Aims and scope
This journal has ceased (2015).
Increased recognition of co-existing mental health and substance use issues over the past 20 years has led to a growing body of discussion and research into the efficacy of interventions, treatment, and service delivery. As knowledge and expertise advance, professionals at the forefront of the field need an effective and stimulating forum in which to share information, review strategies and develop new concepts.
This international and interdisciplinary journal provides a single authoritative source of reference for clinicians, managers, service developers, researchers, educators, trainers, and students. The journal’s primary aim is to explore the complex issues arising from co-existing mental health and substance use. The journal informs, develops, and educates professionals by facilitating, sharing, and pooling knowledge, thus enhancing expertise in this fast developing field. It covers assessment, intervention, treatment, prevention, innovation, opinion, conceptual exploration and analysis, service delivery, service development, policy and procedure, research and debate.
Concept
The journal is not about mental health or substance use in isolation - as individual topics. It concentrates on concerns specifically related to coexisting mental health and substance use, referred to by some as ‘dual diagnosis.’ Such concerns relate to the individual, the family, and the future direction of services, interventions, and treatment. The journal presents a balanced view of what are best quality standards today. In doing so, it sometimes challenges concepts to stimulate debate and understanding, thus, exploring all sides of the development in treatment and intervention, facilitating reflection, discussion, and adoption of research lead best quality standards of practice.
The journal is a peer-review and consists of at least 80% of peer reviewed articles. The remaining 20% being book reviews, editorial, free expression and commissioned articles.
Contents
• Research papers
• Conceptual exploration and analysis
• Critical reviews
• Original papers
• Case studies
• Media reviews
• Clinical practice
• Policy and procedure
• Service user and carer perspectives
• Service development
• Legal and ethical issues
• Transcultural and ethnicity issues
• Debate
Peer Review System
All research articles in this journal, including those in special issues, special sections or supplements, have undergone rigorous peer review, based on initial editor screening and anonymized refereeing by at least two independent referees.
Disclaimer