Elias 1

Eldah Elias

Independent Research GT

English 10 GT

1 March 2018

Meta-analysis data collection for February 2018, on comorbidity of mental health and substance abuse
Data:
Source Public Awareness Initiative Support System

“Implementing Dual-Diagnosis
Services for Clients with
Severe Mental Illness.”
(2015)
Co-occurrence of substance
abusiveness and mental illness is
common. The source explains that
knowledge of comorbid illness must
be incorporated into society because
dual-diagnosis is linked to higher
levels of incarceration, relapse,
homelessness, and violence. This is
damaging to the public, therefore,
care needs to be directed to the needs
of comorbid illness patients.
The study emphasized the
underachievement of 12-step groups
because of a diverse population. This
fact important to handling comorbid
illness because the population of
patients with comorbid illness is
diverse. When traditional methods of
treating substance abuse or mental
illness are conducted, the outcome on
the patient is underwhelming- results
show negative responses to
non-conjoined treatment. Adversely,
multidisciplinary treatment yielded
positive outcomes in the health of
patients. The evidence concludes that
effectiveness of treating dual
diagnosis is in combined use of
treatments to assess the overall
condition, rather than isolating the
The source emphasizes that social
skills which need to be advanced in
the cases of dual diagnosis. Society
plays a large role in the recovery of
these individuals. In integrating them
into society, they can assume
positions of power they didn’t
previously have control over.
Generally, patients are redirected to
community support from hospitals,
but the impact of surrounding
individuals is greater than that of a
treatment facility.

“Assessing the Economic Costs of
Serious Mental Illness”
(2008)
“Social Consequences of Psychiatric
Disorders, I: Educational
Attainment” (1995)
Many of the indirect costs of mental
illness – ​reduced labor supply, public
income support payments, reduced
educational attainment, loss of
earnings, etc.​ – are the major
attributes of the substantial costs of
comorbid illness. Most of these have
large effects on the population not
personally affected by comorbid
illness, as their benefits are also
limited by indirect costs. It is
necessary for the general public to
understand comorbid illness for this
reason as well as wanting to reduce
the suffering of their community
members.
The detrimental effects of substance
abuse reduce the likelihood of
dual-diagnosis patients continuing
with receiving an education or
pursuing a job. This has negative
impacts on the whole of society, one
two factors (mental illness and
substance abuse) and treating them
individually.
Excessive costs of mental illness and
substance abuse affect all of the
institutions in which dual diagnosis
patients are influenced by – prisons,
hospitals, and the streets. The source
stresses this impact as fiscally
drastic, highlighting the ​high rate of
medical complications associated
with serious mental illness​. As a
result, overall expenditures in the
United States are limited, and the
access for these comorbidly ill
individuals to reach effective
treatment centers is limited. The
authors explicitly state that the
solution to the high costs of dual
diagnosis is better treatment
methods/facilities, and this would
involve properly handling the dual
presence of the two illnesses which
reinforce each other.
Concurrent with the other sources,
the authors express concern for the
current methodology of treating
comorbid illness. Consequently, the
belief is that, based on scientific
research, psychiatric care facilities
Elias 2
The other ways to reduce
homelessness, job loss, and
incarceration, and other impactful
factors is through community action.
The authors stress that the public is
not invested in the actions of dual
diagnosis individuals, primarily
because they believe they are not
affected. Recognition of all the
factors surrounding comorbid illness
help in reducing the overall cost,
helping the public and the patients by
creating room and incentive for
better treatment. In doing so, the
relationship between comorbidly ill
patients and their communities is
strengthened on both ends, and the
safety of those patients is also
increased because there is less
withdrawal and thus lesser probable
harm.
The primary statement regarding
reinstating these persons into society
is that that can only be achieved
through addressing the persistent
negative effects of comorbid illness.

being the prevention of resources by
people who cannot do their jobs
because of their illness.
“Estimates of Economic Costs of As previously mentioned, society
Alcohol and Drug Abuse and fails to realize the hazardous effects
Mental Illness, 1985 and of comorbid illness, but the source
1988.” (1991) also draws attention to the patients
who are unaware of what they’re
predisposed to. As a result, when
homelessness or relapse reoccurs, it
is due to factors they cannot
recognize.
should attend to dual diagnosis
through alternative treatment
methods (such as combined
treatment plans) because comorbid
illness continues to be a harm society
as it goes untreated.
Rehospitalization is continuous for
comorbidly ill patients in many
circumstances because facilities
propose ineffective treatments to the
diagnosis. As a result, advocacy for
better government funding grows
because this would yield better
treatment options in newer facilities.
The problem lies in the inability to
access adequate treatment, not the
inexistence of such plans.
Elias 3
Homelessness is not unusual for
persons who suffer from
dual-diagnosis. The authors put focus
on this point as it is extremely
harmful to the well being of the
patient, because it predisposes them
to relapse or heavier addiction and
affliction. Additionally, it does not
benefit society, therefore, it can be
limited by the proper treatment of
comorbid illness.
Elias 4
 Elias 5

Figure 2: Economic costs of alcohol and drug abuse and mental illness, by millions

Works Cited
 Elias 6

Drake, Robert E., M.D., Ph.D, et al. c ​Dual Diagnosis​, by Richard R. Rosenthal, 2015 ed.,

books.google.com/books?id=VwZTCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT84&dq=Persons+with+dual+diagnoses+of+substance+abuse+and+m

ajor+mental+illness:+their+excess+costs+of+psychiatric+care&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=3#v=onepage&q=Persons%20with%2

0dual%20diagnoses%20of%20substance%20abuse%20and%20major%20mental%20illness%3A%20their%20excess%20costs

%20of%20psychiatric%20care&f=false​. Accessed 8 Feb. 2018.

Insel, Thomas R., M.D. “Assessing the Economic Costs of Serious Mental Illness.” ​The American Journal of Psychiatry​, vol. 165, no.

6, June 2008, pp. 663-65, doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2008.08030366. Accessed 7 Feb. 2018.

Kessler, Ronald C., et al. “Social Consequences of Psychiatric Disorders, I: Educational Attainment.” ​The American Journal of

Psychiatry​, 1026-32 ser., vol. 152, no. 7, July 1995, pp. 1026-32,

citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.477.1539&rep=rep1&type=pdf​. Accessed 9 Feb. 2018.

Rice, Dorothy P., et al. “Estimates of Economic Costs of Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Mental Illness, 1985 and 1988.” ​National

Center for Biotechnology Information​, June 1991,

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1580246/pdf/pubhealthrep00190-0058.pdf​. Accessed 6 Feb. 2018.