What can be done to improve outcomes for prisoners with a dual diagnosis?

Advances in Dual Diagnosis, < a href="http://emeraldinsight.com/toc/add/9/1" > Volume 9, Issue 1 < /a > , Page 14-25, February 2016. < br/ > Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on offenders with a dual diagnosis and discuss how prison-based services can improve to better meet the needs of prisoners with co-occurring substance misuse and mental health disorders. Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive lit erature search of PsycINFO, JSTOR, PubMed and Google Scholar, reviewing international studies on dual diagnosis amongst offender and community samples spanning the last three decades, supplemented by international policy, guidance papers and reports was conducted to explore how services can be impro ved. Findings – It was found that research into dual diagnosis amongst prisoners internationally was scarce. However, from the evidence available, several consistent factors emerged that led to the following recommendations: integrated treatment needs to be coordinated and holistic, staged and gender-responsive; increased availability of “low level”, flexible interventions; transitional support and continuity of care upon release with the utilisation of peer mentors; comprehensive assessments in conducive settings; mandatory dual diagnosis training for staff; and increased funding fo r female/gender-responsive services. Practical implications – The recommendations can inform commissioners, funders and service providers o...

Source: Advances in Dual Diagnosis - January 20, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research