There is a need for integrated treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (i.e., co-occurring disorders or COD). However, evidence-based practice guidelines for COD are not yet supported by a mature body of research. Front-line programs and practitioners have no alternative but to explore ways to improve their own COD theory and practice knowledge. A rural adult outpatient addiction treatment agency in Ontario, Canada wanted to improve its ability to assist people with COD. The majority of COD involved mood and/or anxiety disorders concurrent with substance abuse or dependence. A qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology approach generated three COD practice/theory developments: adopting a functional evolutionary perspective vis-à-vis the purpose of emotion/mood experiences; focusing on enhancing COD service users' emotion/ mood literacy; and focusing on emotion/mood regulation in terms of mental health and substance use. Findings are discussed. While not generalizable, the developments may contribute to hypotheses that can be tested for generalizability.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.