Over a quarter century of studies have shown that addictions, mental illnesses, and their combinations (dual diagnoses) are pervasive in the general population. Emerging neuroscience reveals that the neurodevelopmental basis of major mental illness and addiction diseases are tightly interconnected and often unified pathologies of the brain. The 2 x 4 Model, as described in this translational textbook of Addiction Psychiatry, is the essential blueprint and operational manual for the fully integrated, expertly staffed, Dual Diagnosis clinic.
Key Features
- Integrated Treatment: The clinic is maximally capable and efficient in treating the full spectrum of addictions, mental illness, and their comorbidities.
- Collaborative Care: Integration of psychotherapies and medications is provided by one team under one roof.
- National System Replication: Replication of 2 x 4 Model Clinics into a national system would allow widespread access to excellent, transparent standards of Addiction Psychiatry.
- Public Health Imperative: A decisive measure against mass incarceration and the exploding health care crisis of untreated addictions while rebuilding brain health.
Additional Information
This science calls into question the profound split between the addiction and mental health fields that define our fragmented research, professional training, and treatment delivery systems—a split that leaves most patients out of reach of adequate professional expertise and evidence-based standards of care.
