Substance Use Disorders Increase Risk Of Psychiatric Hospitalization | The Retreat at Sheppard Pratt

Substance Use Disorders Increase Risk Of Psychiatric Hospitalization

March 9, 2009 —

Adding to an already significant body of evidence, the January issue of Psychiatric Services (p. 50-55) again reflects the impact that co-occurring substance use disorders and psychiatric illnesses can have on one another. Almost 3000 people were followed in this latest research, and it was found that those with substance dependence and bipolar illness were more than twice as likely to be hospitalized in the past year as those bipolars without a substance use disorder. In a cohort with little social support in addition to these other issues the chances of being hospitalized in the past year approached 100%!

At the Retreat we help patients break the cycle of multiple hospitalizations by aggressively addressing both their substance use problems and psychiatric disorders in a comprehensive, individualized, caring environment. Too often only one diagnosis is addressed expertly, either the substance use, or the psychiatric problem. The Retreat’s intermediate length of stay treatment philosophy allows for comprehensive diagnosis, and our expertise across both psychiatric and substance use disorders allows us to have success with many patients who have found themselves failing in multiple other treatment settings that are less individualized.

- Tom Franklin, M.D.