§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish detailed guidance for treatment of mental health dual diagnosis patients; which categories of dual diagnosis are being considered for such guidance; and if he will make a statement. [107240]
236W
§ Jacqui SmithThe Department of Health published the "Dual Diagnosis Good Practice Guide" as an addition to the "Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide" in May 2002. The guide explicates the policy and good practice in the provision of mental health services to people with severe mental health problems and problematic misuse of any drug including alcohol but not tobacco.
The National Treatment Agency for substance misuse (NIA), in partnership with the Department of Health, has recently published "Models of Care", which sets out a national framework for the commissioning of an integrated drug treatment system for adult drug misusers in. England. This includes detailed guidance on provision of services for psychiatric co-morbidity (dual diagnosis) and the document also cross-references the "Dual Diagnosis Good Practice Guide" for mental health services.
The Department of Health also commissioned the Royal College of Psychiatrists to publish an information manual for multi-disciplinary practitioners based on expert review of the evidence and its implications for safe and effective practice entitled "Co-existing Problems of Mental Disorder and Substance Misuse (Dual Diagnosis)—An Information Manual" in 2001. This has since been distributed widely. In addition, a literature review and collection of abstracts on this subject was commissioned from the Royal College of Psychiatrists and is available on request.