Are there any specific considerations for implementing screening in mental health settings?
Studies have demonstrated a strong relationship between alcohol use disorders and other mental disorders. Heavy drinking can cause psychiatric symptoms such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, cognitive dysfunction, and interpersonal conflict. For patients who have an independent psychiatric disorder, heavy drinking may compromise the treatment response. Thus, it is important that all mental health clinicians conduct routine screening for heavy drinking. Less is known about the performance of screening methods or brief interventions in mental health settings than in primary care settings. Still, the single-question screener in this Guide is likely to work reasonably well, since almost everyone with an alcohol use disorder reports drinking above the recommended daily limits at least occasionally. Mental health clinicians may need to conduct a more thorough assessment to determine whether an alcohol use disorder is present and how it might be interacting with other mental or substance use
Studies have demonstrated a strong relationship between alcohol use disorders and other mental disorders.32 Heavy drinking can cause psychiatric symptoms such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, cognitive dysfunction, and interpersonal conflict. For patients who have an independent psychiatric disorder, heavy drinking may compromise the treatment response. Thus, it is important that all mental health clinicians conduct routine screening for heavy drinking. Less is known about the performance of screening methods or brief interventions in mental health settings than in primary care settings. Still, the single-question screener in this Guide is likely to work reasonably well, since almost everyone with an alcohol use disorder reports drinking above the recommended daily limits at least occasionally. Mental health clinicians may need to conduct a more thorough assessment to determine whether an alcohol use disorder is present and how it might be interacting with other mental or substance us
