Co-Occurring Disorders: A Whole-Person Approach to the Assessment and Treatment of Substance Use and Mental Disorders (2nd edition)

A must-have clinical resource that should have a place on every clinicians’ shelf – now in a fully revised and updated second edition!

Dr. Charles Atkins, board-certified psychiatrist, addictions specialist, and clinical trainer, brings the latest on effective treatment and recovery with Co-Occurring Disorders: A Whole-Person Approach to the Assessment and Treatment of Substance Use and Mental Disorders (2nd edition).

Written in his signature straightforward style and packed with accessible clinical tools, it serves as a navigation guide through the complexities of co-occurring disorders, providing clarity where many clinicians find themselves stuck. This book is a must-have resource for the rubber-meets-the-road clinician, as well as the educators who train them. Now in its second edition, it covers:

• The latest research on health and wellness interventions
• New comprehensive case studies
• Tools from evidence-based treatment models, including:
  • Motivational interviewing
  • Cognitive-behavioral strategies
  • Skills training
  • Mutual self-help & peer-based interventions
  • Mindfulness training
  • Recovery based strategies
  • Family interventions
  • Assertive community treatment and targeted case management
  • Psychopharmacology including opioid and nicotine replacement strategies

I adopted the first edition of this book as soon as it became available six years ago. I use it in more than one of my courses in the three-year MSW Co-Occurring Disorders cohort program. Students find it to be a truly valuable resource.

Jaak Rakfeldt, PhD, Co-Occurring Disorder Cohort Program, MSW Coordinator, Southern Connecticut State University Professor 

I found this book very helpful and clear for my students, who are approaching the material from all different backgrounds. I appreciate the materials, which includes common presenting problems, risk issues, treatment planning, and interventions.

Josh Kirsch, LCSW, instructor at UC Berkeley Extension and therapist at Kaiser Permanente 

So much valuable information in a user-friendly manner ….

Colette Anderson, LCSW, CEO of The Connecticut Women’s Consortium 

A clinical road map beginning with an outline of key and issues and ending with treatment planning …

Eileen M. Russo, MA, LADC 

As a person that has lived with bipolar disorder for many years and has proudly disclosed my personal journey of recovery, I know there are many people who would greatly benefit from the treatments suggested in this powerful book. Co-occurring services are rarely done in such a comprehensive way.

Karen A. Kangas, EdD 

Dr. Atkins provides a thorough analysis in which he presents the information in a clear and well-organized manner. Throughout the entire book, his tone is compassionate, respectful, and gives an inspiring message of hope. This book is a sound guide for both experienced clinicians, as well as students.

Gabriela Krainer, LCSW, LADC, Substance Abuse Program Director and Team Lead at Family & Children’s Aid 

Dr. Atkins has provided the treatment community with an invaluable resource for understanding the nuances of co-occurring disorders. This clear and concise book makes the theoretical underpinnings of evidence-based treatment of complex disorders accessible to non-medical providers and gives students a strong foundation. Weaving case examples throughout the text, Dr. Atkins provides relatable scenarios that will help the reader see how to move from theory to practice. Above all, Dr. Atkins instills in the reader an appreciation for the humanity of clients struggling with co-occurring disorders and the hope for recovery that is possible.

Lauren Doninger, EdD, LADC, LPC 

Charles Atkins, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist, national speaker, and author of fiction and nonfiction books. His short stories and articles have appeared in publications from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) to Writer’s Digest Magazine. His recent books on co-occurring substance use and mental disorders, and opioid use disorders, are used nationwide. He has written two plain-speak books on Alzheimer’s disease and bipolar disorder. His first PARADE special edition magazine, The Science of Sleep, hit the stands April 2019. Dr. Atkins has served as a regional medical director for the Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, as well as the chief medical officer for Waterbury Hospital and Community Mental Health Affiliates. He is on the volunteer faculty at Yale University, School of Medicine and is a member of the Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Policy Council (ADPC). He also writes urban fantasy both under his own name and as Caleb James