Dr Mary Rowlands, Endas

1. Dr Mary Rowlands, Endas DUAL DIAGNOSIS (CO-MORBIDITY) IN BRIEF

2. Important reference • Co-existing Problems of Mental Health and Substance Misuse • Dual Diagnosis • A Review of Relevant Literature • College Research Unit • Vanessa Crawford • Editor Professor Ilana Crome, 2001

3. Aims of today’s course: • To raise awareness of the nature and prevalence of Dual Diagnosis. • To enable participants to understand why dual diagnosis is complex. • To examine brief detection & screening for this client group.

4. Aims of today’s course: • Improve knowledge of increased vulnerability in mentally ill to use substances & sub-optimise MH Rx • To challenge attitudes towards this client group & Mental Health & Addiction Service response in context that Substance Use is common in UK

5. Objectives for today’s course: • To develop your skills in the brief assessment of individuals with a co-morbidity. • To be able to determine differences and overlap between symptoms of mental health problems and substance misuse. • For you to feel more confident in being able to manage individuals with complex needs. • If time Department of Health funded Systematic Review of evidence that cannabis use increases risk of psychotic and affective disorders (June 2005-June 2006)

6. Definitions of Dual Diagnosis • “The term dual diagnosis covers a broad spectrum of mental health and substance misuse problems that an individual might experience concurrently. The nature of the relationship between these two conditions is complex………Services need to be clear at the outset which individuals they intend to provide interventions for” (Department of Health Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide May 2002)

7. Definitions continued: • Co-morbidity (Dual Diagnosis) is the co-occurrence of severe mental health problems (and personality disorder) which are caused or complicated by problematic consumption of illicit substances, misuse of prescribed drugs or alcohol. (Nottingham Dual Diagnosis Team)

8. Definitions continued: “The term Dual Diagnosis is not helpful in describing this group. First the term is non-specific and could refer to a whole range of problems. Secondly low levels of substance misuse (i.e. not enough to merit a diagnosis of dependence or abuse) can have a significant effect on those individuals with severe mental health problems and therefore does not warrant the label diagnosis.” (Graham H et al 2003)

9. Severe Mental Illness: The DoH sets out 5 defining characteristics: • They are diagnosed (typically with Schizophrenia or Bipolar affective disorder). • Are substantially disabled due to their illness. • They are currently displaying florid symptoms as part of an enduring condition. • Have suffered recurring crises resulting in admissions or interventions. • They may at times pose a significant risk to themselves or others.

10. DoH definition examples: Severity of substance misuse HIGH E.g. A man who drinks 2.5 litres of cider per day and experiences increasing anxiety E.g. A 22 year old man who has a diagnosis of bi-polar disorder who binge drinks and has started experimenting with intravenous drug taking. LOW HIGH Severity of mental health problem E.g. A woman with schizophrenia who smokes 2-3 joints daily to compensate for social isolation E.g. a young woman who takes ecstacy at the weekend and who is now experiencing depression throughout the week LOW

11. Service Models of joint mental health and addiction services • Consecutive-dangers slip between services • Addiction services deal with mild/moderate mental illness mainly affective disorder • Parallel-dangers of sub-optimal treatment • Dedicated DD-not cost-effective deskills • Integrated-DOH recommendation • Low priority with gate-keeping for both services

12. Prevalence in the UK • An inner London Study showed that 36% of people with a psychosis had abused substances. (Tyrer et al 1999). • A recent study conducted in 2 London Boroughs, Nottingham and Sheffield showed that prevalence of drug taking in people with mental health problems had risen to 44%. (Weaver et al 2003)

13. Client Profile: • Male (80%) • Between the age of 23 & 35. • Poly-drug user. (55%) • Engaged in experimental & opportunistic drug taking. • High levels of risk • (40% inject, violence or suicide)

14. In homeless population • Higher rates of Substance Misuse • Higher rates of SEMI • Higher rates of DD • Increased risk of sharing injecting equipment • Increased risk of unsafe sexual practices as in all DD

15. The drugs that they take: • 49% take stimulants (amphetamines and cocaine). • Crack smoking is sharply on the increase. • 27% take heroin. • 37% smoke cannabis and drink heavily. • 40%+ inject the drugs they take often straight away and in high risk sites.

16. Vulnerability to Alcohol Misuse • Most commonly available and often cheapest drug • More vulnerability in: • Bipolar and affective disorders • non-compliant, socially isolated

17. Increased dose recruits additional monoamines • Dose Low

18. Cannabinoids neurobiology • CB1 receptors widely distributed in cortex • Endogenous cannabinoids (eg anandamide) • Δ9 THC releases dopamine from nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex • Inhibits GABA & glutamate transmission

19. Brainstorm. Why might people with severe mental health problems take drugs or alcohol ?

20. Psychosis is lonely in adolescent development • Substance misuse aetiology as for general population-fun,escape, relaxation, environmental access • providing an accepting social in group initially and delays effective early intervention • Neurodevelopment in brain regions associated with learning for adult roles: motivation,impulsivity also confer addiction learning (Chambers RA, AM J Psych 2003; 160:1041-1052)

21. ?Already primed dopamine reward circuits • E.g.70% cf 25% smoke before first symptoms of mental illness • ?common aspects to both conditions of dopamine circuits dysfunction. • Volkov ND. Cereb Cortex 2000;10:318-325

22. Pills DD want • Development of severe mental illness and substance misuse at key stage of teenage autonomy leads to conflict • Increases hostility • Familial high expressed emotion worsens • Further alienates support network • Increases vulnerability to homelessness and coming within the CJ system

23. versus pills DD don’t want Non-compliance • &to • addiction treatment

24. Dual Diagnosis worsens SMI outcomes • Increases relapse rates • Rehospitalisation • Increases positive symptoms of psychosis • Worsens clinical and functional outcomes

25. Interactive work. What are the differences between symptoms of severe mental health problems and symptoms relating to drug taking? Clue ICD

26. Psychosis during cannabis intoxication • Surveys of cannabis users •  15 % report experiencing brief psychotic symptoms (paranoid beliefs / hearing voices) • Experimental studies of intravenous THC (DeSouza 2004) • 22 subjects, randomly given IV THC or placebo • Highly significant increases in psychotic symptom scores • Completely resolved within 3 hours, and no effect up to 6 months

27. Cannabis and psychosis cannabis use delusions, hallucinations & thought disorder during cannabis intoxication acute & transient psychotic disorder psychotic symptoms not due to direct biological effects of exogenous cannabinoids schizophrenia other ‘chronic’ psychoses time

28. Cannabis and psychosis persisting beyond intoxication effects • “Cannabis-induced psychosis”: Numerous case reports • Typically described as onset of psychotic illness following cannabis use, and resolving usually within 1-2 weeks • Observe acute & transient psychotic illness • Assumptive role of cannabis in aetiology….but 10% of young adult population use cannabis regularly

29. Brief Assessment of Clients With Substance Misuse Problems.

30. Three main areas of assessment: • Detection and Screening. • In depth assessment. • Risk assessment.

31. Dual diagnosis MHPIG states: • “Since substance misuse among those with mental health problems is usual rather than exceptional and results in poorer treatment outcomes, it is necessary to consider its presence in all assessments undertaken by mental health services” • But St Georges School of medicine in London recently found that: 26% of clients who reported substance misuse in their survey had not been assessed by acute in-patient staff as having a drug or alcohol problem.

32. What have I got to lose except my • Values • Experience • Taboos • Fears • Prejudices • For a Motivational approach

33. Detection and Screening. • SuMMBAT (Substance Misuse & Mental health Brief Assessment Tool). • Self report. • Laboratory tests (including urine, hair & blood screening). • Other forms of screening (Micro-lines & saliva swabs). • Records and other collected data.

34. Why Screen? • It gives an accurate snap shot of drugs taken. • Can help establish if the pattern of drug taking is linked to changes in MH. • A collection of samples over time give a clear indication of their pattern of drug taking. • Regular screening can act as a point to reinforce their motivation. • Clients may not be aware or clear of what they have taken. • If used in a non punitive way it can become an objective and therapeutic intervention. • It helps us study mood, behaviours and symptoms and reflect these to the client.

35. SuMMBAT:

36. SuMMBAT guidelines: Which substances do they take? • Does the client know? • Consider other substances e.g. Px, volatile substances & mushrooms How much do they spend? • A general indication of level of consumption. Do they inject/smoke etc? • Which area of the body do they inject into? • Where do they get their works? • Do they inject with anything in particular? (e.g. lemon juice)

37. SuMMBAT guidelines: How often? • Indicates the main pattern of drug taking e.g regular or binge. How long for? • Indicates the impact that drug use may have had on M.H.Ps & lifestyle. • Level of tolerance

38. SuMMBAT guidelines cont’d: What is their MH diagnosis? • Highlights why a client may be using a given substance. • Is it directly related to their drug of choice? What are the positive effects? • Self-medication for illness or Px medication. • Social inclusion. • Coping mechanisms. • Lifestyle.

39. What are the negative effects? • Physical & mental health • Finances • Social effect • Accommodation • Work or activity • Offending. • Degree of motivation: • Asking the client what they want to achieve. • Control or Abstinence? • Even if motivation is low then some interventions are still indicated.

40. SuMMBAT Guidelines Cont’d: What help does the person want? • Education/information. • Harm-minimisation. • Detox. • Abstinence. • Relapse prevention. Any previous treatment? • Useful to ascertain if they have engaged well, previous detoxes that worked/failed, notable withdrawal experiences and periods of control/abstinence.

41. Assessment: • “Accurate assessment is fundamental to the effective management of people with a dual diagnosis. • The aim of an assessment is to give the practitioner a clear picture of what is going on for that person and what is contributing to their distress” (RCP Research Unit, 2002. Co-existing problems of mental disorder and substance misuse (dual diagnosis) an information manual.)

42. Specialist Assessment. • “Specialist assessments are undertaken to determine the nature and severity of substance misuse and mental health problems, and to identify corresponding need. • The more comprehensive and focussed the assessment • the better the understanding will be of the relationship between the two disorders.”

43. Risk Assessment: • “Routine risk assessment protocols need to address specific factors for individuals with a dual diagnosis. • The severity of substance misuse, including the combination of substances used, is related to the risk of overdose and suicide. • Exploration of the possible association between substance misuse and increased risk of aggressive or anti-social behaviour • forms an integral part of the risk assessment, and should be explicitly documented if present.”(DoH Dual Diagnosis MHPIG, 2002).

44. Risk Assessment cont’d: Other aspects to consider include: • Risk to the client and others due to drug taking paraphernalia. E.g. the potential for needle stick injuries as a result of improperly discarded needles and syringes. • Risk due to blood borne infections. E.g. Hepatitis and HIV. • Risk due to overdose i.e. accidental overdose of illicit substances.

45. Risk Assessment cont’d: • Risk of abuse by others. E.g. clients can be dis-empowered or abused by drug pushers who prey on them for money or drug users needing a place to “SCORE”. • Risk due to violence. Research has shown that this client group is more likely to be unpredictable, aggressive and violent. There is a potential risk to staff due to some of the individuals that a client with a co-morbidity may mix with. • Risk of relapse as a direct result of their drug or alcohol problem

46. Harm reduction –CHALLENGES traditional values • Reducing blood borne viral transmission • Reducing quantities of alcohol drunk/drugs used

47. Recovery Approach in Co-morbidity • Goal Hierarchy towards abstinence • Personal values & • meaning for life goals • Risk management joint approach with clients and psychiatric & substance misuse services Opportunity Control Hope

48. Other questions you might ask… • What do they know/understand about the substance and it’s effects? • What effects do they get from their psychiatric medication? • What are their social circumstances? • What have they done in the past to help control or abstain from drug of choice?

49. Case Study: • Adam is a 34 year old man who has a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Until recently he lived at home with his mum and step father. He now lives in a flat in Newtown after being thrown out “For getting lairy” his mum tells you. • Adam injects around 1 gramme of amphetamines 4 days per week. He also takes heroin which he injects intramuscularly, cocaine which he also injects and occasionally smokes crack. In the past he has drunk heavily and also taken steroids. • Discuss how you would assess Adam’s needs, what issues you might prioritise and what you would do to try to ensure he receives a comprehensive service.

50. Stages of treatment: • Assessment. • Engagement: • Building a therapeutic relationship. • Doesn’t necessarily tackle drug and alcohol issues immediately. • Early empowerment: • Gives the client relevant verbal and written information that they may not have had before.