Moving away from medicalised and partisan terminology: a contribution to the debate

Abstract

There is a growing awareness within both mental health and substance misuse services of the importance of co-existing problems. Clients with these co-existing problems impact upon a wide range of professionals, and often present major challenges due to their complex needs.

However, there is confusion about both terminology, and many of the underlying and treatment issues, related to these co-existing problems.

This paper examines some of these confusions and debates, arriving at the view that practice in the field will be enhanced by the adoption of a broad and inclusive definition of co-existing problems which avoids medicalised terminology such as ‘dual diagnosis’ or ‘co-morbidity’. We argue that the term ‘co-existing mental health and drug and alcohol problems’ is consistent with a case formulation driven approach and adoption of this term will thus enhance practitioners' confidence in the detection, assessment and treatment of co-existing problems.

Keywords:

• dual diagnosis
• co-morbidity
• co-existing problems
• terminology