A review of research on residential programs for people with severe mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders.

Substance use disorder is the most common and clinically significant co-morbidity among clients with severe mental illnesses, associated with poor treatment response, homelessness and other adverse outcomes. Residential programs for clients with dual disorders integrate mental health treatment, substance abuse interventions, housing and other supports. Ten controlled studies suggest that greater levels of integration of substance abuse and mental health services are more effective than less integration.

Responding to blood-borne infections among persons with severe mental illness.

The Five-Site Health and Risk Study estimated prevalence rates of blood-borne infections, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, and addressed risk factors and correlates of infection among persons with severe mental illness. In this final article of the special section in this issue of Psychiatric Services, the authors review public health recommendations and best practices and discuss the implications of these results for community mental health care of clients with severe mental illness. Standard public health recommendations could be modified for use by community mental health providers.