You work in a hospital with a chemical dependency unit. A new patient in the emergency room shows signs of paranoid schizophrenia, but a toxicology screen indicates he took cocaine. He is sent to your unit, and one week later, he still seems to show signs of paranoid schizophrenia but you are not a doctor). What do you do?
A) Schedule the patient for an assessment with you and an evaluation by a mental health professional to determine if a co- occurrence exists.
B) Recognize that the patient has a co-occurrence of mental illness and cocaine abuse, and assess for the best treatment approach.
C) Send the patient to the psychiatric ward for evaluation.
D) Ask the patient how often he uses cocaine.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

CScheduling the patient for an assessment with a mental health professional (A) and sending the patient to the psychiatric ward for evaluation (C) are both appropriate actions to ensure the patient receives a comprehensive evaluation for his symptoms and substance use. These steps are necessary to accurately diagnose and treat any co-occurring disorders.

You Work in a Hospital with a Chemical Dependency Unit