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MIDAS: a new service for the mentally ill with comorbid drug and alcohol misuse

West London Mental Health Care NHS Trust, Uxbridge Road, Southall, Middlesex UB1 3EU

Paul St John-Smith, Consultant Psychiatrist in MIDAS and Adult Mental Health

Cranbourne Centre, Potters Bar

Anand Conhye, Manager/Specialist Practitioner at MIDAS

Borehamwood

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

To describe the work and patient characteristics of one of the first combined mental illness and drug and alcohol services (MIDAS) in the UK. We examined MIDAS as an assertive community service, for individuals receiving long-term community care. We selected the case files of the first 80 patients accepted over a 10-month period and examined variables including demographic details, diagnosis, associated substance use and length of engagement with the service.

RESULTS

Our findings show that there was no relationship between responders to the service and basic demographic data. Patients with bipolar affective disorder and personality disorders were more likely to use the service than patients with unipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Despite the use of an assertive service, there was difficulty engaging patients with schizophrenia and comorbid drug use. These same patients also had a high level of criminal convictions as well as a trend towards using alcohol and cannabis as their main substances of misuse. At 18 months 38% of patients had failed to remain engaged with the service.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

This specialist type of service may be more useful than other services in engaging patients with comorbidity. Systematic research is required in the UK to explore the effectiveness of this type of new service. More innovative resources need to be identified to specifically deal with patients with severe mental illness and comorbid substance use.