Understanding comorbidity? Australian service-user and provider perspectives on drug treatment and mental-health literacy

Abstract

Aims: Although mental-health problems are common among drug-treatment consumers, little is known about how mental health is discussed by service providers or understood by clients within treatment settings. We analysed how co-occurring drug and mental-health problems are discussed in Australian drug-treatment settings, particularly clinical terminology such as ‘comorbidity’ or ‘dual diagnosis’.

Method: 77 drug-treatment clients with common psychological problems (anxiety or depression) and 18 service providers were interviewed about barriers and incentives to treatment for co-occurring drug and mental-health problems.

Findings: Consumers had low levels of understanding of clinical terminology for co-occurring drug and mental-health problems, except for those who had accessed literature or participated in programs developed by drug-user organizations. Service providers recognized low levels of consumer mental-health literacy, and advocated a client-centred approach that avoided the use of clinical terminology.

Conclusions: Providers should encourage consumers to discuss mental-health problems, and should not avoid using clinical terminology as this may undermine the development of mental-health literacy among consumers. Treatment services may benefit from working with drug-user organizations to develop resources aimed at improving awareness and understanding of mental-health problems among drug-treatment consumers.