Target Audience: This activity is designed for Nurses, Pharmacists, PAs, Social Workers, Physicians, and the Healthcare Team. This activity is accredited for Nurses, Pharmacists, PAs, Social Workers, Physicians, and the Healthcare Team.
Module Description: Substance use disorders and psychiatric illnesses frequently co-occur and it is often difficult to differentiate independent from secondary disorders in patients. This results in more challenging treatment planning for patients with comorbid conditions, and poorer prognosis. Treatment outcomes in these patients are often worse, including higher relapse rates, shorter time to relapse of substance use, and more hospitalizations.
This module provides clinicians with tools to screen and diagnose patients with psychiatric illnesses and discusses how to treat common psychiatric comorbidities in patients with co-occurring substance use disorders. Covered topics include the epidemiology of co-occurring psychiatric illness and substance use disorders, comorbidity theories, clinical relevance, and diagnostic and treatment implications. The module utilizes three case vignettes to highlight specific diagnostic and treatment challenges and provides up-to-date treatment recommendations.
Educational Objectives:
- Recognize that psychiatric illnesses and substance use disorders commonly co-occur.
- Describe how to screen for and identify comorbid psychiatric diagnoses.
- Identify the distinction between independent psychiatric illness and substance-induced disorders.
- Demonstrate comfort in developing treatment plans when comorbidities are identified.
Continuing Education information:
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry. American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Credit Designation Statements
Physicians
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry is an approved provider of nursing continuing education through AAAP’s Joint Accreditation provider #4008192. This activity is approved for up to 1.25 CNE credits.
Pharmacists
This activity has been approved for 1.25 hours of pharmacy continuing education credit. The approval numbers issued are Universal Activity Numbers: JA4008192-9999-23-041-H01-P (pharmacy).
PAs
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.25 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until 7/12/2026. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP) is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. AAAP maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.25 continuing education credits.
Other Health Professionals and Other Learners
Participants will receive a certificate stating this program is designated for 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. This credit is accepted by the AANP and the AAPA.
All Learners
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.25 Interprofessional Continuing Education credits for learning and change.
