ASC5008 · Co-occurring mental illness and substance use or addiction

Overview

This unit provides an overview of the key considerations for alcohol and other drug (AOD) workers, policy makers, researchers and other health and welfare professionals advocating for, supporting and engaging with individuals living with co-occurring disorders. You will be presented with the latest research findings on effective identification, management and support of people living with co-occurring disorders. Emphasis will be placed on the mental health disorders that most commonly coexist with substance use or addictive behaviour disorders. In this unit you will learn about the prevalence of common co-occurring disorders, theoretical models that explain your aetiology and inform treatment, and the unique challenges associated with different presentations. The unit also examines the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions and evidence for medical management, including pharmacological approaches. An applied approach is embedded throughout the unit, with practice relevant content including a review of the principles of case-formulation for the development of management plans.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Assess limitations and assumptions underlying the various terminologies as they are applied to individuals experiencing co-occurring disorders.
2. Evaluate the major theoretical models of aetiology for co-occurring disorders.
3. Identify how co-occurring disorders affect population groups, and the consequences and implications of this.
4. Explain common screening and assessment tools relevant to co-occurring disorders.
5. Evaluate the strengths and limitations of treatment models of care for co-occurring disorders.
6. Appraise the unique challenges of supporting individuals experiencing co-occurring disorders and priorities for clinical practice.
7. Formulate presenting issues and develop integrated management plans for individuals experiencing co-occurring disorders.
8. Communicate and reflect on evidence-based treatment and support interventions for co-occurring disorders.

Workload

Students enrolling in ASC5008 will be expected to contact the course coordinator regularly throughout the semester and participate in online discussions with fellow students and academic staff, some of these live via zoom. You should expect to spend around 24 hours a week on scheduled activities, directed learning and independent study. This includes accessing online lectures, podcasts and resources as well as participating in forum discussions, questions and quizzes via Moodle, in addition to conducting independent study such as reading, research and writing activities.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.