Integrated Treatment for Dual Disorders

“This book is not written specifically for or by social workers; however, it provides clear, contemporary discussions of practice principles with great relevance and applicability to the social work profession....One of the great strengths of this book lies in its presentation of conceptual frameworks and models related to substance abuse and psychiatric illness....Overall, this book is interesting, well written, and well researched. It would be useful for social work educators seeking basic tools for MSW practice/field courses and for specialized doctoral-level social work education. It is also a good resource for social work students and social work practitioners who want up-to-date training about substance abuse, severe mental illness, and to know what happens when these are experienced together.”

—Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions


“A professor designing a graduate course to investigate how the criminal justice system deals with mentally ill people should certainly include [this book]....Provide[s] basic technical knowledge about service delivery in general, information on specific groups of people, and information about specific disorders and treatments. Correctional staff members who need information about service delivery are well advised to consult [this book]....Provide[s] a wealth of technical information and also provide[s] a good staring point by which to understand correctional health care....Provide[s] needed, valuable information about the mental health and criminal justice interface.”

—Criminal Justice Review


“Offers a comprehensive guide to the unified treatment of an often overlooked population. The information contained in this publication will enable mental health professionals and facilities to design and implement a treatment program tailored to the special needs of the dual-disordered individual. The authors provide uncommon insight into the challenges of comorbid psychiatric and substance use disorders front the differing perspectives of the client, the family, and the clinician.”

—Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy


“An outstanding resource for clinicians. The text is remarkable for its comprehensiveness, clarity, practical suggestions, and wealth of reproducible forms and handouts. Social workers will find the book especially useful, as it covers many aspects of treatment that are frequently overlooked, such as case management, family work, residential programs, and employment. This book will serve as a blueprint for providing integrated treatment for dual disorders.”

—Susan Gingerich, MSW, independent consultant and trainer, Narberth, Pennsylvania


“Mueser and his colleagues—all internationally recognized experts in their field—have given us a comprehensive, state-of-the-art volume to address empirically validated treatment for co-occurring disorders. With its treatment fidelity checklist and implementation guidelines, this book should be required reading for all program managers and mental health administrators who seek to design an effective, integrated system of care or improve existing service delivery. Grounded in practical clinical experience and well informed by first-rate scholarship, the text includes a variety of client handouts and detailed, step-by-step advice on adopting 'best practice' standards. This outstanding book is an invaluable resource for administrators, supervisors, clinicians, and trainers in social work and other mental health fields. I find it to be very valuable in training new staff. In addition, I highly recommend this book as a text for advanced practice courses in social work, psychology, psychosocial rehabilitation, and psychiatric nursing.”

—Margaret V. Sherrer, MSW, Project Director, Co-Occurring Addictive and Mental Disorders Program, South Shore Mental Health Center, Charlestown, Rhode Island; designated trainer, RI Council of Community Mental Health Centers, Inc.


“Providing meaningful help to the addicted client with major mental illness is the most difficult and challenging task that mental health clinicians face. Mueser and colleagues have provided us with a truly helpful and empowering guide. It is the best book in its field”

—George E. Vaillant, MD, Harvard Medical School


“Individuals with severe mental illness and substance abuse are the most neglected group of psychiatric patients. This comprehensive textbook fills a major void and will be infinitely useful to clinicians, administrators, and clinicians-in-training. The authors have a national reputation for pioneering efforts to develop treatment models, and they have laid out a detailed plan for the rest of us to follow. Finally, clinicians have a cure for their dual diagnosis despair!”

—E. Fuller Torrey, MD, The Stanley Medical Research Institute, Bethesda, MD


“Helping clients with dual disorders represents one of the most challenging tasks for mental health clinicians and administrators. While there is an extensive scientific literature on the topic, few programs offer integrated, evidence-based treatment. This book has the potential to change that. Written by the experts on the topic, it is a comprehensive, well-written, state-of-the-art manual that explains what needs to be done and then describes how it should be done. This book should find a home in every mental health program that works with dually diagnosed clients, and should be required reading for every new clinician and program administrator.”

—Alan S. Bellack, PhD, ABPP, Mental Illness Research Education Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Capitol Health Care Network, Baltimore, MD; Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine