Systematic implementation of integrated dual disorders treatment in The Netherlands

Abstract

Background: In the Netherlands, mental illness and addiction are treated separately. This causes problems when treating dual disorders. There is growing consensus in the Netherlands that the integration of mental health care and addiction care may be the best way to treat dual disorder patients. Aims: This study considered whether Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT), developed and researched in the United States, could be implemented in the Netherlands. Method: Five outpatient teams participated in the pilot. American implementation materials were translated, treatment staff trained, dual disorder treatment implemented, and barriers to implementation and strategies to overcome these were considered. The progress of implementation of Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment was followed by fidelity measurements. Results: In the baseline measurement the teams had an average score of 2.2 (5 meaning full implementation). One year later, the average had increased to 3. At the end of the project the average sco...