examination should not consist of a series of direct questions, but rather should be based
on an overall evaluation of the client during the assessment (or preferably a number of assessments). A
record of the mental state examination should be completed after (rather than during) conversations with
the client. In addition to noting unusual or abnormal client behaviours, it is also good practice to record
normal behaviours (e.g., no speech disturbances noted, no unusual thought content noted) [276]. Appendix
F presents a form which may be useful in guiding note-taking for the mental state examination.

Table 18: Assessment of mental state
Appearance
How does the client look?
Posture – slumped, tense, bizarre.
Grooming – dishevelled, make-up inappropriately applied, poor personal hygiene.
Clothing – bizarre, inappropriate, dirty.
Nutritional status – weight loss, not eating properly.
Evidence of AOD use – intoxicated, flushed, dilated/pinpoint pupils, track marks.
Behaviour
How is the client behaving?
Motor activity – immobile, pacing, restless, hyperventilating.
Abnormal movements – tremor, jerky or slow movements, abnormal walk.
Bizarre/odd/unpredictable actions.
How is the client reacting to the current situation and assessor?
Angry/hostile towards assessor/others.
Uncooperative or withdrawn.
Over familiar/inappropriate/seductive.
Fearful, guarded, hypervigilant.
Speech and language
How is the client talking?
Rate – rapid, uninterruptible, slow, mute.
Tone/volume – loud, angry, quiet, whispering.
Quality – clear, slurred.
Anything unusual about the client’s speech?

Table 18: Assessment of mental state (continued)
Speech and language
How does the client express himself/herself?
Incoherent/illogical thinking (word salad: communication is disorganised and senseless and the main
ideas cannot be understood).
Derailment (unrelated, unconnected, or loosely connected ideas; shifting from one subject to another).
Tangentiality/loosening of associations (replies to questions are irrelevant or may refer to the

appropriate topic but fail to give a complete answer).
Absence/retardation of, or excessive thought and rate of production.
Thought blocking (abrupt interruption to flow of thinking so that thoughts are completely absent for a
few seconds or irretrievable).
Mood and affect
How does the client describe his/her emotional state (i.e., mood)?
Down/depressed; angry/irritable; anxious/fearful; high/elevated.
What do you observe about the client’s emotional state (i.e., affect)?
Depressed – flat, restricted, tearful, downcast.
Anxious – agitated, distressed, fearful.
Irritable, hostile.
Labile – rapidly changing.
Inappropriate – inconsistent with content (e.g., laughs when talking about mother’s death).
High/elevated – excessively happy or animated.
Thought content
What is the client thinking about?
Delusional thoughts (e.g., bizarre, grandiose, persecutory, self-referential).
Preoccupations: paranoid/depressive/anxious/obsessional thoughts; overvalued ideas.
Thoughts of harm to self or others.
Does the client believe that his/her thoughts are being broadcast to others or that someone/thing is
disrupting or inserting his/her own thoughts?

Perception
Is the client experiencing any misinterpretations of sensory stimuli?
Does the client report auditory, visual, olfactory, or somatic hallucinations? Illusions?
Are they likely to act on these hallucinations?
Do you observe the client responding to unheard sounds/voices or unseen people/objects?
Any other perceptual disturbances, such as derealisation (feeling one is separated from the outside
world), depersonalisation (feeling separated from one’s own personal physicality), heightened/dulled
perception?
Cognition
Level of consciousness
Is the client alert and oriented to time, place, person?
Is the client attentive during the interview (drowsy, stuporous, distracted)?
Does the client’s attention fluctuate during the interview?
Does the client present as confused?
Is the client’s concentration impaired? (Can he/she count from 100 or say the months of the year
backwards?)
Orientation
Does the client know:
Who he/she is? Who you are?
Where he/she is?
Why he/she is with you now?
The day of the week, the date, the month, and the year?
Memory
Can the client remember:
Why he/she is with you? (Immediate)
What he/she had for breakfast? (Recent)
What he/she was doing around this time last year? (Remote)
Are they able to recall recent events (memory and simple tasks; e.g., calculation)?

Insight and judgement
How aware is the client of what others consider to be his/her current difficulty?
Is the client aware of any symptoms that appear weird/bizarre or strange?
Is the client able to make judgements about his/her situation?
Adapted from NSW Department of Health [277] and Marsh et al. [276].
Source of referral and current health care providers

Clients may have various sources of referral to treatment. For instance, they may be referred by their GP,
family or friends, or corrective services. In general, the most common form of referral is self-referral [278].
In addition to identifying the source of referral, it is important to identify all health care providers currently
involved in the person’s care (e.g., counsellors, psychiatrists, prescribers, GP, probation/community
offender service officers, case workers, social workers). Consistent with a coordinated approach to client
care, with the client’s permission the AOD worker should liaise with these providers regarding the person’s
treatment to ensure care coordination and continuity of care (see Chapter B4).
Presenting issues
Ascertain what the client perceives to be his/her biggest issues and the reasons why he/she is
in treatment. This is usually broader than the AOD issue (e.g., psychological, social, health, legal,
accommodation, financial).
AOD use history

It is important to gain an understanding of the range of substances currently used, the quantity and
frequency of use, duration of use, previous AOD-related problems, circumstances of use, risk behaviours
related to use, and previous treatment/attempts to change (and why these were successful or
unsuccessful). Clinicians should also gain an understanding of the development of the client’s AOD use
over time, including periods of abstinence, and how these were supported [276].
Enquire also about the use of any non-traditional or new psychoactive substances (substances produced
to mimic the effects of illegal drugs), which may be referred to by a range of names including legal highs,
herbal highs, research chemicals, analogues, and synthetics (more information can be found through the
Drug Trends monitoring program [279, 280]).
It can be useful to ask the client to describe a normal day, in order to try to help the client evaluate the
ways in which his/her AOD use affects his/her health, relationships, legality, and livelihood (e.g., finances,
work). The typical day situation is explained in greater detail in Appendix E on MI.
Current situation
Enquire about the client’s current accommodation, living arrangements, children, family and friends, social
and other support networks, significant relationships, physical health, study, work commitments, legal, and
financial issues.

Personal, medical, and family history
Exploring and discussing the client’s background, from birth to the present, can help both the client and
AOD worker to understand the beginnings of AOD use and mental health symptoms, and the impact on the
client’s life [276]. Enquire about:
• Family context (including family history of AOD use and mental health disorders).
• Child and adolescent experiences.
• School experiences (e.g., academic performance, social experiences, bullying).
• Traumatic experiences.
• Work history.
• Leisure pursuits and personal interests.
• Financial and housing information.
• Sexual/marital adjustment.
• Legal issues and illegal behaviour.
• Medical history (including current and past medications, psychiatric medication).
• Current and past pharmacological/psychological treatment.
Trauma history
It is important to identify whether the client has experienced any traumatic events in his/her life [276, 281,
282]. As described in Chapter A4, traumatic events do not refer to any event that the person has found
upsetting. Rather, they are events where the individual perceived his/her own (or someone else’s) life or
physical integrity to be at risk. The trauma may be a one-off event or it may have occurred over a period of
time [24].
A history of trauma exposure may be integrally linked with the person’s current AOD use; a number of
people with AOD use disorders who have experienced trauma describe their use as an attempt to self-
medicate the thoughts and feelings they have had since the trauma. The presence of a trauma history also
indicates that further investigation is required to determine whether the person may have symptoms of
PTSD (described in Chapter A4).
While identification of past trauma is important, questioning needs to be sensitive and should not be
pursued if the client does not wish to discuss it. In some circumstances, it may be better to raise the
issue of trauma several weeks after the initial assessment interview, once the client feels safer and has
developed a therapeutic relationship with the AOD worker [276]. Before conducting trauma assessments,
workers should seek training and supervision in dealing with trauma responses. Some AOD workers may
be reluctant to discuss trauma with their clients due to events that have happened in their own lives.
These workers should seek assistance from their colleagues and should not be forced to conduct trauma
assessments if they are not comfortable doing so.
Before questioning the client, the AOD worker should:
• Seek the client’s permission to ask him/her about exposure to traumatic events, and advise the client
that he/she does not have to talk about these experiences or provide any detail if he/she does not
want to. Clearly communicate the reasons for asking about past trauma. It may not be readily apparent
to the client that his/her current situation may be related to his/her past [281]. For example, clearly
explaining to the client that the questions relating to trauma will help contextualise his/her drug
use, which will also help gain a better understanding of the interplay between AOD use and trauma
symptoms [276]. Ensure that the client has the opportunity to say if they feel uncomfortable.

• Advise the client that talking about traumatic events can be distressing; even clients who want to talk
about their trauma history may underestimate the level of emotion involved [282]. It should be noted
that studies have found that while some people may become upset when talking about these events,
talking about the trauma does not overwhelm or re-traumatise the majority of people. On the contrary,
most people describe the process as a positive experience [283-286].
• Advise the client of any restrictions on confidentiality; for example, in relation to the mandatory
reporting of children at risk or serious indictable offenses.
When broaching the subject of trauma, ask the client if he/she has ever experienced any traumatic events
such as witnessing or experiencing: car accidents or other types of accidents, natural disasters, war, adult/
childhood physical or sexual assault, having been threatened. Reliable reporting of events is best obtained
by asking about specific event types. Under-reporting of exposure tends to occur when people are asked
only broad questions such as ‘Have you ever experienced a traumatic event?’ [287]. Standardised screening
tools such as the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire (TLEQ) and Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ)
described in Appendix H may be used to assess for a history of trauma exposure. Some clients find it easier
to complete a self-report screener than to say aloud to the assessor that they have, for example, been
raped [282], and research suggests that verbal disclosure of trauma via interview evokes more distress than
completing written questionnaires [286]. However, such screeners should always be completed with an
AOD worker present and should never be given to the client to complete at home.
It is important to understand that clients may be uncomfortable answering questions relating to past
trauma because of the personal nature of such questions. Client discomfort may also be associated with
distrust of others in general (or of service providers in particular), a history of having their boundaries
violated, or fear that the information could be used against them [281].
During the trauma assessment it is essential that the AOD worker questioning the client does not ‘dig’
for information that is not forthcoming, as this may result in destabilisation [282]. For those who have
experienced interpersonal trauma in particular, such pressure from an authority figure may imitate the
interpersonal dynamics that were evident in an abusive relationship and exacerbate trauma symptoms.
There is an inherent power imbalance in the helper–helped relationship and AOD workers must do their
best to reduce this inequity [281]. Trauma and AOD use are both characterised by the loss of control and
it is important that a sense of control be re-established. The following are some additional guidelines on
discussing traumatic experiences with clients [288]. Further information regarding the management of
trauma symptoms is provided in Chapter B6.
• Create a safe, welcoming environment. Let clients know what to expect and avoid surprises.
Sometimes clients who have experienced trauma may be physically and mentally ‘on guard’, so use
slow, calm movements, and a gentle tone of voice, and don’t encroach on their personal space.
• Adopt a non-judgemental attitude. People who have experienced trauma often feel a great deal of
shame and guilt either in relation to the trauma itself or how they reacted to the trauma. Sometimes
clients may have experienced stigmatisation from others due to their trauma experiences, mental
health, and/or AOD use. The client needs to feel that the AOD worker does not consider them in a
negative way (e.g., weak, immoral). It is important not to judge how the person reacted during or after
the trauma. It is easy to judge people harshly with the benefit of hindsight, but even if they did make a
mistake in judgement, they did not deserve to suffer.
• Display a comfortable attitude if the client describes their trauma experience. Some clients will
have had experiences that people do not want to hear about, especially the gruesome or horrific
details. They need to know that they can tell you anything.

• Praise the client for having the courage to talk about what happened. The client needs to know that
you appreciate how difficult it is for him/her to talk about his/her trauma. Make it clear to the client that
you respect and admire his/her strength in coming through the traumatic experience and in seeking
help, but do not patronise them.
• Normalise the client’s response to the trauma and validate their experiences. Many people who
have experienced trauma (especially those with PTSD) feel that they are ‘going crazy’ because
of the feelings they may have had since the trauma (e.g., re-experiencing the event, avoidance,
hypervigilance). Just hearing from a professional that the reactions they are experiencing are common
helps to normalise their experience, and also alleviate possible shame or guilt about not recovering
sooner. Normalisation and validation are discussed in further detail in Chapter B6.
Psychiatric history
Enquire as to whether the client has any current mental health symptoms (such as depression, anxiety,
psychosis), whether he/she has experienced these in the past, whether he/she has ever been diagnosed
with a mental health disorder, and whether he/she has ever received any treatment. If the client has
experienced mental health symptoms or has been diagnosed with a mental health disorder, ask about the
timing and context of these symptoms:
• When did the symptoms start (did they start prior to AOD use)?
• Do they only occur when the person is intoxicated or withdrawing?
• Have the symptoms continued even after a period of abstinence (approximately one month)?
• Do the symptoms change when the client stops using substances (i.e., do they get better or worse, or
stay the same)?
• Is there a family history of the particular mental health condition?
• What kind of treatment did the person have? Did it work well?
If symptoms arise only in the context of intoxication or withdrawal, it is likely that they are substance
induced [289], and will resolve with a period of abstinence without the need for any direct intervention
[35, 119, 290]. It is nonetheless important for these symptoms to be managed to prevent the client from
relapsing in the early stages (see Chapter B5). The duration of abstinence may vary depending on
substances used; however, most should start to see considerable improvement over a period of one month
[270, 291].
If the mental health symptoms started prior to the onset of AOD use, symptoms persist even during periods
of abstinence, or there is a family history of the particular mental health condition, the client may have a
mental health condition that is independent of his/her AOD use.
Criminal history
Enquire about past and present criminal behaviour, arrest history, any impending court cases or
outstanding warrants.
Strengths and weaknesses

A client’s strengths and weaknesses can usually be deduced from other information collected during the
assessment process. Some examples of strengths may include good social support, high self-esteem, and
insight. Some weaknesses may be unemployment, risk-taking behaviour, or negative self-image.

Readiness for change
It may be helpful to ascertain how motivated the client is to change his/her current AOD use. This
involves an exploration of the client’s perception of the positive and negative aspects of continued AOD
use. Prochaska and DiClemente [292] suggest that clients fall into one of six stages of change. Table 19
summarises these stages and outlines some useful interventions to use at each stage of change. The
choice of treatment type can be informed in part by the client’s readiness to change; for example, harm
reduction may be an appropriate treatment for someone in the pre-contemplation stage, whereas goal
setting or relapse prevention may be more suitable for someone in later stages (e.g., preparation or action
stages) [276].
The stages of change model is also relevant in assessing motivation to receive treatment for comorbid
mental health conditions. Just because a person has presented for treatment for his/her AOD use, does not
necessarily mean that he/she has the same readiness to receive mental health treatment. For example, just
because the client is willing to consider reducing AOD use, this does not automatically mean that he/she
is also ready to deal with the trauma-related symptoms they experience due to abuse suffered as a child.
Appendix G provides a useful matrix for assessing motivation for both AOD and mental health treatment.
Although we include the stages of change model, it is important to note that this model has been subject
to some criticism. Some researchers and clinicians have questioned the divide between stages, the
distinction between stages, and the focus on conscious decision making (rather than the involvement of
other factors, such as unconscious motivations) [293-295].
Table 19: Readiness for change
Stage Description Interventions
Pre-contemplation Client shows no interest in Aim to raise doubt about perceptions.

behaviour change. Link behaviour with consequences.
Reduce harm.
Highlight negative consequences.
Build confidence and hope.
Contemplation Change is being considered, Motivational interviewing can assist in

with negative concerns rising resolving ambivalence.
in awareness but ambivalence Elicit reasons for change and risks of
remains. not changing.
Preparation or Client is committing to and Goal setting, match to needs.

determination preparing for change. Identify risks for relapse.
Build self-efficacy.
Discuss treatment options.
Action Active behavioural change occurs. Support self-efficacy.

Assist with coping and education.
Reinforce positive behaviour.
Avoid exposure to AOD use
environment.

Table 19: Readiness for change (continued)
Stage Description Interventions
Maintenance Changes are consolidated and Reinforce positives and assist with
maintained. lapses.
Self-help groups.
Provide relapse prevention
techniques.
Emphasise client alertness.
Work towards longer-term goals.
Relapse Not so much a stage in itself, but Avoid demoralisation.

rather any slip or lapse into any of Remain positive.
the previous stages. Normalise the process of lapsing.
Help the client to learn from
mistakes.
Adapted from Clancy and Terry [296].
Standardised screening and assessment

The informal assessment process can be aided by a range of standardised screening and assessment
tools. Standardised tools can be a useful means of gathering data by providing a reliable and valid view of
the client’s difficulties and current life situation [297, 298]. Furthermore, when conducted appropriately, the
process of standardised assessment can be a source of rapport building [299].
Groth-Marnat [274] suggests that when conducting standardised assessment, it is important to:
• Provide the client with the reasons for assessment and the purpose of each instrument.
• Explain that it is a standard procedure.
• Explain how standardised assessment can be useful in helping clients achieve their goals (e.g., by
providing an objective measure).
• Provide appropriate and timely feedback of the results of the assessment.
Standardised assessment should be completed upon entry into and exit from treatment, as well as at
follow-up [94, 300]. Test results can provide useful clinical information (for both the client and AOD worker)
on the client’s case and an evaluation of how effective treatment has been. A variety of different tools are
used, some of which are empirically established instruments, whilst others are purpose-built, internally
designed tools with increased practicality and utility but unknown validity and reliability [267]. Some helpful
screening tools have been included in Appendices I–R.
Standardised tools cover a range of areas that may be relevant to AOD services. The Camberwell
Assessment of Need (CAN) is one of the most widely used needs assessment and treatment outcome
tool [301] and has evidence to support its use among people with mental health conditions. It has also
been validated for use in Australian populations [302], and can be used in clinical practice without staff
training. The CAN assesses need in 22 domains, including accommodation, food, self-care, capacity to
look after the home, daytime activities, physical health, psychotic symptoms, mental health and treatment,
psychological distress, risk to self and others, AOD use, social relationships, child care, education, transport,
budgeting, and benefits [303]. Several versions of the CAN exist, including:

• Camberwell Assessment of Need Short Appraisal Schedule (CANSAS): For use in clinical work. The
CANSAS allows the perspective of staff, clients and carers to be separately recorded. However, due to
discrepancies in clinician and client assessments of need, a client rated short-form measure has been
developed and evaluated (CANSAS-P).
• CANSAS-P: A two-page version for clients, to complete. Evaluation of the CANSAS-P found it was able
to better identify the needs of clients, particularly unmet needs [302].
• CAN-Clinical (CAN-C): Detailed 22-page assessment, measuring the need rating, help received, and
action plan for each domain.
• CAN-Research (CAN-R): Detailed 22-page assessment, measuring the need rating, help received and
satisfaction for each domain [304].
The CANSAS-P has been recommended as the preferred needs assessment measure for client
completion [302], and is available in Appendix I. Further information about each version can be obtained
through the CAN webpage: www.researchintorecovery.com/CAN.
There are also a wide range of standardised tools that can be used to screen and assess specifically for co-
occurring mental health conditions. Here we provide an overview of some of these tools, with focus given
to those that require minimal training to use and are freely available. A range of additional screening tools
are described in Appendix H. It should be noted that some of these tools require specialist training, or else
mislabelling, misinterpretation, or inappropriate use may occur [274]. Some tools are copyright protected
and need to be purchased, and/or require the user to have specific qualifications. The requirements of
each tool described here (and in Appendix H) are explained accordingly. It is important that workers are
aware of what they are and are not trained to use, and seek training where required. Readers are also
referred to Deady’s [301] comprehensive review of screening tools for use in AOD settings. This document
is available online at www.nada.org.au.
It should be noted that following the release of the DSM-5, and at the time of writing, new measures were
in the process of being developed and validated. As such, the measures below and in Appendix H include
assessments validated for DSM-5, and where none are available, we have included measures developed
with DSM-IV-TR criteria. Further disorder-specific assessment measures can be found on the DSM-5
website: www.psychiatry.org/practice/dsm/dsm5/online-assessment-measures.
As mentioned earlier in this chapter, screening is designed only to highlight the existence of symptoms, not
to diagnose clients. Most of the measures described are self-reporting (i.e., they may be self-completed by
the client). Others, however, need to be administered by the AOD worker. Aside from the McLean Screening
Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (described briefly in Appendix H), there are few brief
measures with established reliability and validity for the identification of possible personality disorders. The
possible presence of these disorders needs to be assessed by a health professional who is qualified and
trained to do so (e.g., a registered or clinical psychologist, or psychiatrist).
Kessler psychological distress scale (K10)

The Kessler psychological distress scale (K10) [305] is a widely used, simple self-report measure of
psychological distress which can be used to identify those in need of further assessment for anxiety and
depression (Appendix J). This measure was designed for use in the general population; however, it may
also serve as a useful clinical tool. The K10 comprises 10 questions that are answered using a five-point
scale (where 5 = all of the time, and 1 = none of the time). For all questions, the client circles the answer
truest for them in the past four weeks. Scores are then summed with the maximum score of 50 indicating
severe distress, and the minimum score of 10 indicating no distress. A guide to interpreting K10 scores is
provided in Table 20.

A number of studies have been conducted to test the reliability and validity of the K10, and its brief version,
the K6. Good reliability and validity have been found when these measures have been used with individuals
with AOD use disorders [306-308].
Table 20: Severity of psychological distress according to K10 score
K10 score Level of psychological distress
10–15 Low
16–21 Moderate
22–29 High
30–50 Very high
Adapted from Andrews and Slade [309].
PsyCheck
The Australian PsyCheck screening tool (Appendix K) has been shown to be a valid and useful resource for
clinicians [310]. The screening tool has three sections:
• A general mental health screen, including history of treatment.

• Suicide/self-harm risk assessment.
• The Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ) [311], that assesses for current symptoms of depression and
anxiety.
The PsyCheck manual [310] includes training on how to administer, score, and interpret the results of each
section, and the subsequent steps to take according to the screening results. If the results of the screening
tool indicate high levels of symptomology, further assessment may be warranted. The PsyCheck screening
tool has been shown to have good test-retest reliability in drug-using samples [312]. More information on
the PsyCheck screening tool is available at www.psycheck.org.au.
The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS)

The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) [313] has been shown to be a valid and reliable measure of
the dimensions of depression, anxiety, and stress separately but also taps into a more general dimension
of psychological distress [314]. The DASS is available in two forms: the DASS-21 and the DASS-42. The
use of either test is sufficient in the screening process (i.e., the use of both is unnecessary). The two forms
have 21 and 42 items respectively, and are each rated on a 4-point scale of how much each particular
statement applies to the individual. The DASS is a self-report instrument, and no special skills are required
to administer or score it. However, decisions based on particular score profiles should be made only
by experienced clinicians who have carried out an appropriate clinical examination [313]. Nevertheless,
it is a useful tool for screening and assessment and the DASS-21 is included in Appendix L. A guide to
interpreting DASS scores is provided in Table 21.
Currently, no studies have been conducted to validate the DASS as a measure of depression and anxiety
among people with AOD use disorders. However, one study has shown that the DASS can be used as a
reliable screen for symptoms of PTSD among people with AOD use disorders [315].

Table 21: Interpreting DASS scores
DASS scale score Level of psychological distress
0–77 Normal
78–87 Mild
87–95 Moderate
95–98 Severe
98–100 Extremely severe
Adapted from Lovibond and Lovibond [313].
The Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD)

The Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD) [316] is a very brief 4-item screen designed for use in primary
care and other medical settings to screen for PTSD [316]. The screen includes an introductory sentence
to cue respondents to traumatic events; however, it does not include a list of potentially traumatic events.
Among patients with AOD use disorders, a score of three or above has been shown to indicate the
presence of PTSD [317]. Among people with AOD use disorders, the PC-PTSD has been shown to be a
reliable and valid measure to use when screening for PTSD [317, 318]. This scale is included in Appendix M.
Trauma Screening Questionnaire (TSQ)

The Trauma Screening Questionnaire (TSQ) [319] is a 10-item screening tool for PTSD which has shown
promising results in preliminary investigations. Respondents endorsing at least six items should be
assessed for the presence of PTSD [319]. The TSQ has been shown to be superior to a range of other PTSD
screening measures [320]. At present, the TSQ has not been validated among individuals with AOD use
disorders. The scale is included in Appendix N.
The Psychosis Screener (PS)

The Psychosis Screener (PS) [321] is an interview-style questionnaire rather than self-report and is
therefore administered by the AOD worker (Appendix O). It uses elements of the Composite International
Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) to assess the presence of characteristic psychotic symptoms. The PS has been
shown to have a moderate ability to discriminate between those who meet diagnostic criteria for psychotic
disorders and those who do not in community and prison samples [321, 322]. The PS consists of seven
items; the first six items cover the following features of psychotic disorders: delusions of control, thought
interference and passivity, delusions of reference or persecution, and grandiose delusions. The final item
records whether a respondent has ever received a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
The Indigenous Risk Impact Screen (IRIS)

The Indigenous Risk Impact Screen (IRIS) [323] was developed by an expert group of Indigenous and
non-Indigenous researchers in Queensland to assist with the early identification of AOD problems and
mental health risks. This screen has been shown to be reliable, simple, and effective [324]. It has also been
validated for use in Indigenous prison populations [325]. The IRIS consists of 13 items which are asked
by the AOD worker. The IRIS is made up of two sets of questions, with items 1–7 forming the ‘AOD risk’
component and items 8– 13 forming the ‘mental health and emotional well-being risk’ component. The
items assessing mental health and emotional well-being focus on symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The client chooses the answer from a list of response options which best describes his/her current
situation. After tallying up the corresponding numbers, a score of 10 or greater on the AOD component
indicates problematic use of AOD is likely, while a score of 11 or greater indicates the need for further

assessment or brief intervention regarding mental health and emotional well-being [324]. The IRIS is
included in Appendix P.
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS)

The World Health Organisation developed the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) as a means of
assessing symptoms of ADHD in adults. The full version of the scale contains 18 items, but the short
screener version contains 6 items and has been shown to outperform the original 18-item scale [326].
The 6-point scale involves respondents assessing the frequency of ADHD symptoms over the past six
months, on a 5-item scale ranging from ‘never’ to ‘very often’. The 6-item screener has been validated for
use in AOD populations [327], demonstrating that it is an appropriately sensitive tool for screening for the
presence of ADHD in this population group. The ASRS is included in Appendix Q.
The Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) and Questionnaire (EDE-Q)

The Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) [328] is a diagnostic interview, which has been modified to reflect
current DSM-5 diagnoses. The EDE-Q is the questionnaire form of the EDE, and both are considered the
‘gold standard’ measures of ED psychopathology [329, 330]. As an interview, the EDE is designed to be
administered by a clinician, and the developers recommend clinician training to ensure all concepts being
assessed are well-understood [331]. However, the EDE-Q is a self-report measure, which can be completed
individually, or with the help of a clinician (explaining concepts such as binge eating).
Both measures assess past month cognitive subscales related to ED: restraint, eating concern, shape
concern, and weight concern, as well as behavioural symptoms related to these concerns (e.g., frequency
of binge eating, vomiting, use of laxatives or diuretics, and overexercise) [329]. The EDE-Q has been
validated for use in samples with AOD use disorders [332]. Both instruments are available for free download
from http://www.credo-oxford.com/7.2.html.
Feedback
Following completion of assessment procedures, it is important to interpret the results for the client in a
manner that the client can understand (i.e., not just giving them numerical test scores). When feeding back
assessment results, consider the following [299]:
• Focus first on the client’s strengths.

• Gently and tactfully outline the client’s difficulties.
• Focus on the pattern of results rather than just an overall score.
• Pull the assessment results together and offer hope for the future by discussing a treatment plan.
Again, it is important to stress that these screening measures are not diagnostic; therefore, it is important
not to label a client as having a diagnosis of a disorder unless it has been made by a suitably qualified
mental health professional (e.g., a registered or clinical psychologist, or psychiatrist). Rather, it is best to
focus on the symptoms displayed by the client.
If mental health symptoms are identified, it is important to discuss with the client what they may expect to
experience in relation to these symptoms should he/she reduce or stop AOD use. As discussed in Chapter
A4, if these symptoms are substance-induced, they are likely to dissipate if the person reduces or stops
his/her use. On the other hand, the client’s mental health symptoms may increase when he/she reduces
or stops using, particularly if he/she has been using to self-medicate these symptoms. The latter scenario
is especially common among people who have a history of PTSD symptoms. It is important that the client
knows that you will be monitoring these symptoms to determine whether further treatment may be
required.

B3: Risk
Section
Heading
assessments
Goes here
B3
B3: Risk
assessments
Key Points
• This chapter focuses on two areas of risk: suicide and domestic or
family violence.
• Clients of AOD treatment services are at high-risk of suicide, which
is further increased by the presence of comorbid mental health
disorders.
• Risk of suicide may increase in response to significant life events,
and may fluctuate throughout treatment.
• It is vital that suicide risk assessments are an ongoing process,
with all AOD staff trained to detect the direct and indirect warning
signs of suicide, as well as the assessment and management
of suicidality. AOD workers should utilise their clinical skill and
expertise when incorporating screeners and assessments into their
practice.
• Clients of AOD treatment services are also at increased risk of
domestic or family violence.
• Risk of domestic and family violence should be incorporated into
assessment practices, and AOD workers should be familiar with
organisational policies and procedures for responding to family
violence.
• Responding to domestic and family violence within AOD services
requires a broad, comprehensive, coordinated approach involving
multiple services.
B3: Risk assessments 79

Risk assessment
It is important to assess the risk a client poses to him/herself or others in the informal assessment interview
(described in Chapter B2) and to monitor this throughout treatment. This chapter focuses on two areas of
risk: suicide and domestic or family violence. It should be borne in mind, however, that there are several
other areas of risk that should be assessed and monitored throughout treatment, including self-harm,
homicidal thoughts/attempts, and child welfare, as well as the evaluation of safety regarding sexual
practices, injecting practices, and other high-risk behaviours as appropriate. In any situation where the risk
of harm to self or others is perceived to be significant, other services may need to be enlisted (e.g., police,
ambulance, crisis teams).
Suicidality
The term ‘suicide’ is used in reference to any self-inflicted injury resulting in death, where death was the
deliberate intention [333]. Suicidality therefore relates to any behaviours, thoughts, or intentions which
precede this act or suggest that death may be desired (e.g., self-harming, risk-taking behaviour, suicidal
thoughts, previous attempts, current plans).
Clients of AOD treatment services are at high-risk of suicide [334]. The presence of comorbid mental health
disorders further increases this risk [335-337]. A thorough assessment of suicide risk should take place in
the initial consultation phase and be monitored throughout treatment. How to assess for suicide risk, and
appropriate responses to varying levels of risk, is explained in depth below. Table 22 outlines the dos and
don’ts in regard to the management of suicidality.
Table 22: Dos and don’ts of managing a client who is suicidal
Do:
3 Ensure the client has no immediate means of self-harm; remove weapons and potentially
dangerous objects.
3 Talk to the client alone – without any family or friends present.
3 Allow sufficient time to discuss the issue.
3 Discuss limits of confidentiality.
3 Introduce suicide in an open, yet general way.
3 Be non-judgemental and empathetic.
3 Emphasise that there is help available.
3 Validate the client’s feelings and emphasise the fact that speaking with you is a positive thing.
3 Consider what the predominant concern is for the client, and how you might be able to help remedy
this concern (e.g., removal of stresses, decreasing social isolation).
3 Contact the local mental health crisis team if the client appears to be at high-risk.
Don’t:
2 Invalidate the client’s feelings (e.g., ‘All you have to do is pull yourself together’, ‘Things will work
out’).
2 Panic if someone starts talking about their suicidal feelings. These feelings are common and talking
about them is an important, encouraging first step.
2 Be afraid of asking about suicidal thoughts. Most clients are quite happy to answer such questions.
2 Worry that questions about suicide may instil the idea in the client’s mind.
2 Leave a high-risk client unattended.
Adapted from NSW Department of Health [277].
80 B3: Risk assessments

The assessment of suicide risk is a process through which an AOD worker directly enquires about suicidal
thoughts (frequency, intensity, plans, intent), history of suicidal behaviour and self-harm, current stressors,
hopelessness, and protective factors (e.g., family, friends, other services). Discussing suicide with clients
is vital and does not increase the risk of suicidal behaviour [338, 339]. Rather, sensitive questioning by
a worker can be a relief for clients who have been harbouring thoughts of self-harm, and provides an
opportunity to manage this risk appropriately, either within the AOD service, or in collaboration with mental
health and emergency services [123].
Despite the need for suicide risk assessments, research suggests that many AOD services either have no
written suicide risk assessment policy, unclear procedures regarding assessment and/or intervention, or
policies and procedures of which AOD staff are not aware [340].
In response to the need for AOD staff to have access to resources that will assist with the identification
and management of suicide risk, the Suicide Assessment Kit (SAK) was developed [341]. The SAK is a
comprehensive assessment and policy package, specifically developed to help AOD services assess and
manage suicide risk. It contains three key resources for AOD staff and managers (see Table 23):
• A suicide risk screener.

• A suicide risk formulation template.
• A suicide policies and procedures pro forma.
Table 23: Suicide Assessment Kit key resources
Resource Purpose
Suicide risk Designed for use at specific time points in treatment (i.e., admission, transition
screener points, discharge), or when the client is suspected to be at increased risk of
suicide.
Suicide risk Designed to help AOD workers develop a comprehensive picture of

formulation background factors that may contribute to a client’s risk of suicide, as well as
template strengths and protective factors that can be incorporated into management and
treatment.
Suicide policies Designed to help agencies develop policies and procedures for the assessment
and procedures and management of suicide risk, as well as documentation regarding file and
pro forma resource sharing, referral sources, and procedures.
A number of other supporting resources are included in the SAK, which may be useful to AOD workers
in the identification and management of suicide risk. These, along with the full SAK resource (including
training videos), may be downloaded from the SAK webpage: https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/suicide-
assessment-kit.
It should be emphasised that although these resources can be incorporated into AOD workers’ everyday
practice, it is vital that risk assessments are not conducted according to a checklist or flowchart procedure.
All clinicians bring a wealth of knowledge, background, skills, and experience, all of which should inform
the evaluation and assessment of an individual client’s level of risk. The screeners and templates included
in this section (and in Appendix R) rely on AOD workers incorporating their knowledge, judgement,
expertise, and skill in the assessment of risk. Figure 11 illustrates a shared assessment space, where both
the AOD worker and client bring their respective backgrounds, and the AOD worker draws upon their
expertise to conduct the assessment.

Figure 11: Shared risk assessment space between AOD workers and AOD clients
Assessment
space
Client
AOD worker
background, needs,
skills, knowledge,
warning signs, risk
experience,
factors, protective
background
factors
Suicide Risk Screener

As mentioned, the Suicide Risk Screener was developed as part of the SAK in response to research
that highlighted the need for improved assessment and management of suicide risk in AOD residential
rehabilitation programs Australia-wide [340]. It can be used to assist in ascertaining clients’ level of risk,
determine what intervention and management strategies are required, and develop a safety plan to reduce
risk [341]. The Suicide Risk Screener, scorer, and interpretation are located in Appendix R.
When to complete the Suicide Risk Screener

It is vital that suicide risk assessment be conducted at various points throughout treatment, and should not
be viewed as a one-off event. Assessing risk should be conducted at particularly significant transition points
within treatment (e.g., intake, discharge), as well as times when crisis is clearly visible [341]. In addition to
conducting risk assessments at fixed points throughout treatment, it is important that AOD workers respond
to their own informal assessment and conduct additional screening depending on a client’s presentation,
behaviour, personal situation and/or circumstances, or ominous statements [341].
Warning signs for suicide

Research has identified the importance of both warning signs and risk factors for suicide in conducting
suicide risk assessments [342]. Warning signs for suicide are specific to the current state of the person
(e.g., behaviours preparing for suicide), and indicate a heightened risk in the near-term (e.g., minutes, hours,
or days). In contrast, risk factors are often long-lasting and increase suicide risk over time (e.g., lifetime
psychiatric diagnoses, past suicide attempts) [342].

Warning signs may be immediately apparent at intake or may arise during treatment. The presence of
warning signs indicates that screening and information gathering regarding suicidality is required. Warning
signs can be either direct, requiring immediate attention, or indirect, which are less identifiable [342]. Direct
signs include [341]:
• Suicidal communication: A client threatening to hurt or kill him/herself, or talking about wanting to do
so. This also includes speaking ominously, such as talking about going away, or of others being better
off without them.
• Seeking access to a method: A client looking for ways to kill him/herself by seeking access to pills,
rope, or other means.
• Making plans: A client talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide, when these are out of the
ordinary for the person.
Indirect warning signs are less easily identifiable, and require a heightened level of awareness, particularly
as many indirect signs may also occur in AOD clients who are not suicidal [341]. Regardless, they are critical
in assessing level of suicide risk. The mnemonic ‘IS PATH WARM’ (see Table 24) may be useful in assisting
AOD workers remember these signs [343], with each letter corresponding to a specific warning sign
experienced or reported in the last few months [344].
Table 24: IS PATH WARM: Suicide warning signs and explanation
Mnemonic Warning sign Explanation
I Ideation Has the client expressed desire to kill him/herself, with

a method that he/she has access to, or can access (e.g.,
weapon, pills), or an intention to obtain a method for the
purposes killing of him/herself?
S Substance use Has the client’s AOD use changed (i.e., frequency, severity)?
Has he/she recently relapsed?
P Purposelessness Does the client express a lack of purpose in life, or reason for
living?
A Anger Does the client express feelings of rage, uncontrolled anger, or

revenge-seeking?
T Trapped Does the client feel trapped in a terrible situation from which
there is no escape?
H Hopelessness Does the client have a negative sense of self, others, and the
future, with little chance of positive change?
W Withdrawal Does the client indicate a desire to withdraw from significant

others, or has he/she already begun withdrawing?
A Anxiety Does the client feel anxious, agitated, unable to relax, and/or
report disturbances in sleep?
R Recklessness Does the client act recklessly without thinking or considering

the consequences?
M Mood changes Does the client report experiencing dramatic shifts in

emotions?
Adapted from Juhnke et al. [344] and Deady et al. [341].

The risk of suicide can increase during times of significant events, stress, upheaval, or trauma. It is likely that
warning signs will be more pronounced during such times. These might include [341]:
• Relationship break-up/significant relationship problems.

• Trauma.
• Impending legal event.
• Child custody issues.
• Past history/family history of suicide or suicide attempt, or recent suicide of friend.
• Loss of a loved one.
• Financial crisis, job loss, employment set back.
• Family conflict or breakdown.
• Chronic pain or illness.
• AOD relapse.
• AOD intoxication.
• Recent discharge from treatment service.
Direct warning signs indicate a need for immediate assessment and intervention, and although the
presence of indirect warning signs may not indicate acute suicide risk, there is the need for follow-up
questions to determine whether suicidality is indicated. This requires a degree of judgement and skill by
the AOD worker. Careful elicitation of suicidal ideation does not increase the risk of suicide [338, 339]. When
in doubt, it is critically important that workers ask clients directly.
As mentioned previously, it is critical that suicide risk assessment be an ongoing process and not a one-
off event. Clients’ suicidality may change throughout treatment to reflect the changes in his/her AOD use,
mental health, or personal circumstances, and there is a need for AOD workers to monitor and assess for
any such changes. Whenever suicide risk is at all suspected, it is essential that AOD workers enquire as
to the presence of suicidal thoughts and/or feelings. Regular assessment of suicidality and a therapeutic
relationship in which a client feels they can talk openly will help clinicians gather the best possible estimate
of suicide risk [345].
Responding to chronic suicidality

An additional challenge for AOD workers is managing and responding to chronic suicidality, which is
experienced by some clients, particularly those who have experienced complex trauma [346]. Chronic
suicidality may vary in intensity over time, and the difficulty for clinicians is to determine when to intervene.
It is important for clinicians to be able to identify and distinguish the differences between acute and chronic
suicidality, as chronic suicidality is managed slightly differently [346]. The NHMRC [345] suggests:
• It can be unhelpful, or even escalate behaviour, if chronically suicidal clients are hospitalised or closely
observed in attempts to prevent suicide.
• As quality of life improves, intensity of suicidality may lessen. As such, counselling should focus on
factors that may improve quality of life.
• People who are at immediate, acute high-risk of suicide are likely to need interventions to ensure their
immediate safety (e.g., short-term hospitalisation).
Strategies that might assist workers to determine whether the risk of suicide in a person with chronic
suicidality might escalate to becoming acute include [345]:
• Changes in the usual pattern or type of self-harm.

• Significant change in mental state (e.g., sustained and severe depressed mood, worsening of a major
depressive episode, severe and prolonged dissociation, appearance of psychotic states).

• Worsening of AOD use disorder.
• Presentation to health services in a highly regressed, uncommunicative, or withdrawn state.
• Recent discharge from psychiatric facility (within last few weeks).
• Recent discharge from psychiatric treatment due to breach of treatment contract.
• Recent adverse life events (e.g., loss of breakdown of significant relationship, legal, employment or
financial problems).
Figure 12 provides a guide to help estimate the level of risk in chronically at-risk clients. Changes to levels
of risk are indicated by changes in the pattern of risk behaviour (i.e., frequency, type, or severity).
Figure 12: Estimating the probable level of suicide risk
High lethality
of method of
High chronic self-harm Acute high-risk
Chronic pattern New pattern

of self-harm of self-harm
behaviour behaviour
Low-lethality
New
Chronic method of
emerging
low-risk self-harm
risk
Source: NHMRC [345], adapted from Spectrum: www.spectrum.bpd.com.au
In terms of responding to the differing levels of risk presented in Figure 12 [345]:
• If a client is at chronic low-risk (the bottom left-hand quadrant of Figure 12), they are at relatively low-
risk of suicide and workers should focus on factors associated with improving quality of life.
• If a client at chronic low-risk begins to use more lethal methods of self-harm over a longer term,
they become at chronic high-risk of suicide (top right-hand quadrant of Figure 12). Hospitalisation at
this point will probably not be appropriate, because the chronic high-risk will likely continue beyond
the conclusion of hospital admission. Rather, clinicians should focus on improving quality of life and
assisting clients to manage issues that are driving their suicidality.
• If a client who has been chronic low-risk begins to demonstrate new symptoms or behaviours (bottom
right-hand quadrant of Figure 12), they should be closely assessed, additional risk factors should be
assessed, and clinicians should focus on improving quality of life. Hospitalisation is not appropriate
unless new behaviours suggest immediate risk of suicide.
• If a client at high chronic risk of suicide begins to demonstrate new symptoms (behavioural or mental
health issues that indicate immediate risk of suicide; top right-hand quadrant of Figure 12), the person’s
immediate safety should be ensured. A brief period of inpatient admission may be indicated, followed
by counselling on discharge focused on improvement of quality of life and monitoring suicidality.

Domestic and family violence
AOD use has been associated with both the perpetration and victimisation of domestic and family violence
[347-350]. Evidence suggests that up to 80% of women attending AOD treatment have experienced
violence [351]. Although domestic and family violence is commonly characterised as males using violence
against females, this is not the only form of family violence. Other relationships can experience family
violence, including same-sex, non-spousal, and carer relationships, and can involve children [350].
The high prevalence of AOD clients who have experienced domestic and family violence highlights the
need for AOD workers to conduct thorough and effective assessments, and respond to the problem. Key
factors that have implications for AOD workers are illustrated in Table 25.
Table 25: Key issues in domestic and family violence and implications for AOD workers
Key factor Significance Implication for AOD workers
AOD use Among women in AOD treatment, the Attempt to identify power and control
relationship between AOD use and strategies employed by those using
family violence is thought to be bi- violence, whilst supporting and
directional (i.e., AOD use can increase preserving the abused person’s safety
the risk of violence and vice versa) [352, [354].
353].
Gender In general, women and children are Family violence also occurs in
victimised more than men, and men non-spousal, same-sex, and carer
are more likely than women to use relationships, and can involve children.
violence in relationships. Women are Risk assessment is warranted for all
also more likely than men to be injured clients, which should include exposure
through family violence, and therefore to, and use of, violence in relationships
express fear [351, 355, 356]. [350].
Comorbidity Not all families with AOD and mental Responding to AOD and mental
health conditions have family violence, health conditions needs to be broad,
but families with AOD and mental comprehensive, and involve multiple
health conditions and family violence services in a cohesive, coordinated
are at increased risk of experiencing response (see Chapter B4).
other problems, such as psychiatric
comorbidity, physical health problems,
housing and/or employment problems,
socioeconomic disadvantage, and
social isolation [350].
AOD workers should also have an understanding of the dynamics and complexities involved in domestic
and family violence, and the reasons why many people remain in violent relationships. These include [357]:
• Fear, arising from the violent person’s threats or behaviour, that the person subjected to violence will
face further violence, increased danger, or loss of life.
• Fear of stalking or abduction.
• Isolation or rejection from family, friends, and community.
• Loss of home, income, pets and possessions, or having a reduced standard of living.
• Negative impacts on children such as loss of school, friends, community, relationship with parent or
family.

• Grief for loss of partnership.
• Feelings of guilt and self-blame.
• Fear of losing children or having children removed.
The strategies listed in Table 26 may be helpful for AOD workers managing clients experiencing domestic
or family violence. AOD workers should be familiar with their organisational policies and procedures relating
to domestic and family violence, with access to supervision if needed, and knowledge of appropriate
referral and clinical pathways. Further information on domestic and family violence and child protection
guidelines specific to each Australian jurisdiction can be found via state and territory websites.
Table 26: Dos and don’ts of managing a client experiencing domestic and family
violence
Do:
3 Be open, approachable, and trustworthy.

3 Take the client seriously. Tell them you believe them, and emphasise that it is not their fault.
3 Let the client know how much you appreciate how difficult it is to talk about.
3 Seek to build the client’s confidence and empower them – it takes courage and strength to survive
violence.
3 Let the client dictate the pace, and encourage their progress.
3 Listen to what the client says about what they want, and how they view their level of danger. Most
people only reveal a small amount of the abuse they have endured – only they know how much
danger they are in.
3 Explore options and choices, including ways of increasing the client’s safety – whether they choose
to leave the situation or not.
Don’t:
2 Undermine the client by making them feel inadequate for not seeking help earlier. Remember he/
she may have sought help earlier, or may not have been able to.
2 Patronise or speak down to the client.
2 Give your own opinion, be judgmental, or decide who in the relationship is to blame.
2 Rush the client, or tell them what they should do.
2 Give up or become frustrated if things are taking longer than you think they should. It may be
frustrating seeing the client hurt or subjected to violence, but their actions and choices are their
decision. They must not sense your frustration.
2 Act as a go-between, provide details to his/her partner, pass on letters or messages, or facilitate
contact in any way. This is not only unethical, but places you both in danger.
Adapted from the Stella Project [357].

B4: Care
Section
Heading
coordination
Goes here
B4
B4: Care
coordination
Key Points
• People with comorbid mental health and AOD use disorders often
present to treatment with various issues that need to be addressed
during the course of treatment (e.g., physical health, housing,
employment, education and training, legal issues, and family
situations).
• Evidence has linked coordinated care with improved treatment
outcomes. Specifically, the coordination of health responses into
a cohesive approach has been found to prolong client retention,
increase treatment satisfaction, improve quality of life, and
increase the use of community-based services.
• Although coordinated care may be facilitated by a coordinator
or case manager, they are not expected to provide all of the
necessary services themselves, but rather refer to, and manage the
engagement of, appropriate services.
• The principles of coordinated care can be adopted into referrals
and discharge practices, with an emphasis placed on the
importance of communication, consultation, and interagency
support.
• AOD services and AOD workers should develop links with a range
of local services and engage them in clients’ treatment where
appropriate.
• Discharge planning in close consultation with the client is integral
to the treatment process.
B4: Care coordination 88

Care Coordination
There has been increased recognition of the need for a holistic approach to health care, which is better
able to incorporate services that reflect a person’s need for housing, employment, education, training,
community, justice, and other support services in the delivery of appropriate mental health care [358].
As described in Chapters B1 and B2, people with comorbid mental health and AOD use disorders often
present to treatment with numerous additional issues that need to be addressed during the course of
treatment, including physical health, housing, employment, education and training, legal issues, and family
situations. Failing to address these issues as part of treatment may hinder the client’s progress in relation to
their mental health and AOD use goals [276].
Engaging with other services is best thought of as a consultative process. GPs are of particular importance
as, in many cases, they have a prior relationship with the client and they are often the client’s only
consistent form of contact with the health care system. Most importantly, consultation with other services
should be based on the most essential and desired needs of the client. Although some clients may benefit
from treatment by mental health professionals, they may not be ready for such treatment and it should not
be forced at the risk of alienating them (unless they pose a risk to themselves or others). MI (discussed in
Appendix E) can help clients gain willingness to receive treatment but others may not be ready even after
such attempts are made. Each client is different and will manage his/her situation differently – the key is to
support and guide clients and facilitate treatment and access to services as required. Figure 13 illustrates
some of the services that may need to be incorporated into a coordinated approach to clinical care.
Figure 13: Services that AOD workers may need to engage in client care
Psychologist
General
practitioner Psychiatrist
Mental health Social/

services welfare
services
AOD
Employment treatment Translation/
culture
services specific
agency
Medical Social
services services
Criminal Housing
justice services
89 B4: Care coordination

Coordinated care increases the likelihood that clients will receive specialised assistance where it is needed,
and facilitates client engagement in treatment. There is evidence to suggest that care coordination
is effective in prolonging client retention, increasing treatment satisfaction, improving quality of life,
and increasing the use of community-based services [359]. Treatment retention has been consistently
associated with better treatment outcomes among people with AOD use disorders [359].
Evidence suggests that clients place a high degree of importance on interagency cooperation in terms
of coordinated care and case management, with higher levels of service integration associated with
clients reporting that their needs have been better met [360]. Clients have described the optimal service
as one that delivers a coordinated, holistic approach, where staff are aware of the needs of clients and are
proactive in following them up, and work with other services to deliver seamless care [360]. Conversely,
a lack of coordinated care and service integration can have a negative impact on clients. Distress may
arise from the need for clients to continuously retell upsetting stories or rehash details to multiple service
providers. Confusion may also result from having a number of different health care workers involved in the
care of one person without coordination [360].
Despite the need for integrated service approaches to respond to complex problems, the practical
implementation may not be so straight-forward. The primary challenge may lie in structural barriers, service
silos, and older models of mental health support, which prevent the effective provision of holistic care
[361]. In turn, many people with mental health conditions experience a lack of coordinated care, or service
integration, and consequently fall ‘between the gaps’ [98].
What is coordinated care?

Innovative models of health care are not only focused on providing physical or mental health care, but
seek to incorporate services that are reflective of a person’s broader needs (e.g., employment, housing,
education, training, community, and justice health services) [362]. The actual definition of coordinated care
can vary between services, and can include case management, collaborative care, shared care, team
coordination, and multidisciplinary care [362]. In practice, coordinated care should involve the coordinated
delivery of individual services across multiple sectors, which is perceived as a seamless service system by
clients, and results in overall improved client outcomes [360]. Despite differences in terminologies, the core
elements remain the same. Figure 14 illustrates the core elements of care coordination.
Although coordinated care is facilitated by an identified coordinator or case manager, they are not
expected to provide all of the necessary services themselves, but rather refer to, and manage the
engagement of, appropriate services. The challenge for a holistic health care approach to comorbidity is
in the active engagement of multiple services and service providers, with a mixture of professional and
non-professional support [362]. AOD workers in particular, are in primary positions to coordinate care,
and incorporate the many services that reflect the particular needs of clients, to deliver the best quality
mental health services. Box 12 illustrates the continuation of case study K, following Sarah’s story as one
community mental health nurse attempts to coordinate her physical and mental health care.

Figure 14: Core elements of a coordinated care
Assessment:
Comprehensive
assessment of the
client’s needs
Client-centred:
Delivery: The right
Interdisciplinary
services to the right
approach to responsive
person at the right
integrated health care
time
and social support
Coordinated Facilitation: Care

coordinator manages
Organisation:
Agency staff and
care engagement with
appropriate services,
resources necessary follows evidence-based
to carry out client care standards, assesses
care client’s needs and
preferences
Coordination:
Information exchange Development:
between care Comprehensive care
providers, including plan
familiy and friends
Adapted from McDonald et al. [363], Ehrlich et al. [364], Brown et al. [365], NSW Mental Health Coordinating Council
[366].
Box 12: Case study K: Managing comorbid physical, mental, and AOD use disorders:
Sarah’s story continued
Case study K: Managing comorbid physical, mental, and AOD use

disorders: Sarah’s story continued
On assessment, it was evident that Sarah had a range of unmet health needs. The community mental
health nurse liaised with Sarah’s GP and organised a number of physical health exams and screening
measures (including an electrocardiogram to assess for any potential side effects related to the use
of antipsychotics or identify any cardiac problems, as well as cervical screening, mammography, and
blood tests). The community mental health nurse arranged to meet Sarah at her home on the day of the
various tests and investigations, to ensure that she kept these appointments, and met Sarah on the day
she had an appointment with her GP to discuss the results.
Over the course of the next few months, Sarah’s community mental health nurse attempted to
coordinate the care between Sarah and her GP, ensuring Sarah remained in contact with her GP and
attended follow-up appointments. The nurse also encouraged Sarah to attend an exercise class at her
local fitness centre, and the GP made a referral to a dietician, who provided Sarah with nutritional advice

Box 12: Case study K continued: Managing comorbid physical, mental, and AOD use
disorders: Sarah’s story (continued)
and developed a healthy eating plan. The GP worked out a smoking cessation program for Sarah, part of
which involved NRT.
The physical health assessments revealed the presence of a long-term sexually transmitted infection,
for which Sarah was treated. She told the nurse that during periods of AOD use, or in periods when her
mood was ‘high’, she’d had unprotected sex, and felt guilty and ashamed by her sexual activity. Although
Sarah’s physical health needs were being addressed, she and the nurse developed a long-term plan for
following up appointments and repeating various physical health assessments (e.g., weight and blood
pressure) at regular intervals. The nurse copied Sarah’s notes to the other agencies involved in her care.
One central continuing need was for Sarah to have assertive support and follow-up (including her notes
being passed on in the case of another move), and the acknowledgement that without this support,
there was the possibility for Sarah to ‘drift on’, and stop attending appointments. Sarah’s nurse reminded
her of her health care appointments via text message.
Key points:
• There is a need for AOD workers to place more emphasis on physical health as a priority (bearing in
mind the years of life lost in this population).
• Once the health needs of clients are recognised, holistic health care interventions such as physical
activity, smoking cessation, healthy eating, and healthy sleep patterns can follow. The importance of
compliance with physical health medications (e.g., blood pressure and diabetes medications) should
also be emphasised.
• Many clients may require more assertive follow-up, including long-term practical support (e.g.,
phone or text reminders, or someone to accompany the client to appointments).
• Communication between AOD workers, mental health services, and GPs is essential.
Barriers to effective coordinated care

Despite the need for holistic approaches to complex problems, there are several practical barriers that
prevent effective care coordination between services. These include structural barriers, lack of clear
communication and competition between traditionally separate services, all of which make collaboration
difficult.
With coordinated approaches requiring the involvement of services and service providers in working
partnerships, there is the potential for a lack of clarity regarding roles and responsibilities of different
stakeholders [367], making communication between services even more important. Further, the nature of
competitive tendering arrangements between services to determine government funding, and focus on
occupied bed days, creates tension and competition between agencies who must work together to provide
collaborative health care [362]. For some services, this working environment may foster creativity; others
may find their collaborative efforts stifled, and the associated difficulties overwhelming [362].
An additional barrier that may prevent effective collaboration between services is the lack of an existing
model to follow. Some common principles that can be incorporated into care coordination include [368]:

• Cross-disciplinary training and involvement of external service providers in case review meetings.
• Communication between services and service providers.
• Shared respect for the client and their health needs, and a common work culture that incorporates
collaboration as a key aim.
• Recognition that co-location alone does not result in effective service coordination or increase
communication.
• Recognition of barriers to referral pathways, which include staff turnover, client confidentiality, and
competition between services and service providers, which in turn requires dedication and commitment
to overcome.
Referrals
Some circumstances may necessitate the consideration of referring a client to other clinicians or services.
This may be to obtain additional services, or because the clinician feels that the client requires responses
that are beyond their own level of skills and expertise [276]. As mentioned in Chapter A3, it is vital that AOD
workers can appreciate their level of expertise and training but also have the ability to recognise their own
limits and work within their own capacity. Referring a client to a more suitable clinician is an ethical practice
that ensures appropriate treatment needs will be met, and requesting supervisor support can be useful in
this process [276].
Where possible, however, clients should be retained in AOD treatment whilst accessing other services,
rather than excluded from AOD services and referred to others. For example, a client entering residential
rehabilitation who has been identified as having a bipolar disorder may be retained in AOD treatment, but it
may be useful to obtain a short appointment with a psychiatrist who can undertake an assessment, provide
a diagnosis, and prescribe medications; the client’s condition can then be managed while he/she is in the
residential service. Increasingly, a number of employment, welfare, and medical services are providing
consultation times within AOD services to facilitate client access to these services.
In some cases, however, it may be necessary to refer clients to external services. For example, in cases of
acute psychosis and suicidality, it may be necessary to contact the local mental health crisis assessment
and treatment service to come and assess the client for admission to appropriate mental health services.
AOD workers should be aware that in instances where the client needs to leave the AOD treatment setting
to have more immediate needs met prior to addressing their AOD use (e.g., acute mental health or medical
issues), their relationship with the client should not cease. The client will still require AOD treatment after
these issues have been addressed and it is important to follow-up with the client and referral agency
regarding the provision of this treatment.
One of the biggest risks in the referral of clients to external services is the potential for clients to ‘fall through
the gaps’ and disappear from treatment altogether. People with comorbid conditions in particular often
have difficulty navigating their way through the available services. The act of trying to navigate the health
care system has been likened to a roundabout with many points of entry and many options regarding the
direction to be taken [80]. Therefore, it is crucial that the referral process focuses on linking the client with
services as smoothly as possible. This may be assisted by the development of formal links between services
regarding consultation, referral pathways, and collaboration, such as a memorandum of understanding.
Where referral is non-urgent (e.g., they do not require urgent medical or psychiatric attention), the referral
process may be passive, facilitated, or active (see Table 27). In the case of clients with comorbid conditions,
active referral is recommended over passive or facilitated referral. When referring a client to an outside
service, it is crucial that AOD workers consult with the referral agency to determine whether the client kept
the appointment, whether assistance was provided and what progress was made. This process of assertive
follow-up is particularly crucial in cases where the referral is related to a high-risk situation (e.g., suicidal
intent).

With clients’ permission, families and carers should be involved in the referral process wherever possible,
as they will often need to facilitate clients’ access to other services. Families and carers should also be
informed of services available to them in the form of advocacy and support groups.
Table 27: Referral processes
Passive referral
Passive referral occurs when the client is given the details of the referral agency in order to make his/
her own appointment. This method is almost never suitable for clients with comorbidity.
Facilitated referral
Facilitated referral occurs when the client is helped to access the other service; for example, with the
client’s permission, the worker makes an appointment with the other service on his/her behalf.
Active referral
Active referral occurs when the worker telephones the other agency in the presence of the client and
an appointment is made. The worker, with the client’s consent, provides information that has been
collected about the client with his/her professional assessment of the client’s needs. Such referral
is necessary when clients are unmotivated, unlikely, or unable to do so themselves. This method of
referral is recommended for clients with comorbidity.
Adapted from Clemens et al. [369] and Rastegar [370].
Communicating with other services

Good communication and sharing information between all health professionals involved in the care of
people with comorbid conditions is essential to adequate care. Ensure that:
• You obtain the client’s consent before sharing any information.

• The client is kept informed during this process.
• Confidentiality is maintained (e.g., obtain client’s written permission for release of case notes and avoid
faxing confidential information).
When consulting with or referring clients to other services, assessment reports are often requested
by those services. When writing an assessment report for an external party the following should be
considered [276]:
• Include only relevant and important information, including reasons for referral.
• Write in a clear, simple, and objective writing style.
• Include mental state examination report if necessary.
• Be concise.
• Always cite the source of the information. For example, ‘Andrew stated that…; his parents revealed that…’
• Consider all sources of information in your conclusions.
• Avoid jargon.
• Eliminate any ambiguous, biased, or judgemental wording.
• Mark all reports ‘STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL’.
• Avoid faxing confidential information.
A pro forma which may be useful in the referral process is included in Appendix S.

In an attempt to increase communication, teamwork, and safety, a model of standardised communication
has been introduced in various healthcare settings, modelled on aviation approaches to standardised
safety processes [371]. The model, ISBAR, is a standardised cross-professional tool for enhancing
communication, organised in a clear and concise format (see Figure 15) [372]. Although commonly used in
clinical handover, ISBAR may also be useful in referral and discharge, with clinicians communicating with
other services and agencies about client care.
Figure 15: ISBAR model of effective communication
ISBAR
Identify I am [name]… I work at [place] as a [role]…
Situation I have a client who is… with… and…
Background The clinical background/context is…
Assessment I think the problem might be… The client is at risk of…
Recommendation What is recommended? Risks are… Person responsible is…
Adapted from Scotten et al. [373] and SA Health [374].
South Australia Health has developed an ISBAR toolkit to assist with the safe transfer and handover of client
information in handover and discharge. They recommend that ISBAR be adapted for use to fit within each
clinical practice, and is an opportunity for different health care teams to determine which client information is
always handed over and discussed as routine practice [374].
Some examples of how to modify ISBAR to your clinical practice include [374]:
• Identify: Include client’s medical record number if available, their full name and date of birth
• Situation: What was the reason for the client’s initial presentation? What is their diagnosis? Are they on
current pharmacotherapy? What other treatments have they had, and when?
• Background: Include relevant previous history (e.g., homeless, unemployed, living with abusive ex-partner).
• Assessment: When was their last clinical assessment/investigation? What do you think they may be at risk
for?
• Recommendation: Actions required after handover/discharge.
The NSW Ministry of Health have made ISBAR a mandatory component of referring patients to hospital
drug and alcohol clinical liaison services [375], and have developed an ISBAR app which is available for free
download on the iTunes and Android app stores.

Communicating with the client about referral
Referral to other services should involve openness with the client regarding the reasons for referral. To
assist the client in attending a referral appointment, it can be useful to discuss issues such as:
• Name, phone number, and address of the referral service.

• Directions and transportation to and from the service appointment.
• What the client can expect upon arrival at the service, along with the nature, purpose and value of the
referral.
• Written material about the service (if available).
• A method of contacting the AOD worker.
• Any other concerns the client has about the referral.
Continue to provide support to the client until an appointment with the new clinician or agency has been
arranged [276].
Discharge planning
It is important to prepare clients ahead of time for the cessation of treatment. This is known as the process
of discharge planning, and is focused on equipping the client with the skills and contacts to continue the
positive progress of treatment and avoid relapse. It is important to involve clients in their discharge planning
and make them fully aware of their options [169]. It is useful to arrange or plan follow-up consultations to
monitor how well the client is maintaining the progress made during therapy; however, a client has the
right to refuse further follow-up; if this occurs, note the refusal in the client’s record and avoid judgemental
reactions [169].
Attempt to link the client with further treatment or support and provide emergency assistance numbers.
Communicate with relevant service providers where necessary as outlined above. As with all other steps
in the treatment process, the discharge plan should be documented in the client’s record. Research has
indicated that the increasing number of health workers involved in managing complex clients creates
challenges for maintaining effective communication between all involved [376]. The likelihood of an
adverse event is increased when clients are frequently handed over, transferred or discharged, making the
importance of effective communication and accurate case notes even more vital [377]. Challenges for busy
health care staff include [378]:
• Multitasking.
• Shift changes.
• Gaps in information transfer.
• Interruptions.
• Previous handover lacks detail or was inconsistent.
It is also important to consider such aspects as stability of accommodation and social support when
planning for discharge and, with the client’s consent, to involve family and carers as they will play an
important role in maintaining treatment outcomes [276, 379]. It is useful to discuss relapse prevention and
other strategies (e.g., problem solving, goal setting, and relaxation) with the client during discharge planning
and provide the client with skills to manage high-risk situations, lapses and symptoms of mental health
conditions that may occur. Chapter B5 provides useful information regarding relapse prevention, support
and self-help groups, and other management techniques that clients may benefit from. Appendices T and
U provide useful CBT and anxiety management strategies.

B5
B5: Approaches
Section
Heading
to comorbidity
Goes here
B5:
Approaches to
comorbidity
Key Points
• Four models of care have been identified in the treatment of
comorbidity: sequential treatment, parallel treatment, integrated
treatment, and stepped care.
• Integrated treatment presents a number of advantages over other
treatment approaches; however, there is limited evidence to
suggest that any one model is better than another.
• Both psychological and pharmacological interventions have been
found to have some benefit in the treatment of many comorbidities.
• When pharmacotherapy is used, this should be accompanied by
supportive psychosocial interventions.
This chapter aims to provide AOD workers with an overview of models of care and approaches that are
commonly used in the treatment of both AOD and mental health disorders. In Chapter B6 we discuss the
evidence regarding the efficacy of these approaches in relation to the management and treatment of
specific comorbid mental disorders.
Models of care
Prior to discussing specific treatment options, mention needs to be made of the various models that have
been proposed to treat comorbid conditions. Four approaches have been suggested (see Table 28):
• Sequential treatment.
• Parallel treatment.
• Integrated treatment.
• Stepped care.
B5: Approaches to comorbidity 97

There has been much discussion of models of care for clients with comorbid conditions, but very little
research is available to determine which models may suit which comorbidities. AOD workers need to make
pragmatic decisions as to which model is most appropriate for individual clients.
The idea of integrated treatment for two disorders has considerable intuitive appeal, and presents a
number of advantages over other treatment approaches. Integrated treatment by a single service helps
to ensure that there is a single point of contact (the client does not ‘fall through the gaps’), there are
common objectives, treatment is internally consistent, the relationship between AOD use and mental
health conditions may be explored, and communication problems between agencies do not interfere with
treatment [32].
While applying an integrated treatment approach to comorbidity is appealing, there has been very little
research undertaken comparing the different models [380]. Many studies examining the efficacy of
integrated treatments compare them with a ‘treatment as usual’ control group, so these designs cannot
establish the efficacy of integrated treatment relative to parallel or sequential treatment. However, there is
some emerging evidence to suggest that integrated treatments may be superior to parallel or sequential
treatments in terms of improving outcomes for mental health and substance use [381-384]. There is also
growing support for the use of a stepped care approach to treating comorbidity [385-387].
Table 28: Approaches to treating comorbid AOD and mental health conditions
Sequential treatment
The client is treated for one condition first which is followed by treatment for the other condition. With
this model, the AOD use is typically addressed first then the mental health problem, but in some cases
it may be whichever disorder is considered to be primary (i.e., which came first).
Parallel treatment
Both the client’s AOD use and mental health condition are treated simultaneously but the treatments
are provided independent of each other. Treatment for AOD use is provided by one treatment provider
or service, while the mental health condition is treated by another provider or service.
Integrated treatment
Both the client’s AOD use and mental health condition are treated simultaneously by the same
treatment provider or service. This approach allows for the exploration of the relationship between the
person’s AOD use and his/her mental health condition.
Stepped care
Stepped care means the flexible matching of treatment intensity with case severity. The least intensive
and expensive treatment is initially used and a more intensive or different form of treatment is offered
only when the less intensive form has been insufficient.
98 B5: Approaches to comorbidity

Approaches to comorbidity
This section provides a brief introduction to different approaches to the treatment of comorbid AOD
use and mental health disorders. It does not attempt to provide detailed information relating to the
implementation of these approaches, but rather, an overview of the options available. Where appropriate,
readers are referred to existing literature and resources for more detail about the use of particular
interventions.
AOD workers are likely familiar with traditional psychological and pharmacological approaches to the
treatment of comorbidity. Other approaches include self-help groups, e-health interventions, physical
activity, and complementary and alternative therapies. It is essential to consider the whole person and
accept that one approach is not necessarily going to work for all clients. Different clients present with
unique biological, psychological, and sociodemographic backgrounds and it is important to take these
factors into consideration when deciding on an approach, or combination of approaches, with the client.
Psychological approaches
There are a number of psychological treatment approaches that are commonly used in the treatment of
many mental health disorders [94]. These approaches include:
• Motivational interviewing (MI).

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
• Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT).
• Relapse prevention.
• Mindfulness.
• Contingency management.
• Psychosocial group therapy.
Many AOD workers would be familiar with these approaches as they are also used in the treatment of AOD
use disorders. In some cases, it may be necessary for a substantial reduction in AOD use and withdrawal
symptoms to occur before more intensive psychotherapies can be effective. Some clients may be
more able to respond to cognitive interventions if they are taking pharmacotherapies for their AOD use
which free them from distracting cravings and physiological withdrawal symptoms (e.g., acamprosate or
naltrexone for alcohol use disorders).
Motivational interviewing (MI)
MI for AOD use disorders involves a non-judgemental collaborative discussion, which explores specific
medical, social, interpersonal, or psychiatric effects that AOD use has had on the client’s life. Just as
clients may be resistant to the idea of changing their AOD use, they may also be resistant to the notion of
addressing their comorbid mental health disorder (see Chapter B2 for a discussion of readiness to change).
MI may be used to increase the client’s motivation in this regard [388].
MI is a directive, client-centred counselling process aimed at increasing a person’s motivation and

commitment to change [389]. The strategy involves a non-confrontational conversation seeking out the
ambivalence in the client’s attitudes that can be used as encouragement for him/her to think about further
change. For example, a client may say he/she is not really interested in dealing with his/her social anxiety,
but agree that it is a problem. Probing around this ‘problem’ and exploring ambivalence may lead to the
client contemplating further ways to address the problem. The strategy is to use available openings to help
the client advance towards a decision to have his/her mental health condition treated. Examples of MI
strategies and techniques are provided in Appendix E, along with a number of useful resources for MI.

An MI strategy assumes equity in the client-AOD worker relationship and emphasises a client’s right to
define his/her problems and choose his/her own solutions. It is, in this sense, a counselling style (as
opposed to a set of techniques) based on collaboration rather than confrontation, evocation rather than
education, and autonomy instead of authority [388, 389].
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
CBT emphasises the important role of thinking in how we feel and how we behave. There is considerable
evidence supporting the use of CBT for the treatment of depressive, anxiety, and AOD use disorders
[263, 390-392]. Appendix T describes a number of CBT techniques that may be used in the management
and treatment of AOD use and mental health conditions, including cognitive restructuring, pleasure and
mastery events scheduling, goal setting, and problem solving. A more detailed discussion of CBT may
also be found in Baker and colleagues [393] and Graham [394]. A number of the interventions designed for
specific comorbid disorders, such as Seeking Safety (for PTSD and substance use [395]) and Dual Focus
Schema Therapy (for personality disorders and AOD use [396]), are in part based on these CBT techniques.
Interventions for specific comorbidities are discussed in more detail in Chapter B6.
Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT)
DBT combines behaviour-change strategies from CBT and acceptance strategies from Zen philosophy
into an approach that focuses on client validation and behavioural change [397]. Originally developed for
the treatment of adults with BPD who were also chronically suicidal, DBT has become the ‘gold standard’
evidence-based treatment for both BPD and suicidality [398]. Strategies to address changes in behaviour
consist of behavioural analyses, skills training, contingency management, cognitive restructuring, and
exposure-based strategies to reduce avoidance. Acceptance strategies include mindfulness and validation.
DBT has been found to be efficacious in treating personality disorders (including those comorbid with
AOD use) [399], and there is emerging research supporting its use for ED that are comorbid with AOD use
disorders [400] (see Chapter B6).
Relapse prevention
Clients with both mental health conditions and AOD use disorders can potentially experience a relapse of
either condition, which is likely to worsen the symptoms of the other. Even after full remission, clients with
co-occurring conditions are vulnerable to relapse due to various risk factors, including exacerbation of
mental health symptoms, a lack of social support, social pressures within neighbourhoods or AOD-using
networks, a lack of meaningful activity, or a lack of treatments for co-occurring mental health and AOD use
disorders [401].
Relapse prevention strategies that are already used in AOD treatment can also be used to reduce risk of
relapse of the mental health condition. Some simple strategies that can be useful in helping a client reduce
the risk of relapse include [299, 401-403]:
• Discuss and normalise the issue of relapse in therapy – this helps the client prepare and self-monitor.
• Enhance the client’s commitment to change – regularly review costs of use and benefits of change in
order to strengthen commitment.
• Explain that lapses are a temporary setback and that they do not need to lead to relapse. Feelings
of shame, failure, and guilt are likely to follow single lapses in AOD conditions, which is likely to be
detrimental to mental health. This presents the risk of complete relapse. To avoid this, it can be useful
to normalise lapses and explore the events that lead to a lapse, and how this could be avoided.
• Encourage the client to practise and use any of the strategies he/she has learnt about managing his/
her mental health condition.

• Identify and plan for high-risk situations – this includes emotions, thoughts, places, events, and people
which are likely to make the client vulnerable to mental distress or substance use; plan ahead to
anticipate these situations, monitor warning signs, and develop coping strategies to deal with them.
• Consider social factors and support – relapse is more likely when social factors are difficult and support
levels are low. Support the client in making changes in his/her life to develop healthy and protective
environments. It can be useful to discuss this with the client and plan for any foreseeable issues (e.g.,
housing, family, relationship). It may be useful to provide the client with information on services and
organisations that can assist in such situations.
Mindfulness training
Clients with AOD use disorders often have thoughts about using or cravings to use. These thoughts are
often automatic and tend to escalate when the client becomes aware of them. Similarly, clients who
experience depression or anxiety may find that these negative or anxiety-provoking thoughts automatically
occur and give rise to further negative or anxiety-provoking thoughts. For clients with comorbidity, this
automatic thinking may result in a cycle of negative thoughts and cravings to use.
Mindfulness is a meditative technique that encourages the person to pay attention in the present moment,
without judgement, rather than allowing the mind to wander automatically (often to negative thinking) [404,
405]. Regular practice of mindfulness allows an individual to develop the capacity to interrupt automatic
thought patterns, and be accepting, open, and curious of that experience [406]. Although mindfulness can
be a useful practice for everyone, it can be particularly helpful for people with comorbid AOD and mental
health disorders by assisting with the development of greater awareness of automatic thinking patterns
which can often maintain the mental-health-AOD-use cycle [98]. There is evidence of the efficacy of
mindfulness in the treatment of mental health disorders [407, 408], and in assisting with relapse prevention
in AOD use [409].
In general, mindfulness practices involve deliberately focusing on the physical sensations associated with
routine activities that are carried out automatically (e.g., walking, eating, and breathing). Mindfulness-based
stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy are two specific group therapies based on
mindfulness techniques [410]. For a more detailed discussion of mindfulness, readers are referred to Segal
and colleagues [404].
Contingency management
Contingency management for people with AOD use disorders involves rewarding or reinforcing desired
behaviour in the client in a supportive manner [411]. Examples are vouchers for negative urine samples, for
treatment attendance, or for medication compliance. There is evidence that contingency management
techniques can be used successfully to treat problematic AOD use [412-417]. Studies have also found
contingency management to be effective in promoting cocaine and opiate abstinence amongst
buprenorphine-maintained clients with comorbid major depression [418], in promoting abstinence in
a cocaine-abusing, comorbid homeless group [419], and in reducing substance use and psychiatric
symptoms in stimulant users with serious mental illness [420].
Psychosocial group therapy
Psychosocial groups within the AOD treatment setting are also much appreciated by clients with comorbid
conditions [421]. Evidence suggests that clients who attend groups consistently and for a longer time
period achieve the best results (e.g., for a year), although positive outcomes can nonetheless be achieved
by attending shorter-term groups [422]. It is important that such groups are facilitated in such a way as to
avoid confrontation. Sustained emotional distress can worsen a number of mental health conditions and a
confrontational treatment approach may be harmful to clients with comorbidity [54]. It is important to assess

whether the client experiences social anxiety or impairments in social judgement and social skills, as they
may appear and feel awkward in group settings [422]. Readers are referred to Mueser and Pierce [422] for a
more detailed discussion on the use of group interventions for comorbid disorders.
Pharmacological approaches
The use of pharmacotherapies is common practice in the treatment of both AOD use and mental health
disorders. It is recommended, however, that when pharmacotherapy is used, this should be accompanied
by supportive psychosocial interventions [423, 424]. Symptoms are less likely to return on completion of
psychological treatment compared to pharmacotherapy, where relapse upon cessation is common [425].
Pharmacotherapies are beneficial, however, in helping people to manage symptoms and obtain maximum
benefit from psychotherapeutic interventions.
The introduction of pharmacotherapies must be carried out in consultation with a medical practitioner,
preferably a psychiatrist. Initial intake should establish past medication history as well as any current
medications (see Chapter B2). When prescribing medications, the following should be taken into account:
• Possible interaction effects with other prescribed and non-prescribed substances.

• The possible presence of medical problems such as liver dysfunction related to long-term AOD use or
hepatitis.
• The abuse potential of the medication being prescribed.
If clients are placed on medication, it is important that they understand the reason for the medication being
prescribed, and the likely benefits and risks as well as its interactions with AOD. Clients should also be
made aware of the possibility of delayed responses to the medication, potential side effects, as well as the
possibility of trying other medications if the one prescribed does not suit them.
Medication adherence
Many clients who have been identified as having a comorbid mental health disorder will have been
prescribed medication for that disorder (such as antidepressants, mood stabilisers, anti-anxiety agents,
and antipsychotics). Medications can be extremely helpful in managing mental health symptoms; however,
some people experience unpleasant and distressing side effects from these medications which may lead
to reduced compliance. Indeed, some people with a mental health disorder choose to live with some
symptoms of the disorder rather than take medication [426].
It is important for clients to be aware that in most instances there is a choice of medication but it may
take time to establish which medication is best suited to his/her needs. Finding the best fit is particularly
important for individuals with severe mental disorders such as psychotic, bipolar, and severe depressive
disorders, as psychosocial interventions alone can prove ineffective.
When medications have been prescribed, it is important to assist the client to adhere to medication
scheduling. In other illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension, medication compliance is recognised as
an important issue in regaining good health and it is addressed proactively by the use of simple techniques
to remind the client when he/she needs to take medication.
MI, contingency management and cognitive behavioural techniques have been shown to be particularly
useful in improving medication compliance [427]. The SIMPLE model [428] is a useful tool for remembering
different evidence-based interventions that can enhance medication adherence:

Simplifying regimen characteristics. Adjust timing, frequency, and dosage.
S Match regime to client’s daily activities (e.g., meal times). Use adherence aids
(e.g., pill boxes, alarms).
Imparting knowledge. Clearly discuss the medication with the client using
I simple everyday language. Don’t overwhelm the client with information

or instructions. Supplement verbal information with written materials or
pamphlets.
Modifying patient beliefs. Assess the client’s beliefs, intentions, and
M perceived ability to adhere to the medication regime. Encourage this

behaviour change by ensuring that the client perceives their condition
to be serious, believes in the positive effects of the treatment, perceives
themselves to have the skills required to stick to the medication regime, and
has channels to express fears or concerns.
Patient and family communication. Include the client in decisions about
P treatment. Send reminders via mail, e-mail, or telephone. Actively listen to the
client and avoid interrupting them. Involve family or social networks where
appropriate.
Leaving the bias. Studies have found small or no relationships between
L medication adherence and race, sex, education, intelligence, marital status,

occupation, income, and ethnic or cultural background.
Evaluating adherence. Ask the patient simply and directly, without
E judgement, about their medication adherence. Pill counting or measuring

serum or urine drug levels can also be used.
Adapted from Atreja et al. [428].
Medication interactions
It is important for AOD workers to be aware of the complex and dynamic relationship between AOD use,
mental health disorders, and prescribed psychiatric medication. During the assessment phase, workers
should explore the influence of medication on AOD use and vice versa, as well as the influence of AOD
use on mental health symptoms. This clarification will contribute to a comprehensive management and
treatment plan, with appropriate goals [276].
AOD workers should also be aware of the potential interactions between AOD use and prescribed
medications. Table 29 provides some of the interactions between AOD and prescription medication, but this
list is not exhaustive. AOD workers should also note that polydrug use is common among AOD clients, and
it may be difficult to clarify potential drug interactions [429]. Similarly, many drugs are composed of many
substances (e.g., amphetamines), which makes the potential for interaction difficult to assess [277].
Although Table 29 does not provide a comprehensive list of potential AOD and medication interactions,
AOD workers need to be aware of the ways in which AOD use and prescribed medication can affect
each other. For example, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluoxetine and fluvoxamine
have been shown to affect the metabolism of methadone and buprenorphine, with the discontinuation
of fluvoxamine associated with opiate withdrawal [430]. In cases where this is unexpected, it is possible
that the client may engage in other AOD use (or decrease treatment compliance) to cope with withdrawal
symptoms, highlighting the need for worker awareness of the potential for such interactions. Similarly,
central nervous system depressants not only increase the potential for overdose and respiratory
depression when taken with each other (e.g., benzodiazepines, alcohol, opiates), but also increase the risk
of overdose when taken with medication [429].

Table 29: Drug and medication interactions
Drug type Potential medication Implications

interaction
Depressants
Central nervous system TCAs The likelihood of overdose
depressants MAOIs is significantly increased.
SSRIs The sedative effects of
• Alcohol benzodiazepines are increased
• Benzodiazepines with concurrent use of alcohol.
• Opiates Possibility of reduced effects of
• Antipsychotics prescribed medications.
Alcohol intoxication or withdrawal Lithium carbonate Potential for electrolyte
imbalances. Potential for lithium
toxicity for those with bipolar
disorder.
Benzodiazepine or alcohol Antipsychotics Lowered seizure threshold with
withdrawal Antidepressants increased potential for seizures.
Stimulants
Stimulants (e.g., amphetamines, MAOIs Can lead to hypertension (high
tobacco, caffeine, cocaine, blood pressure) crisis.
ecstasy)
Stimulants Antidepressants Effects can be inhibited.
Ecstasy Antidepressants Linked to high levels of serotonin,
associated with hallucinations,
mania, hypertension, nausea,
muscle rigidity, tremor (serotonin
syndrome).
Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids Antipsychotics Increases intensity and frequency
of psychosis.
Cannabis TCAs Increases the sedative effects.
Benzodiazepines
Cannabis Newer (atypical) Can cause symptoms of mania,
antidepressants confusion, and psychosis.
TCAs = tricyclic antidepressants; MAOIs = monoamine oxidase inhibitors; SSRIs = selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors. Adapted from NSW Department of Health [277].
As such, when managing and treating clients with comorbid AOD and mental health conditions, AOD
workers need to take into account the level and type of AOD used (especially alcohol), as these may [431]:
• Alter the metabolism of prescribed medication.

• Decrease the effectiveness and/or increase the potential for side effects.
• Warn the client about potential interactions between substances of misuse and prescribed medication.
• Discuss the problems and potential dangers of using non-prescribed AOD to counteract the effects or
side effects of prescribed medication.

Self-help groups
Reviews in the research literature suggest that some clients of AOD services will benefit from joining a
self-help group such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, or alternative
self-help groups [424, 432]. ‘Dual diagnosis’ support groups are also an option, specifically for people with
co-occurring mental health and AOD use disorders [433, 434]. It is possible that one group may not suit the
client but the next will – even in the same type of self-help group.
As mentioned with regard to psychosocial groups, it is important to assess whether the client experiences
social anxiety or impairments in social judgement and social skills, as they may appear and feel awkward
in group settings [422]. It should be noted that some groups, particularly those that adopt a 12-step
philosophy, may be disapproving of the use of any medication; yet clients with comorbid mental health
disorders are often prescribed medication to help treat their mental health condition [432]. Some clients
with comorbidity, particularly those who experience religious delusions, may also have difficulty with the
strong spiritual focus of many self-help groups [422]. As with other psychosocial groups, there is evidence
that longer attendance at self-help groups has a positive impact on outcome, as does social support, with
clients who have higher levels of social support achieving better outcomes [435].
E-health interventions
E-health is the provision of health services and/or information via the Internet or associated technologies
[98]. Since its relatively recent appearance, it has been referred to as one of the most important
revolutionary additions to modern healthcare [436]. E-health interventions provide the opportunity to
overcome traditional barriers to treatment that often prevent people seeking help, including social or
cultural prejudices, stigma, difficulties accessing services, finding appropriate available services, as well
as financial and geographical barriers [437-439]. E-health interventions have the capacity to overcome
difficulties associated with face-to-face treatment, including gender differences [440], the inclusion of
more marginalised socioeconomic and cultural groups [441], and reducing the costs and increasing the
standardisation of traditional treatments [438, 442].
Advances in technology over the past decade have enabled e-health interventions to include strategies
such as self-monitoring and assessment, psychoeducation, goal setting, skill building, and feedback
through the use of telephone and videoconferencing, mobile phones, sensors, social media, virtual
reality, and gaming [443]. E-health interventions can also be used to supplement psychotherapy, or as
an alternative for people who do not want, or are not suitable for pharmacotherapy [444]. Therapy can be
conducted at home, and has 24-hour availability. Research has demonstrated that e-health interventions
allow for the delivery of clinically effective, cost effective treatment, based on gold standard programs,
which are highly engaging [445-449]. A number of e-health interventions have been developed for AOD and
specific mental health disorders. These are described in Chapter B6.
Physical activity
As discussed in Chapter B1, people with AOD use disorders are at increased risk of physical health
problems, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, and neurological diseases [450, 451], which have
all been associated with unhealthy lifestyles (e.g., smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, poor diet) [452]. As
such, treatment interventions that are either based on nutrition, or exercise, or include these as adjunctive
interventions, are promising approaches for addressing physical comorbidities [453]. Research has found
that people with psychiatric conditions who engaged in regular exercise, report better health-related
quality of life [454].
General population studies have also found significant relationships between mental health and physical
activity, with regular exercise significantly associated with decreased prevalence of major depression,

panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety, specific phobia, and AOD use disorders [455-457]. People who
engaged in regular physical activity were more likely to experience symptom improvement over a three-
year follow-up study [457].
Although the mechanisms of action are not entirely clear, research findings indicate that exercise induces
changes in neurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin and endorphins) [458, 459] which relate to mood, and can
improve reactions to stress [460, 461]. Exercise has also been associated with several psychological
benefits, including changes to body and health attitudes and behaviours, social reinforcement, distraction,
and improved coping and control strategies [213, 462]. A number of physical health interventions for AOD
and specific mental health disorders are described in Chapter B6.
Complementary and alternative therapies

Complementary and alternative therapies are practices and products that are traditionally outside the
realm of conventional medicine, but are more natural and economical than traditional pharmacotherapy,
sometimes with fewer side effects [463]. They include yoga, dietary and nutritional supplements, and
herbal remedies. Research has indicated that there has been an increase in the use of complementary
and alternative therapies, particularly among people seeking to treat their depression or anxiety, often in
combination with conventional medication [464]. It is beyond the scope of these Guidelines to provide an
extensive and comprehensive list of available alternative and complementary therapies; however, attention
is drawn to some promising interventions for which there is emerging evidence (see Chapter B6).

B6: Managing
Section
Heading
and treating
B6
Goes here
specific
disorders
B6: Managing
and treating
specific disorders
Key Points
• Symptoms of comorbid mental health conditions can be managed
and controlled while the client undergoes AOD treatment.
• Good treatment requires a good therapeutic alliance.
• Motivational enhancement, simple CBT-based strategies, relaxation
and grounding techniques can be useful in managing AOD use as
well as mental health conditions.
• Some interventions have been designed for the treatment of
specific comorbidities; however, these interventions have generally
not been well researched.
• Where there is an absence of research on specific comorbid
disorders, it is generally recommended that best practice is to use
the most effective treatments for each disorder. In some cases
this can be carried out at the same time for both disorders, but in
others it must be carefully calibrated.
• Both psychological and pharmacological interventions have been
found to have some benefit in the treatment of many comorbidities.
• When pharmacotherapy is used, this should be accompanied by
supportive psychological interventions, and workers should be
aware of the potential of interactions between medications, and
other substances.
• E-health interventions, physical activity, as well as complementary
and alternative therapies may also be considered in developing a
person’s treatment plan.
B6: Managing and treating specific disorders 107

This chapter provides a discussion of current best practice and evidence regarding the management and
treatment of the more common comorbid mental health disorders seen among clients of AOD services.
Symptoms of mental health disorders may be identified through screening and assessment processes
(described in Chapter B2), or they may arise spontaneously during the client’s treatment. There is a
distinction between the management of comorbid mental health conditions and their treatment. The goal
of management is to allow AOD treatment to continue without mental health symptoms disrupting the
treatment process, and to retain clients in treatment who might otherwise discontinue such treatment.
Without further treatment, these techniques on their own may not provide long-term relief from symptoms;
however, they may allow the client’s AOD use to be treated in the interim. One advantage of managing
mental health symptoms is that no diagnosis is required prior to their use (i.e., symptoms are managed
rather than disorders being treated). Readers are encouraged to read Chapter A4 of these Guidelines to
familiarise themselves with the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders.
AOD workers have widely varying roles, knowledge and experience; therefore, it is not expected that
all AOD workers should be able to implement the treatments described. We do not provide detailed
information relating to the implementation of these treatment options, but rather an overview of the
available options. Where appropriate, readers are referred to existing literature and resources for more
detail about the use of particular interventions. This information may nonetheless be used by all AOD
workers to improve their understanding of best practice, and it may encourage workers to consider further
training to improve their skills in these approaches.
It should also be remembered that the provision of treatment for AOD use alone has positive effects for
those with comorbid mental health disorders [66, 92-95, 105]. As discussed previously, it is important to
note that, for many people, symptoms of depression and anxiety will subside after a period of abstinence
and stabilisation, without the need for any direct intervention [35, 290, 299]. However, if the mental health
symptoms started prior to the onset of AOD use, if symptoms persist even during periods of abstinence, or
if there is a family history of the particular disorder, the client may have a condition that is independent of
his/her AOD use, which may require treatment [263].
In terms of clients’ AOD use, the goal of abstinence is usually favoured, particularly for those whose mental
health conditions are exacerbated by AOD use. Abstinence is also preferred for those with more severe
mental disorders (or cognitive impairment) as even low-level substance use may be problematic for these
individuals [54]. Those taking medications for mental health conditions (e.g., antipsychotics, antidepressants,
mood stabilisers) may also find that they become intoxicated even with low levels of AOD use due to the
interaction between the drugs. Although abstinence is favoured, many people with comorbid conditions
prefer a goal of moderation. In order to successfully engage with the client, AOD workers should
accommodate a range of treatment goals and adopt a harm reduction approach [104].
It is fundamentally important to discern the client’s preferences regarding treatment for his/her mental
health. Just because the client has sought treatment for his/her AOD use does not necessarily mean that
he/she is ready to address his/her mental health condition. It is important that the client is not forced
to undergo treatment for his/her mental health if he/she is not ready to, as this may jeopardise the
therapeutic relationship. Ultimately, it is up to the client to decide whether he/she wants to address the
issue and how he/she would like to go about doing so.
The recommendations in this section are based on a combination of expert opinion and evidence from
research. People with AOD use disorders are commonly excluded from trials of psychotherapies and
pharmacotherapies for mental health disorders. Some interventions have been designed for the treatment
of specific comorbidities; however, these interventions generally have not been well researched. In the
absence of specific research on comorbid disorders, it is generally recommended that best practice is to
use the most effective treatments for each disorder. It should be noted that the research evidence is based
108 B6: Managing and treating specific disorders

on trials of treatments for mental health disorders (see Chapter A4 for disorder descriptions); however,
these treatments may also be useful for those who do not meet diagnostic criteria but have symptoms that
cause significant distress or impairment.
Psychological and pharmacological interventions have been found to have some benefit in the treatment
of many comorbid mental health disorders. As mentioned in Chapter B5, it is recommended that when
pharmacotherapy is used, this should be accompanied by supportive psychological interventions
[423, 424]. Symptoms are less likely to return on completion of psychological treatment compared to
pharmacotherapy, where relapse upon cessation is common [425]. Pharmacotherapies are beneficial,
however, in helping people to manage symptoms and obtain maximum benefit from psychotherapeutic
interventions.
Pharmacotherapies for mental health disorders can only be prescribed by a medical practitioner, preferably
a psychiatrist. However, it is important that AOD workers establish clients’ past medication history as well as
any current medications (see Chapter B2). AOD workers should also be aware of:
• Possible interaction effects between prescribed and non-prescribed substances.

• The presence of medical problems such as liver dysfunction related to long-term AOD use or hepatitis,
which may be exacerbated by certain medications.
• The abuse potential of medications prescribed.

ADHD
ADHD
Section
Heading
Goes here
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
ADHD and AOD use frequently co-occur, and there is evidence to suggest that the presence of ADHD is a
primary risk factor for the development of AOD use disorders [465-467]. Research has found that untreated
ADHD is associated with a more problematic course of AOD use disorder, with clients less likely to gain
benefits from treatment, adhere to treatment, and achieve and maintain abstinence [468, 469]. ADHD has
also been associated with earlier age of first substance use, greater substance dependence and increased
risk of relapse [470, 471]. However, evidence suggests that responding early to ADHD through the provision
of appropriate evidence-based treatments can prevent the development of AOD use disorders among
adolescents and reduce the risk of AOD relapse among adults [472].
Difficulties can be faced when assessing and screening for the presence of comorbid ADHD, as symptoms
can be masked or even resemble symptoms of intoxication or withdrawal (see Chapter A4) [473-475]. Some
recommend an abstinence period of one month or more to assist with diagnosis [476, 477], but this is not
supported by the broader evidence base or the majority of experts [7, 471, 478, 479].
To assist with clinical decision making, it may be useful to involve family members or friends, who can
provide further information and clarification regarding the presence of attention problems, impulsivity, and
restlessness over the person’s lifetime [471, 480].
Clinical presentation
ADHD represents a persistent pattern of developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, hyperactivity,
and/or impulsivity [24]. It has been estimated that approximately 60% of children will continue to
experience symptoms of ADHD as adults, whilst at least 30% will carry the full disorder through to
adulthood [481, 482]. Research indicates that attentional difficulties are more likely to persist into adulthood,
whilst impulsivity and hyperactivity tend to diminish over time [483, 484]. Adult symptoms are expressed
differently to the way in which they are expressed in childhood. These may include [485, 486]:
Difficulties with time management.
• Disorganisation.
• Procrastination.
• Lack of motivation.
• Difficulties sleeping.
• Irritability, frustration, or anger.
• Fatigue.
• Difficulties concentrating or studying (which may present as academic underachievement).
• Occupational or workplace difficulties.
• Problems forming and maintaining relationships.
• Difficulty obtaining and/or maintaining stable employment.
• History of imprisonment or frequent contact with police.
In addition, clients may present with other symptoms which are not unique to ADHD, but are common to
many mental disorders (e.g., problems sleeping, irritability, fatigue).
Managing ADHD symptoms

Research indicates that people diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood may require additional psychosocial
support to assist them to come to terms with their diagnosis, and reframe their past [487]. The techniques
outlined in Table 30 can help AOD workers manage clients with ADHD symptoms.

Table 30: Dos and don’ts of managing a client with symptoms of ADHD
Do:
3 Assist the client plan activities and organise prompts or reminders (e.g., using a smartphone).
3 Encourage stress-reduction methods, such as progressive muscle relaxation.
3 Encourage physical exercise.
3 Monitor closely during times of stress – these may lead to fluctuations in symptoms and may
necessitate the adjustment of medication.
3 Involve family members and friends – educating them about the condition and treatment will
provide long-term benefits.
3 Offer to help the client engage with education courses or training, which can assist with attention
training.
Don’t:
2 Get visibly upset or angry with the client.
2 Confuse the client by conducting unstructured, unfocused sessions.
Adapted from Gournay [488] and Zulauf [477].
Treating ADHD
There are several treatment options available for the treatment of ADHD, including psychotherapy,
pharmacotherapy, e-health interventions, physical activity, as well as complementary and alternative
therapies (e.g., dietary supplements). The evidence base surrounding each of these treatments is discussed
below. There is a general consensus that the treatment of comorbid ADHD and AOD use should use an
integrated multimodal approach, with components of individual and/or group psychotherapy, as well as
peer and family support to enhance the effect of treatment [7, 489]. Reviews have found that combined
approaches incorporating both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy interventions have better outcomes
than pharmacotherapy alone [477, 479].
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is recommended as a critical component of a multimodal approach targeted towards

comorbid ADHD and AOD use [478]. There is evidence from the broader ADHD literature to suggest
that an approach that combines CBT and pharmacotherapy may result in better outcomes for ADHD
symptoms than pharmacotherapy alone [490, 491]. Although CBT has been found to be the most effective
psychological approach for ADHD (when delivered in conjunction with pharmacotherapy) [492], positive
outcomes have also been associated with the use of other approaches, such as meta-cognitive group
therapy [493], structured skills training [494, 495], and cognitive remediation, both as therapist-led programs
[496] and self-directed interventions [497].
Common therapeutic elements include psychoeducation, a focus on problem solving, strategies to

improve attention, impulsivity management, and cognitive restructuring [492]. It has been suggested
that a structured format of repetitive skill practising and reinforcement of coping strategies for core
ADHD symptoms are key components for the effective treatment of ADHD [498, 499]. However, these
interventions have yet to be evaluated among people with comorbid AOD use.
To date only one integrated psychotherapeutic approach for comorbid ADHD and AOD has been evaluated
[500]. The intervention represents is an integration of the primary elements of the CBT programs for both
ADHD and AOD, and includes planning and organisational skills, MI, skills training, and relapse prevention
[501]. The results from this trial are yet to be published, but two case presentations with early alcohol and
ADHD outcomes from the study indicate that this may be a promising treatment [502].

Pharmacotherapy
There has been substantially more research conducted to examine the efficacy of pharmacological
interventions for comorbid ADHD and AOD use disorders, either as stand-alone treatments, or in
combination with psychological approaches [503]. Table 31 lists some of the pharmacological treatments
for ADHD.
In general, pharmacotherapy for ADHD has been found to be effective in AOD clients but the response
is more modest than those with single disorder ADHD [504]. In ADHD as a single disorder, the first line
of pharmacotherapy is psychostimulants; methylphenidate first line followed by dexamphetamine
if methylphenidate is ineffective [505]. Although psychostimulants are recommended as first line
pharmacotherapies for ADHD, it is essential that a medical assessment be conducted prior to prescribing
to ensure that the client does not have cardiovascular or other conditions that may contraindicate
psychostimulant prescription. Atomoxetine, a noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, is recommended for
individuals who cannot take psychostimulants [7, 506, 507].
Table 31: Pharmacotherapy medications for ADHD
Drug name Brand names Drug type
Methylphenidate Ritalin Psychostimulant
Dexamphetamine Sigma Psychostimulant
Lisdexamfetamine Vyvanse Psychostimulant
Atomoxetine Strattera Noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor
Adapted from Zalauf et al. [477] and Pérez de los Cobos et al. [479]. For a full list of generic brands available,
see the Therapeutic Goods Administration website (https://www.tga.gov.au/).
Although evidence supports the pharmacological treatment of those with comorbid ADHD and AOD use,
there has been contention about whether psychostimulants should be used among people with AOD use
disorder, due to their potential for misuse [508], leading some treatment guidelines to recommend that
non-stimulants be used as the first-line pharmacotherapy treatment for people with comorbid ADHD and
AOD use, despite limited evidence of their efficacy [505]. However, in view of the fact that non-stimulants
are less efficacious than stimulants in treating ADHD, and in the absence of evidence of any misuse of
long-acting stimulants in clinical trials, there is a need to balance the potential risk of misuse and diversion,
against the risk of untreated or inadequately treated ADHD [504].
Several RCTs have examined the safety and efficacy of psychostimulant treatment among people with
comorbid ADHD and AOD use disorders [509-513]. A systematic review examining psychological and
pharmacological interventions for people with comorbid ADHD and AOD use found that despite variation
between studies, the evidence largely supports the use of methylphenidate, with the majority of studies
finding significant reductions in ADHD symptoms following treatment [478]. AOD use either significantly
reduced or remained unchanged, with no studies finding any worsening of symptoms [478, 479]. Of note,
studies that reported AOD use reduction also included some form of psychotherapy as an adjunctive
therapy (e.g., relapse prevention, group or individual counselling, CBT), and no cases of medication misuse
or abuse were reported [477-479].
Lisdexamfetamine, another type of psychostimulant, was recently listed on the Pharmaceutical

Benefits Scheme for the treatment of ADHD in Australia. One pilot RCT has examined the efficacy of
lisdexamfetamine as an adjunctive treatment to NRT, to facilitate smoking cessation among adults with

ADHD [514]. There were no differences in smoking outcomes for lisdexamfetamine relative to placebo;
however, significantly better outcomes for clinician-rated and self-rated ADHD symptoms were found,
suggesting that lisdexamfetamine might be a promising psychostimulant treatment for this comorbid
group, pending further and more conclusive evidence.
The use of atomoxetine, a non-stimulant medication for the treatment of comorbid ADHD and AOD use,
has been examined in several RCTs [477, 478]. While atomoxetine has demonstrated efficacy relative to
placebo for ADHD symptoms, studies report minimal effects for AOD outcomes [477, 478]. Notably, most
studies had also included different psychological interventions which were targeted towards reducing AOD
use.
Emerging e-health programs have combined elements from successful CBT treatments for single
disorder ADHD into internet-based interventions. These interventions, aimed at assisting people with
ADHD structure and organise their lives, incorporate aids such as calendars, schedules, timers, reminders,
shopping lists, and cleaning and laundry schedules, all of which are easily accessible on smartphones [515].
Smartphone features such as text messages, cameras, GPS, and voice memos, may also be useful.
One RCT has evaluated an internet-based course teaching people with single disorder ADHD to use
smartphone applications to improve their everyday organisation skills [515]. The course, delivered with
therapist support, teaches participants how to effectively use their smartphone applications to better
organise their lives. Compared to wait-list control, participants randomised to receive the course illustrated
a significantly larger decrease in ADHD symptoms, including inattention and hyperactivity. One-third of
participants (33%) were deemed to have made a clinically significant improvement in organisation and
attention over the study period, as assessed by clinicians. Although this research has yet to be conducted
among people with comorbid ADHD and AOD use, the findings from this RCT are promising.
Physical activity
Although ADHD treatment is primarily focused on psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, there is emerging
evidence to suggest that physical activity may have beneficial effects similar to those of psychostimulant
medications [516]. Research indicates that exercise interventions (frequent aerobic exercise in particular)
may assist with the management of ADHD symptoms, particularly intrusive thoughts, worry, and impulsivity
[517]. As such, exercise may be a useful adjunct to pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy for ADHD,
however, this has yet to be rigorously evaluated [517], and has not been examined in people with comorbid
ADHD and AOD use.
Dietary supplements
There has been very little research examining the use of dietary supplements for ADHD. However, two
meta-analyses have concluded that omega-3 supplementation is associated with modest ADHD symptom
improvement for single disorder ADHD in children and adolescents [518, 519]. These findings have yet to
be replicated among adults, and among people with comorbid ADHD and AOD use, but point to potential
avenues of future research.

Summary
For those with comorbid ADHD and AOD use, reviews of the evidence recommend an integrated,
multimodal approach, incorporating psychotherapy focused on comorbid AOD use, as well as
pharmacotherapy [477, 478]. The use of structured psychotherapies, including CBT with a focus on goals,
with active AOD worker involvement, is likely to be the most beneficial [477], and, as with the treatment
of other comorbid disorders, treating both conditions concurrently is more likely to produce a positive
treatment outcome than treating either disorder alone [504]. Box 13 illustrates such a multimodal approach
through the continuation of case study A, following Ali’s story after the identification of his ADHD disorder
had been made.
Box 13: Case study A: Treating comorbid ADHD and AOD use: Ali’s story continued
Case study A: Treating comorbid ADHD and AOD use: Ali’s story
continued
Based on Ali’s symptoms, the AOD worker thought that it may be beneficial for Ali to see a psychiatrist
who specialised in adult ADHD. The AOD worker asked Ali whether he would be open to seeing a
psychiatrist who could assess him further and help him decide the best treatment plan. He told Ali
that he would be pleased to continue seeing him, and would be happy to liaise with both his GP and
the psychiatrist. Ali agreed and gave written consent for his AOD worker to contact his GP and the
psychiatrist and for the sharing of information between these services.
After sending this form to the GP and psychiatrist, the AOD worker stayed with Ali while he called
to make an appointment with both over the coming weeks. At the AOD worker’s suggestion, Ali put
these appointments in his phone calendar and also arranged a follow-up appointment following these
consultations. With Ali’s permission, the AOD worker also informed his family of the dates and times
of these appointments so that they could remind him and help him get to the appointments. Ali also
agreed to the AOD worker discussing his condition with his parents, as they would be able to provide
further information about his condition and help him in his ongoing treatment.
The psychiatrist who assessed Ali made a diagnosis of ADHD, noting that Ali had a range of symptoms
of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. The psychiatrist told Ali that his earlier experiences with
speed and the way he described feeling calmer after a small amount of the drug was significant.
He explained that psychostimulants are one of the central treatments for ADHD, which are carefully
prescribed and monitored. Following a medical assessment conducted by Ali’s GP, the psychiatrist
prescribed psychostimulant medication, and advised Ali that it was very important for him to maintain
abstinence from the use of any other drugs, due to possible interaction effects. The AOD worker advised
Ali that he would be available for a phone call every day for the first week, to see how he was going.
Ali continued with his treatment. In addition to regular monitoring and minor adjustments to the dosage
of the ADHD medication, Ali attended individual sessions with his AOD worker, where he was provided
with a range of evidence-based interventions to help him with his speed and cannabis use. These
began with psychoeducation and information about the substances Ali had been using, focusing on the
way in which they affected his ADHD and how his ADHD symptoms impacted on his substance use. Ali
was also given coping strategies for occasions when he became tense and he began to practice and
enjoy the relaxation exercises he was taught.

Box 13: Case study A: Treating comorbid ADHD and AOD use: Ali’s story continued
One important component of the treatment plan was to help Ali organise activities in his daily life. The
AOD worker helped him organise a daily timetable, and, using different functions on Ali’s smartphone,
alarms for important events, reminders and appointments were set up. Ali’s parents helped Ali keep a
schedule and maintain his reminders and appointments in his phone.
Before his first presentation to the AOD service, Ali had never been able to maintain employment
for more than a few days, and had no meaningful educational qualifications because his school
performance was so poor. After several months, the AOD worker was able to help Ali find a place in a
community education course, and, because of the improvements in his concentration and attention, he
was able to obtain part-time work in a local newsagency. Ali and the AOD worker had also begun talking
about a plan for independent living.
Key points:
• Treatment for ADHD and AOD use should be concurrent and multimodal.
• Education about the nature of the condition for the client and the family is essential.
• The treatment of comorbid ADHD and AOD use requires long-term follow-up and more general
efforts at rehabilitation, including further education.

Psychosis
Section
Psychosis
Heading
Goes here
Psychosis
Acute psychosis represents one of the most severe and complex presentations, and one of the most
intrusive when attempting to treat AOD use [520]. During an acute episode of psychosis a person’s
behaviour is likely to be disruptive and/or peculiar. Psychotic symptoms include [521]:
• Delusions – false beliefs that usually involve a misinterpretation of perceptions or experiences (e.g.,
thinking that someone is out to get you, that you have special powers, or that passages from the
newspaper have special meaning for you).
• Hallucinations – false perceptions such as seeing, hearing, smelling, sensing, or tasting things that
others cannot.
• Disorganised speech – illogical, disconnected, or incoherent speech.
• Disorganised thought – difficulties in goal direction such that daily life is impaired.
• Catatonic behaviour – decrease in reactivity to environment (e.g., immobility, peculiar posturing,
motiveless resistance to all instructions, absence of speech, flattened affect).
• Rapid or extreme mood swings or behaviour that is unpredictable or erratic (often in response to
delusions or hallucinations; e.g., shouting in response to voices, whispering).
It is important to note that mood swings, agitation, and irritability without the presence of hallucinations or
delusions does not mean that the person is not psychotic. Workers should respond to these clients in the
usual way for such behaviour (described in this chapter), such as providing a calming environment so their
needs can be met [123].
Individuals in AOD settings commonly present with sub-acute psychosis, particularly as a result of
methamphetamine use. These clients may display a range of low-grade psychotic symptoms such as [123]:
• Increased agitation, severe sleep disturbance.

• Mood swings.
• A distorted sense of self, others, or the world.
• Suspiciousness, guardedness, fear, or paranoia.
• Odd or overvalued ideas.
• Illusions and/or fleeting, low-level hallucinations.
• Erratic behaviour.
Managing symptoms of psychosis

Table 32 presents some strategies for managing acute psychotic symptoms. Some clients may be aware
that they are unwell and will voluntarily seek help; others may lack insight into their symptoms and refuse
help. Active-phase psychosis can put both the client and others at risk of harm and therefore mental health
services should be contacted, whether the client wants such a referral to be made or not.
It should also be remembered that there is much stigma and discrimination associated with both psychotic
spectrum disorders and AOD use, and some people may attempt to conceal either one or both of their
conditions. Many people with comorbid psychosis and AOD use are frightened of being imprisoned,
forcibly medicated or having their children removed. Take the time to engage the person, developing a
respectful, non-judgemental relationship with hope and optimism. Use a direct approach, but be flexible
and motivational [431].

Table 32: Dos and don’ts of managing a client with symptoms of psychosis
Do:
3 Ensure the environment is well lit to prevent perceptual ambiguities.

3 Ensure discussions take place in settings where privacy, confidentiality, and dignity can be
maintained.
3 Try to reduce noise, human traffic, or other stimulation within the person’s immediate environment
(e.g., reduce clutter).
3 Ensure the safety of the client, yourself, and others.
3 Allow the person as much personal space as possible.
3 Be aware of your body language – keep your arms by your sides, visible to the client.
3 Ignore strange or embarrassing behaviour if you can, especially if it is not serious.
3 Listen attentively and respectfully.
3 Appear confident, even if you are anxious inside – this will increase the client’s confidence in your
ability to manage the situation.
3 Speak clearly and calmly, asking only one question or giving only one direction at a time.
3 Use a consistently even tone of voice, even if the person becomes aggressive.
3 Limit eye contact as this can imply a personal challenge and might prompt a hostile, protective
response.
3 Point out the consequences of the client’s behaviour. Be specific.
3 Ensure both you and the client can access exits – if there is only one exit, ensure that you are
closest to the exit.
3 Have emergency alarms/mobile phones, and have crisis teams/police on speed dial.
3 If psychosis is severe, arrange transfer to an emergency department for assessment and treatment
by calling an ambulance on 000.
Don’t:
2 Get visibly upset or angry with the client.
2 Confuse and increase the client’s level of stress by having too many workers attempting to
communicate with him/her.
2 Argue with the client’s unusual beliefs or agree with or support unusual beliefs – it is better to
simply say ‘I can see you are afraid, how can I help you?’
2 Use ‘no’ language, as it may provoke hostility and aggression. Statements like ‘I’m sorry, we’re not
allowed to do ____ but I can offer you other help, assessment, referral…’ may help to calm the client
whilst retaining communication.
2 Use overly clinical language without clear explanations.
2 Crowd the client or make any sudden movements.
2 Leave dangerous items around that could be used as a weapon or thrown.
Adapted from NSW Department of Health [277], Jenner et al. [123], and UK NICE Guidelines [431].
Some clients with psychotic disorders may present to treatment when stable on antipsychotic medication
and thus may not be displaying any active symptoms. These clients should be encouraged to take any
medication as prescribed, and ensure they receive an adequate diet, relaxation, and sleep because stress
can trigger some psychotic symptoms [522].
Despite the risk of further psychotic episodes, some people decide to keep using substances that may
induce psychosis. In such cases the following strategies may be helpful [123]:

• Educate the client about ‘reverse tolerance’ (i.e., increased sensitivity to a drug after a period of
abstinence) and the increased chance of future psychotic episodes.
• Encourage the client to avoid high doses of drugs and riskier administration methods (e.g., injecting in
the case of methamphetamine).
• Encourage the client to take regular breaks from using and to avoid using multiple drugs.
• Teach the client to recognise early warning signs that psychotic symptoms might be returning (e.g.,
feeling more anxious, stressed or fearful than usual, hearing things, seeing things, feeling ‘strange’),
and encourage them to immediately stop drug use and seek help to reduce the risk of a full-blown
episode.
• Inform the client that the use of AOD can make prescribed medications for psychosis ineffective.
Social stressors can be an added pressure for clients with psychotic conditions and the client may require
assistance with a range of other services including accommodation, finances, legal problems, child care,
or social support. With the client’s consent, it can be helpful to consult with the person’s family or carers,
and provide them with details of other services that can assist in these areas. Family members and carers
may also require reassurance, education, and support. See Chapter B4 for strategies on how to incorporate
other service providers in a coordinated response to clients’ care.
Treating psychotic spectrum disorders

In general, if a person is well maintained on medication for his/her psychotic disorder, then management
for AOD use should proceed as usual. Although AOD workers may feel daunted at the prospect of treating
this often severe and complex clinical group, it is crucial to remember that treatment and care should
reflect an individual’s needs and preferences, whilst taking into account the evidence base. People with
comorbid psychotic spectrum and AOD use disorders should have the opportunity to participate and make
informed choices about their treatment, in consultation and partnership with their health care providers
[431]. The UK NICE Guidelines on the management of comorbid psychosis and AOD use recommend that,
when planning treatment, workers take into account the severity of both disorders, the individual’s social
and treatment context, and their readiness to change [431]. There are several treatment options available
for the treatment of psychotic disorders, including psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and physical activity.
The evidence base surrounding each of these treatments is discussed below.
Psychotherapy
A recent Cochrane review of psychosocial treatments for co-occurring severe mental illness
(predominantly psychotic spectrum disorders) and AOD use concluded that there is no clear evidence
supporting the use of one treatment approach over another [523]. As noted by Lubman and colleagues
[524], however, it is difficult to draw any firm conclusions from the current evidence base due to issues with
study design (e.g., inconsistent or absent measures of key outcome variables, significant variation within
‘treatment as usual’ control groups). Integrated psychosocial treatments have shown some promise - in
particular, programs in which clients receive treatments addressing both disorders, in combination with
case management, vocational rehabilitation, family counselling and housing, as well as medications [525-
527].
The majority of studies examining the efficacy of psychological treatments for people with comorbid
psychotic spectrum disorders and AOD use have examined MI, either alone or in conjunction with another
therapy. Although study findings have been mixed, there is some support for MI in improving AOD use
and, when used in conjunction with CBT, improved mental state [523]. One study which added MI, CBT
and a family intervention to usual care for clients with schizophrenia comorbid with AOD use found
significant improvements in outcomes for both disorders over care as usual [528]. An Australian study which
used a 10-session intervention comprising both MI and CBT for this comorbid group also found modest

improvements in outcomes [529]. In contrast to these positive findings, two studies have reported opposing
findings in regards to MI. The first examined CBT plus MI, and found no significant differences between
the treatment and treatment as usual comparison groups on some key outcome measures (e.g., AOD use,
positive symptoms of schizophrenia) [530]. In the second study, conducted among young people with
psychosis and cannabis use, the use of MI did not lead to improved outcomes compared to treatment as
usual, for AOD use or symptoms of psychosis [531].
Barrowclough and colleagues [103] suggest that MI techniques may need to be adapted for clients with
psychotic disorders because disorganised thoughts and speech may make it difficult for AOD workers
to understand what the client is trying to say, and psychotic symptoms (combined with AOD use and
heavy medication regimes) may impair clients’ cognitive abilities. For this reason it is recommended that
therapists:
• Make use of more frequent and shorter reflections to clarify meaning.

• Use frequent and concise summaries to draw together information.
• Avoid emotionally salient material that is likely to increase thought disorder.
• Provide sufficient time for the client to respond to reflections and summaries.
• Ask simple open questions and avoid multiple choices or complicated language.
Several studies have examined the efficacy of CBT on symptoms of psychosis and AOD use [532, 533]; again
evidence regarding the efficacy of CBT in treating co-occurring psychotic disorders and AOD problems
is mixed. Naeem and colleagues [533] found that although CBT led to better outcomes for symptoms of
psychopathology, there were no differences between CBT and treatment as usual groups on AOD use
outcomes. Similarly, Edwards and colleagues [532] found no significant differences between the CBT and
psychoeducation groups for the key outcomes of cannabis use or psychopathology.
A small number of studies have examined contingency management as a means of treating clients
with comorbid psychotic spectrum disorders and AOD use. As discussed in Chapter B5, contingency
management involves the use of reinforcement to encourage particular behaviours (and discourage
undesired behaviours). In a systematic review of psychosocial interventions for people with comorbid
severe mental health (i.e., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or severe depression)
and AOD use disorders, Drake and colleagues [534] found that the use of contingency management led to
improved outcomes for AOD use. These findings indicate that contingency management may be a useful
adjunct to other treatments for psychotic spectrum disorders and AOD use.
Reviews of the literature have also highlighted that residential, ‘dual diagnosis’ treatment programs may
lead to positive outcomes, particularly for people with severe psychosis and AOD use [524, 534]. Long-term
residential programs (at least one year) are more likely to be associated with positive outcomes than short-
term programs, in terms of increased abstinence from substances, and decreased risk of homelessness
[535].
Pharmacotherapy
Despite the high rates of comorbid AOD use among people with psychosis, most trials of pharmacotherapy
for psychotic spectrum disorders have excluded individuals with AOD use disorders [524]. The UK NICE
Guidelines for comorbid psychosis and AOD use recommend the use of antipsychotics, in line with the
UK NICE Guidelines on schizophrenia [536] or bipolar disorder [537], due to the lack of evidence of any
differential benefit for one antipsychotic over another for people with this comorbidity. Table 33 lists the
names of some of the more common antipsychotics.
It has been theorised that the increased AOD use found amongst those with psychotic disorders relates
to dopamine dysfunction which is better addressed by the newer (atypical) antipsychotic agents than the

older (typical) agents [538]. There has been considerable research on the effects of clozapine on AOD use,
with generally positive outcomes [539]. Results for other newer antipsychotics in terms of impact on AOD
use have been equivocal [540].
There are several reasons why pharmacological interventions for the comorbid AOD use disorder may
prove more effective for this group than psychosocial treatments. Problems associated with negative
symptoms such as amotivation and cognitive impairment may restrict involvement and outcomes in
psychosocial interventions. On the other hand, greater tolerance of medication regimes may render clients
with this comorbidity more amenable to pharmacotherapy for AOD use. Caution should be taken when
selecting pharmacotherapies for AOD use and some are contraindicated in individuals with psychotic
disorders as they may exacerbate symptoms (e.g., disulfiram).
Table 33: Antipsychotic medications
Newer (atypical) antipsychotics Traditional (typical) antipsychotics
Drug name Brand names Drug name Brand names
Clozapine Clozaril, Clopine Chlorpromazine Largactil
Olanzapine Zyprexa Droperidol Droleptan
Quetiapine Seroquel Fluphenazine Anatensol, Modecate
Risperidone Risperdal Flupenthixol Fluanxol
Amisulpride Solian, Sulprix Haloperidol Haldol, Serenace
Aripiprazole Abilify Pericyazine Neulactil
Ziprasadone Zeldox Zuclopenthixol Clopixol
Paliperidone Invega Prochlorperazine Stemzine
Sodium valporate Epilim, Valpro
Carbamazepine Tegretol, Teril
Lithium Lithicarb
Asenapine Saphris
Trifluoperazine Stelazine
hydrochloride
Adapted from the Australian Government Department of Health [541]. For a full list of generic brands
available, see the Therapeutic Goods Administration website (https://www.tga.gov.au/).
Although research pertaining to the use of e-health interventions for psychosis is in the early stages,
findings to date are promising. A review of internet and mobile-based interventions for psychosis
concluded that they appear to be acceptable and feasible, and have the potential to improve clinical
and social outcomes [542]. Specifically, the interventions reviewed showed promise in improving positive
psychotic symptoms, hospital admissions, socialisation, social connectedness, depression, and medication
adherence. Interventions included web-based psychoeducation; web-based psychoeducation plus
moderated forums for patients and supporters; integrated web-based therapy, social networking, and peer

and expert moderation; web-based CBT; personalised advice based on clinical monitoring; and text
messaging interventions. The authors note however, that the poor quality and early state of current
research precludes any definite conclusions, and further trials are necessary. Further research examining
the use of e-health interventions for co-occurring psychosis and AOD use is also needed.
Physical activity
To date there is no evidence about the use of exercise for psychotic disorders other than schizophrenia,
or comorbid psychosis and AOD use disorder. Research conducted among individuals with schizophrenia
however, has found that physical exercise may be useful in terms of improving cognitive functioning (e.g.,
short-term memory), promoting healthy lifestyles, and managing medication side-effects [543, 544]. Studies
that have examined the efficacy of exercise interventions among people with schizophrenia have included
a range of physical activities, including basketball [545], aerobic exercise [543, 546], and yoga [547, 548].
Based on the evidence to date, aerobic activity has the most support [142, 543, 549-553], but there is also
some support for resistance training as an adjunct to other exercise [546, 554, 555]. In particular, endurance
programs of at least 12-weeks, 3 sessions per week, of general aerobic endurance training lasting at least
30 minutes duration are recommended [556].
Summary
In summary, existing research suggests that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach for treating comorbid
psychotic spectrum and AOD use disorders [524], suggesting combinations of different therapeutic
approaches may be necessary for each individual client. Further, therapist flexibility is incredibly important
in the treatment of this group. Box 14 illustrates the continuation of case study B, following Nick’s story after
contact was made with the local AOD service for an assessment.
Box 14: Case study B: Treating comorbid psychosis and AOD use: Nick’s story
continued
Case study B: Treating comorbid psychosis and AOD use: Nick’s

story continued
Nick’s assessment with the AOD worker opened the door for a collaborative approach to his treatment
with the community mental health team. The case manager and AOD worker organised an appointment
with Nick’s psychiatrist to discuss a treatment plan, taking into account both his mental health and
AOD use. They also organised for Nick to be seen by a medical doctor to ascertain whether there were
any physical conditions that needed to be taken into consideration. With Nick, a plan was devised to
address his most pressing needs. This coordinated approach to Nick’s care allowed for his needs to be
comprehensively addressed and included alterations to his medication regime, psychotherapy, and
ongoing support from his case manager. Several physical health problems were identified, leading him
to receive treatment for elevated blood pressure. He also attended a dentist for the first time in many
years and had some teeth filled and others extracted.
The treatment goals for Nick in the long term were for him to live in supported accommodation, and
he began part time work in a supermarket. Improvements in Nick’s mental health and AOD use led to
improved social functioning, allowing him to engage in a range of activities organised for the supported
living complex, which became his permanent home. Nick continued to express bizarre ideas and still
hears voices, but he is able to cope better with these phenomena.

Box 14: Case study B: Treating comorbid psychosis and AOD use: Nick’s story
continued
Key points:
• Chronic illness does not equate to untreatable illness. Psychotherapy may provide symptom relief
and improved quality of life, and all treatment approaches need to be carefully integrated.
• Medication compliance needs long-term attention.
• Physical health is often overlooked.
• A holistic approach, assessing a person’s accommodation and employment needs in addition to
their mental, physical, and AOD use disorders, is vital.

Bipolar
Section
Heading
Goes here
Bipolar
Bipolar disorders
It can be particularly challenging to treat people with bipolar disorder due to the broad range of emotions
experienced, which can impact on the relationship between the client and the therapist [540]. Depending
on which phase of the disorder a client is in, they may present with either symptoms of depression or
mania/hypomania. If the person is in between episodes, they appear to be completely well. People with
bipolar disorder predominantly present to services during the depressive phases of the disorder rather than
during the periods of elation.
If experiencing a depressive episode, the client may present with low mood; markedly diminished
interest or pleasure in all, or most activities; sleep disturbances; appetite disturbances; irritability; fatigue;
psychomotor agitation or retardation; poor concentration; feelings of guilt, hopelessness, helplessness
and worthlessness; and suicidal thoughts. When experiencing mania/hypomania however, a client’s mood
is persistently elevated, and symptoms of grandiosity, flights of ideas, hyperactivity, decreased sleep,
psychomotor agitation, talkativeness and distractibility may be present. Mania and hypomania may lead to
a loss of insight, which can place the person at risk, and impact negatively on medication compliance.
Managing symptoms of bipolar

In general, if the client presents during a depressive episode, management of symptoms should follow the
guidelines for the management of depressive symptoms (see Table 34). As previously mentioned, negative
mood is often a trigger for relapse to AOD use and addressing depressive symptoms is an important
component of relapse prevention [557]. If, however, the client is experiencing a manic episode or symptoms
of psychosis, consultation with a medical practitioner is recommended for the prescription of appropriate
pharmacological interventions.
The techniques outlines in Table 35 may assist in the management of a person experiencing symptoms of
mania or hypomania. If the client is experiencing a manic episode or symptoms of psychosis, consultation
with a medical practitioner is recommended for the prescription of appropriate pharmacological
interventions. Some clients may be aware that they are unwell and will voluntarily seek help; others may
lack insight into their symptoms and refuse help. In some instances a person’s manic symptoms can
put both the client and others at risk of harm. In such circumstances mental health services should be
contacted, whether the client wants such a referral to be made or not.

Table 34: Dos and don’ts of managing a client with depressive symptoms of bipolar
Do:
3 Encourage and emphasise successes and positive steps (even just coming in for treatment).
3 Take everything they say seriously.
3 Maintain eye contact and sit in a relaxed position – positive body language will help you and the
client feel more comfortable.
3 Use open-ended questions such as ‘So tell me about...?’ which require more than a ‘yes’ or ‘no’
answer. This is often a good way to start a conversation.
3 Constantly monitor suicidal thoughts and talk about these thoughts openly and calmly.
3 Encourage the client to express his/her feelings.
3 Be available, supportive and empathetic.
3 Offer realistic hope (i.e., that treatment is available and effective).
3 Encourage regular sleep, exercise and eating patterns.
3 Keep language clear, specific and simple.
3 Assist the client to identify warning signs that they may become unwell.
3 Provide contact details of counselling services and offer to make referrals if required (many
depressed people struggle to do this alone).
3 Encourage participation in healthy, pleasurable and achievement-based activities (e.g., exercise,
hobbies, work).
Don’t:
2 Make unrealistic statements or give unrealistic hope, like ‘everything will be fine’.
2 Invalidate the client’s feelings.
2 Be harsh, angry, or judgemental. Remain calm and patient.
2 Lose hope or become frustrated.
2 Act shocked by what the client may reveal.
Adapted from Scott et al. [558], Clancy and Terry [296] and Headspace [559].
Table 35: Dos and don’ts of managing a client experiencing mania/hypomania
Do:
3 Ensure the safety of the client, yourself, and others.

3 Assist the client identify warning signs that they may become unwell.
3 Help to reduce triggers that aggravate the person’s symptoms (e.g., reduce stimulation such as
noise, clutter, caffeine, social gatherings).
3 Speak clearly and calmly, asking only one question or giving only one direction at a time.
3 Answer questions briefly, quietly, calmly and honestly.
3 Use a consistently even tone of voice, even if the person becomes aggressive.
3 Encourage regular sleep, exercise and eating patterns.
3 Be cautious about becoming swept up by the person’s elevated mood.
3 Point out the consequences of the client’s behaviour. Be specific.
3 If the person is well enough, discuss precautions they can take to prevent risky activities and
negative consequences (e.g., give their credit cards and/or car keys temporarily to a trusted family
member or friend to prevent reckless spending and driving).
3 If promiscuity or socially inappropriate behaviour is a problem encourage the person to avoid
situations in which his/her behaviour may led to negative consequences.
3 Encourage the person to postpone acting on a risky idea until their mood is stable.

Table 35: Dos and don’ts of managing a client experiencing mania/hypomania
3 Ensure both you and the client can access exits – if there is only one exit, ensure that you are
closest to the exit.
3 Have emergency alarms/mobile phones, and have crisis teams/police on speed dial.
3 If the person is placing him/herself at risk, or they are experiencing severe symptoms of psychosis,
arrange transfer to an emergency department for assessment and treatment by calling an
ambulance on 000.
Don’t:
2 Argue, criticise or behave in a threatening way towards them. Consider postponing or avoiding
discussion of issues that aggravate the client for the time being. Try to talk about more neutral
topics.
2 Get visibly upset or angry with the client. Remain calm and patient.
2 Get drawn into long conversations or arguments with the person as these can be overstimulating
and upsetting. People with elevated moods are vulnerable despite their apparent confidence, and
they tend to take offence easily.
2 Leave dangerous items around that could be used as a weapon or thrown.
2 Laugh (or let others laugh) at the person.
2 Act horrified, worried or panic.
Treating bipolar disorders

There are several treatment options available for the treatment of bipolar disorders, including
psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), e-health interventions, as well as
complementary and alternative therapies (e.g., dietary supplements). The evidence base surrounding each
of these treatments is discussed below.
Psychotherapy
Although research on psychological treatments for comorbid bipolar disorder and AOD use is scarce,
one group of researchers have developed an integrated, 20-session, psychosocial group treatment
program for this comorbidity, which has shown some positive findings in relation to AOD use [560, 561]. The
program employs a cognitive behavioural relapse prevention model that integrates treatment by focusing
on similarities between recovery and relapse processes in bipolar disorder and AOD use disorder. More
recently, a briefer version of integrated group therapy (12 sessions) has been shown to be effective in terms
of its positive impact on mood and substance use [562]. When delivered by AOD workers with little or no
training in CBT, or prior experience with the treatment of bipolar disorder, this brief version of integrated
group therapy had superior outcomes relative to standard group drug counselling. Although psychological
treatments appear to have positive outcomes among people with comorbid bipolar disorder, it is not well
understood how the improvements work – i.e., whether it is the psychological therapy addressing the AOD
use, the bipolar symptoms, or both together, that are associated with positive outcomes [563].
Pharmacotherapy
For comorbid bipolar and AOD use disorders, multiple medications are often used to treat each specific
disorder, such as the use of mood stabilisers (see Table 36), antipsychotics (see Table 33), and/or
antidepressants (see Table 38) for the bipolar disorder, in conjunction with medication specifically to treat
the AOD use disorder (e.g., naltrexone for alcohol use disorder) [540]. A recent update on the treatment of
bipolar disorders recommended initiating pharmacological treatment with mood stabilisers and/or

Table 36: Mood stabiliser medications
Drug name Brand names
Lithium Lithicarb, Quinolum SR
Sodium valproate Epilim, Valpro
Carbamazepine Tegretol, Teril
Olanzapine Zyprexa
Quetiapine Seroquel
Risperidone Risperdal, Risperdal Consta
Aripiprazole Abilify
Solian Amisulpride
Lamotrigine Lamictal
Topiramate Topamax
Adapted from Black Dog Institute [565]. For a full list of generic brands available, see the Therapeutic
Goods Administration website (https://www.tga.gov.au/).
antipsychotics, and then later supplementing the treatment with antidepressant medication, due to the
possibility of antidepressant-induced mania [564].
The effectiveness of mood stabilisers (e.g., lithium, sodium valproate, lamotrigine) in treating comorbid
bipolar disorder and AOD use is yet to be fully established with only a small number of controlled trials
in this area. An RCT examining the effectiveness of lithium in treating adolescents with bipolar disorder
and AOD use disorders (primarily alcohol and/or cannabis) found that, relative to placebo, lithium had a
positive effect on bipolar symptoms and on AOD use [566]. A further study demonstrated that lithium had
an impact on reducing cannabis and cocaine use in people with comorbid bipolar disorder, but it is difficult
to generalise the findings of this study due to less than one-quarter of the original sample completing the
stabilisation phase and continuing into the main portion of the study [567].
Promising findings have also been found relating to the use of sodium valproate (or divalproex). In an
uncontrolled study, Salloum and colleagues [568] found beneficial effects from divalproex alone in
reducing bipolar symptoms and cocaine use. There is also some evidence to suggest that the addition of
sodium valproate may further improve the effects of lithium [540]. In an RCT of people with bipolar disorder
and alcohol use disorders, Salloum and colleagues [569] found that those randomised to receive lithium
plus valproate had a greater reduction in heavy drinking days relative to those randomised to receive
lithium alone. Manic and depressive symptoms improved equally in both groups. However, Kemp and
colleagues [567] found no additional benefits for mood and AOD use when using divalproex and lithium,
compared with lithium alone. As mentioned previously however, the findings of this study need to be
interpreted with caution given the high drop-out rate.
Lamotrigine has been found to be associated with improvements in bipolar symptoms, craving, and AOD
use in a number of open-label, uncontrolled trials [570, 571]. However, in a more recent RCT, the effects of
lamotrigine on mood and cocaine use were not significantly different to placebo, although money spent on
cocaine was reduced in the lamotrigine group [572].

A small number of uncontrolled, open-label trials have examined the use of the anti-psychotic quetiapine
in the treatment of bipolar disorder comorbid with AOD use disorders. These studies have found
that quetiapine has a positive impact on psychiatric symptoms, but no impact on AOD use [573, 574].
Furthermore, a large RCT examining the efficacy of quetiapine as an adjunct to lithium or divalproex among
individuals with bipolar disorder and alcohol dependence found that there was no additional improvement
in symptoms of mania or heavy drinking days, relative to a placebo control [575]. Lastly, it should be noted
that the potential for the misuse of quetiapine, particularly in prison settings, has been well documented
[576].
It is also important to bear in mind that clients with a comorbid bipolar disorder may be less likely to comply
with medication if they enjoy their manic episodes. Measures to increase medication compliance may
be particularly pertinent among this group (discussed later in this chapter). Other strategies to promote
medication compliance among clients with comorbid bipolar disorder include the Improving Treatment
Adherence Program, which is an adjunctive psychosocial approach designed to improve treatment
adherence [577]. The Improving Treatment Adherence Program is delivered through individual sessions, a
meeting with the client’s family member and/or significant other, and follow-up telephone contacts with
the client and his/her significant other. Whilst an RCT testing this program is yet to establish the program’s
efficacy, early results indicate that the intervention appears promising both in terms of feasibility and
acceptability to clients, and also in terms of enhancing the benefits of existing treatments.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
ECT is suggested as a second-line treatment option for bipolar disorder in very severe cases (e.g., in cases
of severe depression and suicidality), and in pregnant woman with severe symptoms [578]. However no
research studies to date have currently assessed the efficacy of ECT in treating co-occurring bipolar and
AOD use disorders.
There are several online interventions to support the mental health of people with bipolar disorders,
including MoodSwings [579], Living With Bipolar [580], Beating Bipolar [581], the Bipolar Education
Programme [582], and HealthSteps for Bipolar Disorder [583]. Most of these interventions are in the early
stages of evaluation. Feasibility and preliminary studies of Living With Bipolar [580] and Bipolar Education
Programme [582] are promising. No online interventions have yet been developed for treating comorbid
bipolar and AOD use disorders specifically.
Physical activity
A small number of studies with relatively small samples have examined the effect of exercise on bipolar
disorders. Ng and colleagues [584] conducted a small, retrospective chart review, and found that
depression and anxiety improved among bipolar inpatients who participated in a voluntary 40-minute,
supervised group walking activity, every weekday morning, compared to non-walkers. However, there
was no clinical difference in overall improvement between walkers and non-walkers [584]. A small open
trial examining the short term effects of aerobic training on depression and bipolar disorder found that
aerobic training slightly improved symptom severity for those with bipolar disorder [585]. Another small
RCT examined the effect of a short-term, maximum endurance exercise program as an accompanying
treatment to pharmacotherapy, and found that, relative to control (gentle stretching and relaxation),
depression scores were significantly reduced among the exercise group [586].
Although the aforementioned studies provide evidence to suggest that regular physical activity can assist
in the reduction of depressive symptoms, there is preliminary research pointing to the existence of possible
exacerbation of mania among some people [587, 588]. Although exercise may be beneficial in redirecting

excess energy for some, others found their manic symptoms were aggravated, potentially risking a
cycle of manic and hypomanic symptoms [589]. It has been suggested that the exacerbation of manic
symptoms may be due to direct effects on mood, or indirectly on excessive goal-focused activities, which
can be a risk pathway for bipolar disorder [590, 591]. However, these preliminary findings originate from a
small qualitative study and require further empirical evidence, with some participants in the study finding
exercise calming [587]. No research has been conducted to examine the efficacy of exercise among people
with comorbid bipolar and AOD use; however, given the unknown and potentially risky relationship with
mania, physical activity among people with comorbid disorders should be closely monitored.
Dietary supplements
There have been few reviews that have examined the evidence for the safety and efficacy of dietary
supplements for bipolar disorders. Although research has found some benefit with regards to both
depressive symptoms (e.g., omega-3 supplementation [592, 593]), and mania symptoms (e.g., magnesium
supplementation [594-596]), many therapies have the potential to induce mania or interact with
pharmacotherapies (e.g., St John’s Wort [597-599]); the extent to which needs further in-depth examination.
Summary
Several psychological and pharmacological approaches for the treatment of co-occurring bipolar disorder
and AOD use appear promising, however further research is required to establish which therapeutic
approaches are particularly effective for this comorbidity. Box 15 illustrates the continuation of case study
C, following Layla after the identification of her bipolar disorder.
Box 15: Case study C: Treating comorbid bipolar and AOD use: Layla’s story continued
Case study C: Treating comorbid bipolar and AOD use: Layla’s

story continued
Layla completed her assessment with the AOD worker, commenting that it was one of the only times
she had really felt listened to without being judged. The AOD worker emphasised that should Layla wish
to work on her AOD use, they would work together with her psychiatrist and any other service that may
be of assistance, to help her manage her bipolar disorder. Although sceptical, Layla accepted this offer
and began embarking on a plan that involved a concurrent approach to her mental health and AOD use,
with very active communication between her health providers. This communication was facilitated by
regular meetings involving Layla and the professionals involved in both her mental health care and AOD
treatment. In addition, Layla’s medications were comprehensively reviewed, and, rather than a process
of ‘tweaking’ and modifying medications, a conference was convened to consider the best medication
approach. This conference was attended by Layla, who was for the first time able to freely express her
reservations about some of the medications that she was taking; in particular, how a particular mood
stabilising drug made her feel overwhelmingly flat.
In addition to the use of psychotherapy and medication, the team identified the need to deal more
generally with Layla’s lifestyle, and with initial encouragement and support she was able to begin to
attend regular training sessions at the gym and, thus, begin the process of losing some of the weight
she had gained over the years. She was also able to contact some of her friends she used to swim with,
and, with the encouragement of her care coordinator, resumed her interest in music.

Box 15: Case study C: Treating comorbid bipolar and AOD use: Layla’s story continued
Key points:
• In cases of bipolar disorder comorbid with AOD use, treatments need to be coordinated and
carefully integrated.
• Although there are many effective medications to address disturbances in mood, as with all
medications, mood stabilisers can have significant side effects. In particular, mood stabilisers have
the potential to make a client feel flat.
• Strategies to address medication compliance, particularly over the long-term, are a pertinent aspect
of treatment.
• Without addressing the familial and social consequences of longstanding bipolar disorder, the
client’s quality of life will remain much diminished. As such, integrating the rehabilitative aspects
of treatment may have long-term benefits. Physical activity and exercise have physical and
psychological benefits, and may also help address some of the side effects of medications used to
treat bipolar disorder.

Depression
Section
Heading
Goes here
Depression
Depression
Depressive symptoms include low mood; markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or most activities;
sleep disturbances; appetite disturbances; irritability; fatigue; psychomotor agitation or retardation; poor
concentration; feelings of guilt, hopelessness, helplessness and worthlessness; and suicidal thoughts (refer
to Chapter A4).
Managing depressive symptoms

Negative mood is often a trigger for relapse, and therefore addressing depressive symptoms is also an
important part of relapse prevention [557]. The techniques outlined in Table 37 may help AOD workers to
manage clients with depressive symptoms.
A number of simple strategies based on CBT are also useful in managing clients with these symptoms,
including [310, 386]:
• Cognitive restructuring.
• Pleasure and mastery events scheduling.
• Goal setting.
• Problem solving.
These techniques are discussed in greater detail in Appendix T.
It is important to note that many depressive symptoms (and many anxiety symptoms) will subside after a
period of abstinence and stabilisation [35, 290, 299]. It is useful to explain to clients that it is quite normal to
feel depressed (or anxious) when entering treatment but that these feelings usually improve over a period
of weeks. During and after this time, constant monitoring of symptoms will allow the worker to determine if
the client requires further treatment for these symptoms. If the client has a history of depressive episodes
in circumstances when he/she is not intoxicated or withdrawing, he/she may have an independent
depressive disorder. For these clients, it is unlikely that their depressive symptoms will resolve completely
with abstinence – indeed their symptoms may even increase. In such cases, clients should be assessed for
a depressive disorder and the treatment options described in this chapter should be considered.

Table 37: Dos and don’ts of managing a client with depressive symptoms of bipolar
Do:
3 Encourage and emphasise successes and positive steps (even just coming in for treatment).
3 Maintain eye contact and sit in a relaxed position – positive body language will help you and the
client feel more comfortable.
3 Offer realistic hope (i.e., that treatment is available and effective).
3 Provide contact details of counselling services and offer to make referrals if required (many
depressed people struggle to do this alone).
hobbies, work).
Don’t:
2 Make unrealistic statements or give unrealistic hope, like ‘everything will be fine’.
Adapted from Scott et al. [558] and Clancy and Terry [296].
Treating depressive disorders

There are several treatment options available for the treatment of depressive disorders, including
psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy,ECT, e-health, physical activity, as well as complementary and
alternative therapies (e.g., omega-3). The evidence base surrounding each of these treatments is discussed
below.
Psychotherapy
Research on psychological therapies provides support for the use of integrated psychological treatments
for comorbid depression and AOD use disorders [165, 600]. However, the small number of studies, variation
in study results, and small sample sizes used in these studies highlight the need for larger trials to be
conducted in this area [601].
The majority of studies to date have examined the use of integrated treatments that adopt a CBT approach
[272, 386, 432, 602, 603]. In a review of the literature, Hides and colleagues [601] note that CBT appears
to yield superior results for symptoms of depression and AOD use when compared to no treatment, but
there is little evidence demonstrating that CBT is more effective when compared with other forms of
psychological therapy (e.g., relaxation training, MI, integrated MI/CBT). As a way of enhancing CBT, it has
been suggested that CBT be combined with other evidence-based psychological approaches, such as
contingency management (see Chapter B5). The combination of CBT plus contingency management has
been found to be more effective than either CBT or contingency management alone in the treatment of this
comorbidity [418, 604, 605].

Baker and colleagues [386] examined the effectiveness of a brief CBT intervention targeting amphetamine
use, and found that a reduction in depressive symptoms accompanied a reduction in amphetamine use,
suggesting that interventions designed to reduce AOD use may have promising outcomes for symptoms of
depression.
Another approach showing promise in the treatment of comorbid AOD use and depression is behavioural
activation. Originally developed in the 1970s, behavioural activation is based entirely on behavioural
strategies [606]. The therapy is based on the notion that problems in the lives of vulnerable people reduce
their ability to experience positive reward from their environments, leading to symptoms and behaviours
characteristic of depression. Behavioural activation aims to activate clients in specific ways that will increase
rewarding experiences in their lives. It also focuses on processes that reduce activation, such as escape
and avoidance behaviours including AOD use.
There is empirical evidence to suggest that behavioural activation is just as effective in treating depression
as combined cognitive and behavioural techniques and antidepressant medication [607, 608]. Behavioural
activation has the added benefit of being more time efficient and less complex than most other
psychotherapies, and can therefore be delivered by less experienced therapists [608]. Another advantage
of behavioural activation is that it incorporates some essential components of AOD treatment, such as
social support, emotional expression, reordering of life priorities, stress management, avoidance reduction,
symptom control and health education [609].
To date, three small RCTs have found support for the use of behavioural activation among people with AOD
use disorders. The first examined the efficacy of adding behavioural activation for depression to standard
inpatient AOD treatment among a small sample of illicit drug users with depressive symptoms [610].
The authors found that patients who were randomised to receive behavioural activation demonstrated
significantly greater improvements in depression at post-treatment compared with standard care
alone. They also reported significantly higher treatment satisfaction scores. The same treatment was
subsequently compared with an attention control condition among people in residential AOD treatment,
and was found to be superior in terms of treatment retention and levels of activation [611]. A third trial
examined the efficacy of behavioural activation paired with standard smoking cessation strategies
(including NRT) compared with standard smoking cessation strategies alone (including NRT) [612].
Participants randomised to receive behavioural activation demonstrated greater reductions in depressive
symptoms and a higher rate of smoking abstinence than did those randomised to receive standard
smoking cessation strategies. Collectively, these pilot studies provide promising support for the use of
behavioural activation among individuals with comorbid depression and AOD use, however, further trials
are needed. A large RCT comparing the efficacy of behavioural activation added to standard AOD treatment
with standard AOD treatment alone is currently underway in Australia.
Lastly, although still in the early stages, there is preliminary support for mindfulness-based relapse
prevention in the treatment of co-occurring depression and AOD use [613].
Pharmacotherapy
There is consensus amongst experts that pharmacotherapy (i.e., antidepressants; see Table 38) for
comorbid depression and alcohol use disorders is effective, provided an individualised approach is used
[424, 432]. Unless there are significant contraindications, it appears clinically appropriate to use medication
that has been proven efficacious in the treatment of major depression in those depressed patients with an
AOD use disorder.
Thase and colleagues [424] comment on the sometimes over-restrictive attitudes towards pharmacological
treatments for depressive disorders among people with AOD use disorders, where clients can present in
a state of physical and emotional despair that requires immediate intervention. Considering the safety of

most of the newer antidepressants such as SSRIs, such caution as waiting for a minimum number of weeks
of abstinence cannot be justified. This would particularly apply where a client has a history of depression
during periods of abstinence, or where the person has had successful antidepressant intervention in the
past. Clients being commenced on antidepressants should nonetheless be carefully monitored as there
have been some well-publicised cases of increased suicidality on commencement of antidepressant
treatment [614]. Such incidents are rare and there is much conflicting and contradictory evidence on
the clear link between antidepressant-induced suicidality [615, 616]. Thus, although it is suggested that
the benefits of antidepressant use outweigh the risks, and appropriate use actually protects depressed
patients from suicide [617], it is important to maintain appropriate monitoring of suicidality [618].
Reviews have generally found that among clients with comorbid alcohol and depressive disorders,
treatment with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and SSRIs has a significant effect on symptoms of
depression, but effects on alcohol use have been equivocal [424, 432, 539]. A more recent review found
mixed findings regarding depressive symptoms. Antidepressants were generally found to be effective in
treating symptoms of depression however, when the effectiveness of SSRIs were examined separately,
there were no significant treatment effects on depressive symptoms, relative to placebo [619]. Ioveno
and colleagues [619] speculated that this may be due to high placebo response rates in these trials, and
therefore further studies examining the use of SSRIs in this comorbid group are required.
Alcohol use responds well where depressive symptoms have been reduced, but sustained abstinence
is not usually achieved [620-623]. There have been some studies which have shown a relatively
negative effect on alcohol consumption in alcohol-dependent young men prescribed SSRIs [624-627].
Antidepressants that do not come under the umbrella of SSRIs or TCAs have been found to be effective in
single studies [628, 629].
Compared to the newer antidepressants, TCAs are poorly tolerated, potentially lethal in overdose, and
cause significant adverse effects when combined with other central nervous system depressants. In
contrast, SSRIs are associated with fewer side effects, have better tolerability (resulting in improved
compliance) and are safer in overdose [121, 424]. Despite their efficacy, some clients may be reluctant to
take SSRIs due to the misconception that they are ‘addictive’. SSRIs are not habit-forming; however, users
may experience a discontinuation syndrome if the medication is stopped abruptly [121]. Symptoms are
similar to some of those experienced during alcohol or opiate withdrawal (e.g., flu-like symptoms, light-
headedness, headache, nausea) [121]. When discontinuing SSRIs, the dose should be gradually tapered.
Although studies of comorbid alcohol dependence and major depression support the use of SSRIs, studies
of cocaine and opiate dependent clients do not [263]. At present, there is limited evidence to support the
use of antidepressants in treating depressed opioid dependent persons currently receiving opioid agonist
treatment. In a recent systematic review, Pani and colleagues [631] noted that the evidence in this area was
highly limited due to the small number of studies conducted, and methodological limitations within these
studies. Whilst there was some evidence of a trend towards improved outcomes for depression symptoms
and AOD use for clients receiving antidepressants as well as opioid agonists, there were no statistically
significant differences in outcomes between antidepressant and placebo groups.

Table 38: Antidepressant medications
Drug type and name Brand names
Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA):

Amitriptyline Endep
Dothiepin Dothep, Prothiaden
Nortriptyline Allegron
Doxepin Deptran, Sinequan
Imipramine Tofranil, Tolerade
Clomipramine Anafranil, Placil
Trimipramine Surmontil
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI):
Tranylcypromine Parnate
Phenelzine Nardil
Reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A (RIMA):
Moclobemide Aurorix, Clobemix, Amira
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI):
Fluoxetine Lovan, Prozac, Zactin
Paroxetine Aropax, Paxtine, Paroxo
Sertraline Zoloft, Eleva, Seralin
Fluvoxamine Luvox, Faverin, Voxam
Citalopram Cipramil, Celapram, Celica
Escitalopram Lexapro, Escicor, Esipram
Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI):
Venlafaxine Efexor-XR
Desvenlafaxine Pristiq
Duloxetine Cymbalta
Noradrenaline and specific serotonergic agent (NaSSA):
Mirtazapine Avanza, Axit, Mirtazon
Tetracyclic antidepressant:
Mianserin Tolvon, Lumin
Noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (NRI):
Reboxetine Edronax
Melatonergic antidepressant:
Agomelatine Valdoxan
Adapted from Australian Government Department of Health [630]. For a full list of generic brands

Different types of antidepressants seem to be suitable for different types of substance use disorders [416].
In particular, individuals with AOD use disorders tend to respond better to antidepressants that have a
similar direct or side effect profile to their substance of abuse. Hence, the more sedating antidepressants
such as doxepin or paroxetine are more effective in depressed abusers of alcohol, heroin and sedatives,
and the more stimulating antidepressants such as desipramine and bupropion have greater efficacy
in depressed abusers of stimulants and nicotine. As there are no guidelines as yet for the treatment of
comorbidity with depression in users of psychostimulants such as amphetamines and ecstasy [632], the
use of the more stimulating antidepressants for these clients provides the best guidance at this time.
For all AOD clients, extreme caution should be taken when prescribing monoamine oxidase inhibitors
(MAOIs). These medications are potentially dangerous because of the dietary and medication restrictions
involved [121]. Hypertensive crisis with intracranial bleeding and death can occur if combined with a
tyramine-rich diet or contraindicated medications (including opioid and psychostimulant substances, such
as over-the-counter cold and flu medications) [121, 263]. For this reason, MAOIs should only be used when
other medication options have failed.
It is important to note that it can take up to four weeks for an antidepressant to reach therapeutic levels in
the blood. Responses to antidepressants are typically noticeable within two to four weeks, with continued
improvement in symptoms for up to 12 weeks [633-635]. If little or no improvement in mood occurs over
the induction time specified by the drug manufacturer and the medication is being taken as prescribed,
consideration should be given to increasing the dose within the recommended range. If still little or no
improvement is observed, switching or augmenting with another antidepressant may be considered.
It is recommended that there be at least one within-class switch before considering augmentation
or other options, keeping in mind the potential for drug interactions, and the adverse effects of some
antidepressants [633-636].
Two medications that have been used for treating alcohol use disorders – naltrexone and acamprosate
– have shown moderately positive outcomes in this single disorder [637-641]. Disulfiram can also be an
effective treatment for some people with alcohol problems, particularly those who are highly motivated
and who can be closely supervised. Research suggests that naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram are all
tolerated well in clients with comorbid depression [642].
Naltrexone has been found to be associated with better drinking outcomes in clients being treated with
antidepressants for their depression and anxiety [643]. With little support for the use of antidepressants
alone to reduce excessive drinking, more recent research indicates that the use of antidepressants
combined with naltrexone may lead to improved outcomes. Pettinati and colleagues found that when
sertraline and naltrexone were combined in the treatment of co-occurring depression and alcohol
dependence, there were better outcomes in terms of abstinence and relapse, relative to either sertraline or
naltrexone alone, or placebo [644].
It should also be borne in mind that at least for naltrexone, treatment beyond 12 weeks may not improve
drinking outcomes in those with alcohol use disorders alone [645]. While both acamprosate and naltrexone
are available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for alcohol dependence, disulfiram is expensive
and only available with a private prescription. Although only a tentative finding requiring further research,
another study found that buprenorphine had better outcomes with opiate abusers with comorbid
depression than those who were not depressed [646]. This suggests that buprenorphine may prove to be
an especially useful pharmacotherapy for this sub-group.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
ECT can be an effective treatment for certain patients. There is evidence that ECT is an effective treatment
for depression as a single disorder [647]; however, no research studies to date have assessed the efficacy
of ECT in treating co-occurring depression and AOD use disorders. The Royal Australian and New Zealand
College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of depression note that ECT is a highly
efficacious treatment with a strong evidence base, particularly for severe depressive disorders [648, 649].
The UK NICE Guidelines similarly recommend that ECT be considered for treating severe depressive
disorders, or after other treatment options have been exhausted [650].
Research examining e-health interventions for depression based on CBT therapies has found evidence of
successful outcomes [449], and their use as the optimal low-intensity treatment for adults experiencing
depression has been recommended by the UK NICE Guidelines [444]. Recommended programs include
Beating the Blues and MoodGYM both of which have been found to improve a range of depression
outcomes [651-653]. Neither of these programs, however, address comorbid AOD use.
A small number of e-health interventions specifically designed to treat comorbid depression and AOD use
have been evaluated. The SHADE program, consisting of nine sessions of interactive exercises based on MI
and CBT, has been associated with moderate to large effect sizes for alcohol consumption and significant
reductions in depression scores over 12-month follow-up [654, 655]. More recently, a brief (4-session)
early intervention program called the DEAL Project was developed, targeting young people experiencing
depression with harmful patterns of alcohol use [656]. The program is undertaken entirely online with
no clinician support. In evaluating the intervention, Deady and colleagues [657] found that individuals
randomised to receive the DEAL Project demonstrated a greater reduction in symptoms of depression and
alcohol use compared to individuals randomised to an attention-control condition.
One other study has examined the use of a single-session of online personalised feedback and
psychoeducation provided to college students [658]. The study compared alcohol feedback only,
depressed mood feedback only, integrated feedback, and an assessment only condition. At 1-month
follow-up, no differences in depressed mood or alcohol use were found across the conditions.
Physical activity
There is increasing evidence to suggest that regular physical exercise has psychological benefits, with
more active people illustrating lower levels of depression than sedentary people [659-661]. As mentioned
previously, exercise is relatively low-risk, is associated with wide physical health benefits, and research
has demonstrated exercise to be as effective in reducing depressive symptoms as psychotherapy and
antidepressants [185, 195, 662]. A Cochrane review concluded that physical activity (defined as aerobic,
mixed, or resistance) was moderately more effective than control interventions for treating depression,
with exercise equally as effective as psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy [663]. The UK NICE Guidelines for
depression recommend structured, supervised physical activity programs, three times a week (45 minutes
to 1 hour duration) for at least 12 weeks [650].
There is much evidence suggesting that physical activity improves levels of depression and anxiety [664,
665], both of which are risk factors for, and have been associated with, AOD use [51, 666]. Despite this
association, there is little research that has examined the role of exercise among people with comorbid
depression and AOD use disorders specifically. A study examining the effects of an 8-week structured
exercise program (treadmill and weight training), on depression and anxiety symptoms among newly
abstinent methamphetamine users in treatment, found that more exercise was significantly associated
with greater reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms, compared with the control group (health
education sessions), and compared with fewer exercise sessions [233].

Another study, examining the effect of a 10-week, 30-minute, exercise program (incorporating walking/
running, ball games, strength training) on quality of life in a sample of people attending residential AOD
treatment for polydrug use, found a significant reduction in depression (from 78% to 36%) among those
who completed the program [667]. This study highlights the difficulty involved in engaging comorbid
populations in physical activity, which in general succeed in retaining only those with the fewest physical
health problems [668]. However, the fact that 69% of participants completed the exercise component of
this study does point to the feasibility of engaging and maintaining people with comorbid depression and
AOD use disorders in programs incorporating physical activity [667].
A systematic review examining the effect of exercise-based interventions on AOD use found exercise was
associated with overall improvements in depression [185]. Although these findings indicate that exercise is
a potentially promising adjunctive treatment for people with comorbid depression, they also highlight the
need for further well-conducted research to be undertaken in this area.
Yoga
Yoga is a complex mind–body intervention involving spiritual practice, physical activity, breathing exercises
and meditation [669, 670]. Although the traditional goal of yoga is to unite body, mind, and spirit and
achieve self-awareness, yoga has become a popular method of maintaining physical and mental health
[669-671]. Yoga practice commonly involves postures to improve strength and flexibility, breathing
exercises to focus the mind and assist with relaxation, and meditation to calm the mind [671]. Research
has demonstrated that yoga can assist with the improvement of co-occurring mental health symptoms in
patients with physical conditions such as cancer [672, 673], menopausal symptoms [674], and pain [675].
Several systematic reviews have been conducted to assess the efficacy of yoga as an intervention for
depression. These studies have found limited to moderate support for short-term improvements in severity
of depression in yoga with meditation-based practice (rather than exercise-based practice) [676-679]. Only
one study has examined the effect of yoga breathing (Sudarshana Kriya Yoga) on depressive symptoms
among people with alcohol dependence [680]. This study found that the yoga intervention was associated
with reduced depressive symptoms compared to the control group. Although the effectiveness of yoga
as a treatment for people with comorbid AOD and depressive disorders needs further investigation,
these findings indicate that yoga may be considered as an additional treatment for clients with comorbid
depression.
Omega-3
There has been much research conducted examining the relationship between omega-3 and depressive
disorders, with some evidence that omega-3 fatty acids (primarily found in fish and seafood) are associated
with lower rates of depression [681-688]. Although several studies support omega-3 supplementation as
an antidepressant for people with depression alone, the role of omega-3 in people with comorbid AOD use
and depression has not been rigorously examined.
Research that has included people with comorbid AOD use has been largely focused on aggression,
anger, and co-occurring depression. Animal studies have found evidence of associations between
omega-3 deficiencies and increased aggressive and depressive behaviours [689]. Beier and colleagues
found reduced omega-3 levels among people with comorbid major depression and AOD use, indicating
that omega-3 may be used as a therapeutic approach for people with depression and AOD use, and
particularly those with aggressive symptoms [690]. Another placebo-controlled study of people with
AOD abuse who had histories of aggression and legal problems found that anger improved with omega-3
supplementation [691, 692]. Other studies have also examined the relationship between omega-3

supplementation, depression, and co-occurring anger, aggression, hostility, and impulsivity, but have not
included comorbid substance use [693-695]. Although these studies found that omega-3 supplementation
improved depression and aggression [693, 694], Beier and colleagues suggest that AOD use (which was
not measured) may have played an important underlying role [690].
St John’s Wort
St John’s Wort is the common name for the plant Hypericum perforatum, the extracts of which are
commonly used to treat depression, sometimes in order to avoid the side-effects involved with prescription
medication [696]. A systematic review of studies examining the efficacy of St John’s Wort found significantly
greater reductions in mild to moderate symptoms of depression among those taking St John’s Wort
compared to placebo [697]. However, the efficacy of St John’s Wort compared to antidepressants is not
known. The long-term side effects, particularly among pregnant women, are also unknown.
Although there is some evidence of efficacy in mild to moderate depression, the use of St John’s Wort has
been shown to have significant interactions with a range of other medications, including SSRIs and related
drugs, oral contraceptives, some anticoagulants, and some cardiac medications [698]. Further, the use
of St John’s Wort among people with comorbid AOD and depressive disorders has not been examined.
As such, AOD workers should ask their clients specifically about their use of St John’s Wort and other
complementary medicines, taking note of the potential for interactions between medications.
Summary
While these findings indicate that several psychological, pharmacological, and alternative approaches for
the treatment of co-occurring depression and AOD use disorders appear promising, further research is
required to establish which therapeutic approaches are particularly effective. It is suggested that clinical
efforts be focused on the provision of client-centred, evidence-based treatment, taking into account the
client’s needs and preferences, in a collaborative partnership. Box 16 illustrates the continuation of case
study D, following Jack after the identification of his comorbid depressive and AOD use disorder.
Box 16: Case study D: Treating comorbid depression and AOD use: Jack’s story
continued
Case study D: Treating comorbid depression and AOD use: Jack’s

story continued
Jack’s revelations about his use of cannabis and alcohol led to a change in his treatment plan, and
he realised for the first time that both alcohol and cannabis – alone or in combination – made his
depression much worse. Jack said that there was a strong family history of depression; his father, one
paternal uncle and his paternal grandfather, all experienced severe depression over the course of their
lives, and his grandfather committed suicide in his early sixties. Jack went on to say that he had now
realised that both he and his doctors had accepted a genetic causation of his recurrent depressive
illness, without much thought being given to other factors such as AOD use.
With Jack’s consent, the AOD worker spoke with his GP, psychologist, and psychiatrist to devise some
treatment options for Jack. After presenting various options to Jack, it was decided that he would
continue with his current antidepressant medication (which was working well so far), continue to see his
psychologist weekly, and try attending some outpatient AOD group sessions for additional support. Jack
was also made aware of the possibility of pharmacological therapies to help reduce his drinking, but
he decided that he did not want to try medications at this stage. Jack continued with his antidepressant
medication and seeing his psychologist, but decided after trying a few different support groups that it
wasn’t for him. Jack received regular ongoing monitoring of his physical health from his GP, who paid
particular attention to Jack’s liver function, respiratory health and blood pressure.

Box 16: Case study D: Treating comorbid depression and AOD use: Jack’s story
continued
Despite a few lapses, Jack progressed through treatment very well. Initially, he had some trouble
abstaining from both alcohol and cannabis, but eventually stopped drinking and used cannabis only
once per week. In planning his treatment, Jack had decided that he would take some time off work to
concentrate on his mental health. After discussing his options with his psychologist, Jack decided to
disclose the details of his condition, in confidence, to his employer who he had known for many years.
Jack’s manager was understanding and supportive, but he was also naturally concerned about Jack’s
return to work as several of the firm’s clients were somewhat reliant on him.
In consultation with Jack’s team of health care providers, it was agreed that he would have a short
time off work and then return to work part-time, which in itself might be helpful to Jack in respect to
improving his confidence and self-esteem.
Key points:
• People with comorbid disorders do not necessarily present in any obvious way. There is higher
prevalence of older people who have continued to use AOD since cannabis and stimulants became
more readily available in the 1960s and 1970s. The need for careful history taking regarding AOD
use cannot be overemphasised.
• In some cases, mental health conditions may quickly respond to appropriate treatments. However,
comorbid mental health and AOD use disorders present a numbers of challenges – in particular the
need to address the need to maintain treatment gains in the long term (years rather than days or
weeks).

Anxiety
Section
Heading
Goes here
Anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety involves excessive fear or worry, difficulty controlling this worry, and/or repetitive intrusive thoughts
or actions. Symptoms include poor concentration, inability to relax, sleep disturbances, depersonalisation,
and physical symptoms such as dizziness, faintness, headaches, nausea, indigestion, loss of sexual
pleasure, breathing difficulties, sweating, tension and muscle pain, and heart palpitations.
Managing symptoms of anxiety, panic, or agitation

The presence of an anxiety disorder can significantly increase the risk of relapse to AOD use [699].
Techniques for managing clients with symptoms of anxiety are outlined in Table 39. Clients may also be
encouraged to try relaxation techniques to manage the distressing and distracting symptoms of anxiety
[700, 701].
Some useful relaxation methods include:
• Progressive muscle relaxation.

• Controlled or abdominal breathing.
• Calming response.
• Visualisation and imagery.
• Grounding.
Each method works best if practiced daily by clients for 10–20 minutes; however, not every technique
may be appropriate for every client. These techniques are described in detail in Appendix U. Some of the
cognitive behavioural techniques described in Appendix T (i.e., cognitive restructuring, structured problem
solving, and goal setting) may also be useful in managing symptoms of anxiety [66, 385, 702, 703], but
again, no one strategy is effective for all clients. If the client experiences unpleasant effects from any
strategy, he/she should discontinue its use.
Like depressive symptoms, many anxiety symptoms will subside after a period of abstinence and
stabilisation [35, 290, 299, 704]. It is useful to explain to clients that it is quite normal to feel anxious when
entering treatment but that these feelings usually improve over a period of weeks. During and after this
time, constant monitoring of symptoms will allow the AOD worker to determine if the client requires
further treatment for these symptoms. If the client has a history of anxiety in circumstances when he/she
is not intoxicated or withdrawing, he/she may have an independent anxiety disorder. For these clients, it is
unlikely that their anxiety symptoms will resolve completely with abstinence – indeed their symptoms may
even increase. In such cases, clients should be assessed for an anxiety disorder and the treatment options
should be considered.

Table 39: Dos and don’ts of managing a client with symptoms of anxiety
Do:
3 Approach the client in a calm, confident, and receptive way.

3 Move and speak at an unhurried speed.
3 Be patient in order to allow the client to feel comfortable to disclose information.
3 Minimise the number of staff present and attending to the client.
3 Minimise surrounding noise to reduce stimulation.
3 Reassure the client frequently (e.g., ‘This won’t take much longer’).
3 Explain the purpose of interventions.
3 Remain with the client to calm him/her down.
Don’t:
2 Crowd or pressure the client.

2 Get frustrated or impatient.
2 Panic. The more relaxed you are the more relaxed the client is likely to feel.
Adapted from NSW Department of Health [277] and Clancy and Terry [296].
Treating anxiety disorders

As with depression, much of the anxiety exhibited by clients entering AOD treatment will subside
following a period of abstinence and stabilisation without the need for any direct attention [290, 416,
705]. There are several options available for the treatment of anxiety disorders, including psychotherapy,
pharmacotherapy, e-health, interventions, physical activity, and complementary and alternative therapies
(e.g., dietary supplements). The evidence base surrounding each of these treatments in relation to the
different anxiety disorders is discussed below.
Expert reviewers tend to agree that psychological interventions should accompany pharmacological
treatments for anxiety disorders [706], and suggest that a combination of psychotherapy and
pharmacotherapy may be uniquely effective in the treatment of individuals with comorbid anxiety and
alcohol use disorders [432, 705]. In terms of psychotherapy, a Cochrane review concluded that CBT is
effective in treating anxiety disorders [707] and, as discussed previously, there is good evidence that CBT
and MI are effective psychotherapies for particular types of AOD use disorders.
If the anxiety is acute and disabling and interfering with a response to AOD treatment, then consideration
should be given to pharmacotherapy, either for the substance use (in the case of alcohol – naltrexone,
acamprosate or disulfiram), the anxiety, or both. Although research examining the treatment of the
treatment of comorbid anxiety and AOD use is scarce [708], it would be reasonable to draw similar
conclusions for these comorbid groups as for depressed substance abusers – namely, use of a medication
such as a SSRI (which has anxiolytic properties), with a good side-effect profile, proven efficacy in the
mental health disorder and minimal negative interactions with the substance of abuse [121, 705]. Commonly
prescribed anti-anxiety medications include some of the SSRIs (and other antidepressants, e.g., venlafaxine)
listed in Table 38, and those listed in Table 40.
Despite their proven effectiveness in relieving anxiety, the use of benzodiazepines is not recommended
due to their abuse liability [121, 263, 706]. Benzodiazepines should only be prescribed among patients with
a history of problematic AOD use if there is a compelling reason to use them, there is no good alternative
(i.e., other psychological and medication options have failed), close follow-up and supervision is provided,

and monitoring for misuse is in place. If benzodiazepines are used, the client should only be prescribed the
lowest possible dose for only a short period of time (no more than one month) [121].
Table 40: Anti-anxiety medications
Drug name Brand names Drug type
Escitalopram Lexapro, Lexam SSRI
Paroxetine Aropax, Paxtine SSRI
Sertraline Zoloft SSRI
Fluoxetine Prozac, Lovan SSRI
Fluvoxamine Luvox, Moxam SSRI
Citalopram Celica, Cipramil SSRI
Venlafaxine Efexor-XR SNRI
Duloxetine Cymbalta SNRI
Alprazolam Xanax, Sandoz Benzodiazepine
Clonazepam Paxam, Rivotril Benzodiazepine
Diazepam Valium Benzodiazepine
Lorazepam Ativan Benzodiazepine
Clomipramine Anafranil TCA
Imipramine Tofranil, Tolerade TCA
Phenelzine Nardil MAOI
Quetiapine Seroquel Antipsychotic
SSRIs = selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; SNRI = serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor;
TCA = tricyclic antidepressants; MAOI = monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Adapted from Lampe [709] and
the Australian Government Department of Health [630]. For a full list of generic brands available, see the
Therapeutic Goods Administration website (https://www.tga.gov.au/).
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)

Psychotherapy
There is currently very little evidence regarding the effectiveness of psychological therapies for co-
occurring GAD and AOD use disorders [600]. Kushner and colleagues [710] developed an integrated group
CBT program for comorbid anxiety and alcohol use disorders to address symptoms of anxiety, as well as
the association between anxiety and the motivation to drink alcohol. The treatment was evaluated in an
RCT of individuals in a residential treatment program for alcohol use disorders with comorbid GAD, panic
disorder, or SAD. Those randomised to receive the CBT program treatment experienced considerably
better alcohol outcomes relative to the control group who received progressive muscle relaxation training,
and both groups demonstrated a reduction in anxiety symptoms.

In the absence of comprehensive research examining psychotherapeutic approaches to comorbid
GAD and AOD use, it may be prudent to be guided by other clinical guidelines for the management and
treatment of GAD alone. The UK NICE Clinical Guidelines for the management of GAD recommend offering
clients the choice of individual non-facilitated self-help, individual guided self-help, or psychoeducation
groups as a first line of intervention, followed by individual high-intensity psychological intervention or
pharmacological treatment if symptoms have not responded adequately [711]. Further information on the
NICE Clinical Guidelines and recommendations can be found at the National Institute for Health and Care
Excellence website http://www.nice.org.uk/.
Psychotherapy has been found to be equally as efficacious in the treatment of GAD as pharmacotherapies
[712]. Although experts suggest that the combined use of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy may be
most beneficial [706], at present there have been too few studies to provide conclusive evidence [713]. As
mentioned, it also remains unclear as to whether approaches used for treating GAD as a single disorder are
equally efficacious in the treatment of comorbid GAD and AOD use disorders.
Pharmacotherapy
As mentioned, pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy have been found to be equally as efficacious
in the treatment of GAD [712], and experts suggest that the combined use of psychotherapy and
pharmacotherapy may be most beneficial [706]. Studies have found the use of SSRIs to be associated with
reductions in alcohol use [626, 714]; however, their effectiveness has not been studied in individuals with
comorbid anxiety and AOD use disorders. The use of SSRIs is considered preferable to benzodiazepines
for GAD because they are more effective in treating symptoms such as worry, tension, irritability and
concentration problems; and they have a safer side-effect profile [715]. McHugh [716] highlights the
dearth of literature addressing the safety and efficacy of benzodiazepine use in this comorbid group, and
recommends using alternative treatments as a first line of treatment, only resorting to benzodiazepines
once other options have failed.
Some research has found buspirone, a non-benzodiazepine anti-anxiety medication, to be effective in

treating anxiety in people with alcohol use disorders as well as increasing treatment retention in this group
[263, 717, 718]. Furthermore, buspirone has been found to produce improvements in drinking outcomes
as well as in anxiety outcomes [717, 718]. However, one RCT has reported that buspirone did not perform
better than placebo in a sample of people with GAD who had recently completed detoxification from
alcohol [719]. Additionally, a randomised placebo-controlled trial of buspirone for the treatment of anxiety
in people with opioid dependence found that whilst buspirone was associated with a delayed return to
substance use, it did not have an effect on anxiety symptoms [720]. At present, buspirone is not subsidised
in Australia for non-veterans and is only available at significant cost by private prescription. Buspirone has
the added difficulty that it can take up to four weeks at a therapeutic dose to have anti-anxiety effects. This
may prove unattractive to clients who want the instant relief from their anxiety that can be provided by
alcohol or benzodiazepines.
Panic disorder
Little research has examined the treatment of panic disorder when it co-occurs with AOD use disorders. In
the absence of this evidence, the use of similar strategies to those found to be efficacious in the treatment
of panic disorder alone is appropriate. The UK NICE guidelines for the management of panic disorder
recommend a process of assessment and shared decision making to decide the first line of treatment,
which should be psychotherapy (CBT), self-help, or pharmacotherapy (SSRI or TCA antidepressants) [711].
A Cochrane review and meta-analysis have both concluded that, in the treatment of panic disorder alone,
it is equally efficacious to use psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy (SSRIs in particular), and that client
preference should be taken into account when deciding on a course of treatment [712, 721]. Furthermore,

it appears that the combination of psychotherapy and antidepressants is superior to treatment with
antidepressants alone [713]. Behavioural techniques such as exposure and systematic desensitisation
have also been shown to be effective, and relaxation and supportive counselling may also be helpful
[263]. However, it remains unclear as to whether the same approach for treating panic disorder as a single
disorder is equally efficacious in the treatment of comorbid panic disorder and AOD use disorders.
Psychotherapy
Findings from studies examining psychological treatments designed to address symptoms of both panic
disorder and AOD use present mixed evidence. In an RCT of people with panic disorder receiving inpatient
treatment for alcohol dependence, Bowen and colleagues [722] examined CBT for panic disorder in
addition to a regular alcohol treatment program. They found that although there were improvements in
anxiety symptoms and alcohol use, there was no additional benefit of the CBT treatment component.
In contrast, Schadé and colleagues [723, 724] found the addition of CBT to psychosocial treatment for
alcohol dependence yielded superior results for anxiety symptoms, compared to treatment for alcohol
dependence alone. More recently, Kushner and colleagues [710] evaluated an integrated group CBT
program for comorbid anxiety and alcohol use disorders in a RCT of individuals in a residential treatment
program for alcohol use disorders with comorbid GAD, panic disorder, or SAD. Those randomised to
receive the CBT program experienced considerably better alcohol outcomes relative to the control group
who received progressive muscle relaxation training, and both groups demonstrated a reduction in anxiety
symptoms.
Pharmacotherapy
There is a dearth of research exploring the pharmacological treatment of co-occurring panic and AOD
use disorders. SSRIs and venlafaxine are the first line pharmacotherapy recommended for the treatment
of panic disorder as a single disorder [725]. It has been recommended that caution should be used when
treating panic disorder with antidepressants such as SSRIs and TCAs because these agents may cause an
initial worsening of panic symptoms [263]. As mentioned previously, TCAs are poorly tolerated, potentially
lethal in overdose, and cause significant adverse effects when combined with other central nervous system
depressants. In contrast, SSRIs are associated with fewer side effects, have better tolerability (resulting in
improved compliance) and are safer in overdose [424]. It is recommended that a low dose be prescribed to
start with to avoid activation of panic symptoms [263, 725].
Social anxiety disorder (SAD)

Research that has been conducted on comorbid SAD and AOD use disorders shows mixed findings.
Although earlier research indicated either no symptom improvement or deleterious outcomes, more recent
research of integrated treatments show promise.
Psychotherapy
Studies of psychological treatments for comorbid SAD and alcohol use disorders suggest that the
treatment of both disorders concurrently is no more beneficial than treatments focused on drinking alone
[723], and that concurrent treatment may even have a deleterious effect on drinking outcomes [726].
Research by Schadé and colleagues [723, 724] indicated that adding CBT and an optional SSRI to relapse
prevention treatment for alcohol dependence yielded superior results for symptoms of anxiety in people
with SAD, but did not improve drinking outcomes relative to alcohol relapse prevention treatment alone.
Another study examined the efficacy of CBT for SAD and alcohol dependence compared with CBT for
alcohol dependence only [726]. The authors found overall improvements in anxiety symptoms with no

significant advantage of the additional CBT treatment, but poorer outcomes for the combined treatment
group in regards to alcohol use. It should be noted, however, that neither of these studies examined
integrated treatments for SAD and substance use, but treatment administered within a parallel model.
Recently, an integrated treatment has been developed for social anxiety and alcohol use disorders, which
combines CBT and MI [727]. Preliminary findings indicate that it may be a promising approach for the
treatment of comorbid SAD and alcohol use disorders [728]. Compared to participants randomly allocated
to receive CBT for alcohol alone, participants receiving integrated CBT had better outcomes for symptoms
of social anxiety, general functioning, and quality of life [729]. Both groups reduced their alcohol use, with
no difference between groups.
Pharmacotherapy
In terms of pharmacological treatment for SAD, there is evidence to suggest that treatment with SSRIs
can be effective in reducing anxiety symptoms [730, 731]. There is also some evidence that SSRIs can be
effective at treating co-occurring SAD and AOD use disorders, although their effectiveness at reducing AOD
use may be limited [732-734]. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, paroxetine was found to reduce
symptoms of social anxiety and reliance on alcohol for self-medication of anxiety symptoms, but it did not
reduce actual quantity and frequency of drinking [732, 734].
As noted in previous sections, there has been an expansion of research into e-health interventions, with
growing evidence to support its use in managing and treating various disorders. A systematic review and
meta-analysis examining e-health interventions for GAD found significant post-treatment improvements for
generalised anxiety and pathological worry [735]. Indeed, the efficacy of e-health interventions was found to
be equivalent to that of CBT interventions delivered face-to-face. The review further concluded that CBT-
based interventions have a stronger evidence-base and greater efficacy compared to psychodynamic-
based interventions.
Two other meta-analyses have examined the efficacy of internet-based approaches for anxiety [736, 737].
Spek and colleagues [736] evaluated internet-based CBT for anxiety and depressive disorders and found
larger effect sizes for anxiety than depression interventions, which was suggested to be related to the
amount of therapist support provided alongside the internet-based intervention. Cuijpers and colleagues
[737] similarly demonstrated that computer-based psychotherapy was as effective for managing and
treating anxiety disorders as face-to-face treatment, regardless of disorder type.
In relation to the management of phobia and panic disorder, the UK NICE Guidelines recommend
FearFighter, a computer-based psychotherapy, as an evidence-based treatment for anxiety [444].
FearFighter is a CBT-based e-health intervention based on self-exposure therapy [738]. Research has
found that the FearFighter program is as effective as face-to-face interventions in managing and treating
panic and phobia [739].
To date, no e-health interventions have been developed for treating comorbid anxiety and AOD use.
However, an Australian program called Anxiety Online does provide links to psychoeducation surrounding
AOD use [740]. Anxiety Online comprises five e-therapy programs for GAD, SAD, panic disorder, PTSD, and
OCD. Definitive evidence regarding the efficacy of this program is lacking; however, a naturalistic study
found that the participation in Anxiety Online was associated with significant reductions in severity of all five
disorders, and increased confidence in managing one’s own mental health care. Significant improvements
in quality of life were also observed for the GAD, SAD, OCD, PTSD, and e-therapy programs, but not the
panic disorder program. Overall, treatment satisfaction was good across all five e-therapy programs.

Physical activity
The evidence base for the efficacy of physical exercise in reducing anxiety symptoms is smaller than that
for depression; but nonetheless indicates that exercise is efficacious in alleviating symptoms of anxiety
[711]. Aerobic and non-aerobic exercise have been found to be as effective as CBT [199], with reductions in
anxiety, tension, and irritability observed among those with GAD who participated in resistance training and
aerobics [664, 741]. Regular walking has also been found to enhance the efficacy of CBT across different
anxiety disorders [742]. Regular exercise was been found to produce greater reductions in anxiety than
relaxation for those with panic disorder [743], but is less effective than pharmacotherapy [744] or group
delivered CBT [745].
Two reviews reporting secondary psychological outcomes of studies examining the effect of physical
activity among people with AOD use found improvements in both AOD use and anxiety [185, 186]. Findings
indicate that both aerobic and anaerobic training may be effective, over an optimal duration of 9 weeks
[746]. However, there is mixed evidence regarding the optimal intensity, with some studies finding support
for light to moderate exercise, and others finding larger effect sizes with higher intensity training [186].
Yoga
Although the effectiveness of yoga as an intervention for anxiety has been evaluated in a number of
studies, the poor quality of the evidence makes it difficult to draw conclusions. Earlier systematic reviews
found minimal evidence for the efficacy of meditation therapy [747] or mindfulness-based meditation [748],
but two recent systematic reviews concluded that meditative therapies reduced anxiety symptoms [749,
750]. No research has evaluated yoga for people with comorbid anxiety and AOD use.
Dietary supplements
Some people with anxiety disorders may prefer herbal or nutritional supplements, either in addition to, or
instead of, psychological or pharmacological therapies. Systematic reviews have found limited evidence
for the efficacy of several ‘phytomedicines’, including Passiflora extract, Kava, and combinations of l-lysine
and l-arginine [751-753]. Despite its popularity, there is no convincing evidence supporting the use of
homeopathy in the treatment of anxiety disorders [754, 755]. Further, none of these supplements have been
evaluated among people with comorbid anxiety and AOD use disorders.
Summary
Research concerning both psychological and pharmacological treatments for comorbid anxiety and AOD
use disorders is sparse [708, 756] and the evidence for integrated treatments is mixed [716]. In the absence
of research examining treatments for comorbid anxiety and AOD use disorders, it may be useful to seek
guidance from treatment approaches to single disorders. More rigorous research is required in order to
determine whether the same approach for treating single disorders is equally efficacious in the treatment
of comorbid disorders. Box 17 illustrates the continuation of case study E, following Alina’s story after
identification of her anxiety disorder was made. However, as illustrated, the presence of a comorbid AOD
use disorder may complicate the management and treatment plan.

Box 17: Case study E: Treating comorbid anxiety and AOD use: Alina’s story continued
Case Study E: Treating comorbid anxiety and AOD use: Alina’s story
continued
Box 17: Case study E: Treating comorbid anxiety and AOD use: Alina’s story continued
Alina’s psychologist diagnosed her with GAD, and suggested that they try CBT for the treatment of her
anxiety and panic attacks. With the worsening of Alina’s symptoms, the psychologist took the view that
she might need longer term treatment than provided under the Medicare Better Access Scheme.
The treatment plan developed in consultation with Alina emphasised the need to deal with both her
anxiety and alcohol use. The psychologist liaised with Alina’s GP, who ordered some blood tests and
recommended a short course of medication to help Alina withdraw from alcohol. Both the GP and the
psychologist advised Alina that the first few days without alcohol would likely be the worst, but that
symptoms typically abate within one week. In particular, they highlighted a possible increase in her
anxiety during this period, but reassured Alina that this would likely subside and they would be there to
help her through.
Over the next few weeks, Alina began to see a cycle between her anxiety and alcohol use, with
alcohol providing temporary relief from her anxiety, which then worsened once the effects of alcohol
wore off. Alina began to realise how the vicious cycle led to avoidance behaviours which made her
feel depressed because she was no longer engaging in activities that she enjoyed. She also began
to appreciate that her alcohol use had become an independent problem, and that although she was
acquiring coping strategies to deal with anxiety, the potential for developing an even more serious
alcohol problem was a real possibility.
Alina’s psychologist arranged for her to attend weekly sessions of a relapse prevention program run by
local AOD services. Her psychologist also helped her to deal with avoidance behaviours with a program
of gradual exposure to situations that had previously been anxiety provoking. Although Alina responded
very well to these treatment initiatives within two to three months, they both agreed that she should
remain in contact with her psychologist over a longer term period. The frequency of sessions gradually
reduced over time.
Key points:
• Treatments for anxiety and AOD use may require client contact over a period of months, rather than
weeks.
• Without addressing AOD use, psychological treatments for anxiety may be rendered ineffective.

OCD
OCD
Section
Heading
Goes here
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
As mentioned in Chapter A4, OCD was classified as an anxiety disorder in the DSM-IV-TR, but the DSM-5
has separated OCD (and related disorders) into a separate category of disorder.
A person with OCD may be significantly distressed by their symptoms, and their ability to function may
be impaired. They are plagued with persistent thoughts or impulses that are intrusive and unwanted
(obsessions) and they may feel compelled to perform repetitive, ritualistic actions that are excessive and
time consuming (compulsions). Symptoms of obsessions may include:
• Fear of germs, dirt, or poisons.

• Harm from illness or injury to self or others.
• Intrusive thoughts about sex or sexual acts.
• Excessive concerns with symmetry or orderliness.
• Needing to know or remember things.
• Hoarding or saving and collecting things.
Anxiety about obsessions may lead to vigilance about possible threats, and a compelling need for control.
A person may feel annoyed, discomforted, distressed, or panic about their obsessions, and feel driven to
perform repetitive mental or physical acts in response. Symptoms of compulsions may include:
• Excessive hand washing, showering, tooth brushing.

• Excessively checking locks, appliances, other safety items.
• Repeating activities or routines (e.g., opening a door, switching a light on and off).
• Applying rules to the placement of objects.
• Inability to throw out excessive collections of items (e.g., newspapers, clothes).
OCD may often go under-detected among people with AOD conditions. This is thought to be due to both
a lack of training for AOD workers in the detection of OCD, and a lack of disclosure by clients who may
experience shame and embarrassment, and be intent on hiding their symptoms [757].
Managing symptoms of OCD

Many people may have mild symptoms that are associated with stressful life events or situations which
often improve without the need for specific treatments. However, those who experience the severity,
distress and impairment associated with more chronic and enduring OCD may benefit from some form of
treatment [758].
The techniques outlined in Table 41 may help AOD workers to manage clients with obsessive-compulsive
symptoms, whether they are transient or more entrenched.

Table 41: Dos and don’ts of managing a client with obsessive compulsive symptoms
Do:
3 Ignore strange or embarrassing behaviour if you can, especially if it is not serious.

3 Approach the client in a calm, confident and receptive way.
3 Move and speak at an unhurried speed.
3 Minimise the number of staff present and attending to the client.
3 Minimise surrounding noise to reduce stimulation.
3 Reassure the client frequently (e.g., ‘This won’t take much longer’).
3 Explain the purpose of interventions.
3 Remain with the client to calm him/her down.
Don’t:
2 Crowd or pressure the client.

2 Become frustrated or impatient.
2 Laugh (or let others laugh) at the person.
2 Act horrified, worried or panic.
2 Argue with the client’s unusual beliefs or agree with or support unusual beliefs – it is better to
simply say ‘I can see you are anxious, how can I help you?’
2 Use ‘no’ language, as it may provoke hostility and aggression. Statements like ‘I’m sorry, we’re not
allowed to do ____ but I can offer you other help, assessment, referral…’ may help to calm the client
whilst retaining communication.
Adapted from NSW Department of Health [277] and Clancy and Terry [296], Jenner et al. [123].

Treating OCD
Despite evidence from the general population indicating that roughly one in ten individuals with an
AOD use disorder have OCD (see Chapter A2), the treatment of this comorbidity has not been rigorously
investigated. Whether or not a person is in need of treatment will largely depend on the intensity and
duration of symptoms, the impact of symptoms on their everyday life, whether or not there are any other
comorbid conditions (e.g., depressive or anxiety disorders), and whether there have been any other
treatment attempts in the past. As with all decisions to treat, this should be informed by the relevant
evidence-base, and decisions made in partnership with the client.
Although there is very little evidence regarding the treatment of co-occurring AOD use and OCD, that
which does exist suggests that treating both OCD and AOD use leads to better treatment outcomes than
treating AOD use alone [759].
There are several treatment options available for the treatment of OCD, including psychotherapy,
pharmacotherapy, e-health, physical activity, and complementary and alternative therapies. The evidence
base surrounding each of these treatments is discussed below.
Psychotherapy
There is a significant body of research supporting the efficacy and effectiveness of CBT incorporating
exposure and response prevention (ERP) for the treatment of OCD as a single disorder [760-768], including
two reviews – one systematic and one meta-analysis [769, 770]. Research has found that the effect sizes
for ERP are as large as pharmacological treatments [765], with lower rates of relapse [766, 771, 772]. As
such, CBT incorporating ERP is recommended as a first line of treatment for single disorder OCD by clinical
practice guidelines [773-775].
ERP involves repeated, prolonged and systematic confrontation with certain objects or situations that
trigger obsessional responses (exposure), and resisting the compulsive urges that arise in response to
the triggers (response prevention) [776]. The nature of the exposure therapy can be in vivo (i.e., physically
touching a light switch) or in the imagination (i.e., confronting images of loved ones dying). ERP concurrently
weakens the association between the obsessional triggers and anxiety arousal, and compulsive rituals
and anxiety reduction (i.e., ERP seeks to weaken the idea that anxiety will only reduce once compulsions
are performed [777]). Additional cognitive therapy can help clients address thought patterns that may be
underlying their obsessional fear [776]. Although ERP is considered to be the treatment of choice for OCD
[775, 778], it has been suggested that the efficacy is highly dependent on ERP being delivered consistent
with clinical guidelines [778].
The UK NICE guidelines recommend that low intensity CBT with ERP (i.e., consisting of up to 10 practitioner
hours per client) be offered to clients with mild functional impairment and those who express a preference
for a low intensity approach [775]. Low intensity treatments may include brief individual CBT with ERP,
using structured self-help materials; brief individual CBT with ERP by telephone; or group CBT. Those with
mild functional impairment who are unable to engage in low intensity CBT, or have a proven inadequate
response to low intensity treatment, should be offered a choice of either a course of SSRI or more intensive
CBT with ERP (i.e., more than 10 practitioner hours per client), as these treatments have been shown to have
comparable efficacy. Similarly, the UK NICE guidelines recommend that people with OCD with moderate
functional impairment should be offered a choice between SSRIs or more intensive CBT with ERP [775].
Despite evidence of its efficacy, ERP is not always the first line of treatment provided to clients with OCD.
This is likely due to a combination of factors, including the ease with which medication is prescribed and
is available over ERP; the fact that many workers are either unfamiliar with, or reluctant to perform ERP;
and the reluctance of some people with OCD to engage with ERP due to the anxiety-evoking nature of the
treatment [769].

There are currently no integrated treatments for co-occurring OCD and AOD use disorders and only one
RCT has examined the concurrent treatment of OCD among people attending residential rehabilitation
for their AOD use [779]. Clients who received concurrent ERP for their OCD remained in treatment longer,
and had lower OCD symptom severity and higher abstinence rates during treatment and at the 12-month
follow-up, compared to those who received AOD treatment alone or AOD use plus progressive muscle
relaxation. Based on the evidence provided from this RCT [779], and evidence pertaining to the treatment
of OCD and AOD use as single disorders, Klostermann and Fals [759] recommend five steps for treating
people with comorbid OCD and AOD use. The five steps include:
• Assessment of both OCD and AOD use: This can be difficult if clients are attempting to conceal their
symptoms for fear of embarrassment, and OCD can often be confused with other psychiatric illnesses
(e.g., phobia, depression, and psychosis).
• Assessment of symptom type and quality using validated assessment tools: For example intrusive
thoughts, feelings and behaviours, detailed description of the anxiety-provoking stimuli typically
experienced, and the ritualistic behaviours performed in response.
• Psychoeducational therapy.
• Creation of a stimulus hierarchy: Listing obsessions, compulsions and anxiety-provoking stimuli, which
are then rated based on the amount of anxiety generated.
• Treatment: Concurrent delivery of ERP and AOD use treatment.
Although the findings of Fals-Stewart and Schafer [779] are promising, more evidence is clearly needed. In
particular, the cyclical nature between OCD and AOD use suggests there is a need for the development
of integrated treatments that simultaneously address both disorders [769, 780]. Stewart and O’Connor
[780] suggest that such an integrated approach may consist of psychoeducation to explore the cyclical
relationship between OCD symptoms and AOD use; targeting AOD use during ERP treatment if it is
identified as a safety behaviour (a behaviour that temporarily relieves the distress associated with
obsessions); and therapeutic work focused on increasing self-efficacy, in order to help the client believe
they can cope without AOD use [780].
Pharmacotherapy
There has been little research examining the efficacy of pharmacotherapy interventions among people with
comorbid OCD and AOD use. A Cochrane review of pharmacotherapy for anxiety and comorbid alcohol use
disorders found no rigorously conducted trials of medication treatment for comorbid alcohol misuse and
OCD [708]. In view of the lack of evidence for pharmacological interventions for comorbid OCD and AOD
use, workers may be guided by the body of research that has been conducted for single disorder OCD.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs examining pharmacotherapy treatments for single
disorder OCD have found that the SSRIs (citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and
sertraline), and the TCA antidepressant clomipramine, to be associated with reductions in symptom severity
and improvements in health-related quality of life [781, 782]. Evidence-based guidelines for the treatment
of single disorder OCD recommend that SSRIs be used as the first line of pharmacotherapy, and further
suggest that the combination of psychological and pharmacological treatments is likely to be superior to
either approach in isolation, though this has yet to be confirmed [758]. The current evidence for a combined
approach is conflicting, with some studies finding an enhanced effect from the combination of both
psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy (e.g., fluvoxamine enhancing ERP [783], and CBT [784], ERP and SSRIs
being superior to SSRIs alone [785], ERP/CBT plus SSRIs being superior to SSRI alone [786]), which is not
supported in others (e.g., d-cycloserine hastens the response to CBT, but overall effectiveness of CBT is not
enhanced [787-789]). Table 42 provides a list of SSRIs for the pharmacological treatment of single disorder
OCD.

Table 42: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications
Drug name Brand names
Fluoxetine Lovan, Prozac, Zactin

Paroxetine Aropax, Paxtine, Paroxo
Sertraline Zoloft, Eleva, Seralin
Fluvoxamine Luvox, Faverin, Voxam
Citalopram Cipramil, Celapram, Celica
Escitalopram Lexapro, Escicor, Esipram
Adapted from Australian Government Department of Health [630]. For a full list of generic brands
Although there have yet to be any e-health interventions developed specifically for comorbid OCD and
AOD use, there have been several e-health interventions developed for OCD as a single disorder. Research
examining computerised CBT programs for OCD have found evidence of effectiveness [790-794], with
effects similar to those found in clinician-delivered CBT sustained to three and four months [790, 793, 795,
796]. There is also evidence to suggest a dose-response relationship in regards to computerised CBT
programs, with greater symptom improvements found among those who have completed more homework
[792]. However, studies have found that clinician-assisted programs with limited contact are associated
with better outcomes than completely computerised programs with no human contact, and the addition of
a therapist coach has been linked to treatment adherence and lower dropout rates [797].
A small number of e-health programs based on ERP have also been developed. It has been suggested that
the complex nature of OCD coupled with the exposure-based intervention may have deterred researchers
from translating treatments into online interventions [798]. Furthermore, the findings from studies examining
the efficacy of computerised ERP interventions have been mixed. A computerised ERP intervention called
BT Steps/OC Fighter was found to be less efficacious in reducing OCD symptoms than a more expensive
clinician-delivered ERP, but more efficacious than relaxation training [792]. The findings from this study
suggest that the primary benefit of having a clinician was to ensure people maintain their engagement in
the exposure process [769]. Given these findings, the UK NICE Guidelines recommend that BT Steps/OC
Fighter should not be used in the treatment of OCD [444].
Another ERP program, ICBT, has been found to be more efficacious in reducing OCD and depressive
symptoms, and improving general functioning compared to active control (online, non-directive supportive
therapy) [793]. Although encouraging, further research is needed in the area of ICBT and OCD [798].
Physical activity
There is preliminary evidence to suggest that physical exercise may be beneficial for people with single
disorder OCD. One pilot study of people with OCD maintained on SSRIs found an improvement in self-
reported OCD symptoms and depression after six weeks of a walking intervention, which remained stable
for one month post–treatment [799]. A second study found that the combination of a 12-week moderate
aerobic exercise program with psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy reduced OCD symptom severity, which
was maintained at 6-month follow-up [800]. The study found that significantly lower OCD symptoms,
anxiety, and negative mood levels were reported immediately following each 20–40 minute exercise
session, compared to the beginning of the session [801]. However, there is no evidence to date on the
efficacy of physical exercise for the treatment of comorbid OCD and AOD use disorder specifically.

As mentioned previously, SSRIs have been associated with various dose-dependent side effects, including
nausea, diarrhoea, dizziness, headaches, insomnia, sedation, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, and decreased
libido [802]. As the dose required for a clinically significant improvement in OCD symptoms is typically
higher than is required in the treatment of depressive disorders, the potential for unwanted side effects is
substantially increased [803]. As such, several studies have examined alternative therapies in the treatment
of single disorder OCD.
In a systematic review of these approaches, there was some evidence that mindfulness meditation,
electroacupuncture, yoga, nutrient glycine, borage, and milk thistle may have a positive impact on OCD
symptoms [804]. However, it is important to note that a number of these studies used methodologically
weak designs, and none examined use of these therapies among people with comorbid OCD and AOD use.
Summary
There are currently no integrated treatments for co-occurring OCD and AOD use disorders, and evidence
from only one RCT among people with comorbid OCD and AOD use favouring the concurrent treatment of
these disorders [779]. Although there is limited evidence for the treatment of comorbid OCD and AOD use,
results from single disorder OCD studies suggest there is strong and consistent evidence to recommend
the use of ERP or CBT as the first line of treatment in single disorder OCD. Box 18 illustrates the continuation
of case study F, following Jenny’s story after the identification of her OCD had been made.
Box 18: Case study F: Treating comorbid OCD and AOD use: Jenny’s story continued
Case Study F: Treating comorbid OCD and AOD use: Jenny’s story
continued
The AOD consultant liaison nurse arranged for Jenny to see both a mental health and AOD worker. With
Jenny’s involvement, they devised a treatment plan. This involved consultation with Jenny’s GP, a home
visit by a psychologist, comprehensive assessments, and concurrent treatment of Jenny’s OCD and
alcohol and benzodiazepine use. Although Jenny’s AOD treatment was managed by the AOD service
and her GP, it became evident that the supply of drugs from the Internet contained medication of
varying dosage and qualities, which made it very difficult for clinicians to establish the quantity Jenny
had been consuming.
Jenny received concurrent treatment of both pharmacotherapy and CBT with ERP, which addressed her
OCD and alcohol and benzodiazepine use. In addition to the gastritis, Jenny had problems with her liver
function, which required long-term follow up with a hepatologist. Jenny’s treatment for her OCD and
AOD use took place over several months and included exposure to her previously avoided situations.
When this phase of treatment was completed, a longer–term process of monitoring and support was
put in place to ensure that her treatment gains were maintained.
Key points:
• OCD is a condition with a much higher prevalence than had previously been assumed, but
symptoms can be mistaken for anxiety.
• People with OCD commonly use substances that reduce their levels of anxiety, but may not
necessarily reveal their use of AOD to health professionals.
• There are considerable problems associated with the use of medications obtained from the internet.
• There is a need to monitor ongoing physical health complications of comorbid disorders.

PTSD
Section
PTSD
Heading
Goes here
Trauma and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Trauma refers to an experience in which a person is exposed to, witnesses, or is confronted with a situation
in which they perceive that their own, or someone else’s, safety is at risk [24]. Trauma may be a one-off
event or it may have occurred over a period of time. Examples of traumatic events include (but are by no
means limited to) combat exposure, being in a place of war, experiencing a natural disaster (e.g., fire, flood),
actual or threatened physical or sexual assault, being in a life-threatening accident, being kidnapped, taken
hostage, or threatened with a weapon, or witnessing any of these events.
Reactions following exposure to a traumatic event are varied, and can include anxiety or fear-based
symptoms, aggression or anger-based symptoms, or dissociative symptoms. Although behavioural
disturbances following a traumatic event are to be expected, for some people, the reaction to the event
can result in prolonged and significant distress, as well as impaired social and occupational functioning
[698]. Symptoms may be especially long-lasting when the trauma is interpersonal and intentional (e.g.,
torture, sexual violence), and if the trauma occurred in childhood [805]. Following exposure to a traumatic
event, an individual may experience symptoms of PTSD (described in Chapter A4) such as:
• Recurrent ‘re-experiencing’ of the traumatic event, through unwanted and intrusive memories,
recurrent dreams or nightmares, or ‘flashbacks’.
• Persistent avoidance of memories, thoughts, feelings or external reminders of the event (such as
people, places or activities).
• Persistent negative mood, and feeling a distorted sense of blame of self or others, or feeling detached
from others, and less interested in activities.
• Persistent symptoms of increased physiological arousal, including hypervigilance towards distressing
cues, sleep difficulties, exaggerated startle response, increased anger and concentration difficulties.
Managing trauma-related symptoms

The importance of providing trauma-informed care in AOD treatment settings has received increasing
recognition in recent years [346, 806, 807]. It is common for the frequency of trauma-related symptoms to
increase when a person stops drinking or using drugs [808-810]. This is because clients often use these
substances to suppress these feelings and control traumatic thoughts [25, 28]. However, it is important
to note that avoidance symptoms, rather than re-experiencing symptoms, have been associated with the
perpetuation of trauma-related symptoms [811-814]. It is therefore crucial that if a person does become
upset due to these traumatic thoughts, that they are not encouraged to avoid or suppress these thoughts
or feelings. Telling a person not to think or talk about what happened may also intensify feelings of guilt
and shame. For those who have experienced abuse, it may closely re-enact his/her experience of being
told to keep quiet about it [281]. This does not mean that clients should be pushed to revisit events or
disclose information if they are not ready to do so. Rather, it means that it is understandable that the person
may be upset by these thoughts and feelings that may arise, and he/she should be allowed to engage with
these feelings in order to help process the trauma emotionally.
As mentioned in Chapter B2, it is crucial that clients are not forced to discuss any details about past events
if they do not wish to. It is preferable that clients develop good self-care and have skills to regulate their
emotions before they delve deeply into their traumatic experiences or are exposed to the stories of others;
however, choice and control should be left to the client [281]. In-depth discussion of a person’s trauma
experiences should only be conducted by someone who is trained in dealing with trauma responses [346].

Notwithstanding, even without knowing the details of a client’s trauma, AOD workers can use the
techniques outlined in Table 43 to help clients manage their symptoms (Chapter B2 also provides
guidance on how to discuss trauma with clients). Praising clients for their resilience in the face of adversity
is important even if past adaptations and ways of coping are now causing problems (e.g., AOD use).
Understanding AOD use as an adaptive response reduces the client’s guilt and shame and provides a
framework for developing new skills to better cope with symptoms [281].
Table 43: Dos and don’ts of managing a client with trauma-related symptoms
Do:
3 Display a comfortable attitude if the client chooses to describe his/her trauma experience.
3 Give the client your undivided attention, empathy and unconditional positive regard.
3 Normalise the client’s response to the trauma and validate his/her feelings.
3 Praise the client for his/her resilience in the face of adversity.
3 Praise the client for having the courage to talk about what happened.
3 Use relaxation and grounding techniques where necessary.
3 Educate the client on what to expect if they undergo detoxification (e.g., a possible increase in
trauma-related symptoms).
3 Maximise opportunities for client choice and control over treatment processes.
3 Monitor depressive and suicidal symptoms.
Don’t:
2 Rush or force the client to reveal information about the trauma.

2 Engage in an in-depth discussion of the client’s trauma unless you are trained in trauma responses.
2 Judge the client in relation to the trauma or how he/she reacted to the trauma.
2 Abruptly end the session.
2 Encourage the client to suppress his/her thoughts or feelings.
2 Engage in aggressive or confrontational therapeutic techniques.
2 Be afraid to seek assistance.
Adapted from Ouimette and Brown [815], Elliot et al. [281], and Marsh et al. [346].
Brief psychoeducation about common reactions to trauma and symptom management has also been
found to be of benefit to AOD clients who have experienced trauma [816]. It is important to normalise
clients’ feelings and convey that such symptoms are a typical and natural reaction to an adverse traumatic
event; they are not ‘going crazy’. Letting them know that their reactions are quite normal may also help to
alleviate some of the shame and guilt they have been feeling about not recovering from the trauma sooner.
It is also important that trauma sufferers hear that what happened was not their fault, especially for those
who have experienced sexual assault. An information sheet for clients on common reactions to trauma is
provided in the Worksheets section of these Guidelines. Clients may also find the relaxation techniques
described in Appendix U useful for managing trauma symptoms.
Elliot and colleagues [281] also identify a number of measures that can be taken at a service level to help
prevent the amplification of trauma symptoms. Staff approaches, programs, procedures, and the physical
setting can be modified to create a place perceived as safe and welcoming. Such an environment is one
in which there is sufficient space for comfort and privacy, the absence of exposure to violent or sexual
material (e.g., staff should screen the magazines in the waiting area) and sufficient staffing to monitor
the behaviour of others that may be perceived as intrusive or harassing. Many common procedures and

practices may re-trigger trauma reactions. For example, aggressive or confrontational group techniques
can trigger memories of past abuse. Such techniques are counterproductive; those who have been
exposed to abuse in particular may revert to techniques used to cope during the trauma such as
dissociating or shutting down emotionally. This may then lead to the client being labelled as ‘treatment
resistant’ and, consequently, feelings of self-blame. The US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration also provides guidance on how to create and implement an institutional framework
for trauma-informed services in program delivery and staff development, policies and procedures,
administrative practices, and organisational infrastructure, which services may find useful [698].
As discussed in Chapter B7, it is also essential that workers attend to their own responses to working with
traumatised clients through self-care. Hearing the details of other’s trauma can be distressing, and in some
cases may lead to vicarious traumatisation or secondary traumatic stress [817]. By attending to one’s own
self-care and engaging in clinical supervision, the likelihood of developing secondary traumatic stress may
be reduced. Chapter B7 provides more detail on strategies for promoting and enhancing AOD worker self-
care and reducing burnout.
Treating PTSD
People with co-occurring PTSD and AOD use are often considered more difficult to treat than people
with either condition alone [89, 818]. Comorbid PTSD and AOD use is associated with difficulties recruiting
and retaining clients in treatment, poor treatment adherence and outcomes, as well as less time spent
abstinent post-treatment [89, 819-821].
Due to the inter-relatedness of PTSD and AOD use, experts recommend that these conditions be treated
in an integrated fashion [281, 822-824]. Some clinicians maintain the view that the AOD use must be
treated first [825, 826], or that abstinence is necessary before PTSD diagnosis and management can be
attempted [825]. In practice however, this approach can lead to clients being passed between services with
little coordination of care [827]. Ongoing AOD use may impede therapy, but it is not necessary to achieve
abstinence before the commencement of PTSD treatment [31]. Improvements can be obtained even in the
presence of continued substance use [828, 829].
There are several treatment options available for the treatment of PTSD, including psychotherapy (e.g.,
past- and present-focused therapies), pharmacotherapy, e-health interventions, physical activity, and
complementary and alternative therapies (e.g., yoga). The evidence base surrounding each of these
treatments is discussed below.
Psychotherapy
A number of psychotherapeutic interventions have been developed for the treatment of comorbid
PTSD and AOD use over the two decades; however, few have undergone rigorous evaluation. Existing
approaches may be divided into two types: past-focused and present-focused therapies [824, 830, 831].
A recent Cochrane review concluded that individual past-focused psychological interventions delivered
alongside AOD treatment can reduce PTSD severity and AOD use, but that there is very little evidence to
support the use of present-focused individual or group-based interventions [832].
Past-focused therapies
Past-focused therapies are typically delivered individually, and include the use of exposure techniques
in which the client is exposed to reminders of the trauma. Exposure-based treatments have long been
considered the ‘gold standard’ in treating PTSD [833, 834]. Similar to exposure for phobias, exposure
therapy for PTSD involves gradual exposure to the feared object or situation; in this case, traumatic
memories. Traditionally, exposure therapy for PTSD was considered inappropriate for people with AOD use

disorders based on beliefs that the emotions experienced may be overwhelming and could lead to more
substance use [835]. However, the evidence suggests that this is not the case; exposure therapy does not
lead to an exacerbation of AOD use or increase the severity of the AOD use disorder [836]. On the contrary,
exposure therapy has been shown to be protective with regards to relapse among people with alcohol use
disorders 6-months post-treatment [837].
A number of clinical researchers have begun investigating the efficacy of integrated exposure-based
programs that address PTSD and AOD use simultaneously. Typically this involves psychoeducation
regarding each disorder and their interrelatedness, coping skills training, relapse prevention, and imaginal
and/or in vivo exposure (i.e., exposure to memories and physical reminders of the trauma respectively)
[288, 838-840]. Support for these programs is growing, with an increasing number of studies providing
evidence for their safety and efficacy. Participants in these studies did not demonstrate a worsening of
symptoms or high rates of relapse; on the contrary, they demonstrated improvements in relation to both
AOD use and PTSD outcomes [828, 829, 839, 841, 842]. However, the extant research is largely limited to
small pilot studies, with only two large RCTs published to date, both of which were conducted in Australia
[828, 829].
Mills and colleagues [828] examined the efficacy of an integrated exposure-based therapy called COPE
among individuals with a range of AOD use disorders. The authors found that COPE led to significantly
greater reductions in PTSD severity compared to treatment as usual for AOD use, at that this reduction
in PTSD symptoms was accompanied by significant reductions in AOD use and severity of dependence.
A detailed guide to this treatment has been published by Back and colleagues [288]. Sannibale and
colleagues [829] compared the efficacy of integrated CBT for PTSD and alcohol use with supportive
counselling for alcohol use. Participants who had received one or more sessions of exposure therapy
exhibited a twofold greater rate of clinically significant change in PTSD severity compared to those who
receive supportive counselling.
In a more recent RCT, Foa and colleagues [837] examined the efficacy of exposure therapy and concurrent
naltrexone in treating PTSD and alcohol use disorders. Exposure therapy was not found to be superior
to supportive counselling in reducing PTSD symptoms: however, it was associated with reduced risk of
relapse at 6-month follow-up. Although no studies have directly compared concurrent treatment with
integrated treatment, the results of these trials indicate that integrated treatment may be more efficacious
in the treatment of this comorbidity than concurrent treatment.
Present-focused therapies
Present focused therapies are typically integrated CBT-based treatments which focus on providing clients
with coping skills without revisiting the traumatic event [830]. These interventions are typically delivered
in individual or group formats. As mentioned previously, a recent Cochrane review concluded that there
is very little evidence to support the use of present-focused individual or group-based interventions
[832]. Similarly, in their narrative review of integrated treatments for PTSD and AOD use disorders, van
Dam and colleagues [831] concluded that there was no convincing evidence for the use of integrated
present-focused treatments over routine AOD treatment. Several present-focused treatments have been
developed [843], but that which has undergone the most extensive evaluation is Seeking Safety [395].
Seeking Safety aims to help people attain safety from trauma/PTSD and AOD abuse. The treatment has
been conducted in group and individual format in a variety of settings (outpatient, inpatient, residential).
Two RCTs have found that the outcomes for individuals who receive Seeking Safety are comparable to
those who receive relapse prevention or health education in terms of their AOD use and PTSD symptoms
[844, 845]. More recently, Boden and colleagues found [846] improved AOD outcomes for Seeking Safety
relative to treatment as usual, but no difference between groups in regards to PTSD outcomes. Further
information and training materials may be found at www.seekingsafety.org.

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
Along with trauma-focused therapies, Australian guidelines on the treatment of PTSD [847] recommend
EMDR as a first line treatment for adults with PTSD. EMDR is based on the assumption that, during a
trauma, information processing is disrupted by overwhelming emotions, and therefore attempts to help
a person process their traumatic memories [847]. In EMDR, a person focuses on the imagery of a trauma,
negative thoughts, emotions and body sensations whilst following guided eye movements led by a
therapist. Despite EMDR being a first line treatment for PTSD, to date there has only been one small pilot
study conducted examining the effectiveness of EMDR among people with comorbid PTSD and AOD
conditions [848]. Significantly greater improvements were found following EMDR treatment compared to
the control group, but there were no significant changes in AOD use for either condition. Although still in
need of rigorous evaluation, these preliminary findings appear promising.
Pharmacotherapy
Australian guidelines for the treatment of PTSD [847] recommend that pharmacotherapies be used as an
adjunct to trauma-focused CBT if the person has not gained benefit from psychological treatment. There
is, however, little evidence to suggest that combining psychological and pharmacological interventions
leads to improved outcomes. When pharmacotherapies are considered, SSRIs are the recommended first
line option (see Table 38). The use of mirtazapine and TCAs is recommended only as a second-line option,
and phenelzine may be considered for people with treatment-resistant symptoms. However, as noted
previously, extreme caution should be used when be prescribing TCAs and MAOIs.
Trials of pharmacotherapy for PTSD comorbid with AOD use disorders have examined the use of
the antidepressants sertraline, desipramine, and paroxetine, as well as naltrexone and disulfiram,
pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorders [837, 849-853]. Early work by Brady and colleagues
examining the use of sertraline provided initial evidence of safety and evidence of efficacy among people
with less severe alcohol dependence and earlier onset PTSD [849, 850]. More recently, Hien and
colleagues [851] investigated the use of sertraline in combination with the psychotherapy Seeking Safety.
In this study,
Seeking Safety plus sertraline was found to be superior to Seeking Safety with placebo in reducing PTSD
symptoms. Improvements in alcohol use and dependence were equivalent between groups.
Petrakis and colleagues [852] conducted an RCT comparing the efficacy of desipramine (a noradrenergic
antidepressant) and paroxetine (a serotonergic antidepressant) with and without adjunctive naltrexone
among veterans with comorbid PTSD and alcohol dependence. Both groups of antidepressants produced
a significant decrease in PTSD symptoms, with greater reductions in alcohol use seen among those who
received desipramine. Adjunctive use of naltrexone was associated with a greater reduction in craving,
but did not confer any advantage over placebo in terms of alcohol use. These findings are contrary to
those found in Foa and colleagues [837] who found naltrexone to be associated with both reductions in
craving and alcohol use among individuals with this comorbidity.
Petrakis and colleagues [853] also investigated the use of naltrexone and disulfiram, administered either
alone or in combination, compared with placebo. All groups demonstrated equivalent improvement in
PTSD symptomology, but the use of either naltrexone, disulfiram, or the combination of these
medications led to greater improvements in alcohol use than placebo. However, unwanted side effects
were more common among individuals who received the combination of naltrexone and disulfiram.

There are currently no e-health programs that focus on comorbid AOD use disorders and PTSD. There is,
however, some evidence that internet-delivered therapy, either as the sole treatment or with the support
of a therapist, can be somewhat beneficial in reducing PTSD symptoms, particularly if supported by low-
level clinical care [847]. Internet programs that have been shown to have moderate treatment effects have
employed CBT techniques, in the form of psychoeducation, exposure (often in the form of writing about
one’s trauma experience), anxiety management, and cognitive restructuring. In particular, two Australian
programs – PTSD online and PTSD program – have shown particular promise [740, 854]. Notably, both
programs provide links to psychoeducation on AOD use.
PTSD online is a 10-week therapist-assisted CBT program consisting of psychoeducation; anxiety

management (i.e., controlled breathing and progressive muscle relaxation); cognitive behavioural strategies
to identify, challenge, and change cognitive processes; imaginal (i.e., writing about the trauma) and real-
life exposure; and relapse prevention. A number of small uncontrolled trials have found promising results,
including significant reductions in PTSD symptoms and psychological distress, improvements in quality of
life and high levels of satisfaction with treatment [740, 855, 856].
PTSD program comprises seven online lessons, a summary/homework assignment for each lesson, an
online discussion forum for each lesson moderated by the therapist, regular automatic reminder and
notification emails, and instant messaging to allow secure messaging with a clinician. In a small RCT,
Spence and colleagues [854] found significantly greater reductions in PTSD symptom severity among
individuals randomised to receive PTSD program compared to waitlist control. Individuals who received
PTSD program also reported high levels of satisfaction with the treatment.
More recently, mobile apps for PTSD have begun to be developed. PTSD Coach, in particular, has
demonstrated initial promise. Developed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs to help individuals who
have PTSD symptoms better understand and self-manage their symptoms [857], PTSD Coach is based on
evidence-based CBT principles and can be used both as a stand-alone application as well as a supportive
application during therapy. It consists of psychoeducation, self-assessment, information about referral and
treatment, CBT-based exercises to reduce negative trauma-related cognitions, and tools to strengthen
social support and psychological resilience. An online version of the application is also available (http://
www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/PTSDCoachOnline/). A study examining user satisfaction, perceived helpfulness,
and usage patterns among veterans receiving PTSD treatment found that participants were very satisfied
with PTSD Coach and perceived it as being moderately to very helpful in managing their PTSD symptoms
[858]. These findings offer preliminary support for the acceptability and perceived helpfulness of PTSD
Coach and suggest that it has potential to be an effective self-management tool for PTSD. Although
promising, future research and validation is needed.
Physical activity
A small number of uncontrolled pilot studies have found aerobic exercise to be associated with
improvements in PTSD symptoms [859-862]. Promising findings were also provided by a small controlled
trial which found greater reductions in PTSD symptoms among individuals randomised to receive exposure
therapy with exercise augmentation compared to those randomised to receive exposure therapy alone
[863]. A more rigorous evaluation of the impact of exercise on PTSD symptoms was recently completed
in Australia. Rosenbaum and colleagues [864] compared the efficacy of a 12-week exercise program
(consisting of three 30-minute resistance-training sessions per week and a walking program) provided as
an adjunct to inpatient care for PTSD, to inpatient care alone, in an RCT. Individuals randomised to receive

the exercise program demonstrated significantly greater reductions in PTSD symptom severity compared
to those randomised to receive inpatient care alone. While further research is needed examining the
optimal dose, frequency and intensity of exercise, these findings provide preliminary support for the use
of exercise as an adjunct to evidence-based PTSD treatments. Research has yet to examine the impact of
physical exercise in people with PTSD and comorbid AOD use disorders.
Yoga
A recent review of the literature concluded that yoga appears to have benefits for individuals with PTSD,
particularly in relation to hyperarousal symptoms [865]. The predominance of research to date has
consisted of small, uncontrolled pilot studies; however, a recently completed RCT provides stronger
evidence in support of yoga as an alternative therapy for PTSD. van der Kolk and colleagues [866]
compared the efficacy of a 10-week yoga program to supportive health education (both delivered for one
hour per week) among women with chronic treatment resistant PTSD. Significantly greater reductions in
PTSD symptom severity were observed among those randomised to undertake yoga compared to the
supportive health education program, with effect sizes comparable to those observed for well-established
psychological and pharmacological interventions. At the end of the program, 52% of those in the yoga
group no longer met criteria for PTSD compared to 21% in the control group. The authors suggest that yoga
may improve the functioning of traumatised individuals by helping them to tolerate physical and sensory
experiences associated with fear and helplessness and to increase emotional awareness and affect
tolerance [866].
Studies examining the efficacy of yoga among individuals with comorbid PTSD and AOD use disorders are
lacking; however, there is some evidence to suggest that yoga may be beneficial among individuals with
this comorbidity. A small Australian RCT comparing a multicomponent yoga breath program to waitlist
control among heavy drinking male veterans found a significantly greater reduction in PTSD symptoms
in the yoga group compared to waitlist control, and a corresponding small, non-significant reduction in
alcohol use [867]. Another small trial of women with subthreshold and diagnostic levels of PTSD examined
the impact of yoga on AOD use. Reductions in risky AOD use were observed; however, this study excluded
women with AOD use disorders [868]. Further research among individuals with comorbid PTSD and AOD
use disorders is needed, as well as research to determine the best style of yoga, and the optimal frequency
and duration of practice.
Summary
The importance of providing trauma-informed care in the context of AOD treatment is now well recognised.
Due to the inter-relatedness of PTSD and AOD use, an integrated approach to the treatment of these
disorders is recommended. Several psychotherapeutic interventions have been developed for the
treatment of comorbid PTSD and AOD use; but few have undergone rigorous evaluation. The evidence
to date suggests that individual past-focused psychological interventions delivered alongside AOD
treatment show most promise. There is little evidence to support the use of present-focused individual or
group-based interventions. Findings from pharmaceutical trials indicate that pharmacotherapies (SSRIs in
particular) may be a useful adjunctive treatment if sufficient benefit has not been gained from psychological
interventions. E-health interventions, physical exercise and yoga also appear to convey benefit among
individuals with PTSD; however, further research is needed to determine efficacy in PTSD populations and
individuals with comorbid AOD use disorders in particular. Box 19 illustrates the continuation of case study
G, following Emily’s story after identification of her PTSD disorder was made.

Box 19: Case study G: Treating comorbid PTSD and AOD use: Emily’s story continued
Case Study G: Treating comorbid PTSD and AOD use: Emily’s story
continued
While Emily was an inpatient, the psychologist took the opportunity to talk with her a little more
about her past trauma, continuing to normalise her symptoms, providing psychoeducation and self-
management techniques, and exploring the relationship between her trauma-related symptoms and
her substance use. The psychologist suggested that Emily might like to try a residential rehabilitation
program for women only, where her trauma-related symptoms could also be addressed. Emily had
previously been reluctant to enter residential rehabilitation but she had not ever heard of a women’s-
only service.
The psychologist organised for a telephone assessment with the residential program, and Emily entered
the program following her detoxification. While the program was hard, Emily benefited greatly from the
trauma-informed approach taken by the service. Importantly, Emily felt safe and over time gradually
opened up more about her life. She engaged in a combination of group and individual therapy. Her
individual therapy in particular focused on providing integrated treatment for both her PTSD and AOD
use.
It was during one of these sessions that Emily made a link between the onset of her substance use and
previous traumatic events. Unbeknownst to the therapist or any other treatment provider, Emily had
been sexually abused by a male relative from the age of 5 to 11 years when she left home to live with
her grandparents. Emily drank cough medication when she was little as it made her feel good when
she was upset. She also reported using her father’s Valium. After moving to her grandparents’ house,
which also involved a change of schools, she starting hanging out with new friends who liked to drink
and smoke cannabis. Her substance use and truancy from school caused continual fights with her
grandparents, who threw her out when she was 16 years old. Emily quit school and moved into a shared
house with people who introduced her to heroin around age 17. Within a year she had developed a
‘habit’.
As Emily’s treatment progressed, she began to open up about numerous assaults, including rapes,
which had occurred in the context of the drug-using environment, but did not report any PTSD
symptoms in relation to these experiences. While she was clean she was also involved in a car accident.
She suffered major injuries and was not able to get into a car for 2 ½ years. She reported residual
trauma symptoms, and had previously worked with a psychologist on this. Her therapy continued to
concentrate on the domestic violence, for which she was currently experiencing the most distress, and
later the sexual abuse she experienced as a child. Emily was aware that it would likely take a long time
for her to come to terms with what she had experienced. Emily successfully completed the residential
rehabilitation program, and continued to receive ongoing psychological treatment for her PTSD and
substance use.
Key points:
• Symptoms of PTSD and other mental disorders may only become apparent during AOD treatment.
• Many clients have experienced multiple traumas and re-victimisation.
• It is recommended that treatments for PTSD and AOD use should be carefully integrated.

ED
Section
Heading
Goes here
ED
Eating disorders (ED)
ED (i.e., anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder) and AOD use frequently co-occur [869].
The co-occurrence of ED and AOD use disorders is particularly complex and challenging, in terms of
assessment and treatment, associated physical health complications, and the potential negative cognitive
impacts of both disorders [870]. Assessment can be made even more difficult by a tendency of people with
ED to minimise or deny symptoms, due to deliberate deception or a genuine lack of self-awareness [871]. It
is however, important that this comorbidity be identified; the consequences of comorbid ED and AOD use
are severe, and can include medical complications [872], additional, severe psychiatric comorbidities [873-
875], suicidal ideation and attempts [874, 876], and mortality [877, 878].
It is vital for AOD workers to be able to recognise the clinical and subthreshold signs of ED, and have some
knowledge about simple management strategies.
ED are characterised by disturbances in eating behaviours and food intake that impair psychosocial
functioning and/or physical health. This may involve:
• Food restriction (e.g., limiting the amount of food eaten each day by reducing portion size, eliminating
food types such as fats or carbohydrates, or not eating at all).
• Vomiting and purging.
• Overexercise.
• Binge eating (i.e., consuming an objectively large amount of food in a short period of time,
accompanied by a sense of feeling out of control).
The majority of the physical symptoms associated with ED are related to the effects of starvation, but
are also due to effects of bingeing, purging, or overexercising [879]. People with ED, particularly bulimia
nervosa, may show few outwards signs of their disorder [880], and any visible physical signs may be
complicated by AOD use. For example, AOD use can influence features that are usually associated with
the assessment of EDs, such as weight, appetite and food restriction [880]. Furthermore, people with an
ED may experience eating-related symptoms which are similar to those associated with AOD use, such
as cravings and patterns of compulsive use [24]. AOD workers should therefore endeavour to maintain a
direct, non-judgemental approach during assessment, and seek to obtain as much additional information
as possible (e.g., from family and/or friends with the client’s consent) [881]. The level of care required will be
dependent on illness severity, the presence of any medical complications, dangerousness of behaviours,
and any other psychiatric comorbidities (e.g., depression, anxiety) [882].
AOD workers should also be aware of the potential interplay between ED and AOD use, and keep this in
mind when conducting assessments. There may be AOD use related to the ED; for example, the use of
tobacco, stimulants, diet pills, laxatives, diuretics, or caffeine to control weight or supress appetite [883]. As
such, assessment should include a focus on the use of AOD as a weight loss mechanism, as well as the
role it may have in emotion regulation [884].
Symptoms of ED
Anorexia nervosa
The most profound clinical feature of anorexia nervosa is dramatic weight loss. Anorexia nervosa can be
conceptualised as a disorder of control and denial; the rigid control of food intake and weight is thought to
cause or prevent a life event or mood (e.g., attract romance, reduce anxiety, deter abuse) [885]. Although

not all of the physical symptoms will be noticeable, AOD workers should be aware of the potential medical
complications. These are primarily related to starvation and malnutrition and include [879, 882, 886]:
• Fatigue.
• Low blood pressure.
• Abdominal pain or discomfort, constipation.
• Cold sensitivity or intolerance.
• Lethargy or hyperactivity.
• Loss of hair.
• Dry skin.
• Lanugo hair on the body (e.g., fine hairs on the back, face, arms).
• Bruising.
• Loss of menstruation.
• Dehydration.
• Neurological abnormalities.
• Osteoporosis.
• Slowed heart rate.
A thorough assessment of anorexia nervosa needs to include a comprehensive physical exam in order
to identify any potential medical complications or other abnormalities that require immediate medical
attention [882].
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is characterised by a cycle of binge/purge behaviours. Bingeing is often accompanied

by a sense of loss of control, which is followed by compensatory behaviours designed to prevent weight
gain (e.g., vomiting, use of laxatives, fasting or excessive exercising). Self-evaluation is disproportionately
influenced by body weight, size and shape [24]. The cycle of binge/purge is maintained by the belief that
control over eating, weight and shape will increase a person’s self-worth, but restricting food intake leads
to binge eating which then results in compensatory behaviours [882]. Negative mood states (e.g., sadness,
frustration, anger, fear, or loneliness) can exacerbate this cycle [882]. However, unlike many people with
anorexia nervosa, those with bulimia nervosa often realise that their behaviour is abnormal and attempt
to hide or conceal their symptoms. As such, bulimia nervosa can be an isolating disorder [882]. As with
anorexia nervosa, the outward symptoms can be difficult to observe, particularly as people with bulimia
nervosa may not display the same dramatic loss in weight. They include [879, 882, 887]:
• Fatigue.
• Bloating and constipation.
• Abdominal pain and distension.
• Calloused knuckles.
• Hoarse voice.
• Delayed digestion.
• Hypokalaemia (low potassium).
• Muscle spasms.
• Heart palpitations.
• Nausea.
• Poor kidney function.
• Dental erosion.

Binge eating disorder
The DSM-5 has classified binge eating disorder as an independent ED [24], for episodes of binge eating
which occur without compensatory weight control methods. As with bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder
is accompanied by the sense of loss of control, which can include eating until uncomfortably full, eating
more quickly than normal, eating when not physically hungry, eating in isolation, and feeling disgusted
or guilty afterwards [24, 882]. Care should be taken not to confuse binge eating disorder (a psychiatric
condition) with obesity (a medical condition), even though they may physically resemble each other.
Symptoms include [882]:
• Obesity.
• Hyperlipidaemia (elevated lipids in the blood).
• Type 2 diabetes.
Common to anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder are a dysfunctional system of
evaluating a person’s self-worth, which, rather than being based on personal qualities and achievements
across various domains (e.g., academic accomplishments, athletic ability, work achievements, values,
relationship qualities), is focused on weight, size, shape and appearance [888]. People with bulimia nervosa
and binge eating disorder experience feelings of loss of control over their eating, and are at increased risk
of additional psychiatric comorbidities. In bulimia nervosa, binge eating is thought to result from severely
restricting food intake, but those with binge eating disorder do not illustrate the same intake restrictions
between binge episodes [882].
Managing ED
Despite the differences between ED in terms of clinical characteristics and observable symptoms, there
are some strategies that AOD workers can utilise to manage these disorders. The general principles
of managing and treating ED should include the establishment of a trusting, collaborative, therapeutic
relationship, taking care to avoid any potential power struggles [889]. The techniques outlined in Table 44
may help AOD workers to manage clients with ED symptoms.
Table 44: Dos and don’ts of managing a client with symptoms of eating disorders
Do:
3 Encourage and emphasise successes and positive steps (even just coming in for treatment).
3 Approach the client in a calm, confident and receptive way.
3 Be direct and clear in your approach.
3 Focus on feelings and relationships, not on weight and food.
hobbies, or work).
3 Encourage, but do not force, healthy eating patterns.
3 Assist the client to set realistic goals.
3 Involve family or friends in management or treatment strategies.
3 Explain the purpose of interventions.

Table 44: Dos and don’ts of managing a client with symptoms of eating disorders
(continued)
Don’t:
2 Act shocked by what the client may reveal.

2 Use statements that label, blame or shame the client.
2 Make comments (either positive or negative) about body weight, appearance or food – these will
only reinforce their obsession.
2 Express any size prejudice, or reinforce the desire to be thin.
2 Engage in power struggles about eating.
2 Criticise his/her eating habits.
2 Trick or force the person to eat.
2 Get frustrated or impatient.
Adapted from NSW Department of Health [277], Clancy and Terry [296], and World Health Organisation
Collaborating Centre for Evidence in Mental Health Policy [879].
Treating ED
ED are complex psychiatric illnesses that impair psychological, social and physical functioning. It has been
argued that the treatment of comorbid ED and AOD use should be provided using an integrated approach
to minimise the potential for deterioration in one disorder when symptoms of the other improve [873, 890].
Regardless of the eventual treatment plan, the assessment of ED should involve a multidisciplinary team
of health and mental health workers, and include a thorough physical exam (with blood tests) to identify
complications that may need immediate attention and/or hospitalisation [882, 883, 891]. There is limited
evidence about the concurrent treatment of ED and AOD use disorders [892].
There are several treatment options available for the treatment of ED alone, including psychotherapy,
pharmacotherapy, e-health interventions, physical activity, as well as complementary and alternative
therapies. The evidence base surrounding each of these treatments is discussed below, in regards to each
ED.
Treating anorexia nervosa
The treatment of anorexia nervosa should begin with a comprehensive assessment, evaluating both
medical and psychiatric risks. This process should be ongoing throughout treatment, as clinical needs and
priorities of the client may change [893]. Clinical practice guidelines on the treatment of ED from the Royal
Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists [893, 894] recommend that the initial assessment of
anorexia nervosa incorporate the following information:
• Collection of a thorough history (including dietary restrictions, weight loss, disturbances in body image,
fears about weight gain, bingeing, purging, excessive exercise, use of medications or AOD to lose
weight or suppress appetite).
• Investigate medical complications and assess level of risk (physical exam to assess BMI, heart rate,
blood pressure, temperature, metabolic tests).
• Psychiatric comorbidity.
• Cognitive changes due to starvation (e.g., slowed thought processing, difficulty concentrating).
• Possible contributing factors (e.g., family history of ED, developmental difficulties, dieting or other
weight loss causes).

It is suggested that these assessment factors be incorporated into a case formulation (discussed in Chapter
B2), with treatment priorities based on a thorough risk assessment. Clinical guidelines recommend that
treatment priorities follow client engagement (including psychoeducation, with family involvement, and MI),
medical stabilisation, reversal of the cognitive effects of starvation, and psychological treatment [893, 895].
Where possible and practicable, it is recommended that people with anorexia nervosa requiring admission
be treated at specialist ED units.
Psychotherapy
Currently, there are no evidence-based psychotherapies for the treatment of anorexia nervosa, either as a
single disorder or comorbid with AOD use disorders [882]. The efficacy of psychotherapy in the treatment
of ED comorbid with AOD use has not been examined [884]. In terms of single disorder anorexia nervosa,
the most evaluated interventions, and those with the highest levels of theoretical support, include CBT and
CBT-enhanced (CBT-E), focal psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), and cognitive
analytic therapy [896]. Other treatments include specialist supportive clinical management (SSCM), the
Maudsley model of anorexia nervosa treatment for adults (MANTRA), MI, and other psychodynamic
approaches [893]. There is, however, limited empirical evidence to support any of these treatments [893].
CBT-E is an extension of CBT and is focused on educating clients about being underweight and
starvation, and assists with the initiation and maintenance of regular eating patterns. Included in the
therapy are components that focus on self-efficacy and self-monitoring, which are thought to be crucial
to the treatment [897]. Focal dynamic therapy focuses on therapeutic alliance, pro-anorectic behaviour,
self-esteem, behaviours viewed as acceptable, associations between interpersonal relationships and
eating, and the transfer back to everyday life [897]. A large RCT comparing CBT-E and focal dynamic
psychotherapy to optimised treatment as usual (defined as outpatient psychotherapy and structured care
from a family doctor) over 10 months found that all groups demonstrated substantial weight gains, with
no difference between groups in regards to BMI [897]. Despite no treatment differences, those in the focal
psychotherapy group had higher rates of recovery compared to optimised treatment as usual at 12 months
follow-up.
Another RCT comparing CBT, IPT and SSCM for single disorder anorexia nervosa found that significantly
more of those in the SSCM group no longer met diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa (36%), compared
to those in the CBT group (8%) and IPT group (0%) at the conclusion of treatment [898]. However, at seven
years follow-up, there were no significant differences between groups. SSCM combined features of clinical
management and supportive psychotherapy including education, care, support, fostering of a therapeutic
relationship, praise, reassurance, and advice. A central feature of SSCM is a focus on the abnormal
nutritional status and dietary patterns typical of anorexia nervosa. Normalisation of eating and restoration of
weight are emphasised, and clients are provided with information on a range of strategies to promote this.
IPT is a structured, dynamic intervention, focused on addressing interpersonal and relationship difficulties
[898, 899].
MANTRA is a more recently developed social-cognitive IPT that draws on MI, cognitive remediation and
the involvement of carers. It focuses on addressing intrapersonal and interpersonal processes that are
thought to be fundamental to the maintenance of the disorder. An RCT examining the efficacy of MANTRA
found that it was no more effective than SSCM, and recovery rates were low in both groups [900]. Although
there is a lack of clear evidence, there are several large RCTs that are currently being conducted for single
disorder anorexia nervosa, evaluating the efficacy of CBT, couples-based CBT, ERP (described previously in
relation to the treatment of OCD), SSCM, focal psychodynamic therapy, and cognitive remediation therapy
[893, 901].

The Australian clinical practice guidelines for single disorder ED recommend the inclusion of
psychotherapy as an essential component of treatment for anorexia nervosa [893]. Although highlighting
the fact that the limited evidence does not provide clear guidance for clinicians, they suggest that
specialist-led manualised-based approaches have the strongest evidence-base and should be first
line options [893]. Further, AOD workers are advised to incorporate the client’s nutritional, medical and
psychological needs into their assessment and treatment, and it is recommended that more intense
psychological therapies are initiated after medical stabilisation and the cognitive effects of starvation are
improved [893]. Particularly challenging in the treatment of single disorder anorexia nervosa is the fact that
evidence suggests that success at post-treatment is less than 25%, largely due to treatment dropout [896].
Strategies to engage the client and maintain the therapeutic relationship throughout treatment may be
beneficial.
Pharmacotherapy
Research suggests that pharmacotherapy alone should not be the primary treatment for single disorder
anorexia nervosa [893, 902]. Although atypical antipsychotics (see Table 33), SSRIs (fluoxetine), and
olanzapine have been used in clinical settings, research indicates there is no conclusive evidence of any
effect on the primary psychological features of anorexia nervosa or weight gain [882]. Nonetheless, it has
been suggested that olanzapine is currently the best pharmacotherapy available for anorexia nervosa,
particularly for those who cannot access other intensive treatments [903]. A comprehensive review of
pharmacotherapy for single disorder anorexia nervosa found that olanzapine increased weight gain and
improved depression, anxiety, aggression and obsessive-compulsiveness [904]; however, the evidence
is weak and there is the possibility of adverse side effects [893]. No studies to date have examined the
efficacy of the pharmacological treatment of comorbid anorexia nervosa and AOD use disorders.
Treating bulimia nervosa
As with the approach to treating anorexia nervosa, the Australian clinical practice guidelines for single
disorder ED recommend that treatment for bulimia nervosa begins with a comprehensive assessment
which includes [893]:
• Inquiry into behaviours; especially binge eating (i.e., uncontrolled episodes of overeating excessive
amounts of food), weight control behaviours that may compensate for binge eating (e.g., self-induced
vomiting, laxative/diuretic use, restricting food intake, overexercising, use of AOD to control weight).
• Cognitions of weight/shape overvaluation, and preoccupations with body image and/or eating.
The increased risk of medical complications, particularly obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and hypertension, makes
physical assessment among those with suspected bulimia nervosa essential [905]. As with the physical
assessment of those with anorexia nervosa, this should include weight, height, pulse rate, blood pressure
and BMI. Additional tests should be undertaken to assess for hypokalaemia and dehydration (associated
with purging behaviours), cardiac function (e.g., electrocardiogram), and glucose levels, as indicated [893].
If psychological treatment is being provided by a clinician without medical training, the Australian clinical
practice guidelines for single disorder ED recommend the inclusion of a GP to assist with assessment and
ongoing care [893].
Psychotherapy
There is very little evidence about the concurrent treatment of AOD use and bulimia nervosa, due in part
to the exclusion of those with AOD use disorders from controlled psychotherapy trials for bulimia nervosa
(and ED more broadly) [892, 906]. There is, however, some evidence to suggest that treating a person’s
AOD use disorder may lead to improvements in bulimia nervosa [892]. O’Malley and colleagues [907]
conducted an RCT of treatments for women with alcohol dependence, in which they compared the efficacy

of CBT coping skills therapy with and without adjunctive naltrexone. Although the treatment was focused
on alcohol dependence, ED psychopathology and episodes of bulimia nervosa significantly decreased over
the 12 weeks of the study.
There are currently three evidence-based treatments for bulimia nervosa as a single disorder, including
CBT, IPT, and DBT, in addition to preliminary evidence for integrative cognitive-affective therapy [892].
There is robust evidence supporting a CBT treatment approach [908, 909], with both national and
international clinical guidelines recommending the use of CBT as the first line of treatment [893, 902, 910].
On average, an estimated 30–50% of patients treated with CBT attain binge-purge abstinence [911, 912],
with treatment usually consisting of 12–20 sessions over 3–5 months. Further, CBT appears to be superior
to pharmacotherapy (i.e., antidepressants) for achieving abstinence in single disorder bulimia nervosa, and
improvements have also been observed in psychiatric comorbidities such as depression, self-esteem and
social functioning [913].
Despite the high rates of remission, some clients with bulimia nervosa remain symptomatic after
completing treatment [892]. As such, an enhanced version of CBT (CBT-E, mentioned previously [914])
was developed and found to be more efficacious than other CBT approaches. CBT-E addresses other
features that often co-occur with bulimia nervosa, including low self-esteem, clinical perfectionism, mood
intolerances, and interpersonal difficulties [888]. The first controlled trial of CBT-E among people with
bulimia nervosa suggests that it may be a promising treatment for complex cases of bulimia nervosa [915].
IPT has been found to be as effective as CBT in the treatment of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder
as single disorders [916]. DBT has also been found to be effective in the treatment of single disorder bulimia
nervosa [882], and incorporates cognitive behavioural change strategies with mindfulness strategies to
address interpersonal effectiveness, self-acceptance, self-regulation, and distress tolerance. It has been
suggested that this treatment has promise for the treatment of other comorbid psychiatric disorders [917],
including comorbid AOD use [400].
Integrative cognitive-affective therapy utilises components from CBT, IPT and DBT into the treatment
of single disorder bulimia nervosa [918]. The treatment focuses on personality and attitude as well as
the symptoms of bulimia nervosa and behavioural change, and addresses interpersonal insecurity,
self-perception, low self-esteem and negative affectivity [882]. An RCT comparing integrative cognitive-
affective therapy to CBT-E found improvements in both groups with no significant differences between
groups at four months follow-up [919].
Pharmacotherapy
Meta-analyses and RCTs have found that TCAs (such as those listed in Table 38) may be efficacious for
people with single disorder bulimia nervosa [920, 921], but they are accompanied by side effects which limit
their utility. High dose fluoxetine, or other SSRIs, as well as the antiepileptic drug topiramate, have been
found to be efficacious for both bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder [893]. Although the Australian
clinical guidelines for the treatment of ED recommend the use of antidepressants or antiepileptics (such
as topiramate) when psychological treatment is not available, they highlight the fact that pharmacotherapy
trials have rarely followed-up study participants over the long term, suggesting that the consequences of
long-term use and duration of recommended pharmacotherapy treatment remain unknown [893]. There is
evidence that supports the combination of both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy [920, 921], although
findings are not consistent. Despite the fact that SSRIs have been used to effectively treat people with
bulimia nervosa and people with alcohol use disorders [884], there have been no RCTs that have examined
the efficacy of pharmacotherapy among people with comorbid bulimia nervosa and AOD use disorders.

Treating binge eating disorder
The Australian clinical practice guidelines for single disorder ED recommend the same comprehensive
assessment for binge eating disorder as those described for bulimia nervosa [893].
Psychotherapy
Similar to bulimia nervosa, the first line of recommended treatment for addressing single disorder binge
eating disorder is CBT [893]. The Australian clinical guidelines for the treatment of single disorder ED have
combined recommendations for both bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, and, as with bulimia
nervosa include CBT, DBT and IPT [882, 893]. These psychological approaches are argued to be the
treatments of choice for binge eating disorder [922, 923], resulting in the greatest rates of remission and
improvements in associated psychopathology [911, 924]. As with single disorder bulimia nervosa, CBT has
been found to be more effective than pharmacological interventions for the treatment of binge eating
disorder [925, 926]. However, to date, no studies have examined psychotherapy for people with binge
eating disorder comorbid with AOD use.
Pharmacotherapy
To date, there have been no studies of pharmacotherapy for comorbid binge eating and AOD use
disorders and limited evidence among those with binge eating as a single disorder. Emerging evidence
suggests that pharmacotherapy may be beneficial for some people with binge eating disorder [927]. RCTs
examining the efficacy of SSRIs (fluvoxamine [928], sertraline [929], fluoxetine [930], and citalopram [931]),
serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRIs; duloxetine [932]), mood stabilisers (topiramate [933-
935]), antiobesity medications (orlistat [936]) and psychostimulants (lisdexamfetamine [937]) have found
reductions in the frequency of binge eating episodes BMI decreases, and overall clinical improvement.
The mood stabiliser topiramate has also been evaluated for efficacy and safety for single disorder binge
eating disorder in several RCTs [933-935]. Although topiramate has been associated with adverse side
effects (e.g., participants dropping out of trials with headache, paresthesias or pins and needles sensations),
these studies found that compared to placebo, topiramate was associated with significantly greater
reductions in binge frequency, BMI and weight loss. Orlistat, an antiobesity medication, has also been
examined for efficacy in three RCTs to date [926, 936, 938]. These trials found that although weight loss was
enhanced with orlistat, the frequency of binge eating was not reduced.
Given the lack of clear evidence, the Australian clinical guidelines for the treatment of ED recommend that
pharmacotherapy be considered when psychotherapy is not available, or as an adjunctive treatment to
psychotherapy. They further recommend that SSRIs be used for binge eating disorder, and topiramate or
orlistat be considered for those with comorbid obesity [893].
Although there are no e-health interventions for comorbid ED and AOD use disorders there has been some
research conducted into the use of e-health interventions for single disorder ED. A systematic review of
internet-based interventions for single disorder ED (outpatient treatment incorporating an internet-based
component) found that, relative to waitlist control, ED symptoms reduced more successfully for binge
eating than restrictive eating with the use of an internet-based therapy [939]. There is no clear evidence as
to which e-health intervention has the most empirical support, although self-help CBT has been highlighted
as an effective, accessible, time and cost effective alternative to clinician delivered CBT [940]. The majority
of studies have focused on internet-based CBT for bulimia nervosa (rather than anorexia nervosa), with
the online components ranging from e-mail-based therapy, adjunctive internet-based guidance, to online
CBT [939]. The review found that internet-based therapies that were bolstered by face-to-face contact via

assessment and clinician support were associated with higher rates of therapeutic compliance and lower
attrition from internet-based treatment. Guided self-help and self-help CBT for single disorder bulimia
nervosa have also been shown to be effective in reducing the frequency of bingeing and purging, but less
effective than face-to-face psychotherapy in achieving abstinence [941]. These findings support the use of
e-health interventions in the treatment of ED as an adjunct to other treatments [939].
A systematic review of smartphone applications for ED identified six interventions [942], with varying levels
of empirically supported content. A second review [943] identified two approaches that had incorporated
empirically supported manual–based psychotherapies, both developed for bulimia nervosa, into
technological platforms [944, 945]. Preliminary findings indicate no substantial differences in effectiveness
between face-to-face CBT and the applications. However, other research has argued that the provision of
self-help via technology without clinical guidance may not be beneficial [946], although the optimal type
and amount of guidance is not known.
Physical activity
The role of exercise as adjunctive therapy for people with ED is controversial, despite the fact that physical
activity can play an important role in both ED and AOD use, in terms of treatment, recovery, and relapse
prevention [947]. The benefits associated with exercise in ED include the promotion of physical activity
and weight loss to people with binge eating disorder [948], and the potential prevention and restoration of
bone mass in people with anorexia nervosa [949]. However, based on the belief that exercise may interfere
with weight gain or reinforce the psychological/pathological symptoms of ED, it is not uncommon for ED
treatment providers to limit the amount of physical activity, allowing little or no exercise [947]. There is also
the potential that physical activity may lead to compulsive ‘overexercising’ [950].
Although physical activity has not been evaluated among people with comorbid ED and AOD use, several
studies have examined exercise in people with single disorder ED and have found moderate physical
activity to be associated with weight gain in underweight people with anorexia nervosa [951, 952]. One
small pilot study has been conducted examining a graded exercise program based on ideal body weight
and percentage body fat, with exercises ranging from stretching, to strengthening and low-impact
cardiovascular exercise three times per week for three months [951]. The exercise group demonstrated
improvements in weight gain as well as quality of life, which were substantially greater than the inactive
control group, whose quality of life decreased over the study period.
Another study examined the effectiveness of an exercise program on weight gain among women with
anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder in an inpatient treatment facility, and found
that 60 minutes of supervised exercise conducted four times per week was associated with 40% more
weight gain than the inactive control group [952]. The exercises included stretching, yoga, Pilates, strength
training, balance, exercise balls, aerobic exercise (e.g., walking or skipping), recreational games, or other
enjoyable activities [952]. It is suggested that moderate physical activity facilitates weight gain by improving
emotional well-being, increasing appetite, and reducing body-image and appearance-related distress
[947].
Although preliminary evidence supports the positive impact of exercise for people with ED, it remains
unclear as to how clinicians should approach physical activity among underweight people, or people who
may be normal weight but have been treated for compulsive exercise in the past [947]. Despite promising
research, the evidence suggests that caution should be taken when recommending exercise for people
with ED, particularly anorexia nervosa, as the presence of behaviours which are indicative of problematic
exercise may negatively impact on the long-term course of illness [947, 953], and thus, hinder potential
positive outcomes.

Research into complementary and alternative therapies for comorbid ED and AOD use disorders has
examined yoga, acupuncture, therapeutic massage, hypnosis, herbal medicine, light therapy, spiritual
healing, and art therapy [954]. Despite the breadth of research, no intervention has been identified as an
effective, evidence-based treatment for this comorbidity. While the research in this area continues to
develop, there are promising preliminary findings relating to the use of yoga [955-957], hypnosis [958-960]
and therapeutic massage [961, 962].
Summary
Despite much research, there is little evidence upon which to provide clear guidance on the treatment
of comorbid ED and AOD use disorders. Research from single disorder ED suggests that comprehensive
assessments conducted by a multidisciplinary team should be followed by psychotherapy as the first line
of treatment (CBT-based approaches for both bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder). Although there
is some evidence that pharmacotherapy may be a useful adjunct to the treatment of single disorder ED
(particularly binge eating disorder), the evidence is not conclusive and Australian clinical guidelines do not
recommend its use in the absence of psychotherapy [893]. Box 20 illustrates the continuation of case study
H, following Charlotte’s story after she presented to an AOD service for benzodiazepine and stimulant use.
As illustrated, the presence of a comorbid ED and AOD use disorder is not easily identifiable, and can be
difficult to treat.
Box 20: Case study H: Treating comorbid ED and AOD use: Charlotte’s story continued
Case study H: Treating comorbid eating disorders and AOD use:

Charlotte’s story continued
Over the next few weeks, Charlotte continued to attend sessions with the AOD worker, and, although
her mother was still driving her to and from appointments, she would remain in the waiting room. The
AOD worker had been using MI and CBT approaches, but Charlotte admitted that she had still been
using Valium and stimulants.
After several weeks, in a joint session with Charlotte and her mother, Charlotte’s mother mentioned
that she was still concerned about Charlotte, particularly about her apparent obsession with running up
and down the stairs. When questioned further, Charlotte’s mother said that she had been running up
and down the stairs repetitively, every evening, sometimes for an hour or more. She often did this after
meal times. Earlier in the week Charlotte’s mother found her in the kitchen in the middle of the night and
suspected she had eaten the lasagne and pavlova she had made for the following day’s family meal.
She also thought that she had heard Charlotte vomiting soon after eating.
The AOD worker spoke privately with Charlotte, and Charlotte said that she had been exercising to lose
weight, as she was unhappy with her size and shape, and had been taking the stimulants to stop feeling
hungry. She also said that the stimulants gave her energy throughout the day, although she had trouble
sleeping and often felt agitated and on edge. Charlotte said that she liked taking Valium to help her get
to sleep and calm down. It also became evident that, instead of going to classes at university, Charlotte
had been going to the gym and running on the treadmill. She told the AOD worker that if she was ever
unable to get to the gym at her usual time, she felt incredibly anxious and couldn’t stop thinking about it.
It was not unusual for Charlotte to spend several hours running on the treadmill at the gym every day.
The AOD worker consulted with an ED specialist, who arranged with Charlotte and her mother to attend

Box 20: Case study H: Treating comorbid ED and AOD use: Charlotte’s story continued
an assessment. Charlotte was moderately underweight (with a BMI of 17) and the specialist arranged for
a complete physical assessment, including her heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, metabolic tests,
assessments for any cognitive changes, and contributing factors. Charlotte’s family were encouraged
to maintain involvement with her ongoing treatment, and the specialist devised a plan that included
psychoeducation with her family’s involvement, and MI, medical stabilisation, reversal of the cognitive
effects of starvation, and psychological treatment. However, because of the complexities involved
in Charlotte’s bulimia nervosa, including the use of stimulants and benzodiazepines, the specialist
recommended inpatient treatment at a specialised ED facility.
Key points:
• ED can be difficult to identify in people with AOD use disorders.
• Once an ED has been identified, it is vital that the client receives a comprehensive physical
assessment by a medical professional. The primary focus is on stabilising the client’s physical health
and restoring cognitive function, and then psychotherapy can begin.
• The AOD worker should maintain client engagement, even if a referral to an ED specialist is made.

Personality
Section
Heading
Goes here
Personality
Personality disorders
Clients with personality disorders have frequent and enduring problems in coping and interpersonal
interaction. Symptoms can include:
• Manipulative behaviour.
• Impulsivity.
• Social impairments.
• Emotional detachment.
• Suspiciousness.
• Difficulty accepting responsibility or accommodating others.
• Emotional instability and hypersensitivity.
• Pervasive and persistent anger/aggression.
• Being overly self-involved.
• Excessive dependence on others.
• Inflexible, maladaptive responses to situations.
Managing symptoms of personality disorders

These symptoms are often present to varying degrees in many clients and do not necessarily indicate
a personality disorder; however, they can make the therapeutic process more difficult. Strategies for
managing the symptoms of personality disorders are outlined in Table 45. Some of these personality
characteristics, impulsivity in particular, place clients at extremely high risk for suicide. It is therefore
particularly important to monitor the risk of suicide and self-harm. Assisting clients to develop skills (e.g.,
breathing retraining, meditation, cognitive restructuring) to manage negative emotions is also fundamental
[94].
Clients with personality disorders tend to have difficulty forming a genuinely positive therapeutic alliance.
They tend to frame reality in terms of their own needs and perceptions and not to understand those of
others. They are also limited in their ability to receive, accept or benefit from corrective feedback; therefore,
progress is likely to be slow and uneven [94].
Engagement and rapport building form an intensely important part of therapy and, as a result, these
areas may require more time and attention than they do in other clients. Clients with personality disorders
may have trouble engaging in treatment due to a history of poor relationships with AOD and other health
professionals, a bias towards suspiciousness or paranoid interpretation of relationships, or a chaotic
lifestyle, making appointment scheduling and engaging in structured work more difficult [103]. Structure
and firm boundaries are very important components of the therapeutic process when managing clients
with symptoms of personality disorders.

Table 45: Dos and don’ts of managing a client with symptoms of personality disorders
Do:
3 Place strong emphasis on engagement to develop a good client–worker relationship and build
strong rapport.
3 Set clear boundaries and expectations regarding the client’s role and behaviour. Some clients may
seek to test these boundaries.
3 Establish and maintain a consistent approach to clients and reinforce boundaries.
3 Anticipate compliance problems and remain patient and persistent.
3 Plan clear and mutual goals and stick to them; give clear and specific instructions.
3 Help with the current problems the client presents with rather than trying to establish causes or
exploring past problems.
3 Assist the client to develop skills to manage negative emotions (e.g., breathing retraining,
progressive muscle relaxation, cognitive restructuring).
3 Take careful notes and monitor the risk of suicide and self-harm.
3 Avoid judgement and seek assistance for personal reactions (including frustration, anger, dislike)
and poor attitudes towards the client.
3 Listen to and evaluate the client’s concerns.
3 Accept but do not confirm the client’s beliefs.
Don’t:
2 Reward inappropriate behaviour (such as demanding, aggressive, suicidal, chaotic or seductive

behaviour).
2 Get frustrated and angry with the client. Remain firm, calm and in control.
2 Assume a difficult client has a personality disorder; many do not, and many clients with these
disorders are not difficult.
Adapted from NSW Department of Health [277] and Davison [963].
Treating personality disorders

As discussed in Chapter A2, the most common personality disorders seen in AOD services are BPD (most
frequently occurring in females) and ASPD (usually male). Workers may find it difficult to treat personality
disorders, and feel pessimistic about treatment outcomes [964, 965], making the use of evidence-based
interventions even more important among this group [966]. Despite the challenges involved in treating
comorbid personality and AOD disorders, there are promising treatment options.
There are several treatment options available for the treatment of personality disorders, including
psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, e-health interventions, as well as complementary and alternative
therapies (e.g., omega-3). The evidence base surrounding each of these in regards to the treatment of BPD
and ASPD is discussed below.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
Psychotherapy
In general, research on psychological treatments for BPD is promising. The Cochrane collaboration
reviewed psychological treatments for BPD [967] and reported that studies of DBT have generally found
few differences between DBT and treatment as usual in terms of BPD symptoms and hospitalisations.

However, there have been some findings of decreased self-harm and suicidal behaviour due to DBT
treatment and indications that it may impact positively on alcohol outcomes.
DBT treatments may be too time-consuming and technically demanding for staff and clients in AOD
treatment settings. For clients with alcohol use disorders, it has been suggested that good outcomes are
possible using alcohol-focused treatments alone. However, it is acknowledged that opiate and cocaine
abusers with a personality disorder present a more severe client profile. There is evidence that a diagnosis
of BPD makes retention in residential AOD treatment difficult, as people with BPD are significantly more
likely to drop out of treatment, even after taking into account other relevant factors [968]. Experts agree
that AOD clients with personality disorders should be given more intensive psychological attention in order
to promote the therapeutic alliance and retain them in treatment [969]. However, although it is important to
address the client’s maladaptive personality traits, this will not be effective unless carried out in a long-term
treatment program.
Three programs have been designed and evaluated for clients with comorbid BPD and AOD use disorders:
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy-S (DBT-S) [399, 970-973], Dual Focus Schema Therapy (DFST) [396, 974], and
Dynamic Deconstructive Psychotherapy (DDP) [975, 976], all of which show promise.
DBT-S [970] is a complex, skills-based, psychological intervention based on DBT (modified for people with
comorbid BPD and substance use), which was developed using some of the same principles of CBT. The
client is supported with strategies to promote abstinence, and remain engaged in treatment. A systematic
review examining the efficacy of interventions for comorbid BPD and AOD use [966] found four studies
had tested DBT-S among this group [399, 977-979]. Findings indicated that DBT-S led to improved BPD
symptoms and more AOD abstinent days than community-based treatment, greater treatment retention
and reductions in self-harm.
DDP [975] is a modified form of psychodynamic psychotherapy, and was initially developed for particularly
challenging cases of BPD, including those with co-occurring AOD disorders. In a systematic review of
the literature, Lee and colleagues [966] found three studies had evaluated DDP among those with co-
occurring BPD and AOD use. These studies found that DDP had a significantly greater effect on symptoms
of both BPD and alcohol use disorder compared to treatment as usual (i.e., treatment in the community),
which were maintained over 30 months [976, 980, 981].
DFST is a combination of relapse prevention and therapy focused on early maladaptive schemas (such
as continuing negative self-beliefs, negative beliefs about others or events), as well as coping styles [966,
982]. In their systematic review, Lee and colleagues [966] found one study had examined the efficacy of
DFST for co-occurring BPD and AOD use [983]. The study findings did not show any benefit of DFST over
individual drug counselling for BPD or AOD use, with greater reductions in AOD use found among those in
individual drug counselling.
Although these treatments have been evaluated among people with comorbid BPD and AOD use
disorders, the evidence is limited by the small sample sizes of studies which have evaluated these
treatments [966, 984].
Pharmacotherapy
Although pharmacotherapy has been used in practice to treat BPD, there is a dearth of research examining
its efficacy [984]. A Cochrane review of pharmacotherapies for BPD found little support for the use of
pharmacotherapies for BPD but concluded that more trials are needed, especially to ascertain the
usefulness of antidepressants [985]. A more recent review concluded that whilst mood stabilisers (such
as those listed in Table 36) and antipsychotics (such as those listed in Table 33) can be effective at treating
some specific symptoms of BPD, the evidence does not support effectiveness for overall severity of BPD

[986]. However, individuals with AOD use disorders have been excluded from most trials and as such, the
generalisability of these findings to people with comorbid BPD and AOD use is likely to be compromised.
There are currently no published studies that have examined the efficacy of pharmacotherapy for
managing comorbid BPD and AOD use.
There are some initial findings from a pilot study suggesting that mobile phone applications can be used
as an effective adjunct to DBT for individuals with co-occurring BPD and AOD use disorders. Rizvi and
colleagues [987] developed and tested the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of DBT Coach,
a mobile phone application designed to improve the generalisation of a specific skill taught in DBT.
Participants found DBT Coach to be helpful and easy to use, and over the course of the pilot study there
was a decrease in depression, emotion intensity, and urge to use AOD. As people with comorbid BPD and
AOD use are at increased risk of relapse, treatment non-adherence and poorer outcomes compared to
those with either disorder alone [969, 988, 989], these preliminary findings represent an innovative way of
assisting and improving treatment compliance.
Although there has been some preliminary research with promising results for the treatment of BPD with
omega-3 [990], at present there is no further evidence to support the use of complementary or alternative
approaches in the management or treatment of BPD, either as a single disorder or comorbid with AOD use.
Nonetheless, physical exercise may be a useful part of a treatment approach for people with BPD, with
research indicating that obesity among people with BPD increases over time, escalating the risk of obesity-
related chronic medical conditions [991]. BPD has been associated with arteriosclerosis, hypertension, liver
disease, and CVD [992]. Although there has been no research examining the effect of physical activity on
symptoms of BPD, one study recommends initial interventions include improved sleep and scheduled
exercise. It should be noted however, that this recommendation is based on theory, and lacks supportive
evidence [993]. As such, while it may be prudent for people with BPD to maintain healthy living practices,
which may include physical activity, a healthy diet, and adequate sleep (see Chapter B1), to date there is no
evidence regarding the effect of these practices on symptoms of BPD.
Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)
There is a dearth of research regarding the psychological and pharmacological treatment of both ASPD
as a single disorder, as well as comorbid ASPD and AOD use. More research has been conducted among
incarcerated populations, which may be reflective of the difficulty accessing and engaging those with
ASPD in treatment within the community [994]. Further, many studies focus on changes to symptoms and
behaviour of ASPD, rather than changes to personality [994].
Psychotherapy
A Cochrane review of psychotherapies for ASPD with and without comorbid AOD use disorder examined
11 studies and was unable to draw firm conclusions from the available evidence [995]. Of the 11 studies
included in the review, eight were conducted among people with comorbid ASPD and AOD use disorders
[974, 996-1002]. No study found significant changes to specific ASPD behaviours (e.g., offending,
aggression, impulsivity); however, several found significant reductions in AOD use following treatment. The
addition of contingency management and/or CBT to standard methadone maintenance was found to be
superior compared to standard methadone maintenance alone [998]. Further, contingency management
plus standard methadone maintenance has been associated with significantly greater counselling session
attendance and improvements in social functioning compared to standard methadone maintenance alone

[997]. A driving whilst intoxicated program plus incarceration has also been shown to produce greater
improvements compared to incarceration alone [1002].
Pharmacotherapy
Although several studies have examined pharmacological interventions among people with ASPD as a
single disorder, the limited evidence does not provide enough support for conclusive recommendations.
These studies have investigated the use of antiepileptics (carbamazepine [1003], phenytoin [1003-1005],
sodium valproate [1003], and divalproex sodium [1006]); antidepressants (desipramine [1007, 1008]
and nortriptyline [1009]); dopamine agonists (bromocriptine [1009], and amantadine [1008]); and opioid
antagonists (naltrexone [1010]).
Despite the limited evidence, there has been some research conducted among people with comorbid
ASPD and AOD use. A Cochrane review examining pharmacological treatments for ASPD found that two
drugs (nortriptyline and bromocriptine) were associated with improved outcomes compared to placebo
control conditions among those with comorbidity [1011]. Compared to placebo, those with ASPD and AOD
use disorder who were taking nortriptyline illustrated a greater reduction in alcohol use and dependence
[1009]. In the same study, the use of bromocriptine was found to reduce anxiety symptoms for those
with depression/anxiety and AOD use disorders [1009]. However, no changes to ASPD symptoms were
observed.
Based on the lack of consistent evidence, the UK NICE Guidelines do not recommend treating ASPD, nor
comorbid ASPD and AOD use disorders, with pharmacological interventions. They also advise against
treating underlying behavioural symptoms with pharmacotherapy [1012].
At the time of writing, there was no internet-based treatment for ASPD either as a single disorder or
comorbid with AOD use.
At the time of writing, there has been no research to support the use of complementary or alternative
therapies among people with co-occurring ASPD and AOD use, or ASPD as a single disorder. Similarly, no
research has examined the effects of exercise interventions among this group.
Summary
In general, there is relatively little research to guide treatment for comorbid personality and AOD use
disorders. The first line of treatment for those with comorbid BPD and AOD use should be psychotherapy,
with several interventions having been specifically developed for this group. Similarly, psychological
interventions should be the first line of treatment for those with comorbid ASPD and AOD use, although the
evidence is less well-developed.
Without evidentiary support, pharmacological intervention is not recommended for the treatment of either
comorbid BPD and AOD use, or ASPD and AOD use, highlighting the need for further well-conducted
studies to be undertaken in this area.
Box 21 illustrates the continuation of case study H, following Luke’s story after the AOD worker consulted
with a forensic psychologist. As illustrated, it may be necessary to involve multiple services in the delivery
of care to a person with comorbid personality and AOD use disorders.

Box 21: Case study I: Treating comorbid ASPD and AOD use: Luke’s story continued
Case Study I: Treating comorbid ASPD and AOD use: Luke’s story
continued
Luke’s AOD worker liaised with a forensic psychologist and Luke was comprehensively assessed. The
forensic psychologist reported that Luke met criteria for a diagnosis of ASPD. His AOD worker had also
arranged for Luke to undergo a physical health assessment, and Luke was found to have hepatitis C.
Over several meetings, Luke developed a reasonable relationship with the psychologist and indicated
that he had reached a point where he ‘needed to turn things around’. In consultation with his AOD
worker, Luke decided to begin suboxone treatment for his heroin dependence, while at the same time
receiving psychological treatment for his ASPD. The AOD worker contacted housing services in an
attempt to help find Luke stable accommodation, and Luke began treatment for his hepatitis C.
Luke’s treatment plan also included his attendance at a group program for people with ASPD which
was based on cognitive behavioural principles. Most of the others in this group also had histories of
problematic AOD use. The treatment plan emphasised the need for long–term contact with Luke and
his family. After three months, Luke had reached a stable dose of suboxone, was regularly attending
his group cognitive behavioural sessions, as well as individual CBT sessions with his psychologist and
AOD worker. The AOD worker arranged for treatment to continue and provided a report to the court with
favourable recommendations.
The long–term treatment plan emphasised the need for continued multi-agency cooperation and
preparing to deal with factors that could jeopardise long–term stability. These included plans to address
life and relationship stressors, and manage the several occasions when Luke failed to attend for
appointments.
Key points:
• Where the ASPD is associated with AOD use, both sets of problems should be addressed
concurrently and the approaches carefully coordinated.
• The need for multi-agency cooperation and information sharing is important and, in the case of
comorbidity, interventions need to be planned over months and years rather than weeks.

Confusion or disorientation
On occasion a client may present with no specific symptoms but is generally confused or disorientated.
This may be the result of intoxication, or a physical or mental health condition. In such cases the AOD
worker should [1013]:
• Provide frequent reality orientation (e.g., explain where the person is, who they are, and what your role
is).
• Provide reassurance.
• Attempt to involve family, friends or carers.
• Attempt to have the client cared for by familiar healthcare workers, in familiar surroundings.
Cognitive impairment
In the process of treatment, it may become clear that the client has impaired or poor functioning in one or
many areas of cognition, such as verbal or non-verbal memory, information processing, problem-solving,
reasoning, attention and concentration, decision-making, planning, sequencing, response inhibition and
emotional regulation. Sometimes these cognitive impairments can result in behaviour that is mistakenly
interpreted as the result of poor motivation or lack of effort. These cognitive difficulties often bear no
relation to mental illness and are frequently the result of heavy AOD use or intoxication [276].
When a client is experiencing some level of cognitive impairment, the effectiveness of therapeutic
approaches can be diminished unless care is taken to adapt the approach to address these difficulties.
Table 46 presents some simple techniques which can be useful in overcoming cognitive impairment [276].
Table 46: Techniques for managing cognitive impairment
Techniques to address attention problems
• Have a clear structure for each session.

• Consider shorter but more frequent sessions.
• Avoid overloading by limiting the content of each session.
• Keep sessions focused on relevant topics.
• Reduce session pace and provide breaks.
• Conduct sessions in a quiet, non-distracting environment.
• Provide written handouts of important information.
Techniques to address learning and memory problems
• Present information to be remembered both verbally and visually (e.g., draw diagrams).
• Repeat and summarise key information.
• Ask client to recall information from previous sessions, and suggest techniques to improve recall
(e.g., writing things down, using memory aids).
• Review key points from previous sessions at the start of each session to compensate for poor
memory.
• Remind client of appointment times and keep appointments at routine times.

Table 46: Techniques for managing cognitive impairment (continued)
Techniques to address difficulties with mental flexibility, problem-solving, planning, and organising
• Encourage routines and daily planning.

• Explain step-by-step problem solving and how to break goals into smaller, more manageable tasks.
• Discuss and practice responding to high-risk situations.
• For impulsive clients, encourage self-monitoring and use of cue cards with strategies to use.
Adapted from Marsh et al. [276].
Grief and loss

There is a multitude of different sources of grief and loss, and clients in AOD settings are often highly likely
to experience these emotions for a variety of reasons. Feelings of grief or loss are often associated with
traumatic experiences. It is also common for AOD clients to have lost partners, family members or friends
as a result of drug use. Finally, receiving treatment for AOD issues is likely to cause feelings of loss due
to the heavy role AOD use plays in the client’s life [1014]. Symptoms of grief and loss fall into a number of
categories including [1014]:
• Emotional – feelings of shock, numbness, disbelief, loss of control, fear, panic, confusion, anger,
sadness, guilt, desire to blame, or hostility. The person is likely to fluctuate between different emotional
states.
• Psychological – in addition to these emotions, clients may also have a preoccupation with the
deceased, or a sense of the presence of the deceased. Temporary cognitive impairments are also
common (e.g., concentration and memory complaints).
• Physical/behavioural/social – inappropriate behaviour (e.g., laughter), gastro-intestinal complaints,
decreased sex drive, tension, headaches, sleep disturbances, fatigue, lethargy, avoidant or
absentminded behaviour, withdrawal, social interaction changes, appetite changes, restlessness,
crying, or obsessive behaviour.
Managing grief and loss

Table 47 presents strategies for managing these symptoms. The main issue in grief management is to
normalise the process for the client. That is, encourage and support the grieving process, and remind the
client that this process is natural [1014]. Everyone deals with grief and loss differently and therefore not all
approaches work for all individuals. An information sheet for clients on grief and loss reactions is provided
in the Worksheets section of these Guidelines.
Table 47: Dos and don’ts of managing a client with symptoms of grief or loss
Do:
3 Encourage the acceptance of the reality of the situation (e.g., discuss the loss, encourage client to
attend gravesite), as well as the identification and experience of feelings (positive and negative)
associated with loss.
3 Help the client find a suitable way to remember, but also reinvest in life.
3 Continually monitor levels of depression and suicidal thoughts and act accordingly; risk is increased
during periods of grief (e.g., the first 12 months after a death, anniversaries, holidays).
3 Be aware and understanding of feelings associated with grief, including anger.

Table 47: Dos and don’ts of managing a client with symptoms of grief or loss
(continued)
3 Give both practical and emotional support.
3 Give the client your undivided attention and unconditional positive regard.
3 Be aware that concentration may be affected, therefore repeat instructions, write down instructions
and so on.
3 Encourage healthy avenues for the expression of grief (e.g., physical activity, relaxation, artistic
expression, talking, writing) rather than AOD use.
3 Encourage the client to seek social support. This may include bereavement services.
Don’t:
2 Avoid the reality of the situation or the feelings associated with it (e.g., use the name of deceased).
2 Judge or be surprised at how the client reacts – every person is different.
2 Time-limit the client when discussing grief, it can be a slow process.
2 Be afraid to seek assistance.
Adapted from Marsh et al. [1014].
Aggressive, angry, or violent behaviour

Problems relating to anger and aggression are not uncommon in AOD services and should be managed
appropriately. Anger and aggression may occur regardless of whether a person has a comorbid mental
health condition. In general, episodes of aggression are usually triggered by a particular event, which may
involve circumstances that have led the client to feel threatened or frustrated.
The following signs may indicate that a client could potentially become aggressive or violent [277]:
• Appearance: intoxicated, dishevelled or dirty, bloodstained, bizarre, carrying anything that could be
used as a weapon.
• Physical activity: restless or agitated, pacing, standing up frequently, clenching of jaw or fists, hostile
facial expressions with sustained eye contact, entering ‘off limit’ areas uninvited.
• Mood: angry, irritable, anxious, tense, distressed, difficulty controlling emotions.
• Speech: loud, swearing or threatening, sarcastic, slurred.
• Worker’s reaction: fear, anxiety, unease, frustration, anger.
If a client becomes aggressive, threatening or potentially violent, it is important for AOD workers to respond
in accordance with the policies and procedures specific to their service. It is also important for AOD workers
to have knowledge of how to respond to challenging behaviour, including physical threats or actual
violence, in their work with AOD clients. Table 48 outlines some general strategies for managing aggressive
clients.

Table 48: Dos and don’ts of managing a client who is angry or aggressive
Do:
3 Stay calm and keep your emotions in check.

3 Adopt a passive and non-threatening body posture (e.g., hands by your side with empty palms
facing forward, body at a 45 degree angle to the aggressor).
3 Let the client air his/her feelings and acknowledge them.
3 Ask open-ended questions to keep a dialogue going.
3 Be flexible, within reason.
3 Use the space for self-protection (position yourself close to the exit, don’t crowd the client).
3 Structure the work environment to ensure safety (e.g., have safety mechanisms in place such as
alarms and remove items that can be used as potential weapons).
3 Make sure other clients are out of harm’s way.
Don’t:
2 Challenge or threaten the client by tone of voice, eyes or body language.

2 Say things that will escalate the aggression.
2 Yell, even if the client is yelling at you.
2 Turn your back on the client.
2 Rush the client.
2 Argue with the client.
2 Stay around if the client doesn’t calm down.
2 Ignore verbal threats or warnings of violence.
2 Tolerate violence or aggression.
2 Try to disarm a person with a weapon or battle it alone.
Adapted from NSW Department of Health [277] and Marsh et al. [276].
Phases of aggression
This section has been adapted from information provided by Sunshine Coast Mental Health Service [1015]
and NSW Department of Health [277]. Aggressive episodes may be broken down into more detailed
phases. Gaining an understanding of these phases and some of the symptom-control strategies is useful in
controlling anger and aggression. Figure 16 outlines these phases of aggression.
Phase 1: Triggering event
Phase 1 is the initial triggering event which elicits the aggression. This can be any number of things that are
perceived by the client as threatening or frustrating. Some useful ways to avoid this primary phase include:
• Allowing the client personal space of up to six metres if possible.

• Avoiding standing over the client (e.g., if they are sitting, sit as well).
• Maintaining minimal eye contact (direct eye contact is confronting).
• Informing the client of anticipated delays.
• Keeping the environment relaxed, non-stimulating and non-stressful.
• Keeping your own posture and body language non-threatening (e.g., open stance and palms).
• Allowing the client to talk and be empathetic to his/her concerns.

Figure 16: Phases of aggression
Phase 1: Phase 2: Phase 3: Phase 4: Phase 5:

Triggering Event Escalation Crisis Recovery Post-Recovery
Source: NSW Department of Health [277].
Phase 2: Escalation
Phase 2 is the escalation phase. It is important to recognise and address signs of distress or conflict and
use appropriate techniques to try and de-escalate the situation. Common signs of escalation include
pacing, voice quivering, quick breathing, flushed face, twitching, dilated pupils, tense appearance, abusive,
intimidating and derogatory remarks, and clenched fists.
The LASSIE model is a useful tool for communication and de-escalation of the situation in this phase:
L Listen actively: allow the client to run out of steam before you talk.
A Acknowledge the problem/situation: validate the client’s feelings, empathise.
S Separate from others: to ensure the safety of others if escalation occurs.
S Sit down: symbolises readiness to negotiate.
I Indicate possible options: give alternatives to alleviate the situation.
E Encourage the client to try these options: assist the client to follow through.

The following strategies may also be useful in managing escalating aggression:
• Provide a safe environment for the client, yourself and others.

• The presence of a familiar person may help to calm and reassure the client.
• Do not assume aggressive behaviour is necessarily associated with mental illness.
• Know your own limits and refer/seek help if necessary.
• Be warm, friendly and non-judgemental; reassure the client.
• Stay focused on the current situation but anticipate problems.
• Carefully monitor the physical and psychological condition of the client.
• If the client’s behaviour escalates, withdraw and seek assistance immediately.
• Try to maintain a quiet, non-stimulating environment for the client (excessive noise or people may
contribute to aggression).
Phase 3: Crisis
Phase 3 is the crisis phase, in which the client reacts with aggressive behaviour. The aggression can often
be released indiscriminately and it is best for workers to remove themselves and any clients during this
stage unless the service has other policies on dealing with violence, aggression, self-defence and/or
restraint.
Phase 4: Recovery
Phase 4 is the recovery phase in which tension tends to reduce; however, the person is still in a state of
high arousal and, if this phase is not handled properly, aggressive behaviour may reignite. It is important to
be supportive and empathic to the client at this stage, but do not crowd or threaten him/her. It is important
that workers be given the opportunity to debrief. Any violence should be documented in the client’s file.
Phase 5: Post-crisis depression
Phase 5 is the post-crisis depression stage. Generally the client feels fatigued and exhausted and may
show feelings of guilt and dejection at having had an outburst. Support may be required from workers
during this stage.
Concluding remarks
Although much of this review of treatments leaves many questions to be answered, there are some guiding
principles that tend to be repeated throughout. It is clear that much more research is needed before
definitive practices that will improve outcomes for both mental health and AOD use disorders can be
prescribed. Despite this, it can be generally concluded that treatments that work for a single disorder will
lead to some improvements in comorbid clients, if not in both disorders. Although integrated treatments
appear beneficial for some disorders, further investigation is needed [756].
For most comorbidities, both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy interventions have been found to
have some benefit. Both of these require some basic knowledge or qualifications on the part of the AOD
worker. In particular, psychosocial interventions tend to be based on motivational and cognitive behavioural
approaches and AOD workers will benefit significantly if trained in these intervention styles. It is generally
acknowledged that manual-based psychological interventions are easy to administer and are the most
effective for CBT-style treatments. For pharmacological interventions, an important role of AOD workers is
to inform themselves of the benefits, interactions and possible side effects of the medications prescribed
for their clients. Workers can assist their clients with suggestions for medication scheduling as well as
providing compliance therapy.

B7: Worker
Section
Heading
self-care
Goes here
B7
B7: Worker
self-care
Key Points
• Working directly with clients with comorbid AOD and mental
health conditions can be an incredibly rewarding and satisfying
experience, but is not without considerable challenges. AOD
workers often experience high levels of stress and are at risk of
burnout.
• The most common workplace stress for AOD workers is the stress
associated with workload and time pressures, but other stressors
include concerns about whether your work is making a difference,
whether you have the necessary skills and are effective in your
role, whether your work is valued and adequately remunerated,
workplace conflict, lack of supervisory and collegial support, and
job uncertainty.
• As such, it is important that AOD workers ensure they take the time
for self-care. Strategies incorporating a holistic approach to AOD
worker self-care reduce psychological responses to client trauma
and workplace stress, and increase the capacity to respond to
workplace situations.
• Active coping strategies can help reduce the risk of clinical
burnout, and include physical, emotional, and professional self-
care. Further, workplace engagement and appreciating the impact
and value of your work can reduce the risk of burnout.
• Clinical supervision can also help reduce workplace stress and
burnout by providing a mechanism of support for staff.
Working with clients who have co-occurring AOD and mental health conditions can be a fulfilling and
satisfying experience. Having the opportunity to work directly with clients, and to observe and share the
triumphs and tribulations of their personal journeys, can be extremely professionally rewarding. However,
working in this area is not without considerable challenges. Although a manageable level of workplace
stress is normal and can even be motivating, AOD workers often experience high levels of stress, and in
B7: Worker self-care 185

some cases burnout. As such, it is critically important that AOD workers set aside time to manage and pay
attention to their self-care.
Holistic self-care: AOD workers

The importance of AOD worker self-care cannot be understated. Applying a holistic approach to self-care
may assist in reducing AOD workers’ psychological responses to distressing events, lessening workplace
stress, and increasing capacity to respond to workplace situations. There are a number of holistic self-care
strategies that can be utilised by AOD workers, including [276, 277]:
• Maintaining a balanced diet.

• Allowing time every day for lunch and physical exercise.
• Scheduling regular holidays and other breaks from work (e.g., conferences, education seminars, clinical
supervision).
• Maintaining contact with peers and avoiding professional isolation.
• Maintaining balance between work commitments and family/personal life.
• Being aware of one’s own AOD use.
• Being aware of tobacco use and not smoking around clients.
• Using relaxation skills.
• Allocating time for relaxation and leisure activities.
Burnout
Burnout is the term used to describe the experience of long-term strain and exhaustion. It is typically a
response to work overload when there is prolonged and intense stress, accompanied by ineffective coping
strategies [276]. Components of burnout and active coping strategies are illustrated in Figure 17.
Burnout can lead to reduced job satisfaction and performance, and may lead AOD workers to become
exhausted, detached from clients, and feel ineffective and cynical about the profession [276, 277].
Workplace stress and risk factors that have been associated with burnout include [276]:
• Excessive workload and time pressure.

• Role conflict from different job demands.
• Role ambiguity due to lack of resources and unclear goals.
• Lack of support from co-workers and supervisors.
• Lack of feedback about performance.
• Lack of control and involvement in decision-making.
• Concern about whether you are making a difference.
• Concern about whether you are doing your job effectively.
• Concern about whether you are valued and adequately remunerated.
• Distressing outcomes for clients.
• Workplace conflict.
• Lack of support for training or adequate clinical supervision.
• Job uncertainty.
186 B7: Worker self-care

Figure 17: Components of clinical burnout
Components of Active coping

clinical burnout strategies
BURNOUT
It is important that AOD workers who believe that they are at risk of burnout approach their supervisors,
and seek arrangements for support including the use of relevant Employee Assistance Programs where
available. Further, active coping has been associated with reduced levels of stress and reduced likelihood
of burnout [276]. Active coping strategies are similar to holistic self-care strategies (see Figure 17) and
include the following [276]:
• Physical self-care: Maintaining a balanced, healthy diet, sleeping well, exercise, ensuring there is time
for relaxation and leisure activities.
• Emotional self-care: Ensuring opportunities to talk and debrief.
• Professional self-care: Maintaining support, clinical supervision, professional development, time-
management, and taking the opportunity to address work-related concerns, demands, unfairness, or
inequity.
Research suggests that workplace engagement and appreciation of the value of work can reduce the risk
of burnout, particularly for AOD workers [1016].
Secondary traumatic stress

As detailed in Chapter A2, a high proportion of clients of AOD services have experienced trauma, and it
is important that symptoms of trauma-related disorders such as PTSD be managed, and if appropriate
treated, while the person is undergoing AOD treatment. Clinicians who work with traumatised clients
describe their work as being extremely rewarding [818]; however, hearing the details of clients’ trauma can
be distressing, and in some case, leads to vicarious traumatisation or secondary traumatic stress. A survey
of AOD workers from across Australia found that 20% were suffering from secondary traumatic stress [817].
Importantly, this study found that secondary traumatic stress could be prevented by monitoring of workers’
caseloads and the provision of adequate clinical supervision.
B7: Worker self-care 187

Clinical supervision
Clinical supervision can help reduce work stress and burnout by providing a mechanism of support for staff,
debriefing, and managing stress. Supervision may also provide opportunities for professional development,
skill enhancement, identifying new ways of working with clients, validating existing clinical skills, and
increasing job satisfaction [277]. Although definitions between workplaces differ, in general, clinical
supervision means [1017, 1018]:
• Quality assurance and clinical safety.

• A method of improving clinical practice, which involves the worker learning new skills, problem solving
effectively, and obtaining suggestions for improving practice (not line management).
• Professional support.
• Workforce development.
Evidence indicates that mental health and AOD workers who receive quality supervision are better able to
function across multiple domains, manage their stress more effectively, and are less likely to experience
burnout. Some of the demonstrated benefits of clinical supervision include greater job satisfaction,
confidence and self-capacity [1019-1021], reduced staff turnover [1022], improved development of complex
clinical skills and delivery of evidence-based practice [1018, 1023, 1024], reduced stress and burnout [1020,
1025, 1026], better communication between staff [1019, 1021], and the transfer of newly acquired skills
from training into practice [1027, 1028]. Further, less experienced AOD workers can benefit from clinical
supervision by receiving feedback on their interpersonal style, counselling skills, and ongoing appraisal
[1029]. As such, clinical supervision can improve the quality of client–AOD worker relationships and enhance
treatment outcomes [1029].
In 2011, NSW Health updated their clinical supervision guidelines for AOD services. These may also be
useful for clinicians in other states. The guidelines are not prescriptive, but make recommendations
for best practice. They are intended to be applicable across disciplines, to all workers in AOD services
who are responsible for providing services to clients. As such, the guidelines are designed to provide a
comprehensive framework for local operations, and encourage some degree of consistency [1018]. These
guidelines are accessible via the NSW Health website: www.health.nsw.gov.au.
188 B7: Worker self-care

Part C: Specific population groups
population
Specific
groups
Part C:
C: Specific
population
groups
Key Points
• Cultural and contextual factors, such as the client’s cultural
background, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, stability of
accommodation, whether he/she lives in remote locations, and
whether treatment is coerced, need to be taken into account when
treating clients.
• Overall, treatments and services for AOD use and comorbidity
have arisen from research on the dominant culture of city-dwelling
Westernised adults. This is not to say that these techniques will
not work with clients from different backgrounds, but rather that
approaches may need to be adapted depending on individual
clients’ characteristics.
A number of social groups require special consideration with regard to the management and treatment of
comorbidity. It is important that AOD workers are aware of specific factors that may affect the management
and treatment of people belonging to these groups so that they may tailor treatment appropriately. Much
of what is discussed below applies to those with single AOD or mental health disorders as well as those
with comorbid conditions.
Indigenous Australians
The standards of physical and mental health among Indigenous Australians are poor in comparison with
the wider Australian community. Research shows that although there are proportionately more Indigenous
people than non-Indigenous people who refrain from drinking [1030], those who do drink are more likely
to do so at high-risk levels [1030, 1031]. Between 2008–2012, Indigenous men died from alcohol-related
causes at a rate four and a half times higher than their non-Indigenous counterparts, while this rate was six
times higher for Indigenous women [1032]. As a result, it is possible that heavy drinking may be normalised
within some communities and this could act as a barrier to people seeking treatment [1033].
C: Specific population groups 189

However, alcohol is not the only substance that presents a major concern for Indigenous people. In 2008,
23% of Indigenous Australians over the age of 15 years reported using an illicit substance in the previous
12-months, and 43% reported lifetime use [1030]. Substances most commonly used included cannabis
(17%), non-prescription analgesics (5%), and amphetamines (4%). Reports of ever having used illicit
substances increased slightly from 40% in 2002 to 43% in 2008 [1030]. Further, d’Abbs and MacLean [1034]
have highlighted the devastating effects of volatile substance misuse and petrol-sniffing among Indigenous
communities in the remote areas of Central Australia. Research has also found that Indigenous Australians
are more than twice as likely to be current daily cigarette smokers as non-Indigenous Australians. The
percentage of current smokers increased from 33% in 2002 to 45% in 2008, and the proportion of people
who had never smoked decreased from 49% to 31% over the same period [1030].
Indigenous people are also over-represented in inpatient mental health services, with twice as many
Indigenous than non-Indigenous people hospitalised for a mental illness between 2008–2010 [1030].
Across Australia, the most common mental health conditions requiring hospitalisation were substance-
induced mental and behavioural disorders (36%), schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders
(25%), depressive and bipolar disorders (15%), and anxiety disorders (14%). Further, in 2012–13, Indigenous
people were almost three times as likely to report high or very high levels of psychological distress [1035].
In 2008–2012, the suicide rate for Indigenous people across all age groups was double the non-Indigenous
suicide rate, and five times as high for young Indigenous Australians aged 15–19 years [1035].
It has been suggested that the factors which contribute to elevated rates of psychiatric morbidity in
Indigenous communities include the destruction of social infrastructure, rapid urbanisation and poverty,
cultural, spiritual and emotional alienation, loss of identity, family dislocation, and increased AOD
consumption [1036-1040]. Lee and colleagues [1041] conducted a study of Indigenous women accessing
treatment for co-occurring mental health and AOD use disorders. They found that women perceived
negative early life events (e.g., domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse) as being associated with the
onset of their AOD and mental health conditions. They reported that comorbidity led to severe and wide-
ranging negative outcomes, such as general poor health, diminished social networks, unemployment, and
financial instability; and they also reported that it had a serious negative impact on their ability to care for
themselves and others (e.g., with some women reporting children being removed from their care).
The trauma suffered by the stolen generations as a result of the assimilation policies of the Australian
Government has direct relevance to the psychological adjustment of Indigenous Australians by severely
disrupting and damaging the quality of early parent–child attachment. A number of studies have found
evidence of a direct link between the quality of early relationships and the development of depression in
adulthood [1042-1046]. Indigenous people may be at increased risk of poor treatment outcomes due to
poor physical health, social disadvantage, comorbidity, and the burden of grief through suicide, homicide,
and incarceration [1047, 1048].
Although only limited data exists regarding comorbidity specifically among Indigenous communities,
Roxbee and Wallace [1049] report that there are high rates of comorbidity, along with complexities in
causality and treatment, which are unique to Australian Indigenous populations. Studies have shown an
association between depression, anxiety, suicide, and alcohol dependence in Indigenous communities
[1050, 1051]. In addition, frequency of alcohol consumption in Indigenous communities has been found
to be correlated with hallucinations, paranoia, self-mutilation, and panic [1038, 1052, 1053]. A survey of
Aboriginal admissions to Bloomfield hospital in 1995 showed significant rates of comorbidity [1054]. There
is also more recent evidence to suggest that substance use and self-harm behaviour are rising in the
Indigenous community [1055, 1056]. Moreover, Indigenous Australians who experience comorbid disorders
are likely to have poorer outcomes than those experiencing a mental health or AOD use disorder alone
[1057]. However, there is some emerging evidence that interventions for comorbid conditions can lead to
beneficial outcomes in Indigenous populations. An RCT conducted by Nagel and colleagues [1058] found
190 C: Specific population groups

that a brief intervention (motivational care planning) for Indigenous people experiencing comorbidity led to
reduced symptoms of mental health and AOD use disorders.
Existing mainstream models of practice in the AOD field have overwhelmingly been developed within
Western systems of knowledge. As a result, they are not necessarily generalisable to other cultures and
may ignore important Indigenous perspectives and needs. Therefore, despite Indigenous Australians
having a heterogeneous mix of diverse languages and customs, it is important that AOD workers be aware
of general issues and try to familiarise themselves with more specific information regarding the Indigenous
population in their community. Reports on this particularly vulnerable group emphasise the need for access
to culturally appropriate and comprehensive services to address these problems, and the need for local
links with Indigenous services and consultants [99, 1051].
There are a number of general issues to be aware of when working with Indigenous clients [169, 1031, 1060-
1065]:
• The concept of family (including extended family and relatives) and community in Indigenous culture is
very important and includes immediate and extended relations. With the permission of the client, family
members should be included in therapy as much as possible, and the client should be treated within
the context of their community. Families are a strength that can be drawn upon to complement mental
health and AOD treatment [1041]. Community and Indigenous support groups may also be useful
services.
• Many Indigenous Australians have a holistic concept of health, which is often referred to as social and
emotional wellbeing [1059]. This multifaceted concept reflects the Indigenous cultural concept of
health, which includes physical, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual health and the importance
of connections to land, culture, family, spirituality, ancestry, and community. These connections are
maintained through generations, and contribute to an individual’s wellbeing. As such, incorporation of
these factors is essential during treatment. Integrated or coordinated services are therefore particularly
important for addressing AOD and mental health conditions [1041, 1048].
• There are high rates of trauma, grief, and loss in Indigenous communities as Indigenous people are
faced with death and serious illness within their extended family more often than non-Indigenous
people, and at a younger age. There are also issues of unresolved grief, continued cultural loss and
intergenerational trauma regarding the European colonisation and mistreatment since then (e.g., stolen
generations). Approaches should address underlying issues of repeated trauma, stress, and grief [1060].
• Stigma and victimisation continue to exist today, and are likely to impact on mental health and AOD use.
Issues of domestic violence, poverty, and family AOD use are also likely to play a key role.
• When working with Indigenous clients with apparent psychotic symptoms, it is important to clarify the
cultural appropriateness of such symptoms. For example, it is not uncommon for some Indigenous
people to hear recently departed relatives and see spirits representing ancestors. This kind of spiritual
experience is culturally valid and therefore is not a symptom of psychosis.
• Workers should be aware of the impact of intensely distressing levels of shame that many Indigenous
clients experience. This shame can be exacerbated when dealing with a non-Aboriginal worker.
Involving an experienced Aboriginal worker in the client’s care can help achieve the best outcomes.
• Use appropriate language (e.g., avoid jargon, or technical or medical terminology, use culturally
appropriate terms to describe AOD) and include appropriate written materials to reinforce key verbal
messages.
• Consider that you may be viewed as a member of a culture that has caused damage to Indigenous
culture. Anticipate and prepare a plan to deal with issues of anger, resentment and/or suspicion.
Engagement is likely to require increased attention.
• Enclosed spaces may increase anxiety in Indigenous clients.
• Direct questioning can be perceived as being threatening and intrusive and therefore should be kept
to a minimum. A method of three-way talking may often be helpful, in which a client uses a third person
(such as a family member) as a mediator to exchange information with the service provider.

• Watch the client’s body language and mirror it if possible. For instance, direct eye contact is often
viewed as impolite in Indigenous communities and is often avoided. Speaking softly with brief answers
may be a sign of shyness or good manners.
• Be respectful of cultural prohibitions such as:
o Referring to a dead person by name.
o Referring to certain close relatives by name (e.g., a Torres Strait Islander male may not refer
to his brother-in-law by name).
o Appearing to criticise elders or family members.
o Confiding personal information to a member of the opposite sex – men’s and women’s business are
usually kept separate (this may require a same sex AOD worker).
• Consultation may take longer so set aside extra time.
• Be aware that levels of literacy may be low.
• It is important to be clear about your role and the types of things you would like to cover in the
consultation.
• Assessment of Indigenous clients should occur within their own cultural context.
• Act as an advocate for the client where necessary in guiding them through the health care system.
• Understand that developing relationships with clients and communities will take time and that
establishing these relationships is often necessary prior to engaging in treatment and learning more
about how to appropriately interact with clients.
• Be proactive in engaging with the local community rather than waiting for them to access AOD or
mental health services.
Workers should also be aware of the cultural diversity within Indigenous populations, which is often
overlooked [1066]. Differences in cultural identity extend to different languages, accessing traditional
lands, practising traditional culture, laws and governance, as well as family and kinship structures [1067].
Recognising and responding to the complexities of Indigenous identity involves acknowledging the
significance of diverse language and family groups, as well as the differences in gender relationships, all of
which can involve complex relationships which determine the level of interaction between family and kin
[1059]. The different forms of distress experienced by Indigenous people, as well as the different pathways
to recovery, need to be identified, which depend on a diverse range of beliefs and experiences [1068].
Following interviews with Indigenous women experiencing comorbidity, Lee and colleagues [1041]
identified a number of improvements that could be made to services to better address the needs of
Indigenous people with mental health and AOD use disorders, including:
• Better integration of mental health and AOD services, and greater collaboration between these services
and other organisations (e.g., housing, education).
• More promotion of available services (e.g., active presence of mental health/AOD workers at local
community events).
• More information and group family support for families and carers of people with co-occurring AOD
and mental health conditions.
• Support groups to be run at local services to allow clients to share experiences with others in similar
situations and to reduce isolation [1069].
• More childcare options available for clients seeking help from inpatient services.
• Greater use of outreach services in remote areas as a means of simplifying access to relevant
services (e.g., rehabilitation, mental health, withdrawal management) and creating a less ‘medicalised’
environment.
• Services better addressing factors that make it difficult for people to get appointments (e.g., inflexible
appointment times, unreliable transportation to services).
AOD workers may find the IRIS (described in Chapter B2) useful in assisting to identify Indigenous clients
with AOD and mental health conditions and mental health risks [323].

Culturally and linguistically diverse groups
Little research has been carried out in Australia on culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups
in AOD services – let alone on those with comorbid mental health conditions. It is not clear whether
comorbidity is more common in CALD than other groups. Ethnic groups are under-represented in AOD
services, but not because they have a lower prevalence of AOD use disorders [439, 1070-1072]. Rather, their
under-representation is a product of many barriers to treatment including [276]:
• Strong feelings of shame and guilt.

• Fear of stigmatisation/judgement surrounding treatment.
• Cultural differences between client and therapist.
• Confusion and lack of education or exposure to public health campaigns.
• Different expectations of treatment and difficulty clarifying these due to language barriers.
• Lack of familiarity with what AOD treatment services are available, and how to access services.
• Language difficulties which make participation in AOD treatment programs difficult.
Due to the multicultural nature of Australian society, it is imperative that AOD workers develop an
awareness of issues pertaining to working with people who belong to CALD groups. Each geographic area
has its own unique cultural mix and AOD workers should learn as much as possible about the cultures
represented in their treatment populations. In particular, AOD workers should be aware of conventions
of interpersonal communication (e.g., communication style, interpersonal interactions), expectations of
family, understanding of healing, views of mental illness, and perceptions of substance use. However, it is
fundamental not to make assumptions based on the client’s culture – just because he/she is from a certain
cultural background, that does not mean that he/she necessarily subscribes to the values and beliefs of
that culture [94]. Reid and colleagues [1071] recommend consultation with the separate ethnic communities
to develop culturally relevant strategies for AOD treatment.
It has been suggested that information about three aspects of clients’ lives is of crucial importance when
treating CALD clients [276]:
• Context of migration: If the client migrated to Australia, why they left their country of origin, how they
got to Australia, their legal status, whether they have residency, any trauma experiences in the context
of their country of origin or migrating to Australia (e.g., refugees of war). Helping clients to place their
AOD and mental health conditions in the context of such experiences can help to reduce shame and
increase self-compassion.
• Subgroup membership: Ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, area in which they live, refugees or
immigrants, religious affiliation.
• Degree of acculturation: Traditional (client adheres completely to beliefs, values, and behaviours of
his/her country of origin); bicultural (client has a mix of new and old beliefs, values, and behaviours);
acculturated (client has modified his/her old beliefs, values, and behaviours in an attempt to adjust);
assimilated (client has completely given up his/her old beliefs, values and behaviours and adopted
those of the new country).
Even migrants from English-speaking countries are likely to struggle with cultural confusion and stresses
associated with changes in environment, jobs, social supports, and lifestyle. Migrants may experience a loss
in social and occupational status if their qualifications are not recognised in Australia or face issues such
as high unemployment levels, overcrowded living conditions, isolation, poverty, racial discrimination, and
family conflict.

Rickwood [1073] provides a general summary of the types of problems that are specific to CALD groups
in the community and makes recommendations regarding the provision of treatment services. These
recommendations (such as cultural and religious awareness and the appropriate use of interpreters) would
also apply to those with comorbid mental health conditions. They emphasise that there are few screening
tools that have been validated for these groups. As with Indigenous clients, screening tools should be
validated for CALD groups and need to be administered and interpreted with care.
Below is a range of useful points which may improve assessment and treatment in CALD clients generally:
• Where possible, and with the client’s permission, involve the family in treatment. Allow the client to pick
who from his/her family or community participates.
• Try to find out before the session if the client requires an interpreter, and allow the client to make
decisions about if/when an interpreter is needed. Keep in mind that even clients with basic English
proficiency might benefit by having an interpreter because describing symptoms, especially feelings,
can be very difficult when English is a second language. Be sure the dialect is correct and be aware that
some clients may have a preferred gender for the interpreter. Allow the interpreter to brief the client on
the role that they will play. Even when families are involved in the client’s treatment, it is inappropriate
to use family members as interpreters. The client may not wish to divulge certain information to his/
her family, or family members may not want certain information disclosed to people outside the family,
and may edit what is being said. When using interpreters, be aware that some meaning can be lost in
translation and address issues of confidentiality.
• Be sure to address the client appropriately and pronounce his/her name correctly.
• Discuss the client’s expectations of treatment.
• Ensure that all treatment options are clearly explained, including rationale, and processes.
• Keep what you know about mental illness in mind but ensure that you try to understand the client’s
cultural understanding of his/her problems. People from different cultures often have different views
on what constitutes mental illness. The DSM-5 [24] makes it clear that diagnoses can only be made
if the person’s behaviour is abnormal within his/her culture. While there are similarities in the forms
of illnesses across different cultures, the specific symptoms and signs vary for different societies. For
example, a man in Australia with psychosis may talk of aliens controlling his thoughts, while a man in Fiji
might blame black magic. It is also not uncommon for people from some cultures (particularly South-
East Asian countries) to express psychological distress through somatic (physical) symptoms [277].
• Be aware that some CALD clients may come from collectivist cultures (in which greater emphasis is
placed on group identity, goals, and concerns than is placed on individual ones) and may require a
greater involvement of family and community for successful treatment.
• Be aware of gender and age. Some cultures may have specific concerns about appropriate gender and
age relations, such as talking about some subjects with a member of the opposite sex or a younger
person.
• Maintain a focus on healing, coping, or rehabilitation, rather than on cure.
• Set aside at least twice the usual time, especially if you need to use an interpreter.
• Be mindful of embarrassment and cultural taboos.
• Be clear, concrete, and specific.
• Look for verbal and non-verbal signs of discomfort or confusion. Do not take silence as consent or
agreement. The client may have had negative experiences in the past when accessing services, so
consider making time to discuss these experiences and learn about any discrimination they may have
experienced, as this may help to build trust.
• Support the client and his/her family in accessing other relevant services. CALD clients may not have
knowledge of services that are available to them, so be aware of other services that could be helpful
and offer to connect them directly by making a referral and help coordinate their care (see Chapter B4)
[277, 1074].

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and intersex
individuals
There is a lack of research into the impact of comorbidity on gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and
intersex (GLBTI) communities in Australia [1075]. On the whole, there is evidence that GLBTI individuals
experience comorbid AOD and mental health disorders at rates higher than heterosexual individuals [1076].
However, only five peer-reviewed studies of GLBTI individuals with a heterosexual comparison group have
examined comorbidity of mental health and AOD use [1077], all of which found higher rates of comorbidity
in the GLBTI sample relative to the heterosexual sample [1078-1082]. Across studies, the evidence indicates
that GLBTI people are approximately between three and six times more likely to have a comorbid AOD and
mental health disorder than their heterosexual counterparts, and are at particularly increased risk of suicidal
ideation and suicide attempts, and multiple disorders [1077].
Fundamentally, treatment for GLBTI individuals is the same as for any other client group and should
focus on the specific needs of the client [402]. GLBTI clients represent a diverse group of people from
varying backgrounds; thus, like all other clients, a holistic view should be adopted considering all aspects
of the client’s presentation. While all GLBTI clients are different, it is important to be aware of the context
in which GLBTI clients’ problems may develop. For instance, the development of a same-sex attracted
identity usually occurs within a context of stigma and internal pressure [1083]. This can produce feelings of
shame, isolation, guilt, lying, maladaptive sexual patterns, and loss of social support among other things,
all increasing the risk of mental health and substance use problems. Thus, comorbidity among GLBTI
individuals is likely to be a consequence of being in a minority group within the community, rather than
being same-sex attracted. Ritter and colleagues [1077] identified several key features for working with
GLBTI clients that are associated with positive outcomes:
• A welcoming, non-judgemental, and respectful environment.

• An accepting and affirming approach to the client’s GLBTI status.
• Appropriate use of culturally sensitive language.
• Staff awareness of GLBTI support services.
• Appropriate education and training for staff.
• Presence of GLBTI staff and positive GLBTI role models.
• A high regard for confidentiality around personal information.
• Affirmation of non-traditional family networks.
• Teaching the client strategies for dealing with stigma, discrimination, and stress.
Sexuality and related issues require sensitive exploration and may require the AOD worker to assist the
client with safety, support, accommodation, harm reduction, and education needs that may arise. It is
important to consider and use professional judgement in raising and discussing issues of sexual orientation;
for instance [1084]:
• How comfortable is the person with his/her sexuality and with talking about it with others?
• Has he/she told family/friends? How have these people reacted (or how will they)?
• Is it his/her decision to tell someone or is he/she being forced?
• How much support does he/she have?
• Is he/she financially, physically, or emotionally independent?
Engagement is fundamentally important as well as confidentiality issues. AOD workers should also be
aware that, for some clients (especially young clients), issues surrounding gender and sexual orientation
may be a principal concern and may demand increased attention during treatment.

Rural/remote communities
People living in rural/remote communities suffer a variety of social, attitudinal, economic, geographic, and
community barriers which means that they are likely to have difficulties accessing treatments and specialist
care [1085-1088]. Youth in these communities are at particularly high-risk [1089], and alcohol and rural
stressors are likely to play a role in high male suicide rate [1090]. The lack of specialists in these regions
tends to result in heavy reliance on primary and AOD health care providers. Compared to major cities, rural
areas have significantly less access to specialised mental health care, with per-person supply of employed
medical practitioners decreasing according to remoteness [1085]. Although there is a national focus across
Australia to increase the supply of health workers to rural and remote areas, it is estimated that rural areas
access 33% of psychiatrists, 85% of mental health nurses, and 54% of psychologists compared to major
cities, with even poorer access for remote areas [1085, 1086]. Moreover, Medicare expenditure on mental
health services in inner regional and remote areas is considerably less than that in major cities [1086]. The
health of rural and remote Australians is comparatively poorer than those in major cities [1085], and the lack
of resources and health care workers makes working in these settings particularly challenging.
Research has found that people living in remote areas are less likely than major city residents to endorse
evidence-based interventions as useful for mental health treatment, and are less likely to perceive
psychologists, psychiatrists, GPs, and social workers as helpful in the treatment of mental health
conditions [1091]. There is also evidence that people living in remote areas are also more likely than those
living in major cities to identify non-evidence-based treatments (e.g., alcohol and painkillers) as helpful
interventions for mental health conditions, highlighting the need for effective communication focused on
best-practice treatment and management of mental health in rural and remote areas [1091].
Although accessing treatment has been identified as a particular challenge in this population group,
recently developed self-guided approaches, such as bibliotherapy or e-health interventions, have proven
to be effective as have alternatives to face-to-face methods (e.g., telephone, email, internet) where
geographical isolation and lack of specialist services are obstacles [1092]. For example, MoodGYM is a
free online CBT self-help program for depression (www.moodgym.anu.edu.au) that has been shown to be
effective in treating symptoms of depression [653], and Anxiety Online comprises five e-therapy programs
for GAD, SAD, panic disorder, PTSD, and OCD (www.mentalhealthonline.org.au) [740]. Although definitive
evidence regarding the efficacy of Anxiety Online is lacking, a naturalistic study found that the participation
in the program was associated with significant reductions in severity of all five disorders, and increased
confidence in managing one’s own mental health care.
In terms of feasibility and acceptability of these approaches, there is evidence that clinicians working
in rural areas are optimistic about the use of e-health interventions; however, there was a preference
for these approaches to be integrated alongside existing services, and used as an adjunct rather than
alternative to more traditional face-to-face approaches [1093]. The Rural Mental Health Study found that
one in five (18%) people with internet access (75% of the total sample) would consider using e-health
interventions, which was associated with being younger, male, a carer, having a 12-month mental health
problem, and having used internet-based treatments in the past [1094]. These findings suggest that
e-health interventions have the potential to address the limitations of service accessibility among people
living in rural and remote areas, and resistance to e-health may be overcome by enhancing community
education and program familiarity [1094]. In an RCT examining participants with comorbid depression and
AOD use, the efficacy of computerised CBT/MI was compared to face-to-face treatment with both urban
and rural participants [1095]. Similar improvements were observed in depression, alcohol, and cannabis use
when compared with face-to-face treatment, and the computerised delivery was acceptable to people in
both urban and rural locations, even among people who indicated a preference for face-to-face therapy.

Patterns of AOD use and the types of stressors experienced are likely to vary across rural and remote
areas. For example, inhalants are a particular problem in some rural and remote areas, especially within
Indigenous populations [1034], whereas cocaine is more likely to be used in major cities and inner regional
areas [1096]. The proportion of individuals drinking at risky levels increases with increasing remoteness, with
certain occupational groups (in particular, farming communities) at particularly high risk, and hospitalisation
and mortality associated with alcohol consumption is considerably higher for rural communities relative to
urban communities [1097]. Significantly more people living in rural and remote areas smoke tobacco, and
whilst smoking rates have fallen over the past 15 years in major cities, outer regional and remote areas have
not seen this reduction [1098].
AOD workers need to be aware of the particular issues related to AOD use in their communities.
Professional networking with local health providers, and fostering trust, non-judgemental acceptance,
and confidentiality with clients, may be particularly important in rural/remote communities. In small rural
communities, anonymity is very difficult to maintain, presenting a range of additional challenges for the AOD
workers. Therefore issues of confidentiality are particularly crucial.
Homeless persons
Homelessness refers not only to sleeping rough. It also includes staying with friends or relatives with no
other usual address (e.g., couch surfing), staying in specialist homelessness services, and living in boarding
houses or caravan parks with no secure lease and no private facilities. As highlighted in the Australian
Government White Paper on homelessness, homelessness does not simply mean that people are without
shelter. A stable home provides safety and security as well as connections to friends, family, and a
community [1099].
There tend to be higher rates of AOD use and mental health conditions among homeless people as
compared to the Australian general population (see Table 49) [42, 1100, 1101]. A 2007–2008 survey of
homeless individuals from Sydney reported complex AOD use histories and extensive polydrug use [1102].
Forty-two percent of participants reported severe levels of depression and 57% screened positive for
current PTSD. More than one third (37%) had received a lifetime diagnosis of schizophrenia or another
psychotic disorder.
People who are homeless present with a range of physical, financial, housing, substance, social, and
psychological problems, and they are at high risk of victimisation [1102, 1103]. Hence it is important to
adopt a holistic and pragmatic view when identifying treatment needs (see Chapter B4). The complexity
of problems experienced by people who are homeless is compounded by having reduced access to
services and resources [1104], and it is very difficult to provide mental health or AOD treatment to those
without access to stable housing [1101]. Attention to immediate basic needs is often more important than
diagnosing a specific condition, as successful treatment is difficult if basic needs are not met [1104]. Do they
have access to primary care and from whom? Is the client likely to be able to follow through with treatment
and recommendations? Will they seek help in the future? Can they afford specific treatments/medications?
Thus, treatment should be guided by the perceived needs of the client, as well as AOD worker judgement.
Recent evidence indicates that homeless clients from less integrated services are more likely to experience
additional difficulties accessing help due to the lack of coordination between homelessness, mental health,
and AOD services [360]. Services working together and coordinating care into a cohesive approach has
been identified by clients as an area of great importance. Clients from more integrated services are more
likely to have a case coordinator and report positive outcomes than those from less integrated services
[360]. Lack of integration between services can not only result in clients ‘falling through the gaps’ and being
bounced between homelessness, AOD, and mental health services, but can also result in a need for clients
to continuously retell details of distressing stories, confusion, and lack of client and service awareness [360].
Chapter B4 contains further information about care coordination and working with other services.

Table 49: Prevalence of mental health disorders among homeless people in inner
Sydney and the general Australian population
Homeless in inner Sydney Australian population
Men % Women % All people %

Psychotic disorders
Schizophrenia 23 46 0.5
AOD use disorders
Alcohol dependence-abuse 49 15 6
Opiate dependence-abuse 34 44 3
Cannabis dependence-abuse 22 18 2
Sedative dependence-abuse 10 13 0.5
Stimulant dependence-abuse 8 10 0.3
Other AOD dependence-abuse 9 13 -
Mood disorders
Any mood disorder 28 48 7
Any major depression 22 38 6
Dysthymic disorder 4 8 1
Anxiety disorders
Any anxiety disorder 22 36 6
Any panic disorder 7 19 1
Social phobia 8 10 3
Generalised anxiety disorder 8 10 3
Any mental disorder 73 81 18
Source: Teesson et al. [1100].
Being homeless involves additional stigmatisation to the already marginalising attitudes directed towards
individuals with AOD and mental health conditions. It is important to recognise the additional difficulties
faced by these clients and be patient and attentive during treatment despite obvious difficulties [1105]. The
following strategies may be useful when working with homeless clients [360, 1104]:
• Become familiar with any street outreach programs or resettlement services operating in your area.
• Help the client establish skills and knowledge in obviously deficient areas, as this may provide practical
living abilities. It may be necessary to read documents for the client, and assist in the filling out of forms,
and other basic tasks due to low literacy levels or other difficulties.
• Be patient and flexible, and aware that homeless people are unlikely to attend all appointments
or complete homework tasks. AOD workers need to remain optimistic, non-judgemental, process-
oriented, and focused on long-term treatment goals.
• Where possible and beneficial, encourage clients to consider family relationships, and engage with
clients’ families. Be aware that this may not be easy or practicable, and ensure clients are engaged in
the decision to contact their family.
• Be proactive in following up clients, and work with other services to coordinate care.

Women
The psychological, social and physical contexts of AOD use and mental health are quite different for
women as opposed to men [1106]. There is increased stigma associated with female AOD use (particularly
among those who are pregnant) which is likely to lead to greater guilt and shame [276, 1106, 1107]. This
stigma may lead some women to delay treatment seeking, so that by the time they enter treatment their
AOD problem is quite severe. Childcare considerations, fear of the removal of children, and financial issues
have also been identified as barriers for women seeking treatment [1107-1109].
Women who misuse substances are more likely than men, or non-misusing women, to have experienced
sexual, physical, or emotional abuse as children, as well as domestic violence [1109-1112]. In addition, AOD
use can often lead to revictimisation via dangerous or risky situations such as unsafe sex and prostitution
[1109]. Among women engaging in AOD treatment, the rates of depression, anxiety, and personality
disorders are particularly high [1113]. Poor self-esteem and self image, high rates of suicide attempts, and
comorbid ED are also particularly common to women with AOD use issues [1114, 1115]. Because of the
high rates of trauma in female clients, often perpetrated by men, it is imperative to provide a treatment
environment in which women feel safe and secure [276]. The following strategies can be helpful in working
with female clients [276, 1108]:
• Provide the client with the option of a female AOD worker.

• If attending group therapy, offer a women-only group if possible.
• If attending rehabilitation services, offer information and/or referral to women-only AOD services.
• Ensure that treatment is gender-sensitive and addresses gender-specific issues and barriers to
treatment.
• If appropriate, consider facilitating access to childcare, which can enable female parents and
caregivers to attend treatment.
• Where appropriate, consider family inclusive practice, which incorporates the client’s family and
community relationships.
• Where appropriate, ensure sexual health and safety are incorporated into the treatment plan.
Men
In contrast to women, it is important to be aware that men may be less forthcoming with information
concerning mental health, which may affect their help-seeking behaviour. There are a number of barriers
that may prevent men accessing mental health treatment, including [1116]:
• Feeling uncomfortable and/or finding it difficult to discuss problems and feelings.

• Not wanting to appear weak, feeling embarrassed or ashamed of their distress.
• Feeling very aware of stigma associated with mental health difficulties and accessing services.
• Not recognising feelings of emotional distress.
• Having a preference to work things out for themselves.
• Not considering their mental health a high priority.
• Not being aware of available services, and/or not considering the services ‘male friendly’.
• Having a tendency to manage emotional issues through silence or avoidance.
• Preferring ‘acceptable’ male outlets such as alcohol abuse or aggression to release feelings.
Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse are highly prevalent among men accessing AOD treatment settings,
and, as with female clients, treatment should be trauma-informed, bearing in mind feelings of shame,
guilt, and powerlessness that can be the result of abuse [276]. Men are also at considerably higher risk of
completed suicide than women, and are more likely to choose lethal means for suicide attempts, which
highlights the need for risk assessments (see Chapter B3) [276]. There are also strong associations between

AOD use (alcohol in particular) and violence, and it is important for treatment to address AOD-related
violence, including family and domestic violence. Where appropriate, anger management strategies should
be integrated into treatment [276].
Coerced clients
Clients may be coerced into treatment through a variety of channels; for instance, through the judicial
system, via family and friends, schools or workplaces, or through child protection or other services.
However, AOD workers should not assume treatment will be ineffective as a result [1117]. In fact, coercion
into treatment may present an opportunity which the client may never have previously considered, and
evidence suggests that some individuals who have been legally coerced to participate in treatment stay
in treatment longer and do equally as well, or better than, people not under legal coercion [1118]. It is
important for the AOD worker to present it as a positive opportunity from which the client may experience
some benefit. A positive attitude on behalf of the AOD worker and efforts in engaging a coerced client are
key to a productive outcome. The role of educational and motivational interventions may require more
attention.
Nevertheless, there are some special considerations that AOD workers ought to be aware of when dealing
with coerced clients. First, confidentiality may be complicated and needs to be clarified from the outset of
treatment, both with the referrer and the client. Open communication is required regarding the boundaries,
rights and obligations concerning confidentiality, and these should be clarified prior to the commencement
of treatment [276]. Similarly, conflicts of interest between the views of the AOD worker and the conditions
under which the client accesses treatment may arise and should be addressed [96, 1087].
Harm reduction is also an important consideration when dealing with coerced clients [276]. This may often
be a more satisfactory goal for clients but court orders and familial requests are likely to be based on an
expectation of abstinence [96]. The AOD worker, however, can play an important role in clarifying what
the realistic goals are for each client. Often, a lack of knowledge and understanding of dependence and
treatment results in unrealistic expectations, particularly in relation to the opioid treatment program (i.e.,
methadone and buprenorphine substitution) and the need to be abstinent from all drugs.
Coerced clients may be accessing treatment services for the first time, or may be accessing a different
type of service. This provides the opportunity for a thorough assessment which may identify previously
undiagnosed comorbid disorders, and presents an opportunity for treatment. AOD workers should focus
on building a therapeutic relationship, and avoid overly intrusive questions that might be perceived as
judgemental [276]. Barber [1119] suggests that in cases of coercion the worker should adopt a negotiation or
mediation role and follow six steps in this process. These steps are:
• Clear the air with the client (including a positive attitude and efforts with engagement).
• Identify legitimate client interests.
• Identify non-negotiable aspects of intervention.
• Identify negotiable aspects of intervention.
• Negotiate the case plan.
• Agree on criteria for progress.
When working with justice health specifically, appropriate referrals and consultation with corrective
services need to take place. A client being released from custody should be reviewed to ensure that he/
she has all medications post-release and that he/she is aware of services, referred to and accepted by
service providers where necessary [1120].

Young people
Young people are a severely at-risk population, with at least five of the top 10 causes of disability-adjusted
life-years directly related to mental health or AOD use disorders [1121]. Young people are commonly
undertreated [62, 1122], with one study reporting that although more than one-quarter of Australians aged
between 16–24 years experienced a 12-month mental disorder, less than 25% accessed health services in a
12-month period [1123].
Comorbidity across disorders is common [42, 269, 1124-1126]. A number of epidemiological studies and
government initiatives have identified adolescents and young adults as a group at risk for comorbid AOD
and mental health conditions [42, 67, 1127-1131]. The US National Comorbidity Survey reported that the co-
occurrence of AOD use disorders and mental illness was highest amongst those aged 15–24 years [1132].
In addition, the Australian National Comorbidity Project [109] identified young people as being at increased
risk of poor treatment outcomes and social disadvantage as a result of having comorbid AOD and mental
health conditions [1133]. A review of community studies of adolescent AOD use, abuse, and dependence
revealed that 60% of children and youth with an AOD use disorder had a comorbid diagnosis, with conduct
disorder and oppositional defiant disorder the most common, followed by depression [1130].
An Australian study among substance-abusing youth (aged 16–22 years) attending community drug
treatment services found high rates of lifetime and current mental health disorders (69% and 50%,
respectively) [67]. Almost half the sample (49%) fulfilled criteria for a current mood or anxiety disorder,
and this was more pronounced in female participants (61%). Rates of major depression and PTSD were
particularly high, and were both associated with significant morbidity. Not only does research suggest that
there is an increased prevalence of comorbidity among young people but there is evidence to suggest that
adolescents with AOD and co-occurring mood and anxiety disorders also display greater severity of AOD
use and associated problems, including increased disability and suicidal behaviour, and reduced academic
performance and social abilities [1134-1139].
Adolescence and young adulthood can be a difficult, turbulent time for many people, with issues of
change, development, identity formation, experimentation, rebellion, and uncertainty impacting upon
an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviour [276]. Thus, it is a vulnerable time for mental health and
substance use. It is also often the time in which the first presentations of psychosis and symptoms of
depression and anxiety emerge [402]. It should be noted that the presentation of mental illness may be
different in young people compared to adults. For example, children who have experienced trauma may
not have a sense of reliving the trauma, but rather they may engage in repetitive play activities that re-
enact the event. AOD workers who work with children or adolescents should refer to the DSM-5 [24] and be
aware of possible variations of symptom expression.
It is important to recognise that AOD and mental health conditions take place in different physical,
attitudinal, psychological, and social contexts for young people, and treatment needs to be tailored
accordingly [94, 1140]. For instance, treatment should be ‘youth friendly’ and include follow-up for missed
appointments, ease of access, prompt screening and assessment, drop-in capability, flexibility, strong links
to other relevant agencies to ensure holistic treatment, and interventions that recognise different cognitive
capacities and developmental/maturational lags [402]. AOD workers may need to modify the treatment
process to avoid client distraction and rebellion (e.g., creating a more active and informal environment) and
place special emphasis on engagement (patience and skill is required in addition to the use of appropriate
language and questioning and relating to young people on their level).
In regards to confidentiality, most young people would be considered to be ‘mature minors’ by the age of
around 14 or 15 years. In this case there is no obligation to provide information to the parents unless other
legal and reporting constraints operate, and confidentiality must be respected [276]. In most circumstances,

however, it is helpful to involve families (especially parents or carers) and this should be discussed with the
young person at the outset of treatment and his/her consent for involvement sought. Parents and carers
may require support, education, and empowerment in order to assist with continued care and help prevent
client relapse upon discharge [297, 1141].
It may be particularly useful to provide young clients with practical and concrete strategies concerning
mental health and AOD use (particularly relapse prevention and urge control). For instance, a behavioural
treatment program consisting of stimulus control, urge control, social contracting, problem solving,
relationship enhancement, anger management, and communication skills training has been shown to be
particularly effective in continued abstinence in adolescents with AOD issues [1142], while cognitive and
behavioural therapies have indicated positive outcomes for mental health disorders [1143-1146]. Towers
[1147] argues that it is unrealistic to expect many young people to completely cease using all substances
and engaging in other risk-taking behaviours (such as driving at high speeds, promiscuity), at least initially.
Therefore, it is particularly important to include harm reduction strategies when working with young people.
As young people are fundamentally different from adults in ways that are likely to affect treatment
utilisation, adherence, and outcomes [1148-1151], it would be inappropriate to simply replicate adult-
focused treatment for young people. Rather, this group requires specialised treatment, focused on meeting
developmental and engagement needs. These should include [98, 402]:
• Youth-friendly approach.
• Follow-up for missed appointments.
• Focus on accessibility.
• Prompt screening and assessment.
• ‘Drop-in’ capacity.
• Flexibility.
• Strong links with other services, and provision of coordinated care (see Chapter B4).
• Treatments that reflect different cognitive capabilities and developmental differences.
E-health interventions, described in Chapter B5, may be particularly useful for this population [98, 1152-
1155]. AOD workers should also be aware that it may take longer to establish rapport and trust within
therapy, and adopting a more flexible approach (e.g., consider working outside traditional treatment
settings, by talking and playing pool or going to a café), may help build rapport [276].
Older people
The world’s population is ageing rapidly, with the proportion of adults aged over 60 years expected
to double from around 605 million to 2 billion people between 2000 and 2050 [1156]. Increased life
expectancy, better health care and decreased infant mortality across Australia are contributing to the
increasing proportion of older people in the Australian community, and there is a need for AOD workers to
be aware of the presentation and management of comorbid mental health disorders among older people,
and how these differ from younger populations [277].
More than 20% of adults aged over 60 years have a mental health or neurological condition, the most
common of which are dementia and depression, and one-in-four deaths from self-harm are among this
age group [1156]. However, mental illness is often difficult to identify due to comorbidity with physical
health problems, injuries, and disabilities. Older people may have many contributing risk factors for mental
illness, including bereavement, loss of social roles due to ill health or retirement, social isolation, financial
difficulties, diminishing cognitive function, and reduced capacity to self-care and manage their affairs
[277]. Depression and suicide are also easily overlooked among older adults, and people who are socially
isolated without supportive networks are at particular risk [277].

Similarly, AOD and mental health conditions are often overlooked or misdiagnosed among older adults,
who are uniquely at risk of AOD-related harms. The ageing process can enhance the brain’s sensitivity to
adverse effects of AOD use [1157], and older adults are significantly more likely to be prescribed medication
with abuse potential, with one-in-four adults prescribed psychoactive medication [1158]. This is particularly
problematic for people with dementia or cognitive impairment, and specialised medical practitioners in
mental health services for older people need to maintain a proactive role in reviewing medications and
advising appropriate prescribing practices for older people [277]. Other factors that may contribute to the
increased risk of AOD use problems in older adults include [1159]:
• Reduced capacity to metabolise, distribute, and eliminate drugs; as such, the risk of AOD-related harm
may increase if AOD use is not reduced as a person becomes older.
• An increase in disposable income, which may increase AOD consumption and associated problems.
• Life changes including new patterns of socialising, retirement, bereavement, and social isolation.
• More medications available for a range of conditions, which may be a contributing factor in the
increased use of psychoactive substances.
• Opioids and hypnotic sedatives are increasingly used by older Australians, which can be harmful when
used with other substances (e.g., alcohol).
• Increased use of opioid substitution programs, needle and syringe programs, and treatments for blood-
borne viruses has prevented many premature AOD-related deaths, and, as a result, many long-term
illicit drug users survive into older age and thus require ongoing treatment.
In general, older adults may be less likely to seek help for comorbid mental health and AOD use disorders
[1160]. Several barriers that may prevent older adults from accessing treatment include [1161]:
• Transport, mobility, language, visual, or hearing difficulties, particularly for those who are frail or
housebound, in rural or remote areas.
• Social isolation.
• Lack of time – older people may have other time commitments, including the need to care for others
(e.g., spouse, friends, or grandchildren).
• The unappealing and unwelcoming nature of mixed-age clinical services, which older people may find
chaotic.
• Ageism, negative stereotypes, attributing problems to the aging process.
• A lack of awareness about mental health and AOD use problems among older people
• Reluctance to ask older people sensitive questions that may be embarrassing.
• The perception that older people are too old to change their behaviour.
• The belief that it is wrong to ‘deprive’ older people from their final pleasures in life.
• Inability to identify symptoms of AOD and mental health conditions in older people.
• Social isolation which can result in serious problems going undetected.
It is critical to be aware that older adults with comorbid mental health and AOD disorders are not a
homogenous group, and AOD workers and other health care providers will play a vital role in ensuring
access to interventions. The following may be useful for AOD workers managing and treating older adults
[1161]:
• Ensure AOD programs are age-specific, supportive, non-confrontational, aim to build self-esteem and
foster an environment of respect.
• Ensure risk assessments are conducted (see Chapter B3), and depression, loneliness, and loss are
addressed. Assist the client to take steps to rebuild their social networks.
• Be flexible and conduct sessions at an appropriate pace.
• Where appropriate, involve families and carers.
• With the client’s consent, involve staff members who are interested and experienced in working with
older adults.

• Practise care coordination (see Chapter B4), and take care to foster links with medical, aging, and other
relevant services. Be proactive with follow-up and care coordination.
• Take a holistic approach to treatment (see Chapter B1), and incorporate age-specific psychological,
social, and health problems.

Appendices
Appendices
Appendix A: Other guidelines
Other Australian guidelines
Australian Department of Health and Ageing. (2007). Alcohol treatment guidelines for Indigenous
Australians. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
http://remoteaod.com.au/sites/default/files/images/alc-treat-guide-indig%5B1%5D.pdf
Australian General Practice Network. (2007). Management of patients with psychostimulant use
problems: Guidelines for general practitioners. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Department
of Health and Ageing.
http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/publishing.nsf/
Content/9BFD29DFA6DE474CA2575B4001353B2/$File/psygp07.pdf
Cash, R. & Philactides, A. (2006). Clinical treatment guidelines for alcohol and drug clinicians. No. 14: Co-
occurring acquired brain injury/cognitive impairment and alcohol and other drug use disorders. Fitzroy,
Australia: Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre Inc.
https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/
Crane, P., Buckley, J., & Francis, C. (2012). Youth alcohol and drug good practice guide 1: A framework for
youth alcohol and other drug practice. Brisbane, Australia: Dovetail.
http://dovetail.org.au/media/40155/dovetail_guide01doutput.pdf
Croton, G. (2007). Screening for and assessment of co-occurring substance use and mental health
disorders by alcohol and other drug and mental health services. Wangaratta, Australia: Victorian Dual
Diagnosis Initiative Advisory Group.
http://www.nada.org.au/media/14706/vddi_screening.pdf
Encompass Family and Community. (2014). Youth alcohol and drug practice guide 4: Learning from each
other: Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. Brisbane, Australia: Dovetail.
http://dovetail.org.au/media/101008/guide%2004%20learning%20from%20each%20other.pdf
Gordon, A. (2009). Comorbidity of mental disorders and substance use: A brief guide for the primary
care clinician. Canberra, Australia: Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.
www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/Publishing.nsf/content/
FE16C454A782A8AFCA2575BE002044D0/$File/mono71.pdf
Jenner, L., Baker, A., Whyte, I., & Carr, V. (2004). Psychostimulants: Management of acute behavioural
disturbances: Guidelines for police services. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Department of
Health and Ageing.
http://nceta.flinders.edu.au/files/2514/3130/6038/Guidelines_for_Police_Services.pdf
Appendices 205
Other Australian guidelines (continued)
Jenner, L. & Lee, N. (2008). Treatment approaches to users of methamphetamine: A practical guide for
front line workers. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/Publishing.nsf/
content/8D2E281FAC2346BBCA25764D007D2D3A/$File/tremeth.pdf
Lee, K., Freeburn, B., Ella, S., Miller, W., Perry, J., & Conigrave, K. (2012). Handbook for Aboriginal alcohol
and other drug work. Sydney, Australia: University of Sydney.
http://nceta.flinders.edu.au/files/1613/5847/3861/handbook_online-version2.pdf
Marsh, A., Dale, A. & Willis, L., O’Toole, S., & Helffott, S. (2013). Counselling guidelines: Alcohol and other
drug issues. Perth, Australia: Drug and Alcohol Office.
http://remoteaod.com.au/sites/default/files/images/Counselling%2BGuidelines%2B2013.pdf
Marsh, A., Towers, T. & O’Toole, S. (2012). Trauma-informed treatment guide for working with women
with alcohol and other drug issues (2nd edition). Perth, Australia: Improving Services for Women with
Drug and Alcohol and Mental Health Issues and their Children Project.
McIver, C., McGregor, C., Baigent, M., Spain, D., Newcombe D. & Ali, R. (2006). Guidelines for the medical
management of patients with methamphetamine-induced psychosis. Parkside, Australia: Drug and
Alcohol Services South Australia.
https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/cbad29804178755b94d1ff67a94f09f9/
Guidelines+methamphetamine-induced+psychosis-DASSA-Oct2013.
pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=cbad29804178755b94d1ff67a94f09f9
Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies. (2015). NADA practice resource for women engaged in
in alcohol or other drug treatment. Sydney, Australia: Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies.
http://www.nada.org.au/media/75320/working_with_women_engaged_in_aod_treatment.pdf
NSW Health Department. (2009). NSW clinical guidelines for the care of persons with comorbid mental
illness and substance use disorders in acute care settings. Sydney, Australia: NSW Department of
Health.
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mhdao/programs/mh/Publications/comorbidity-report.pdf
NSW Department of Health. (2007). Mental health reference resource for drug and alcohol workers.
http://www.nada.org.au/media/8033/mhrr.pdf
NSW Department of Health. (2008). NSW Health drug and alcohol psychosocial interventions. Sydney,
Australia: NSW Department of Health.
www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/gl/2008/pdf/GL2008_009.pdf.
206 Appendices
Other Australian guidelines (continued)
NSW Department of Health. (2015). Guidelines to consumer participation in NSW drug and alcohol
services. North Sydney, Australia: NSW Department of Health.
http://www0.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/gl/2015/pdf/GL2015_006.pdf
Victorian Dual Diagnosis Initiative. (2012). Our healing ways: Putting wisdom into practice: Working with
co-existing mental health and drug and alcohol issues: Aboriginal way. Melbourne, Australia: Victorian
Dual Diagnosis Initiative Education and Training Unit.
http://nceta.flinders.edu.au/files/8113/5847/3546/Healing_Ways_Manual.pdf
Western Australian Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies. (2011). Healthy eating for wellbeing: A
nutrition guide for alcohol and other drug agency workers. Perth, Australia: Western Australian Network
of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies.
http://www.wanada.org.au/Download-document/496-Healthy-Eating-for-Wellbeing-A-Nutrition-
Guide-for-Alcohol-Other-Drug-Agency-Workers.html
Winstock, A. & Molan, J. (2007). The patient journey: KIT2: Supporting GPs to manage comorbidity in the
community. Sydney, Australia: NSW Department of Health.
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mhdao/Documents/pj-kit2.pdf
Appendices 207
Appendix B: Other useful resources
Other useful resources
Back, S., Foa, E., Killeen, T., Mills, K.L., Teesson, M., Cotton, B.D., Carroll, K.M., Brady, K.T. (2015). Concurrent treatment
of PTSD and substance use disorders using prolonged exposure (COPE): Therapist guide. Oxford, UK: Oxford
University Press.
Baker, A., Kay-Lambkin, F., Lee, N. K., Claire, M. & Jenner, L. (2003). A brief cognitive behavioural intervention for
regular amphetamine users. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Baker, A. & Velleman, R. (2007). Clinical handbook of co-existing mental health and drug and alcohol problems.
London, UK: Routledge.
Clancy, R. & Terry, M. (2007). Psychiatry and substance use: An interactive resource for clinicians working with
clients who have mental health and substance use problems [DVD-ROM]. Newcastle, Australia: NSW Health.
Graham, H. (2003). Cognitive-behavioural integrated treatment (C-BIT): A treatment manual for substance misuse in
people with severe mental health problems. Chichester, UK: Wiley.
Lee, N., Jenner, L., Kay-Lambkin, F., Hall, K., Dann, F., Roeg, S., et al. (2007). PsyCheck: Responding to mental health
issues within alcohol and drug treatment. Canberra, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.
http://www.psycheck.org.au
Mental health statement of rights and responsibilities.
http://www.mentalhealth.wa.gov.au
Miller, W. and Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change (3rd Edition). New York, NY:
Guildford Press.
Comorbidity information booklets by Mills K.L., Marel C., Baker A., Teesson M., Dore G., Kay-Lambkin F., Manns L.,
Trimingham T. (2011). Sydney, Australia: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.
• Anxiety and substance use.

• Mood and substance use.
• Trauma and substance use.
• Psychosis and substance use.
• Personality and substance use.
http://www.comorbidity.edu.au
National practice standards for the mental health workforce.
http://www.health.gov.au/
National practice standards for social workers.
http://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/4551
Reilly, P. M. & Shopshire, M. S. (2002). Anger management for substance abuse and mental health clients: A
cognitive behavioural therapy manual. Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services.
208 Appendices
Other useful resources (continued)
Agency Name Contact Service
Alcohol and other www.adca.org.au The peak, national, non-government

Drugs Council of organisation (NGO) representing the
Australia (ADCA) interests of the Australian AOD sector,
provides a number of useful resources.
Alcohol, Tobacco, www.atoda.org.au Peak body representing government and

and Other Drug non-government alcohol and other drug
Association ACT sector in the Australian Capital Territory.
(ATODA)
Alcohol, Tobacco www.atdc.org.au The peak body representing the NGO, not-
and Other for-profit Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug
Drugs Council (ATOD) sector in Tasmania.
of Tasmania Inc
(ATDC)
Association of www.aadant.org.au Peak body for the alcohol and other drug
Alcohol and Other sector in the Northern Territory.
Drug Agencies NT
(AADANT)
Australian www.aasw.asn.au Professional body for social workers in

Association of Australia.
Social Workers
(AASW)
Australian Drug www.adf.org.au Information on drugs and services.

Foundation
(ADF)
Australian Drug www.adin.com.au Search directory for information on alcohol

Information and other drugs and mental health.
Network (ADIN)
Australian www.aodknowledgecentre.net.au Alcohol and other drugs information

Indigenous resource for Aboriginal communities.
Alcohol and Other
Drugs Knowledge
Centre
Australian www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au Information and resources for Indigenous

Indigenous health.
HealthInfoNet
Australasian www.apsad.org.au Professional body for individuals working in

Professional the alcohol and other drugs field.
Society on Alcohol
and Other Drugs
(APSAD)
Appendices 209
Australian www.psychology.org.au Professional body for psychologists in

Psychological Australia.
Society (APS)
Australian www.atca.com.au Peak body representing therapeutic

Therapeutic communities in Australia.
Communities
Association
(ATCA)
Beyond Blue www.beyondblue.org.au A national, independent, not-for-profit

organisation working to address issues
associated with depression, anxiety and
related substance misuse disorders in
Australia.
Black Dog www.blackdoginstitute.org.au A not-for-profit research, education, and

Institute training institute with expertise in diagnosis,
treatment, and prevention of mood
disorders.
DepNet www.depnet.com.au Depression website offering help, support

and emergency contacts for mental illness
Drug and Alcohol www.damec.org.au Non-government organisation providing

Multicultural support, education, research, and training
Education Centre about drug and alcohol issues for CALD
(DAMEC) groups in NSW.
Drug and Alcohol www.danaonline.org Peak body representing alcohol and other
Nurses of drug nursing in Australia.
Australia (DANA)
DrugNet www.drugnet.bizland.com Useful drug education website.
Dual diagnosis www.dualdiagnosis.org.au/home An online community of people interested

Australia and NZ in contributing to better outcomes for
persons with co-occurring substance use
and mental health disorders.
eheadspace www.eheadspace.org.au Online and telephone support service for

young people experiencing mental health
issues.
Family Drug 1300 368 186 Assists families throughout Australia to

Support Australia www.fds.org.au deal with drug issues and achieves positive
outcomes.
210 Appendices
GROW Fellowship 1800 558 268 A 12-step fellowship for people

www.grow.net.au experiencing mental illness. Services
include meetings across Australia and a
residential service in Australia.
Headspace www.headspace.org.au A government-funded youth mental health

information site.
Hepatitis Australia 1300 437 222 The peak, national, non-government

and the National organization (NGO) representing the
Hepatitis Infoline http://www.hepatitisaustralia.com interests of the Australian viral hepatitis
community sector, provides a number of
useful resources and referrals to state-
based organisations.
Homelessness www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au Peak body for homelessness in Australia.

Australia
Mental Health www.mentalhealth.org.au Non-government organisation promoting

Association QLD awareness of mental health and advocating
for the welfare of people with mental illness
in QLD.
Mental Health www.mhaustralia.org The peak, national NGO representing and

Australia promoting the interests of the Australian
mental health sector.
Mental Health www.mhcsa.org.au The peak body promoting the interests of

Coalition of South non-government organisations supporting
Australia people with a psychiatric disability in SA.
Mental Health www.mhccact.org.au/cms/index.php The peak body representing the non-profit

Community community mental health sector in the ACT.
Coalition ACT
(MHCC ACT)
Mental Health www.mhcc.org.au The peak body for community mental

Coordinating health organisations in NSW.
Council (MHCC)
Mental Health www.mhct.org The peak body representing the interests of

Council of non-government mental health consumer
Tasmania (MHCT) organisations, carer organisations and
service provider organisations.
Mental Health www.mhfa.com.au Provides evidenced-based mental health

First Aid first aid education to all.
Appendices 211
MoodGYM www.moodgym.anu.edu.au A CBT self-help training program for

depression.
Motivational www.motivationalinterview.net Motivational interviewing education.

Interviewing
National http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication- A review of data collections relating to

Comorbidity detail/?id=6442467722 people with coexisting substance use and
Initiative mental health disorders.
Network of www.nada.org.au A peak organisation for the alcohol and

Alcohol and Drug drug non-government sector throughout
Agencies Inc NSW.
(NADA)
Northern Territory http://www.ntcoss.org.au/ The peak body for the social and
Council of Social community sector in the Northern Territory.
Service (NTCOSS)
NT Mental Health http://www.ntmhc.org.au The peak body representing the

Coalition community-based mental health sector in
the NT.
Psychiatric www.vicserv.org.au The peak body for community managed

Disability Services mental health services in Victoria.
of Victoria
(VICSERV) Inc
Psychiatry Online: http://dsm.psychiatryonline. An online resource for the DSM-5.

DSM-5 library org/doi/book/10.1176/appi.
books.9780890425596
Queensland www.qnada.org.au The peak organisation for non-government

Network of alcohol and drug agencies throughout
Alcohol and other Queensland.
Drugs Agencies
(QNADA)
ReachOut! au.reachout.com An online service providing information and

referrals to young people with a variety of
problems including AOD and mental health
problems.
ReachOutPro au.professionals.reachout.com Online resource for youth mental health and

AOD workers.
SMART recovery www.smartrecovery.org/australia_ A peer-managed self-help group that assists

Australia website/index.htm recovery from AOD dependencies.
Society for Mental www.smhr.org.au National body for individuals engaged in

Health Research research relating to mental health
(SMHR)
212 Appendices
Somazone www.somazone.com.au Develops, collects and disseminates information

on promotion of mental health, prevention of
mental disorder, early intervention in mental
illness, and suicide prevention.
South Australian www.sandas.org.au The peak body for non-government

Network of Drug organisations working in the AOD field in South
and Alcohol Australia.
Services (SANDAS)
The Mental Health www.themhs.org Learning network aimed at improving mental

Services (TheMHS) health services in Australia and New Zealand.
Victorian Alcohol www.vaada.org.au The peak body representing AOD services in

and Drug Victoria.
Association Inc.
(VAADA)
Western Australian www.waamh.org.au The peak mental health representative body in

Association for Western Australia for non-government non-
Mental Health profit agencies.
(WAAMH)
Western Australian www.wanada.org.au The peak body for the non-profit AOD sector in
Network of Western Australia.
Alcohol and Other
Drug Agencies
(WANADA)
Ybblue www.beyondblue.org.au/ybblue Aims to aid young people (as well as their family
and friends) in talking about and seeking help for
depression.
Youth Coalition for www.youthcoalition.net The peak youth affairs body in the ACT and
the ACT responsible for representing the interests of
people aged between 12–25 years of age, and
those who work with them.
Appendices 213
Appendix C: Research and information organisations
Australian Centre for Addiction Research www.acar.net.au
Australian Drug Foundation www.adf.org.au
Australian Hepatitis Council www.hepatitisaustralia.com
Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League www.aivl.org.au
Australian Institute of Criminology www.aic.gov.au
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare www.aihw.gov.au
Burnet Institute www.burnet.edu.au
Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety www.carrsq.qut.edu.au
Centre for Research Excellence in Mental Health www.comorbidity.edu.au

and Substance Use
Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health www.crrmh.com.au
Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research www.cysar.health.uq.eu.au
Community Mental Health Drug and Alcohol www.cmhdaresearchnetwork.com.au

Research Network
Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia www.dassa.sa.gov.au
Hunter Institute of Mental Health www.himh.org.au
Illawarra Institute for Mental Health www.socialsciences.uow.edu.au/iimh
Menzies School of Health Research www.menzies.edu.au
National Cannabis Prevention and Information www.ncpic.org.au

Centre
National Centre for Education and Training in www.nceta.flinders.edu.au

Addiction
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre www.ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au
National Drug Research Institute www.ndri.curtin.edu.au
National Health and Medical Research Council www.nhmrc.gov.au
ORYGEN Youth Health www.orygen.org.au
Phoenix Australia: Centre for Posttraumatic www.phoenixaustralia.org

Mental Health
Queensland Alcohol and Drug Research and www.sph.uq.edu.au/qadrec

Education Centre
214 Appendices
Appendix C: Research and information organisations
(continued)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services www.samhsa.gov
Administration, US
Telethon Kids Institute www.telethonkids.org.au
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research www.ichr.uwa.edu.au
The Australia Institute www.tai.org.au
The Kirby Institute www.kirby.unsw.edu.au
The National Institute for Health and Care www.nice.org.uk

Excellence, UK
Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre www.turningpoint.org.au
Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre www.youngandwellcrc.org.au
Youth Substance Abuse Service www.ysas.org.au
Youth Support and Advocacy Service www.ysas.org.au
Appendices 215
Appendix D: DSM-5 and ICD-10 classification cross-
reference
DSM-5 disorder classification ICD-10 classification ICD-10 coding
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Disturbance of activity and inattention F90 (specifier needed)

disorder (ADHD)
Schizophrenia Schizophrenia F20.9
Schizophreniform disorder Schizophreniform F20.8
Schizoaffective disorder Schizoaffective disorders F25 (specifier needed)
Brief psychotic disorder Acute and transient psychotic F23

disorders
Delusional disorder Delusional disorder F22
Bipolar I disorder Bipolar affective disorder F31 (specifier needed)
Bipolar II disorder Bipolar II disorder F31.8
Cyclothymic disorder Cyclothymia F34.0
Major depressive disorder Depressive episode F32 (specifier needed)
Dysthymic disorder Dysthymia F34.1
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder Premenstrual tension syndrome N94.3
Generalised anxiety disorder Generalised anxiety disorder F41.1

(GAD)
Panic disorder Panic disorder (episodic paroxysmal F41.0

anxiety)
Agoraphobia Agoraphobia F40.0
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) Social phobias F40.1
Specific phobia Specific phobias F40.2 (specifier

needed)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder Obsessive-compulsive disorder F42

(OCD)
Post traumatic stress disorder Post traumatic stress disorder F43.1

(PTSD)
Acute stress disorder Acute stress reaction F43.0
Avoidant/restrictive food intake Other eating disorders F50.8

disorder
216 Appendices
Appendix D: DSM-5 and ICD-10 classification cross-
reference (continued)
DSM-5 disorder classification ICD-10 classification ICD-10 coding
Anorexia nervosa Anorexia nervosa F50.0 (specifier

needed)
Binge eating disorder Other eating disorders F50.8
Antisocial personality disorder Dissocial personality disorder F60.2

(ASPD)
Borderline personality disorder Emotionally unstable personality F60.3

(BPD) disorder
Appendices 217
Appendix E: Motivational interviewing
A useful tool in AOD client management is motivational interviewing (MI), irrespective of whether the
client suffers co-occurring mental health conditions. MI can be beneficial for clients with comorbidity by
increasing treatment motivation, adherence and behaviour change [528, 1162-1165], although it may not
prove effective in all cases [1166]. A number of useful resources for MI are given in Appendix B, including
Miller and Rollnick [389], Baker and Velleman [1167], and Clancy and Terry [296] from which this section
draws upon.
MI is a directive, non-confrontational, client-centred counselling strategy aimed at increasing a person’s

motivation to change. This strategy assumes equity in the client-AOD worker relationship and emphasises a
client’s right to define his/her problems and choose his/her own solutions. It is, in this sense, a counselling
style based on collaboration rather than confrontation, evocation rather than education and autonomy
instead of authority, as opposed to a set of techniques [388].
Principles of MI include:
• Avoid argumentation. Confrontation is unhelpful to change and is likely to increase resistance.

• Express empathy, warmth, and genuineness in order to facilitate engagement and build rapport.
• Support self-efficacy. Build confidence that change is possible.
• Roll with resistance. Arguing, interrupting, negating and ignoring are signs a client is resistant to
change.
• Develop discrepancy. Generate inconsistency between how the client sees his/her current situation
and how he/she would like it to be. This strategy is based on the notion that discomfort motivates
change and internal inconsistency or ambivalence is a cause of human discomfort.
Thus MI aims to rouse feelings of ambivalence and discomfort surrounding current behaviour in order
to motivate change. In the first two editions of MI, Miller and Rollnick conceptualised MI as having two
phases: building motivation (Phase 1) and consolidating commitment (Phase 2). In the current (third) edition
however, the sequential phases of MI have been relaxed, and reconceptualised as four overlapping
processes (Figure 18, Table 50) [389]:
• Engaging: the establishment of a meaningful connection and therapeutic relationship between the
client and AOD worker, and is a prerequisite for everything that follows.
• Focusing: the development and maintenance of a specific direction in conversation about change.
• Evoking: the elicitation of the client’s own motivations for change, which has always been at the heart
of MI. It can be achieved when there is a focus on a particular change and the client’s own ideas and
feelings about how to achieve it are harnessed (i.e., the client talks themselves into changing).
• Planning: involves developing commitment to change and formulating a specific plan of action. It is
often the point where a client begins to talk about when and how to change, as opposed to whether
and why.
Figure 18: Four processes of MI
Planning
Evoking
Focusing
Engaging
Source: Miller and Rollnick [389].
218 Appendices
Table 50: Questions regarding each MI process
Engaging
• How comfortable is the client talking with you?

• How supportive/helpful are you being?
• Does this feel like a supportive/collaborative partnership?
Focusing
• What goals for change does the client really have?

• Are you working together with a common purpose?
• Does it feel like you’re moving together or in opposing directions?
Evoking
• What are the client’s own reasons for change?

• Is the reluctance about confidence or importance of change?
• Are you pushing the client too far or too quickly in a particular direction?
Planning
• What would be a reasonable next step towards change?

• Are you remembering to evoke rather than prescribe a plan?
• Are you offering advice or information with permission?
Source: Miller and Rollnick [389].
Core communication skills

Miller and Rollnick [389] identify five core communication skills that are used throughout the different
processes of MI:
• Asking open questions.

• Affirming.
• Reflective listening.
• Summarising.
• Informing and advising.
Asking open questions
This technique involves a questioning method that does not invite short answers; this increases information
flow and trust, and invites the client to reflect and elaborate. In the engaging and focusing processes
of MI, open questions help the AOD worker understand the client’s frame of mind, find a clear direction
for change, and strengthen the relationship between client and AOD worker [389]. Certain kinds of open
questions are particularly suited to the different processes involved in MI (e.g., engaging, evoking). AOD
may also find the range of open questions provided in Table 51 useful [402], which have been grouped
according to the stages of change model [292]. The goal of these questions is to elicit self-motivational
statements from the client [402].
In clients displaying symptoms of co-occurring mental health conditions, these questions should be
simplified. Compound questioning (two questions in one sentence) should be avoided [1168].
Appendices 219
Affirming
The client, rather than the AOD worker, produces change in MI, and as such, the process of MI relies on the
client’s own personal strengths, efforts and resources. Affirmation can be general (the AOD worker respects
the client as a person of worth, who has the capacity for growth, change, and the choice about whether
to do so), and specific (recognition of the client’s strengths, abilities, intentions, and efforts) [389]. Affirming
involves accentuating the positive (rather than attempting to produce change through making the client
feel bad) [389], with direct compliments and statements of appreciation and understanding. This helps
build rapport, self-efficacy and reinforces open exploration. In clients displaying symptoms of co-occurring
mental health conditions, this can be inspiring and build rapport enormously [1168].
Examples include [389]:
• ‘I appreciate that you took a big step in coming here today.’

• ‘That’s a great suggestion.’
• ‘Your intention was really good, even though it may not have turned out as you would have liked’.
• ‘You were discouraged this week, but you still came back. You’re persistent’.
• ‘Welcome back! It’s good to see you’.
Reflective listening
This technique involves listening to what the client is saying, forming an understanding of what the client is
talking about and then giving voice (reflecting) to that understanding. This can be a mere substitution of the
client’s words, a guess at the unspoken meaning, an observation about the client’s emotions or suggesting
the next sentence in the client’s paragraph (known as continuing the paragraph). Good reflective listening
keeps the client talking, exploring, and considering. It is also specific in the sense that the AOD worker
selects specific information on which to reflect.
The depth of reflection increases with the level of the AOD worker’s experience and expertise. Simple
reflections can be useful, but can sometimes lead to slower progress if the AOD worker is not able to add
complexity and depth by interpreting the spoken and unspoken content, anticipating what may come next
[389]. Some examples of how to initiate reflective listening include [389]:
• ‘It sounds like you…’

• ‘And that worries you…’
• ‘You are…’
• ‘Would it be correct to say that you…’.
In clients displaying symptoms of co-occurring mental health conditions, these statements should be
simple, concise and frequent. Avoid repeated reflecting of the client’s negative statements and allow him/
her time to consider these reflections [1168].
Summarising
Summaries are useful in collating, linking and reinforcing information discussed during the interviewing
process, and offer a ‘what else’ opportunity for the client to add any information that may be missing. This
should be done often to promote meaningful relationships and contrasts between statements to enhance
motivation to change [1168]. Some examples of summarising techniques include:
• Linking – making associations between two parts of the discussion.

• Collecting – gathering a few themes from what the client has said.
• Transitioning – shifting focus from one area to another.
220 Appendices
Table 51: Example of open questions according to elicit self-motivational statements
Stage of change Self-motivational statement Open question examples
Pre-contemplation Problem recognition (e.g., ‘I guess • What things make you think that this is a problem?
there might be more of a problem that • What difficulties have you had in relation to your AOD use?
I thought’) • What difficulties have you had in relation to your mood?
• In what ways has this been a problem for you?
• How has your use of AOD stopped you from doing what you want to do?
Contemplation Expression of concern (e.g., ‘I’m • What worries do you have about your AOD use?
worried about this’) • What can you imagine happening to you?
• Tell me more about preventing a relapse to using… why is that so important to you… what is it like when you
are ill?… And how about your family – what effect did it have on them? How important are these issues to
you?
• Can you tell me some reasons why drinking or using may be a health risk? Would you be interested in
knowing more about the effects of drinking/using? How important are these issues to you?
• What would your best friend/mum say were your best qualities? Tell me, how would you describe the
things you like about yourself?... And how would you describe you the user?... How do these two things fit
together?... How important are these issues to you?
Action Intention to change (e.g., ‘This isn’t how • You seem a bit stuck at the moment. What would have to change to fix this?
I want to be’) • What would have to happen for it to become much more important for you to change?
• If you were 100% successful and things worked out exactly as you would like, what would be different?
• The fact that you are here indicates that at least a part of you thinks it is time to do something. What are the
reasons you see for making a change? What would be the advantages of making a change?
• What things make you think that you don’t need to worry about changing your AOD use?
• And what about the other side… What makes you think that it’s time to do things a bit differently?
• If you were to decide to change what might your options be?
Maintenance Optimism (e.g., ‘I think I can do this’) • What would make you more confident about making these changes?
• Are there ways you know about that have worked for others? Is there anything you found helpful in any
previous attempts to change?
• What are some of the practical things you would need to do to achieve this goal? Do they sound
achievable?
• What encourages you that you can change if you want to?
• What makes you think that if you did decide to make a change, you could do it?
Appendices
Adapted from NSW Department of Health [402].
221
Informing and advising
Although MI adopts a client centred approach, this does not mean that offering advice or information to
clients is inappropriate. There are some circumstances where it is certainly appropriate (e.g., if the client
requests information). However, MI does not involve dispensing unsolicited information in a directive style.
Instead, MI involves [389]:
• Offering information or advice with permission.

• When advice is provided, the perspective of the client is explored, particularly in terms of the relevance
of the information to them, and helping them to reach their own conclusions.
Miller and Rollnick [389] recommend using the ‘elicit-provide-elicit’ approach when exchanging information
with a client.
Elicit
• Ask permission: ‘May I…?’

• Clarify the client’s information needs and gaps: ‘What do you know about…?’, ‘Is there any information I
can help you with?’
Provide
• Prioritise: what does the client most want/need to know?

• Be clear: avoid jargon.
• Support autonomy: don’t offer too much information at once; allow the client time to reflect.
• Don’t prescribe the client’s response: acknowledge their freedom to disagree or ignore, present what
you know without interpreting its meaning for the client.
Elicit
• Ask for the client’s interpretation, understanding, or response: ask open questions, use reflection, allow
the client time to process and respond to the information.
Additional strategies
In addition to these five core communication skills, some key strategies have been developed to build
intrinsic motivation for change and resolve ambivalence. This is achieved by assisting the client to present
his/her own arguments for change in order to [389]:
• Recognise the disadvantages of current behaviour.

• Recognise the advantages of change.
• Express optimism about change.
• Express intent to change.
These strategies include:
Typical day
Often a client deems certain aspects of his/her life irrelevant to treatment or they are insignificant to the
client and overlooked and therefore not disclosed during therapy. However, knowing these things can help
a worker engage with the client. It can also provide a more holistic view of the person as well as invaluable
information concerning daily habits, significant environments, important relationships and people in the
222 Appendices
client’s life. Furthermore, this can highlight to the client aspects of his/her life that he/she had not been
aware of (e.g., ‘I hadn’t realised I was drinking that much’).
In order to attain this information it can be useful to ask the client to explain how he/she spends an average
day. Encourage the client to pick an actual day (e.g., last Wednesday) rather than what they do ‘most days’.
Allow the person to continue with as little interruption as possible. If necessary, prompt with open-ended
questions (e.g., ‘What happened then?’ or ‘How did you feel?’). Review and summarise back to the client
after he/she has finished, and clarify that you have summarised accurately.
Once you have a reasonably clear picture of how the client’s use (and any co-occurring mental health
symptoms) fits into a typical day and any current concerns, ask the client’s permission to provide feedback
from your assessment (e.g., ‘I’m getting a feel for what’s going on in your everyday life at the moment,
you’ve mentioned several things that are concerning you’).
Summarise these problem areas briefly, using those issues raised by the client in the ‘typical day’
discussion (e.g., quality of life, health, mood, drug use). When the client is providing information about their
typical day, it gives the AOD worker opportunities to ask more detail about behaviour patterns, feelings, and
mood changes. Areas of concern often emerge naturally from such discussions [389].
Decisional balance (good and not so good aspects)
This technique involves a conscious weighing up of the pros and cons of certain behaviours (e.g., drug
use). This can be used as a way of neutral counselling, where the worker is not trying to steer the client
into making one choice over another, but instead allowing the client to make their own choice about
personal change [389]. Clients are often aware of the negative aspects involved in certain behaviours but
have never consciously assessed them. The decisional balance is a frequently used motivational strategy,
particularly when clients are displaying ambivalence regarding their substance use and for when you want
to determine their stage of change in regard to their substance use.
Begin by asking questions like:
• ‘What do you like about your use of…?’

• ‘Tell me about your drug use. What do you like about it? What’s positive about using for you?’
For clients who have difficulty in articulating things they like about using, you may need to offer a menu of
options for them to choose from, although you should do this sparingly. Remember you are trying to find
out what this client likes about using, not what you think he/she might like about it! Encourage the client to
write down these good things (a useful template is included at the end of this MI summary).
Briefly summarise the good aspects of AOD use. Next, ask the client about the not-so-good things about
his/her AOD use. Try to avoid using negative words such as the ‘bad things’ or ‘problems’. The AOD worker
could ask questions such as:
• ‘So we have talked about some of the good things about using drugs, now could you tell me some of
the less good things?’
• ‘What are some of the things that you don’t like about your drug use?’
• ‘What are some of the not-so-good things about using?’
Again you may have to offer a menu of options or ask questions (based on collateral information) like ‘How
does your family feel about your using?’ but avoid suggesting that an issue should be of concern, and
do not put any value judgement on the beliefs of the client by saying something like ‘Don’t you think that
Appendices 223
getting arrested twice is a bit of a problem?’ The success of MI rests on the client’s personal exploration of
his/her AOD use, and the good and not-so-good effects that it has on him/her. Explore each element in full
with appropriate use of the core communication skills, such as the use of open questions and reflection.
Unlike the good things, the less good things need to be explored in detail. If the client claims AOD use
reduces his/her mental health symptoms, explore this in particular detail: for instance, enquire about
longer-term effects [1168]. It is important to remember you are after the client’s perspective of the less
good things. It can be useful to ask follow up questions such as:
• ‘How does this affect you?’

• ‘What don’t you like about it?’
Or ask for more detail:
• ‘Could you tell me a little more about that?’

• ‘Could you give me a recent example of when that happened?’
It can be particularly useful (especially when not-so-good aspects are not forthcoming) to explore the
other side of the positive consequences of using listed. For example, if the high was listed as an advantage,
explore the ‘come-down’ that inevitably followed and the length of this crash (which will usually have lasted
longer than the euphoria).
It is then useful to assess, through the use of a scale from 1-10, the client’s perspective of how important
an issue is. Beside each pro and con the client should rate it on the importance it holds for him/her. This
ascertains to what extent cons are a concern for the client. Many workers make the mistake of assuming
that just because the client acknowledges a not-so-good thing about AOD use, this automatically presents
a direct concern for them.
Now give a double-sided, selective summary. For example:
• ‘You said some of the things you like about using were… and then you said that there was another side
to it… you said some of the not so good things about using were…’
Skill is required here in order to emphasise the not-so-good things. It can be useful to give the client a
chance to come to his/her own conclusions, for example:
• ‘Now that you’ve gone through both sides, where does this leave you? ‘
• ‘How do you feel about your drug use now?’
If ambivalence is evident, attempt to explore the reasons that underlie this imbalance and re-establish the
initial reasons for wishing to quit/cut down. Incorporate information on health and psychological effects
of continued use. Guide the client through a rational discussion of issues involved, and carefully challenge
faulty logic or irrational beliefs about the process of quitting. Positive reinforcement and encouragement
are crucial, but if you encounter resistance from the client, do not push them.
NOTE: Use this strategy with caution for clients with high levels of anxiety or those who are not ready
to deal with the pressure of increased ambivalence. In addition, do not leave a depressed client in
psychological distress for too long after using the decisional balance strategy [1168]. Avoid using this
strategy with a client who is currently tempted to use. Distraction is a better strategy to use with someone
who is currently tempted rather than to discuss the things they like about using [296].
224 Appendices
Elaboration
Once a motivational topic has been raised, it is useful to ask the client to elaborate. This helps to reinforce
the theme and to elicit further self-motivational statements. One good way of doing this is to ask for specific
examples and for clarification as to why (how much, in what way) this is a concern.
Querying extremes
Clients can also be asked to describe the extremes of their concerns, to imagine worst consequences. This
can sometimes help when a client is expressing little desire for change. For instance you may ask:
• ‘What concerns you the most?’

• ‘What are your worst fears about what might happen if you don’t make a change?’
• ‘What do you suppose are the worst things that may happen if you keep on the way you’ve been going?’
It can also be useful to ask the client the best possible consequences that might happen after pursuing a
change (e.g., exploring the opposite extreme), such as:
• “What could be the best results if you did make the change?”
• “If you were completely successful in making the changes you want, how would things be different?”
Ask about lifestyle and stresses
This involves discussing routines and day-to-day stresses. Some questions might be:
• ‘How does your use of drugs affect your

• Mental health?
• Physical health?
• Relationships?
• Finances?’
Looking back
Sometimes it is useful to have the person remember times before the problem emerged, and to compare
this with the present situation. Ask the client what life was like ‘before’: before substance use problems;
before legal, work or relationship difficulties; before mental health problems etc. Focus on positive
memories, hopes, dreams, plans or successes the person may have once had. If the person’s history
is negative, it may still be useful to explore ‘what it was like’, not necessarily in an attempt to process
or resolve issues from that time, but primarily to understand what may have brought about the current
situation and behaviours. For example:
• ‘Do you remember a time when things were going well for you? What has changed and how?’
• ‘What were things like before you started using?’
• ‘What were you like back then? What were your plans? What has changed and why?’
• ‘How has your use of alcohol/drugs influenced things?’
The goal is for the client to obtain some perspective from the immediacy of his or her circumstance and to
observe how things have changed over time. If the client has positive views on how things were before the
problem emerged, highlighting the discrepancy between how things are currently, and the possibility of life
being better again can help motivate the client.
NOTE: In clients with symptoms of a co-occurring depressive condition, this strategy should be avoided or
used with caution [1168].
Appendices 225
Looking forward
Similarly, it can be helpful for clients to visualise the future should they embark on the change or should
they remain the same. Some questions might include:
• ‘What would you like to be doing in two years time?’

• ‘What do you think will happen if you keep using? How do you feel about that?’
• ‘If you decided to make a change, what are your hopes for the future?’
• ‘How would you like things to turn out for you?’
• ‘I can see that you’re feeling really frustrated right now… How would you like things to be different?’
• ‘What are your options at the moment?’
• ‘What would be the best results you could imagine, if you make a change?’
• ‘If you were to have a week off from your problems/symptoms, what would you do first?’
As with querying extremes, you could also ask the client to anticipate the future if no changes are made
(e.g., ‘Suppose things continue as they are now and you don’t make any changes, what will your life be
like in 5 years from now?’). The difference between looking forward and querying extremes is that in this
looking forward method, the AOD worker is asking for the client’s most realistic assessment of the future
rather than their imagined ‘extreme’ outcome.
NOTE: In clients with symptoms of a co-occurring depressive condition, this strategy should be avoided or
used with caution [1168].
Exploring goals and values
It can be useful to ask clients about their goals and what is most important to them and compare this to the
current situation. Rather than perceiving a people as unmotivated, it may be more useful to understand the
different goals and priorities [389]. Explore the ways in which the problem behaviour is inconsistent with, or
undermines important values and goals for them. When the highest or most central values and goals have
been defined, you can ask how the problem you are discussing (e.g., drinking/using) fits into this picture.
For example:
• ‘Where do you think your using fits in?’

• ‘What effect is your current behaviour likely to have on these goals and values?’
Exploring what matters most to a person can also help build rapport, and as such, this strategy can be used
in the engaging process. Exploring goals and values need not be limited to benefits that could result from a
particular change; the process can also be used to learn about the client’s priorities and life values.
Strengthening commitment
Although some people experience a specific moment in which their desire to change suddenly crystalises,
for most people this is a gradual process. As such, it is common for clients’ commitment to taking action to
fluctuate over time [389]. MI is a method of facilitating the natural growth of commitment. The AOD worker
will consolidate all issues raised by the client, and help him/her to build their commitment to change
while also planning a concrete action plan. Ambivalence will still possibly be present, and if encountered
continue the use of the strategies and microskills outlined above. It can be useful to encourage the client to
confront the idea and process of change. For example:
• Where do we go from here?’

• ‘What does everything we’ve discussed mean for your alcohol/drug use?’
• ‘How would your life be different if…?’
• ‘What can you think of that might go wrong with your plans?’
226 Appendices
Although abstinence is one possible goal, some people may not be ready to stop completely and may opt
for reduced or controlled use. In MI, the client has the ultimate responsibility for change and total freedom
of choice to determine his/her goal for treatment. The AOD worker’s role is to assist the client to determine
treatment goals and guide the realisation of those goals. Goals may often change during the course of
treatment, and an initial goal of cutting down may become a goal of abstinence as the client’s confidence
increases.
In clients with co-occurring mental health conditions, abstinence is the most appropriate goal [1168] as
mental health symptoms may be exacerbated by AOD use. In particular, those with more severe mental
disorders (or cognitive impairment) may have adverse experiences even with low levels of substance use
[54]. Those taking medications for mental health conditions (e.g., antipsychotics, antidepressants) may
also find that they become intoxicated even with low levels of AOD use due to the interaction between
the drugs. Although abstinence is favoured, many people with comorbid conditions prefer a goal of
moderation. It is possible to accept a client’s decision to use and provide harm reduction information
without condoning use.
Explore any fears or obstacles that are identified in the change process and assist the client with problem
solving for each of these. Explore any concerns with the management of withdrawal symptoms (e.g.,
irritability, insomnia, mood disturbances, lethargy, and cravings to use) if this is raised. Education and
support are essential components of getting through withdrawal.
Finally, when the client begins behaviour change, try manipulating the environment to exaggerate positive
outcomes (e.g., involve family, increase social interaction, use encouragers and compliments), particularly in
clients with co-occurring mental health conditions in order to strengthen resolve [1168].
Appendices 227
Good things & not-so-good things worksheet
Good things about current behaviour Not-so-good things about current

behaviour
Good things about change Not-so-good things about change
228 Appendices
Appendix F: Mental state examination
Name_____________________________________________________ D.O.B.______________________ Date_________________
Appearance
Physical appearance? (posture, grooming, clothing, signs of AOD use, nutritional status)
Behaviour
General behaviour? Behaviour to situation and to examiner? (angry/hostile, unco-operative, withdrawn,
inappropriate, fearful, hypervigilant)
Speech
Rate, volume, tone, quality and quantity of speech?
Language (form of thought)

Incoherence/illogical/irrelevant thinking? Amount? Rate?
Appendices 229
Mood and affect
How does the client describe his/her emotional state (mood)? What do you observe about the person’s
emotional state (affect)? Are these two consistent and appropriate?
Thought content
Delusions, suicidality, paranoia, homicidality, depressed/anxious thoughts?
Perception
Hallucinations? Depersonalisation? Derealisation?
Cognition
Level of consciousness? Attention? Memory? Orientation? Abstract thoughts? Concentration?
Insight and judgement

Awareness? Decision making?
230 Appendices
Appendix G: Integrated Motivational Assessment Tool (IMAT)
Motivation regarding AOD treatment
Preparation /
Pre-contemplation Contemplation Action Maintenance
Determination
Pre-contemplation
Contemplation
Preparation /
Determination
Action
Motivation regarding psychiatric treatment

Maintenance
Appendices
231
Source: NSW Department of Health (2007). Mental health reference resource for drug and alcohol workers. Sydney, Australia: NSW Department of Health.
Appendix H: Additional screening tools
The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) is a self-report screening instrument which detects the presence
of psychological symptoms [1169]. It has demonstrated adequate reliability and validity in both the 12- and
28-item forms, on which a client rates each statement on a four-point scale [1169, 1170]. The GHQ is easy to
administer and score and can be used by a range of health professionals; however, this instrument must be
purchased. Generally a score of 10 or more on the GHQ is considered indicative of significant psychological
distress and the presence of an underlying psychological disorder. However, it has been suggested
that approximately 75% of drug users could be expected to obtain scores of 10 or more upon entering
treatment; therefore, clients need to be reassessed after entering treatment [1014]. If the client continues to
score 10 or more, a more in-depth psychological assessment should be conducted.
The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) is a 90-item self-report questionnaire measuring

symptoms of somatisation, obsessive compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility,
phobic anxiety, paranoid thoughts, and psychoticism [1171]. It has been used with substance abuse
populations and has been found to perform better than other general measures of psychological
functioning [320]. It has also demonstrated good reliability and validity in clinical and non-clinical
populations [1172]. The scale provides scores for severity, intensity and extensiveness of symptoms and has
been shown to have superior sensitivity to competing scales [1173].
Shorter forms of the SCL-90-R have been developed, including the Brief Symptom Inventory with 53 items
and the Symptom Assessment, each of which show adequate reliability and validity [1174]. However, the
long and short forms of the SCL-90-R are copyrighted and must be purchased by registered psychologists
[1171]. There are both a pen and paper and computerised versions of the SCL-90-R. The former takes 12-15
minutes to complete, is designed for adolescents over the age of 13 years and for adults. A Year 8 reading
age is required.
The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale is an 18-item clinician-administered scale measuring a broad range
of psychiatric symptoms, as does the SCL-90-R. It has been shown to be effective in various substance
use populations [1175, 1176]. However, the reliability and validity of the scale is dependent upon clinical
expertise and specific training and therefore may be less appropriate in the AOD sector [320]. It was initially
devised as an instrument to assess the symptoms of schizophrenia on five sub-scales of thought disorder,
withdrawal, anxiety/depression, hostility and activity [1177, 1178].
The Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire consists of 132-items designed to screen for over
13 different DSM-IV-TR [23] Axis I disorders, including alcohol/drug related disorders [1179]. Reports have
found the questionnaire to have good validity and reliability along with strong sensitivity and high negative
predictive value indicating most cases are detected and most non-cases are indeed non-cases [1179, 1180].
These psychometric properties are fundamentally important in a screening instrument and suggest the
measure might have broad applicability in numerous health care settings including AOD [84].
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI or BDI-II) is a 21-item self-report instrument intended to assess the
existence and severity of symptoms of depression [1181, 1182]. Each item is ranked on a four-point scale.
The BDI-II has been shown to be a reliable and valid measure of depression particularly in substance
misusing populations [1183, 1874]. The Beck Hopelessness Scale is a 20-item scale designed to detect
negative feelings about the future and has been found to be a good predictor of suicide attempts [1185].
It has been shown to have high internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Instruments such as this can
be helpful in ongoing treatment where particular thoughts can continue to be monitored through this and
other suicidal thoughts instruments. The Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation is a 21-item scale assessing
intention to commit suicide [1186]. It has been found to be a valid predictor of admission to hospital for
suicidal intention and has high internal consistency and test-retest reliability [320]. The Beck Anxiety
232 Appendices
Inventory [1187] consists of 21 items, each describing a common symptom of anxiety. The respondent is
asked to rate how much he or she has been bothered by each symptom over the past week on a four-
point scale. The items are summed to obtain a total score that can range from 0 to 63. The Beck Anxiety
Inventory has similarly shown good reliability and validity for the measurement of anxiety symptoms,
though discriminant validity has been questioned [1187-1189]. The Beck scales are quite simple to
administer but scoring and interpretation must be supervised by a registered psychologist and the cost is
high.
The Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory also measures anxiety [1190] and requires a registered
psychologist for scoring, interpretation and the purchasing [320]. The reliability and validity are adequate
in general populations, but are unknown within the AOD sector [320, 1190]. The scale consists of 40-items,
rated on a four-point scale and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.
The Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire (TLEQ) is a 23-item self-report measure of 22 types of
potentially traumatic events including natural disasters, exposure to warfare, robbery involving a weapon,
physical abuse and being stalked [1191]. For each event, respondents are asked to provide the number of
times it occurred (ranging from ‘never’ to ‘more than 5 times’) and whether fear, helplessness or horror was
present (‘yes/no’). The TLEQ has been used successfully within substance-abusing populations. Recent
studies have suggested that the psychometric properties of this measure are adequate [1192].
The Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ) developed by Green [1193] is a 24-item self-report measure that
examines experiences with potentially traumatic events such as crime, general disaster, and sexual and
physical assault using a ‘yes/no’ format. For each event endorsed, respondents are asked to provide the
frequency of the event as well as their age at the time of the event. The THQ has demonstrated adequate
test-retest reliability.
The PTSD Symptom Scale Self-Report is a screening tool for PTSD which has been used successfully in
AOD populations [1194, 1195]. The modified version of the scale only takes 10-15 minutes to administer and
measures both frequency and severity of symptoms [1195]. The scale consists of 17 items corresponding to
17 DSM-IV-TR [23] criteria which are rated on a four-point scale of symptom presence.
The PTSD Checklist [1196] is a self-report scale where respondents rate the extent to which they
experience each of the DSM-5 PTSD key symptoms. It consists of 20 items corresponding to DSM-5
criteria, which are rated on a five-point severity scale. Whilst no studies have currently examined the
psychometric properties of the PCL for DSM-5 in AOD use disorder samples, the previous version of the
checklist for DSM-IV-TR has been shown to have good reliability and validity within AOD populations [1197,
1198]. However, it is important to note that scores on the DSM-5 version of the PCL cannot be directly
compared with scores on the DSM-IV-TR version, due to a change in the rating scale (from 1-5 to 0-4) and
an increase in the number of items (from 17 to 20). The checklist is freely available online (http://www.ptsd.
va.gov/professional/assessment/adult-sr/ptsd-checklist.asp) but access is restricted to trained clinicians.
The McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder is a 10-item measure which
requires dichotomous (yes or no) answers to questions which correspond to DSM-IV criteria for BPD [1199].
The measure has been shown to have good test-retest reliability and internal consistency [1199], as well as
good convergent and concurrent validity [1200]. Reliability and validity are also good when the measure is
used to assess BPD in young people [1201]. However, whilst the measure appears to be a feasible way of
screening for the presence of BPD symptoms, the authors recommend that the instrument should not be
used as a standalone instrument for diagnosing BPD. Instead, it should be used in conjunction with other
forms of clinical assessment [1199].
Appendices 233
Appendix I: CANSAS-P
AppendixCANSAS-P
I: CANSAS-P
– Self-rated version of the Camberwell Assessment of Need
Name:
Other identifying information (e.g., date of birth):
Date of completion:
Instructions – please tick one box in each row (22 in total)
No need = this area is not a serious problem for me at all

Met need = this area is not a serious problem for me because of help I am given
Unmet need = this area remains a serious problem for me despite any help I am given
Met need
No need
want to
answer
Unmet
I don’t
need
1. Accommodation
What kind of place do you live in? □ □ □ 
2. Food
Do you get enough to eat? □ □ □ 
3. Looking after the home
Are you able to look after your home? □ □ □ 
4. Self-care
Do you have problems keeping clean and tidy? □ □ □ 
5. Daytime activities
How do you spend your day? □ □ □ 
6. Physical health
How well do you feel physically? □ □ □ 
7. Psychotic symptoms
Do you ever hear voices or have problems with your thoughts? □ □ □ 
8. Information on condition and treatment
Have you been give clear information about your medication? □ □ □ 
9. Psychological distress
Have you recently felt very sad or low? □ □ □ 
10. Safety to self
Do you ever have thoughts of harming yourself? □ □ □ 
11. Safety to others
Do you think you could be a danger to other people’s safety? □ □ □ 
234 Appendices
No need = this area is not a serious problem for me at all
Met need = this area is not a serious problem for me because of help I am given
Unmet need = this area remains a serious problem for me despite any help I am given
Met need
No need
want to
answer
Unmet
I don’t
need
12. Alcohol
Does drinking cause you any problems? □ □ □ 
13. Drugs
Do you take any drugs that aren’t prescribed? □ □ □ 
14. Company
Are you happy with your social life? □ □ □ 
15. Intimate relationships
Do you have a partner? □ □ □ 
16. Sexual expression
How is your sex life? □ □ □ 
17. Child care
Do you have any children under 18? □ □ □ 
18. Basic education
Any difficulty in reading, writing or understanding English. □ □ □ 
19. Telephone
Do you know how to use a telephone? □ □ □ 
20. Transport
How do you find using the bus, tram or train? □ □ □ 
21. Money
How do you find budgeting your money? □ □ □ 
22. Benefits
Are you getting all the money you are entitled to? □ □ □ 
Source: Slade, M., Thornicroft, G., Loftus, L., Phelan, M., & Wykes, T. (1999). CAN: Camberwell Assessment
of Need. London, UK: Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Appendices 235
Appendix J: Kessler psychological distress scale (K10)
Name...............................................................Date...................................
For all questions, please circle the answer most commonly related to you. Questions 3 and 6 automatically
receive a score of one if the proceeding question was ‘none of the time’.
None of A little of Some of Most of All of the

In the past four weeks:
the time the time the time the time time
1. About how often did you feel tired out for no

1 2 3 4 5
good reason?
2. About how often did you feel nervous? 1 2 3 4 5
3. About how often did you feel so nervous that

1 2 3 4 5
nothing could calm you down?
4. About how often did you feel hopeless? 1 2 3 4 5
5. About how often did you feel restless or

1 2 3 4 5
fidgety?
6. About how often did you feel so restless you

1 2 3 4 5
could not sit still?
7. About how often did you feel depressed? 1 2 3 4 5
8. About how often did you feel that everything is

1 2 3 4 5
an effort?
9. About how often did you feel so sad that

1 2 3 4 5
nothing could cheer you up?
10. About how often did you feel worthless? 1 2 3 4 5
Total:
Test: Kessler, R.C. (1996). Kessler’s 10 Psychological Distress Scale. Boston, MA: Harvard Medical School.
Normative data: National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being, Australian Bureau of Statistics 1997
236 Appendices
Appendix K: The PsyCheck Screening Tool
Client’s Name: DOB:
Service: UR:
Mental health services assessment required? No Yes
Suicide/self-harm risk (please circle): High Moderate Low
Date: Screen completed by:
Clinician use only
Complete this section when all components of the PsyCheck have been administered.
Summary
Section 1 Past history of mental health problems No Yes
Section 2 Suicide risk completed and action taken No Yes
Section 3 SRQ score 0 1-4 5+
Interpretation/score – Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ)
Score of 0* on the No symptoms of depression, anxiety and/or somatic complaints

SRQ indicated at this time.
Action: Re-screen using the PsyCheck Screening Tool after

four weeks if indicated by past mental health questions or other
information. Otherwise monitor as required.
Score of 1-4* on the Some symptoms of depression, anxiety and/or somatic

SRQ complaints indicated at this time.
Action: Give the first session of the PsyCheck Intervention and

screen again in four weeks.
Score of 5+* on the Considerable symptoms of depression, anxiety and/or somatic

SRQ complaints indicated at this time.
Action: Offer sessions 1–4 of the PsyCheck Intervention.
Re-screen using the PsyCheck Screening Tool at the conclusion of four sessions.
If no improvement in scores evident after re-screening, consider referral.
Appendices 237
PsyCheck general screen
Clinician to administer this section
The following questions are about your emotional wellbeing. Your answers will help me get a clearer
idea of what has been happening in your life and suggest possible ways that we might work together to
relieve any distress you may be experiencing. We ask these questions of everybody, and they include
questions about mental, physical and emotional health.
1. Have you ever seen a doctor or psychiatrist
for emotional problems or problems with your No Yes
‘nerves’/anxieties/worries? □
Details
2. Have you ever been given medication for emotional problems or problems with your ‘nerves’/
anxieties/worries?
□ No, never
□ Yes, in the past but not currently Medication(s):
□ Yes, currently Medication(s):

3. Have you ever been hospitalised for emotional problems or problems with your ‘nerves’/anxieties/
worries? □ No □ Yes
Details
4. Do you have a current mental health worker, psychiatrist, psychologist, general practitioner or other
health provider? If ‘No’, go to Question 5.
Psychiatrist Psychologist
Name: Name:
Contact details: Contact details:
Role: Role:
Mental health worker General practitioner

Name: Name:
Role: Role:
Other – specify: Other – specify:

Name: Name:
Role: Role:
5. Has the thought of ending your life ever been No □ Yes If ‘No’, go to Section 3
on your mind?
Has that happened recently? □ No □ Yes If ‘Yes’, go to Section 2
238 Appendices
PsyCheck risk assessment
Clinician to administer this section
If the person says ‘Yes’ to recently thinking about ending his/her life (Question 5), complete the suicide/
self-harm risk assessment below. Specific questions and prompts and further guidance can be found in
the PsyCheck User’s Guide.
Risk factor Low risk Moderate risk High risk
1. Previous attempts: Consider lethality and recency of attempts. Very recent attempt(s) with moderate
lethality and previous attempts at high lethality both represent high risk. Recent and lethal attempts of
family or friends represent higher risk.
History of harm to □ Previous low lethality Moderate lethality □High lethality, frequent
self
History of harm in Previous low lethality □ Moderate lethality High lethality, frequent
family members or
close friends
2. Suicidal ideation: Consider how the suicidal ideation has been communicated; non-disclosure may not
indicate low risk. Communication of plans and intentions are indicative of high risk.
Consider non-direct and non-verbal expressions of suicidal ideation here such as drawing up of wills,
depressive body language, ‘goodbyes’, unexpected termination of therapy and relationships etc. Also
consider homicidal ideation or murder/suicide ideation.
Intent No intent □ No immediate intent □ Immediate intent
Plan □ Vague plan □ Viable plan □ Detailed plan
Means □ No means □ Means available □ Means already

obtained
Lethality □ Minor self-harm □ Planned overdose, □ Firearms, hanging,

behaviours, intervention serious cutting, jumping, intervention
likely intervention possible unlikely
3. Mental health factors: Assess for history and current mental health symptoms, including depression
and psychosis.
History of current □ Lowered or □ □ Enduring lowered □ □ Depression diagnosis
depression unchanged mood mood
Mental health □ Few or no symptoms □ Pronounced clinical □ Multiple symptoms

disorder or well-managed signs with no management
significant illness
4. Protective factors: These include social support, ability or decision to use support, family involvement,
stable lifestyle, adaptability and flexibility in personality style etc.
Coping skills and resources □ Many □ Some □ Few
Family/friendships/networks □ Many □ Some □ Few
Stable lifestyle □ Many □ Some □ Few
Ability to use supports □ Many □ Some □ Few
Appendices 239
Self reporting questionnaire (SRQ)
Client or clinician to complete this section
First: Please tick the ‘Yes’ box if you have had this symptom in the last 30 days.
Second: Look back over the questions you have ticked. For every one you answered ‘Yes’, please put a
tick in the circle if you had that problem at a time when you were NOT using alcohol or other drugs.
1. Do you often have headaches? No □ Yes è
2. Is your appetite poor? No □ Yes è
3. Do you sleep badly? No □ Yes è
4. Are you easily frightened? No □ Yes è
5. Do your hands shake? No □ Yes è
6. Do you feel nervous? No □ Yes è
7. Is your digestion poor? No □ Yes è
8. Do you have trouble thinking clearly? No □ Yes è
9. Do you feel unhappy? No □ Yes è
10. Do you cry more than usual? No □ Yes è
11. Do you find it difficult to enjoy your daily activities? No □ Yes è
12. Do you find it difficult to make decisions? No □ Yes è
13. Is your daily work suffering? No □ Yes è
14. Are you unable to play a useful part in life? No □ Yes è
15. Have you lost interest in things? No □ Yes è
16. Do you feel that you are a worthless person? No □ Yes è
17. Has the thought of ending your life been on your mind? No □ Yes è
18. Do you feel tired all the time? No □ Yes è
19. Do you have uncomfortable feelings in the stomach? No □ Yes è
20. Are you easily tired? No □ Yes è
Total Score (add circles):
Source: Lee, N., Jenner, L., Kay-Lambkin, F., Hall, K., Dann, F., Roeg, S., ... Ritter, A.. (2007).
PsyCheck: Responding to mental health issues within alcohol and drug treatment.
Canberra, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.
240 Appendices
Appendix L: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS 21)
Name: Date:
Please read each statement and circle a number 0, 1, 2 or 3 which indicates how much the statement
applied to you over the past week. There are no right or wrong answers. Do not spend too much time
on any statement.
The rating scale is as follows:
0 Did not apply to me at all

1 Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time
2 Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time
3 Applied to me very much, or most of the time
1. I found it hard to wind down 0 1 2 3

2. I was aware of dryness of my mouth 0 1 2 3
3. I couldn't seem to experience any positive feeling at all 0 1 2 3
4. I experienced breathing difficulty (e.g., excessively rapid
breathing, breathlessness in the absence of physical 0 1 2 3
exertion)
5. I found it difficult to work up the initiative to do things 0 1 2 3
6. I tended to overreact to situations 0 1 2 3
7. I experienced trembling (e.g., in the hands) 0 1 2 3
8. I felt that I was using a lot of nervous energy 0 1 2 3
9. I was worried about situations in which I might panic and
0 1 2 3
make a fool of myself
10. I felt that I had nothing to look forward to 0 1 2 3
11. I found myself getting agitated 0 1 2 3
12. I found it difficult to relax 0 1 2 3
13. I felt down-hearted and blue 0 1 2 3
14. I was intolerant of anything that kept me from getting on
0 1 2 3
with what I was doing
15. I felt I was close to panic 0 1 2 3
16. I was unable to become enthusiastic about anything 0 1 2 3
17. I felt I wasn't worth much as a person 0 1 2 3
18. I felt that I was rather touchy 0 1 2 3
19. I was aware of the action of my heart in the absence of
physical exertion (e.g., sense of heart rate increase, heart 0 1 2 3
missing a beat)
20. I felt scared without any good reason 0 1 2 3
21. I felt that life was meaningless 0 1 2 3
Source: Lovibond, S.H., & Lovibond, P.F. (1995) Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (2nd. ed).
Sydney, Australia: Psychology Foundation.
Appendices 241
DASS-21 Scoring Template
Sum scores for each scale. Multiply total for each scale by 2.
D = Depression
A = Anxiety
S = Stress
S
A
D
A
D
S
A
S
A
D
S
S
D
S
A
D
D
S
A
A
D
242 Appendices
Appendix M: The Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD)
In your life, have you ever had any experience that was so frightening, horrible, or upsetting that, in
the past month, you:
1. Have had nightmares about it or thought about it when you did not want to? No □ Yes
2. Tried hard not to think about it or went out of your way to avoid situations that
No □ Yes
reminded you of it?
3. Were constantly on guard, watchful, or easily startled? No □ Yes
4. Felt numb or detached from others, activities, or your surroundings? No □ Yes
Source: Prins, A., Ouimette, P., Kimerling, R., Cameron, R. P., Hugelshofer, D. S., Shaw-Hegwer, J., ... Sheikh, J.
I. (2004). The Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD): Development and operating characteristics.
Primary Care Psychiatry, 9, 9-14.
Appendices 243
Appendix N: Trauma Screening Questionnaire (TSQ)
Please consider the following reactions which sometimes occur after a traumatic event. This
questionnaire is concerned with your personal reactions to the traumatic event which happened
to you. Please indicate (Yes/No) whether or not you have experienced any of the following at least
twice in the past week.
1. Upsetting thoughts or memories about the event that have come into your
No □ Yes
mind against your will
2. Upsetting dreams about the event No □ Yes
3. Acting or feeling as though the event were happening again No □ Yes
4. Feeling upset by reminders of the event No □ Yes
5. Bodily reactions (such as fast heartbeat, stomach churning, sweatiness,
No □ Yes
dizziness) when reminded of the event
6. Difficulty falling or staying asleep No □ Yes
7. Irritability or outbursts of anger No □ Yes
8. Difficulty concentrating No □ Yes
9. Heightened awareness of potential dangers to yourself and others No □ Yes
10. Being jumpy or being startled at something unexpected No □ Yes
Source: Brewin, C. R., Rose, S., Andrews, B., Green, J., Tata, P., McEvedy, C., ... Foa, E. B. (2002) Brief screening
instrument for post-traumatic stress disorder. British Journal of Psychiatry, 181, 158-162.
244 Appendices
Appendix O: Psychosis Screener (PS)
1. In the past 12 months, have you felt that your thoughts were being directly
No Yes
interfered with or controlled by another person
1a. Did it come about in a way that many people would find hard to believe, for
No Yes
instance, through telepathy?
2. In the past 12 months, have you had a feeling that people were too interested
No Yes
in you?
2a. In the past 12 months, have you had a feeling that things were arranged so as
No Yes
to have a special meaning for you, or even that harm might come to you?
3. Do you have any special powers that most people lack? No Yes
3a. Do you belong to a group of people who also have these special powers? No Yes
4. Has a doctor ever told you that you may have schizophrenia? No Yes
Source: Degenhardt, L., Hall, W., Korten, A., & Jablensky, A. (2005). Use of brief screening instrument for
psychosis: Results of a ROC analysis. Technical report no. 210. Sydney, Australia: National Drug and Alcohol
Research Centre.
Appendices 245
Appendix P: Indigenous Risk Impact Screener (IRIS)
1. In the last 6 months have you needed to drink or use more to get the effects you want?
1. No 2. Yes, a bit more 3. Yes, a lot more
2. When you have cut down or stopped drinking or using drugs in the past, have you experienced any
symptoms, such as sweating, shaking, feeling sick in the tummy/vomiting, diarrhoea/runny gonna,
feeling really down or worried, problems sleeping, aches and pains?
2. Sometimes when I
1. Never 3. Yes, every time
stop
3. How often do you feel that you end up drinking or using drugs much more than you expected?
1. Never/Hardly ever 2. Once a month 3. Once a fortnight
5. More than once a
4. Once a week 6. Most days/Every day
week
4. Do you ever feel out of control with your drinking or drug use?
1. Never/Hardly ever 2. Sometimes 3. Often 4. Most days/Every day
5. How difficult would it be to stop cut down on your drinking or drug use?
1. Not difficult at all 2. Fairly easy 3. Difficult 4. I couldn’t stop or cut down
6. What time of the day do you usually start drinking or using drugs?
2. In the 3. Sometimes in the
1. At night 4. As soon as I wake up
afternoon morning
7. How often do you find that your whole day has involved drinking or using drugs?
1. Never/Hardly ever 2. Sometimes 3. Often 4. Most days/Every day
8. How often do you feel down in the dumps, sad or slack?

1. Never/Hardly ever 2. Sometimes 4. Most days/Every day
9. How often have you felt that life is hopeless?

10. How often do you feel nervous or scared?
11. Do you worry much?
12. How often do you feel restless and that you can’t sit still?
13. Do past events in your family still affect your wellbeing today (such as being taken away from
family)?
Source: Schlesinger, C. M., Ober, C., McCarthy, M. M., Watson, J. D., & Seinen, A. (2007). The development
and validation of the Indigenous Risk Impact Screen (IRIS): A 13-item screening instrument for alcohol and
drug and mental risk. Drug and Alcohol Review, 26, 109-117.
246 Appendices
Appendix Q: Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS)
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist Instructions
The questions on the back page are designed to stimulate dialogue between you and your patients
and to help confirm if they may be suffering from the symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD).
Description: The Symptom Checklist is an instrument consisting of the eighteen DSM-IV-TR criteria.
Six of the eighteen questions were found to be the most predictive of symptoms consistent with
ADHD. These six questions are the basis for the ASRS v1.1 Screener and are also Part A of the
Symptom Checklist. Part B of the Symptom Checklist contains the remaining twelve questions
Instructions:
Symptoms
1. Ask the patient to complete both Part A and Part B of the Symptom Checklist by marking an X in the
box that most closely represents the frequency of occurrence of each of the symptoms.
2. Score Part A. If four or more marks appear in the darkly shaded boxes within Part A then the patient
has symptoms highly consistent with ADHD in adults and further investigation is warranted.
3. The frequency scores on Part B provide additional cues and can serve as further probes into the
patient’s symptoms. Pay particular attention to marks appearing in the dark shaded boxes. The
frequency-based response is more sensitive with certain questions. No total score or diagnostic
likelihood is utilized for the twelve questions. It has been found that the six questions in Part A are the
most predictive of the disorder and are best for use as a screening instrument.
Impairments
1. Review the entire Symptom Checklist with your patients and evaluate the level of impairment
associated with the symptom.
2. Consider work/school, social and family settings.
3. Symptom frequency is often associated with symptom severity, therefore the Symptom Checklist
may also aid in the assessment of impairments. If your patients have frequent symptoms, you may
want to ask them to describe how these problems have affected the ability to work, take care of
things at home, or get along with other people such as their spouse/significant other.
History
1. Assess the presence of these symptoms or similar symptoms in childhood. Adults who have
ADHD need not have been formally diagnosed in childhood. In evaluating a patient’s history,
look for evidence of early-appearing and long-standing problems with attention or self-control.
Some significant symptoms should have been present in childhood, but full symptomology is not
necessary.
Appendices 247
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist
Patient Name Todays Date:
Please answer the questions below, rating yourself

on each of the criteria shown using the scale on the
Sometimes
right side of the page. As you answer each question,
Very Often
Rarely
Never
Often
place an X in the box that best describes how you
have felt and conducted yourself over the past 6
months. Please give this completed checklist to your
healthcare professional to discuss during today’s
appointment.
1. How often do you have trouble wrapping up the

final details of a project, once the challenging
parts have been done?
2. How often do you have difficulty getting things in

order when you have to do a task that requires
organization
3. How often do you have problems remembering

appointments or obligations?
4. When you have a task that requires a lot of

thought, how often do you avoid or delay getting
started?
5. How often do you fidget or squirm with your

hands or feet when you have to sit down for a
long time?
6. How often do you feel overly active and

compelled to do things, like you were driven by a
motor?
Part A
7. How often do you make careless mistakes when

you have to work on a boring or difficult project?
8. How often do you have difficulty keeping your

attention when you are doing boring or repetitive
work?
9. How often do you have difficulty concentrating

on what people say to you, even when they are
speaking to you directly?
10. How often do you misplace or have difficulty

finding things at home or at work?
11. How often are you distracted by activity or noise

around you?
248 Appendices
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist
12. How often do you leave your seat in meetings

or other situations in which you are expected to
remain seated?
13. How often do you feel restless or fidgety?
14. How often do you have difficulty unwinding and

relaxing when you have time to yourself?
15. How often do you find yourself talking too much

when you are in social situations?
16. When you’re in a conversation, how often do you

find yourself finishing the sentences of the people
you are talking to, before they can finish them
themselves?
17. How often do you have difficulty waiting your turn

in situations when turn taking is required
18. How often do you interrupt others when they are

busy?
Part B
Appendices 249
The Value of Screening for Adults With ADHD
Research suggests that the symptoms of ADHD can persist into adulthood, having a significant
impact on the relationships, careers, and even the personal safety of your patients who may suffer
from it. [1-4] Because this disorder is often misunderstood, many people who have it do not receive
appropriate treatment and, as a result, may never reach their full potential. Part of the problem is
that it can be difficult to diagnose, particularly in adults.
The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist was developed in conjunction with
the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Workgroup on Adult
ADHD that included the following team of psychiatrists and researchers:
Lenard Adler, MD Ronald C. Kessler, PhD

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology Professor, Department of Health Care Policy
New York University Medical School Harvard Medical School
Thomas Spencer, MD
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Harvard Medical School
As a healthcare professional, you can use the ASRS v1.1 as a tool to help screen for ADHD in adult
patients. Insights gained through this screening may suggest the need for a more in-depth clinician
interview. The questions in the ASRS v1.1 are consistent with DSM-IV criteria and address the
manifestations of ADHD symptoms in adults. Content of the questionnaire also reflects the importance
that DSM-IV places on symptoms, impairments, and history for a correct diagnosis. [4]
The checklist takes about 5 minutes to complete and can provide information that is critical to
supplement the diagnostic process.
References:
1. Schweitzer JB, et al. Med Clin North Am. 2001;85(3):10-11, 757-777.
2. Barkley RA. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Handbook for Diagnosis and Treatment. 2nd ed. 1998.
3. Biederman J, et al. Am J Psychiatry.1993;150:1792-1798.
4. American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision.
Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association. 2000: 85-93.
Source: Kessler, R.C., Adler, L., Ames, M., Demler, O., Faraone, S., Hiripi, E., ... Walters, E.E. (2005). The World
Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). Psychological Medicine, 35, 245-256.
250 Appendices
Appendix R: Suicide risk screener scorer and
Appendix R: Suicide Risk Screener
interpretation
Client: Screen completed by: Date:
I need to ask you a few questions on how you have been feeling, is that ok?
1 In the past 4 weeks did you feel so sad that nothing could cheer you up?
☐ All of the time ☐Most of the time ☐Some of the time ☐A little of the time ☐None of the time
2 In the past 4 weeks, how often did you feel no hope for the future?
3 In the past 4 weeks, how often did you feel intense shame or guilt?
4 In the past 4 weeks, how often did you feel worthless?
5 Have you ever tried to kill yourself? Yes* ☐ No ☐
If Yes:
a. How many times have you tried to kill yourself? ☐Once ☐Twice ☐3+
b. How long ago was the last attempt? ________ (mark below) Have things changed since? ___________
☐In the last 2 months ☐2-6 months ago ☐6-12 months ago ☐1-2 years ago ☐More than 2 years ago
6 Have you gone through any upsetting events recently? (tick all that apply) Yes ☐ No ☐
☐Family breakdown ☐Conflict relating ☐Child custody ☐Chronic ☐Impending legal
to sexual identity issues pain/illness prosecution
☐Loss of loved one ☐ Relationship ☐Trauma ☐Other (specify)
problem _____________________________________
7 Have things been so bad lately that you have thought about killing yourself? Yes* ☐ No ☐
If Yes:
a. How often do you have thoughts of suicide? __________________________________________________
b. How long have you been having these thoughts? ______________________________________________
c. How intense are these thoughts when they are most severe?
☐Very intense ☐Intense ☐Somewhat intense ☐Not at all intense
d. How intense have these thoughts been in the last week?
☐Very intense ☐Intense ☐Somewhat intense ☐Not at all intense
If No: skip to 10
8 Do you have a current plan for how you would attempt suicide? Yes* ☐ No ☐
If Yes:
a. What method would you use? __________________________________ (Access to means? ☐ Yes ☐ No)
b. Where would this occur? ________________ (Have all necessary preparations been made? ☐ Yes ☐ No)
c. How likely are you to act on this plan in the near future?
☐Very likely ☐Likely ☐Unlikely ☐Very unlikely
9 What has stopped you acting on these suicidal thoughts? ____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
10 Do you have any friends/family members you can confide in if you have a serious problem? Yes ☐ No ☐
a. Who is/are this/these person/people? _______________________________________________________
b. How often are you in contact with this/these person/people? ____________________________________
☐Daily ☐A few days a week ☐Weekly ☐Monthly ☐Less than once a month
11 What has helped you through difficult times in the past? ____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
☐* indicates a high or moderate risk answer
Appendices 251
Client: Screen completed by: Date:
Client presentation/statements (tick all that apply)
☐Agitated ☐ Intoxicated
☐ Disorientated/confused ☐ Self-harm
☐ Delusional/ hallucinating ☐ Other: ______________________________
NOTE: If client presents as any of the above and is expressing thoughts of suicide, risk level is automatically HIGH
Worker rated risk level: ☐ Low ☐ Moderate ☐ High

Level of risk Suggested response
Low:
 No plans or intent  Monitor and review risk frequently
 No prior attempt/s  Identify potential supports/contacts and provide
 Few risk factors contact details
 Identifiable ‘protective’ factors  Consult with a colleague or supervisor for guidance
and support
 Refer client to safety plan and keep safe strategies
should they start to feel suicidal.
Moderate
 Suicidal thoughts of limited frequency, intensity and  Request permission to organise a specialist mental
duration health service assessment as soon as possible
 No plans or intent  Refer client to safety plan and keep safe strategies as
 Some risk factors present above
 Some ‘protective’ factors  Consult with a colleague or supervisor for guidance
and support
 Remove means where possible
 Review daily.
High*:
 Frequent, intense, enduring suicidal thoughts  If the client has an immediate intention to act,
 Clear intent, specific/well thought out plans contact the mental health crisis team immediately
and ensure that the client is not left alone
 Prior attempt/s
 Remove means where possible
 Many risk factors
 Call an ambulance/police if the client will not accept
 Few/no ‘protective’ factors
a specialist assessment, or the crisis team is not
available
*or highly changeable  Consult with a colleague or supervisor for guidance
and support.
Source: Deady, M., Ross, J., & Darke, S. (2015). Suicide Assessment Kit (SAK): A comprehensive assessment
and policy development package. Sydney, Australia: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.
252 Appendices
Appendix S: Referral pro forma
Patient identified with

Date:
possible mental health
condition
Referral From:
PATIENT DETAILS
Name: ___________________________________________ Year of Birth:___________
Address: _________________________________________ Postcode:______________
Aboriginal/TSI: □ Yes □ No □
Patient lives: □ Alone □ □ With Carer / Family □
Patient Contact Details:
Phone _______________________________
Patient may be contacted at this number □ Yes □ □ No □
Patient can be contacted at home during B/H Yes □ □ No □
Leave message with household member Yes □ □ No □
Appendices 253
REASON FOR REFERRAL
Multiple responses permitted
□ □ Diagnostic assessment
□ □ Psychoeducation
□ Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
□ □ Interpersonal therapy
□ □ Other: ………………………………………………
PRESENTING PROBLEM
Multiple responses permitted
□ □ Alcohol and drug disorder

□ □ Psychotic disorder
□ □ Depression
□ □ Anxiety disorder
□ □ Unexplained somatic disorder
□ Unknown
□ □ Other: ………………………………………………
PROVIDE RELEVANT CLINICAL INFORMATION
CURRENT MEDICATIONS
RISK ASSESSMENT
□ Within 2 weeks □ □ within 1 month □
254 Appendices
Appendix T: Cognitive behavioural techniques
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been identified as one of the most effective ways of treating
co-occurring depression and substance use difficulties [310, 386, 540]. A number of simple CBT-based
strategies are useful in managing clients with these symptoms, including:
• Cognitive restructuring.
• Pleasure and mastery events scheduling.
• Goal setting.
• Problem solving.
Cognitive restructuring
Cognitive restructuring is a useful method for controlling symptoms of depression (and anxiety) and is
based on the premise that what causes these feelings is not the situation itself but, rather, the interpretation
of the situation [1202]. The idea is that our behaviours and feelings are the result of automatic thoughts
which are related to our core (deeply held) beliefs. Therefore, feelings and behaviours of anxiety,
depression, relapse etc. are the result of negative thoughts and beliefs that can be modified. A simple
process of recognition and modification of these thoughts and beliefs can be conducted with clients using
the A–E model depicted below.
A. Antecedent – Event
that triggers automatic
thoughts
B. Beliefs about event –

Automatic thoughts
C. Consequences – feelings/behaviours that

result from thoughts
D. Disputing automatic thoughts – look for evidence

to support/disprove these thoughts
E. Alternative explanation – rational alternatives to

the automatic thought
Appendices 255
In this model there is an initial event (the antecedent) which leads to automatic thoughts (beliefs about the
event). These thoughts have resulting feelings and behaviours (consequences). Because these thoughts
are automatic and often negative, they are rarely based on any real-world evidence – it is therefore
necessary to look for evidence either supporting or disproving evidence (dispute automatic thoughts).
Finally, developing rational alternative explanations to automatic thoughts can result in a new interpretation
of the antecedent (alternative explanation). This process allows the client to stop and evaluate the thought
process and realise how he/she comes to feel that way. A client worksheet is included in the Worksheets
section of these Guidelines to walk clients through the thought recognition and modification process.
Some common negative automatic thoughts and beliefs which can be challenged by using cognitive
restructuring exercises include:
All or none (black and white) thinking
‘If I fail partly, it means I am a total failure.’
Mental filter
Interpreting events based on what has happened in the past.
‘I can’t trust men, they only let you down.’
Overgeneralisation
Expecting that just because something has failed once that it always will.
‘I tried to give up once before and relapsed. I will never be able to give up.’
Catastrophising
Exaggerating the impact of events – imagining the worst case scenario.
‘I had an argument with my friend, now they hate me and are never going to want to see me again.’
Mistaking feelings for facts
People are often confused between feelings and facts.
‘I feel no good, so therefore I am no good.’
Should statements
Thinking in terms of ‘shoulds’, ‘oughts’ and ‘musts’. This kind of thinking can result in feelings of guilt, shame
and failure.
‘I must always be on time.’
Personalising
People frequently blame themselves for any unpleasant event and take too much responsibility for the
feelings and behaviours of others.
‘It’s all my fault that my boyfriend is angry, I must have done something wrong.’
256 Appendices
Discounting positive experiences
People often discount positive things that happen.
‘I stayed clean because I didn’t run into any of my using mates.’
(Adapted from Beck [1203] and Jarvis et al. [379]).
Client information sheets on common negative thoughts and cognitive restructuring are included in the
Worksheets section of these Guidelines.
Structured problem solving

Structured problem solving is also a useful means to manage the symptoms of anxiety/depression as
these symptoms are often the result of an inability (or perceived inability) to deal effectively with problems
[1204, 1205]. Some simple steps suggested by Carroll [1206] and Mynors Wallis [1207] can be a useful guide
in assisting the client:
• Identify the problem (try to break it down) and define it.

• Step back from the problem and try to view it as an objective challenge.
• Brainstorm possible solutions (realistic and unrealistic).
• Think about each solution in practical terms, and evaluate the pros and cons.
• Decide on the best solution (and a second, ‘back-up’ solution).
• Put the solution into action.
• Evaluate how effective it was and whether it can be improved.
A problem-solving worksheet for clients is included in the Worksheets section of these Guidelines.
Goal setting
Goal setting is a useful strategy to help clients with both AOD treatment as well as depression/anxiety
symptom management. For example, one goal might be to spend more time partaking in rewarding
activities each week.
Goal setting can keep therapy on track and also enables progress to be measured over time. It allows the
client to experience feelings of control and success, which may counter common feelings of hopelessness
and worthlessness. Goal setting also ensures that therapy remains client-focused which increases
motivation and helps the therapist ascertain what the client’s central concerns are. However, it is important
that the focus is on the process of goal pursuit rather than outcome and expectations of achievement;
it is important that happiness is not conditional upon goal achievement or else failure may exacerbate
depressive symptoms [1208].
According to Marsh and colleagues [276] goals should be:
• Geared towards the client’s level of motivation and concern (client’s stage of change – see Chapter B2
of these Guidelines).
• Negotiated between client and AOD worker.
• Specific and achievable – it is important that the client begins to gain a sense of mastery by achieving
his or her goals.
• Based on process rather than outcome.
• Short term – break down overall goals into shorter-term ones in order to increase motivation and
feelings of success.
Appendices 257
• Described in positive rather than negative terms – for example, the goal to ‘decrease feelings of
apprehension and worry at parties’ is expressed in negative terms. The same goal, expressed in positive
terms is ‘I will try to relax and enjoy myself at parties’.
• Not necessarily limited to AOD use (e.g., improving social adjustment and functioning, reducing criminal
behaviour).
A goal setting worksheet is provided in the Worksheets section of these Guidelines.
Pleasure and mastery events scheduling

Individuals with depressive symptoms often stop engaging in behaviours that give them a sense of
pleasure and achievement. This can lead to a cycle in which they become very inactive, leading to more
negative feelings and lower mood and energy, which then leads to even less engagement in activities, and
so on [276, 1209].
Pleasure and mastery events scheduling is a behavioural technique to help clients engage in activities that
give them a sense of pleasure and achievement in a structured way. It can be very difficult for clients to
simply resume previous levels of activity, so this strategy enables clients to use a weekly timetable in which
they can schedule particular activities. It is important for clients to start with activities that are simple and
achievable.
Clients might be encouraged to think of just one activity they can do for achievement and one for pleasure
each day. Each week more activities can be added to form a list. A worksheet is provided in the Worksheets
section of these Guidelines for clients to complete; it also includes a list of possible starting points. Clients
may also need to be reminded of the fact that they deserve to feel good and that motivation generally
follows activity rather than the reverse and, thus, the key is initiation of such activity. The gradual pattern
of experiencing the emotional and physical benefits of pleasure and achievement can break the negative
thought cycle.
258 Appendices
Appendix U: Anxiety management techniques
Relaxation techniques are also a common means to manage the distressing and distracting symptoms of
anxiety [701]. Some useful relaxation methods include:
• Progressive muscle relaxation.

• Controlled or abdominal breathing.
• Calming response.
• Visualisation and imagery.
• Grounding.
Each method works best if practiced daily by clients for 10-20 minutes, but again, not every technique may
be appropriate for every client.
Progressive muscle relaxation

Progressive muscle relaxation involves tensing and relaxing of different muscle groups in succession. It is
particularly useful for clients with intrusive thoughts. Before starting, make sure the client is sitting in a quiet
and comfortable place. Ask the client that when they tense a particular muscle group, they do so strongly
and hold the tension for 10 seconds. Encourage the client to concentrate on the feelings in his/her body of
tension and release. Tell the client when relaxing muscles to feel the tension draining out of his/her body
and enjoy the sensation of relaxation for 15 seconds. Isolate each muscle group at a time, allowing the
other muscle groups to remain relaxed. The following instructions are based on Bourne [1210]. A client copy
is also available in the Worksheets section of these Guidelines.
1. Take three deep abdominal breaths, exhaling slowly each time, imagining the tension draining out of
your body.
2. Clench your fists. Hold for 10 seconds (AOD workers may want to count to 10 slowly), before releasing
and feeling the tension drain out of your body (for 15 seconds).
3. Tighten your biceps by drawing your forearms up toward your shoulders and make a muscle with both
arms. Hold, then relax.
4. Tighten your triceps (the muscles underneath your upper arms) by holding out your arms in front of you
and locking your elbows. Hold, then relax.
5. Tense the muscles in your forehead by raising your eyebrows as high as you can. Hold, then relax.
6. Tense the muscles around your eyes by clenching your eyelids shut. Hold, then relax. Imagine
sensations of deep relaxation spreading all over your eyes.
7. Tighten your jaws by opening your mouth so widely that you stretch the muscles around the hinges of
your jaw. Hold, then relax.
8. Tighten the muscles in the back of your neck by pulling your head way back, as if you were going to
touch your head to your back. Hold, then relax.
9. Take deep breaths and focus on the weight of your head sinking into whatever surface it is resting on.
10. Tighten your shoulders as if you are going to touch your ears. Hold, then relax.
11. Tighten the muscles in your shoulder blades by pushing your shoulder blades back. Hold, then relax.
12. Tighten the muscles of your chest by taking in a deep breath. Hold, then relax.
13. Tighten your stomach muscles by sucking your stomach in. Hold, then relax.
14. Tighten your lower back by arching it up (don’t do this if you have back pain). Hold, then relax.
15. Tighten your buttocks by pulling them together. Hold, then relax.
16. Squeeze the muscles in your thighs. Hold, then relax.
17. Tighten your calf muscles by pulling your toes towards you. Hold, then relax.
18. Tighten your feet by curling them downwards. Hold, then relax.
Appendices 259
19. Mentally scan your body for any leftover tension. If any muscle group remains tense, repeat the
exercise for those muscle groups.
20. Now imagine a wave of relaxation spreading over your body.
Controlled or abdominal breathing

When tense, a person’s breathing is rapid and shallow, which can lead to hyperventilation or panic attacks.
Hyperventilation is a process where shallow breathing gets rid of too much carbon dioxide which can
lead to light-headedness, breathlessness, feeling of suffocation, blurred vision, and numbness or tingling
in hands or feet as well as a hot, flustered feeling. Mild hyperventilation can lead to increased perpetual
anxiety and apprehension [1210].
When teaching clients breathing retraining, it is important they understand and feel the difference between
shallow, chest-level breathing and controlled, abdominal breathing. A good way to do this is to ask clients
to practice each type of breathing. However, it is important to inform clients who are extremely anxious that
they may experience trouble breathing deeply and may need to try this when feeling less anxious (some
clients may always have trouble with this). Encourage clients to increase their breathing speed. Ask them to
place their hand gently on their abdomen and feel how shallow and rapid their breathing is, only the chest
moves up and down. Compare this with abdominal breathing based on the following instructions for the
client provided by Lee and colleagues [310]:
1. Rate your level of anxiety on a scale from 1 to 10.

2. Sit as comfortably as possible in a chair with your head, back and arms supported, free legs and close
your eyes (if you like).
3. Place one hand on your abdomen right beneath your rib cage
4. Inhale deeply and slowly, send the air as low and deep into your lungs as possible. If you are breathing
from your abdomen you should feel your hand rise, rather than your chest.
5. When you have taken a full breath, pause before exhaling. As you exhale imagine all of the tension
draining out of your body.
6. Do 10 slow abdominal breaths. Breathe in slowly counting to four, before exhaling to the count of four
(four seconds in, four seconds out). Repeat this cycle 10 times. Hold final breath for 10 seconds, then
exhale.
7. Now re-rate your level of anxiety and see if it has changed.
Controlled breathing techniques can help reduce overall levels of tension and are a useful strategy to use
when faced with high-anxiety or high-risk situations when relapse is likely. A client worksheet for abdominal
breathing is included in the Worksheets section of these Guidelines.
Calming response
This is a quick skill developed by Montgomery and Morris [1211] to reduce the discomfort of unwanted
feelings. The basic steps involve the client mentally detaching from the situation and thinking ‘clear head,
calm body’ as they take one slow deep breath. As they exhale they relax.
Visualisation and imagery

This relaxation technique might be only useful for a select few clients and should not be used where a
client finds the process difficult or has unpleasant effects as a result [1210].
1. Sit comfortably in a chair, close your eyes and breathe deeply. Clear your mind of all thoughts and
images.
260 Appendices
2. Imagine a place where you feel safe and relaxed; this could be a real or imaginary place. Think in as much
detail as possible: What are the sounds? What are the smells? What do you feel? What do you see? What
time of day is it? Are you alone or with somebody else?
3. Think about how your body feels in this place (e.g., Are your muscles relaxed? Is it warm? Is your breathing
and heart rate slow or fast?).
4. Stay in this relaxed state for a moment and remember how it feels so you can return to it when you need
to.
5. Slowly clear your mind again and return to the ‘here and now’ and the sounds around you. Stretch your
arms and legs and when you are ready, open your eyes.
A client worksheet for visualisation in provided in the Worksheets section of these Guidelines.
Grounding
For most clients suffering anxiety symptoms, most breathing and relaxation techniques are effective; however,
for sufferers of panic or trauma, some relaxation and breathing strategies can occasionally trigger flashbacks,
intrusive memories, panic, fear and dissociation. AOD workers can assist these clients and reduce traumatic
and panic reactions by focusing the attention of these clients on the outside world rather than the internal
trauma. This process is known as ‘grounding’ (or distraction, centering, or healthy detachment) [395].
There are different forms of grounding outlined below; different strategies work best for different clients and
it is important to use a strategy appropriate to the individual. The examples of grounding techniques provided
below are adapted from Najavits [395].
Examples of mental grounding:
• Describe objects in your environment in detail using all your senses.

• Describe an everyday activity, such as eating or driving to work, in detail.
• Use a grounding statement. ‘I am Jo, I am 23 years old, I am safe here, today is...’.
• Say the alphabet slowly.
• Counting backwards from 20.
Examples of physical grounding:
• Run cool or warm water over your hands.

• Press your heels into the floor.
• Touch objects around you as you say their names.
• Jump up and down.
• Change your posture to a more upright one.
• Stretch.
• As you inhale say ‘in’, and when you exhale say ‘out’ or ‘calm’ or ‘easy’ or ‘safe’.
Examples of soothing grounding:
• Rub nice smelling hand cream slowly into hands and arms and notice the feel and smell.
• Say encouraging statements to yourself such as ‘You’re okay, you’ll get through this’.
• Think of favourites of any kind of object (e.g., cars) or animal.
• Think of a place where you felt calm and peaceful, describe where you were, what was around you and
what you were doing.
• Plan something nice for yourself such as a bath or a good meal.
• Think of things you look forward to doing in the next few days.
Appendices 261
Worksheets
Worksheets
Identifying negative thoughts
It can be useful to categorise your negative thoughts in order to identify the process that is occurring.
Some common negative automatic thoughts and beliefs which can be challenged by using cognitive
restructuring exercises include:
All or none (black and white) thinking ‘If I fail partly, it means I am a total failure.’
Mental filter Interpreting events based on what has happened in the past.
‘I can’t trust men, they only let you down.’
Overgeneralisation Expecting that just because something has failed once that it
always will.
‘I tried to give up once before and relapsed. I will never be
able to give up.’
Catastrophising Exaggerating the impact of events – imagining the worst
case scenario.
‘I had an argument with my friend, now they hate me and are
never going to want to see me again.’
Mistaking feelings for facts People are often confused between feelings and facts.
‘I feel no good, so therefore I am no good.’
Should statements Thinking in terms of ‘shoulds’, ‘oughts’ and ‘musts’. This kind
of thinking can result in feelings of guilt, shame and failure.
‘I must always be on time.’
Personalising People frequently blame themselves for any unpleasant
event and take too much responsibility for the feelings and
behaviours of others.
‘It’s all my fault that my boyfriend is angry, I must have done
something wrong.’
Discounting positive experiences People often discount positive things that happen.
‘I stayed clean because I didn’t run into any of my using
mates.’
Sources: Beck, J. (1995). Cognitive therapy: Basics and beyond. New York: Guildford Press.
Jarvis, T., Tebbutt, J., & Mattick, R. (1995), Treatment approaches for identifying unhelpful thoughts, alcohol
and drug dependence. Chichester, UK: John Wiley and Sons
Cognitive restructuring
Unhelpful thoughts produce negative emotions and behaviours and often these thoughts can be
extreme and inaccurate. However, this automatic process can be broken through awareness and thought
restructuring.
Step 1: Identification of negative/inaccurate thoughts

Thoughts are often automatic, but you can learn to identify and alter these
negative thoughts through monitoring.
The more aware you are of the way you think and the things you say to
yourself in stressful circumstances, the better prepared you will be to think
differently.
Step 2: Notice how thoughts cause feelings and motivate behaviour

A good way to think of the relationships between thoughts and behaviours is through the ‘ABC’ model:
A. Activating event
B. Beliefs and thoughts

about event
C. Consequences - feelings/behaviours that

result from thoughts
Step 3: Challenging and replacing negative thoughts
After you become aware of the thoughts and their resulting feelings and behaviours, you should examine
and challenge those thoughts for evidence and accuracy.
REALITY TESTING:
• What is the evidence for and against my thinking being true?
• What unhelpful thinking patterns are operating?
• What are facts and what are my feelings?
ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS:
• Are there any other possible reasons to explain this?
• Is there another way I could think about this?
• Is there a more helpful way of thinking about this?
• What would others think if they were in this kind of situation?
PUTTING IT INTO PERSPECTIVE:

• Is it as bad as I’m making out?
• Is there anything good about this situation?
• How likely is it that the worst will happen?
• What is most likely to happen?
GOAL-DIRECTED THINKING:
• Are my thoughts helping me to achieve my goals?
• What can I do that will help me deal with the problem?
• How can I minimise the negative effects?
• How can I think about this in a way that will help me to feel good
about my life and myself?
• If it is something that has already happened, how could I do
better next time?
Once you have challenged your unhelpful or negative thought, the final step is to replace the thought
with more logical, positive or realistic ones. Check to see if there are new consequences (thoughts and
beliefs) for your new thought.
For example, when you are bored you may say to yourself, ‘I’m all alone, life is awful’. This leads to
feelings of uselessness, worthlessness and sadness, and even less motivation to do anything. Once you
examine the thought you may find you have ‘catastrophised’ the situation and come to an overly negative
conclusion. There is evidence of friends and family but you just haven’t called them. Try thinking ‘I’ve got
friends I can call them now or I can just enjoy doing something by myself’. This might help you feel a bit
more positive and in control, and motivated to act. We call these new thoughts alternate interpretations.
Cognitive restructuring worksheet
A B C
Beliefs/ Consequences: Challenge negative thoughts
Activating
thoughts/ feelings/
event/trigger
interpretations behaviours
What were you

What What were you What is the evidence for and Is there any other way of
Date feeling? What What do you think now?
happened? thinking? against your thoughts? looking at this situation?
did you do?
Structured problem-solving worksheet
1. What is the problem?
(Break it down into manageable smaller problems)

____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Step back and view problem objectively and without emotion, as if it were happening to someone else.
3. What can I do?
(Brainstorm a list of possible solutions, good and bad, real and unreal)
Solution Pros Cons
4. Cross out any silly or impossible options. With those that remain, write down the short-term and long-
term consequences and the pros and cons.
5. Write down your favourite three.
1. ____________________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________________
6. Put it into action!
(What do you need to do to implement it? Did it work? Why/why not? Would another solution work better?)
Goal setting worksheet
I want to…
(e.g., stop smoking)
For these reasons…
(e.g., to prove that I can, to improve my health)
The obstacles stopping me are…
(e.g., routine)
I can overcome these by…
(e.g., avoiding situations where I am tempted)
These people can help…
(e.g., family)
By…
(e.g., providing support)
I will start working towards this goal…
(e.g., today)
I know I will have achieved this goal because…
(e.g., I no longer crave)

Pleasure and mastery worksheet
Create a list of activities you do for pleasure or you get a sense of achievement from.
Try to think of more each day and add to the list.
Make note of how each activity makes you feel.
Find time to complete some of these tasks every day.
A list of examples is included on the next page to help start you off.
TASK HOW I FEEL

Examples of fun activities
• Listening to music • Going horse riding • Throwing parties
• Playing soccer • Lying in the sun • Going to parties
• Playing golf • Talking to others • Exercise
• Having a bath • Camping • Having a meal with friends
• Going for a swim • Going on holiday • Singing
• Watching a movie • Going to the beach • Going sailing
• Watching favourite TV • Going fishing • Praying
show • Having a relaxed evening • Going to concerts or plays
• Going shopping • Debating • Sewing
• Going bowling • Going to the zoo/aquarium • Working
• Working on car/bike • Eating • Reading books
• Sex • Going to the gym • Playing board games
• Reading poetry • Playing cricket • Volunteering
• Cooking • Playing hockey • Having a BBQ
• Surfing • Driving • Eating out
• Playing video games • Doing jigsaws • Acting
• Have coffee at a café • Buying things • Cleaning
• Riding bike • Playing basketball • Meditating
• Playing pool/billiards • Doing martial arts • Playing with children
• Looking at photos • Playing netball • Sleeping
• Bushwalks • Yoga • Gardening
• Playing volleyball • Playing squash • Going canoeing
• Picnics • Playing tennis • Painting/drawing
• Playing cards • Going surfing • Skating
• Discussing politics • Photography • Skiing
• Playing with pets • Surfing the net • Writing
• Woodworking • Getting hair done • Reading newspaper
• Getting a massage • Kissing • Dancing
• Watching a sporting event • Going to museums and • Rock climbing
• Hobbies (e.g., collecting galleries • Doing crosswords/word
things) • Going to church/ games
synagogue/temple/
mosque
Progressive muscle relaxation
1. Take three deep abdominal breaths, exhaling slowly each time, imagining the
tension draining out of your body.
2. Clench your fists. Hold for 10 seconds, before releasing and feeling the
tension drain out of your body (for 15 seconds).
3. Tighten your biceps by drawing your forearms up toward your shoulders and
make a muscle with both arms. Hold, then relax.
4. Tighten your triceps (the muscles underneath your upper arms)by holding out
your arms in front of you and locking your elbows. Hold, then relax.
5. Tense the muscles in your forehead by raising your eyebrows as high as you
can. Hold, then relax.
6. Tense the muscles around your eyes by clenching your eyelids shut. Hold,
then relax. Imagine sensations of deep relaxation spreading all over your eyes.
7. Tighten your jaws by opening your mouth so widely that you stretch the
muscles around the hinges of your jaw. Hold, then relax.
8. Tighten the muscles in the back of your neck by pulling your head way back,
as if you were going to touch your head to your back. Hold, then relax.
9. Take deep breaths and focus on the weight of your head sinking into
whatever surface it is resting on.
10. Tighten your shoulders as if you are going to touch your ears. Hold, then relax.
11. Tighten the muscles in your shoulder blades by pushing your shoulder blades back. Hold then relax.
12. Tighten the muscles of your chest by taking in a deep breath. Hold, then relax.
13. Tighten your stomach muscles by sucking your stomach in. Hold, then relax.
14. Tighten your lower back by arching it up (don’t do this if you have back pain). Hold, then relax.
15. Tighten your buttocks by pulling them together. Hold, then relax.
16. Squeeze the muscles in your thighs. Hold, then relax.
17. Tighten your calf muscles by pulling your toes towards you. Hold, then relax.
18. Tighten your feet by curling them downwards. Hold, then relax.
19. Mentally scan your body for any left over tension. If any muscle group remains tense, repeat the
exercise for those muscle groups.
20. Now imagine a wave of relaxation spreading over your body.
Source: Bourne, E.J. (1995). The anxiety and phobia workbook. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
Controlled abdominal breathing
1. Rate your level of anxiety on a scale from 1 to 10.
2. Sit as comfortably as possible in a chair with your head, back and arms supported, free legs and close
your eyes (if you like).
3. Place one hand on your abdomen right beneath your rib cage.
4. Inhale deeply and slowly, send the air as low and deep into your lungs as possible. If you are breathing
from your abdomen, you should feel your hand rise, rather than your chest.
5. When you have taken a full breath, pause before exhaling. As you exhale, imagine all of the tension
draining out of your body.
6. Do 10 slow abdominal breaths. Breathe in slowly counting to four, before exhaling to the count of four
(four seconds in, four seconds out). Repeat this cycle 10 times. Hold final breath for 10 seconds, then
exhale.
7. Now re-rate your level of anxiety and see if it has changed.

Visualisation and imagery
1. Sit comfortably in a chair, close your eyes and breathe deeply. Clear your mind of all thoughts and
images, like a blank page.
2. Imagine a place where you feel safe and relaxed – this could be a real or imaginary place. Think in as
much detail as possible:
• What are the sounds?
• What are the smells?
• What do you feel?
• What do you see?
3. Think about how your body feels in this place:
• Are your muscles relaxed?
• Is it warm?
• Is your breathing and heart rate slow or fast?
4. Stay in this relaxed state for a moment and remember how it feels so you can return to it when you
need to.
5. Slowly clear your mind again and return to the ‘here and now’ and the sounds around you. Stretch your
arms and legs and when you are ready open your eyes.
Food and activity diary
Date Time of Food eaten Physical activity Mood
day
Adapted from Western Australian Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies (2011). Healthy eating for wellbeing: A nutrition guide for alcohol and
other drug consumers. Perth, Australia: WANADA.
Common reactions to trauma
After a traumatic event, it is common to experience a range of reactions.
These might include:
Feelings of sadness/depression
It is common to:
• Experience feelings of hopelessness and despair.

• Have thoughts of suicide.
• Have an altered perception of yourself (e.g., I am a bad person).
• Lose interest in once pleasurable activities.
Feeling a loss of control or trust
It can be common to feel as though the traumatic event has left you with a lack of control, or as though you
cannot trust anyone.
Feelings of anger
Sometimes you might find yourself experiencing anger and even directing it towards your loved ones.
Feelings of guilt and shame
These feelings are a common reaction to trauma survival.
You might find yourself second-guessing your reactions or blaming yourself.
Re-experiencing the event
This includes:
• Flashbacks – feeling the trauma is re-occurring.

• Intrusive thoughts – memories that you can’t control.
• Nightmares about the event.
Physical arousal
This includes difficulty falling asleep or an interrupted sleep, irritability, finding it hard to concentrate,
getting startled easily or feeling constantly on edge, sweating or a racing heartbeat.
Avoidance reactions
You may find yourself avoiding all reminders of the trauma (e.g., places,
people) or even the memories of, and feelings associated with the traumatic
experience itself.
Although these reactions can be overwhelming and

distressing, it is important to remember they are a normal
response when someone has experienced a traumatic event.
Common reactions to grief and loss
There is a multitude of different sources of grief and loss and not all involve death. Individuals experiencing
grief from a loss may choose a variety of ways of expressing it. No two people will respond to the same loss
in the same way. However, some frequent reactions include:
Changed behaviours:
• Seeking solitude, withdrawal.

• Change in social activities.
• Inappropriate behaviour (e.g., laughing).
• Absent mindedness.
Sleep and energy disturbances:
• Feeling fatigued, restless, lethargic.

• Sleep difficulties.
Other physical symptoms:
• Changed eating habits.

• Gastro-intestinal complaints.
• Decreased interest in pleasurable activities.
• Decreased sex drive.
A range of troubling emotions:
• Feelings of denial, disbelief, numbness, shock, panic, or sadness.

• Feelings of isolation.
• Mood fluctuations.
• Anger, guilt, frustration, hostility, blaming.
Cognitive difficulties such as forgetfulness, confusion or a lack of concentration.
Spiritual emptiness and pessimism.
Constant thought about the deceased or a feeling of their presence.
Although these reactions can be overwhelming and distressing, it is important

to accept and not to avoid them. It is also useful to remember your reactions are
common and natural and you are not alone.
References
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Guidelines on the management of

Guidelines on the management of

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre

University of New South Wales

Design/typeset by Brendan Kennedy (Alba Print Management).

Copies of the full guidelines available at www.comorbidity.edu.au

A/Prof Michael Baigent Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders University

Ms Nicky Bath NSW Users and AIDS Association

Prof Tim Carey Centre for Remote Health

Mr Kelvin Chambers Drug and Alcohol Multicultural Education Centre

Dr Derek Chong Institute of Urban Indigenous Health

Dr Janette Curtis Drug and Alcohol Nurses Australasia

A/Prof Adrian Dunlop Hunter New England Health; University of Newcastle

Dr Suzie Hudson Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies

Mr Chris Gibbs Mental Health Professionals’ Network

Mr Mark Goodhew Medically Supervised Injecting Centre

Dr Steve Leicester Headspace

Emeritus Prof Ian Webster University of NSW

Expert panel iii

A4: Classification of disorders 21 What is coordinated care? 90

Clinical presentation 110 Social anxiety disorder (SAD) 144

Managing ADHD symtoms 110 Summary 146

Treating ADHD 111 Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) 148

Summary 114 Clinical presentation 148

Psychosis 116 Managing symptoms of OCD 148

Clinical presentation 116 Treating OCD 150

Managing symptoms of psychosis 116 Summary 153

AOD Alcohol and Other Drugs LSD Lysergic acid diethylamide

Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment

ASRS Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale MAOI Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors

BDI Beck Depression Inventory MI Motivational Interviewing

UK National Institute for Health and Care

Camberwell Assessment of Need Short

CBT Cognitive Behavioural Therapy NRT Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Australian National Survey of Mental Health and

CVD Cardiovascular Disease OCD Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

DBT Dialectical Behavioural Therapy PCP Phenylcyclohexylpiperidine

DBT-S Dialectical Behaviour Therapy-S PS Psychosis Screener

DDP Dynamic Deconstructive Psychotherapy PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

DFST Dual Focus Schema Therapy RCT Randomised Controlled Trial

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

ECT Electroconvulsive Therapy SAD Social Anxiety Disorder

ED Feeding and Eating disorders SAK Suicide Assessment Kit

EDE Eating Disorder Examination SCL-90-R The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised

GAD Generalised Anxiety Disorder SRQ Self Reporting Questionnaire

GHQ General Health Questionnaire SSCM Specialist Supportive Clinical Management

GP General Practitioner TCA Tricyclic Antidepressants

ICD International Classification of Diseases THQ Trauma History Questionnaire

IPT Interpersonal Psychotherapy TLEQ Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire

IRIS Indigenous Risk Impact Screen TSQ Trauma Screening Questionnaire

About these guidelines 1

2 About these guidelines

Relationship with existing guidelines

About these guidelines 3

Figure 1: Holistic health care framework: Physical and mental health

Comparison with 2009 Guidelines

4 About these guidelines

Changes in diagnostic criteria

Limitations of the Guidelines