Many people with psychosis have ongoing substance abuse problems, and many people who abuse drugs and alcohol also experience psychosis. Psychosis and substance abuse are serious illnesses that adversely affect patients’ bodies as well as minds, and treatment for patients suffering from both disorders is more complicated than treating either one alone.
A panel of experts from UMass Medical School and the community will present “Psychosis, co-occurring substance use and medical conditions: Treatment challenges and strategies” as the next installment of the "Be Mentally Well" lecture series hosted by the Department of Psychiatry.
- Irene Coletsos, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry and an attending psychiatrist at Community Healthlink, Inc., a member of UMass Memorial Health Care that provides mental illness and addiction treatment, will discuss early detection and treatment;
- Amy Harrington, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry and medical director forAcute Substance Abuse Services at Community Healthlink, Inc., will focus on how to address substance abuse that co-occurs with major mental illness;
- Xiaoduo Fan, MD, MPH, MS, associate professor of psychiatry and director of the Psychotic Disorders Program at UMass Memorial Medical Center, will address how to promote physical health for dually diagnosed individuals;
- Bob Fletcher will share his family’s journey with psychosis and co-occuring substance abuse; and
- Mary E. Olson, PhD, LICSW, assistant professor of psychiatry and executive director of the Institute for Dialogic Practice, will lead an open dialogue on engaging consumers, families and networks in the recovery process.
The event will take place Wednesday, April 30, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Amphitheater 1 on the University campus. Attendees can visit with representatives of community agencies who will be exhibiting in the registration area from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Music will be provided by Jaques Ave 5, a band composed of Community Healthlink consumers.
Co-sponsored by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and Worcester’s Genesis Club, "Be Mentally Well" is free and open to the public, with pre-registration requested. To register in advance, call 508-856-8636 Fax: 508-856-6426 or send an email to PsychiatryCommunications@umassmed.edu.
Related links on UMassMedNow:
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Living with bipolar disorder: the human face
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