The impact of substance use on treatment as a compulsory patient

Ruth Vine, Holly Tibble, Jane Pirkis, Matthew Spittal, Fiona Judd

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

OBJECTIVES: This paper considers the impact of having a diagnosis of substance use disorder on the utilisation of compulsory orders under the Victorian Mental Health Act (2014).

METHODS: We analysed the subsequent treatment episodes over 2 years of people who had been on a community treatment order for at least 3 months and determined the odds of a further treatment order if there was a diagnosis of substance use at or about the time the index community treatment order ended.

RESULTS: An additional diagnosis of a substance use disorder was coded in 47.7% and was associated with significantly increased odds of a subsequent treatment order in the following 2 years for those with a main diagnosis of schizophrenia (AOR = 3.03, p<0.001) and 'other' disorders (AOR = 11.60, p=0.002). Those with a main diagnosis of mood disorder had a significant increase in odds for an inpatient treatment order if there was an additional substance use disorder diagnosis (AOR = 3.81, p=0.006).

CONCLUSIONS: Having an additional diagnosis of substance use disorder was associated with increased likelihood of being placed on an order. This study supports greater emphasis being given to treatment of substance use concurrently with that of mental illness.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1039856219852286
JournalAustralasian Psychiatry
Early online date10 Jun 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2019

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The impact of substance use on treatment as a compulsory patient'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this