Co-Occurring Disorders:
The Prevalent Mental Disorders
This 12-hour course will provide the trainee with information related to the prevalent psychiatric disorders encountered when providing treatment to alcohol and other drug abusing clients. While entire books can be written regarding specific psychiatric disorders, this course will describe the disorder that account for the majority of psychiatric problems seen in patients with co-occurring disorders and includes diagnostic and specific treatment considerations.  It is primarily intended for addiction treatment staff. However, it contains information and treatment recommendations that can be used by healthcare providers in a variety of treatment settings. For example, it will be useful to people who work in primary care clinics, hospitals, and various mental health settings.

Goals/Objectives

By participating in this DLC, the trainee will:

  1. identify and define the major diagnostic features of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and psychotic disorders;
  2. explain how  other mental disorders with particular relevance to COD, including attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, PTSD, and eating disorders impact addiction treatment;
  3. identify the major categories of the classification system for each of these disorders;
  4. identify treatment modalities and counseling approaches specific to each of these disorders;
  5. identify and explain approaches, indications, and precautions for the use of medications for each type of disorder;
  6. analyze and critique relevant case histories for each of the disorders above;
  7. identify and explain the key critical mental disorder symptoms caused by the use of psychoactive substances.

Your Course Instructor:
Dennis C. Daley, Ph.D
Dennis C. Daley, Ph.D., is director of the Center for Psychiatric and Chemical Dependency Services and an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in Pittsburgh. Daley has been involved in managing and providing treatment services for people with alcohol and other drug problems and dual disorders for over two decades. He has written over 125 publications including journal articles, books, clinical manuals, client workbooks, and recovery guides.  

Daley has authored numerous Hazelden publications including Dual Disorders: Counseling Clients with Chemical Dependency and Mental Illness; Celebrating Small Victories; A Family Guide to Dual Disorders; Coping with Dual Disorders; Preventing Relapse (workbook); Understanding Major Anxiety Disorders and Addiction (workbook); Understanding Bipolar Disorder and Addiction (workbook); Understanding Depression and Addiction (workbook); Understanding Personality Problems and Addiction (workbook); and Understanding Schizophrenia and Addiction (pamphlet and workbook). He teaches on these subjects throughout the United States and other countries.  

Daley is also involved in several federally funded research projects on treatment of cocaine addiction and treatment of dual disorders. Daley authored the highly successful Living Sober I and Living Sober II Interactive Videotape Series and the Promise of Recovery Educational Videotape Series.