Training for dual diagnosis

CrossCurrents

The need for more trained psychiatrists and general practitioners to more effectively treat people with a dual diagnosis is an issue throughout Canada. Training is happening at the University of Toronto and Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Dr. Susan Carpenter and Dr. Robin Friedlander also provide training to psychiatry residents at their respective universities – the University of Calgary and the University of British Columbia – but admit more is needed.

"There will never be a huge number of people trained in this specific area, but if general psychiatry training covers how to approach a situation and gather information and do what needs to be done immediately, that’s the most important thing," says Carpenter.

National health care guidelines have been developed for Canadian primary health care providers to help them treat people with developmental disabilities. These consensus guidelines were created with the input of international and Canadian experts and were published in Canadian Family Physician in 2006. "GPs need more training, not only around how to manage crises in individuals with developmental disabilities but also about the role they can play in preventing crises, how to treat a problem in the long term and how to access appropriate services," says Dr. Yona Lunsky, who was involved in developing the guidelines. Training has been developed for primary health care professionals in Ontario on using the guidelines and related tools are currently under development.

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