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Beyond MI: broadening the role of psycho-social interventions in the treatment setting
Lloyd Humphreys, Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Psychology Associates, Manchester and Jonathan Ward, Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Psychology Associates, Manchester
Abstract
Psychological interventions are now widely recognised as being a highly effective adjunct to substitute medications. An increasing body of international research supports the notion of a multi-component package of care incorporating evidence-based and emerging forms of treatment, such as contingency management, family interventions, community reinforcement approaches and, for service users with mental health difficulties, cognitive-behavioural therapy. These have been termed psycho-social interventions (PSI) because they target the psychological and social factors that underpin substance dependence, as well as addressing the specific effects of addiction. The goal of these approaches is to create a balanced lifestyle in which substance misuse is no longer a harmful component.
Although PSI approaches are recommended by the NTA, DoH and Welsh Assembly as an important way of expanding service user choice and improving treatment effectiveness, their adoption into mainstream treatment has been inconsistent. This has led to significant variance in the standards of quality, application and outcomes measurement across substance misuse services in the UK.
While the implementation of PSI has long been dominated by motivational interviewing, the recent advent of the International Treatment Effectiveness Programme (ITEP) has reawakened interest in the vital role of other non-pharmacological interventions in the treatment journey.
This interactive workshop will explore the clinical utility of PSI approaches and the barriers to their implementation, as well as identifying what structured programmes are currently available. It will address the importance of clinical governance in balancing risk and quality, and examine the implications for workforce development, in delivering evidence-based PSI. Facilitated by Clinical Psychologists and substance misuse experts, it will combine panel discussion with small group work and numerous thought-provoking exercises.
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Biographies
Dr Lloyd Humphreys is a Clinical Psychologist who has been involved with numerous large-scale research studies, including randomised controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of psychological treatments for various mental health disorders. These studies have been cited in guidelines produced by NICE and NIMHE, and referenced by the Cochrane Library. He has also lectured on undergraduate and postgraduate psychology courses, and delivered training workshops to a wide range of professionals working in the sectors of mental health and substance misuse. Recently, he has been closely involved in developing new structured programmes of evidence-based psycho-social interventions for substance dependence.
Dr Jonathan Ward is a Clinical Psychologist whose research has included an investigation into the factors associated with relapse in service users with a dual diagnosis of substance dependence and psychosis. He has implemented clinical governance frameworks and promoted workforce development within numerous regional and national health and social care organisations. He has also been instrumental in developing a new web-based outcomes monitoring and support system for service users and drug and alcohol professionals that is designed to provide services with clinical oversight from Clinical Psychologists and enable them to evidence positive outcomes.
Glyn Davies is a Deputy Regional Manager of a Drug Intervention Programme. His broad diversity of experience in the substance misuse field has encompassed both the commissioning and delivery of services. Prior to working as part of a regional commissioning team, he evaluated a group work programme for offenders with substance dependence in a probation service. He also held numerous roles within leading social care providers, focusing on the delivery of substance misuse services, including arrest referral, DTTO, CARATS and structured day programmes for crack users. More recently, he has contributed to the development of new structured programmes of psycho-social interventions in both brief and group work formats.
Dr Lee Hogan is a Clinical Psychologist who specialises in the treatment of substance misuse. His extensive research in this field has included an investigation into the predictors of alcohol dependence. He has also developed and evaluated a new and innovative computerised treatment package for service users with alcohol dependence. In his role as a clinician, he has been involved extensively in training and supervising drug and alcohol professionals, as well as delivering therapeutic interventions directly with service users. He has also helped to develop and implement a new stepped-care motivational enhancement therapy service.
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