Implementation of a computerized psychiatric assessment tool at a DUI treatment facility: a case example.
Psychiatric comorbidity is common among patients in a variety of treatment settings, yet treatment providers seldom use standardized mental health assessments to identify these problems. Using standardized assessment tools gives practitioners and clients the opportunity to tailor treatment and aftercare efforts to a potential problem, and trains practitioners to provide valid and reliable measurements of mental health. Despite the benefits, there are barriers to implementing formal assessment tools. This paper discusses the barriers the authors encountered and the strategies they used to implement a standardized mental health assessment at a state-licensed Driving Under the Influence (DUI) offender treatment program.
Nelson
Sarah E
SE
Division on Addictions, Cambridge Health Alliance, 101 Station Landing, 2nd Floor, Medford, MA 02155, USA. snelson@hms.harvard.edu
LaPlante
Debi A
DA
Peller
Allyson J
AJ
LaBrie
Richard A
RA
Caro
Gabriel
G
Shaffer
Howard J
HJ
D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication; D001334:Automobile Driving; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers