In 1980, Robin Murray raised the question ‘Why are the drug companies so disinterested in alcoholism?’ (Murray, 1980). Since then, we have witnessed the evolution of a ‘specialist addiction field’ (Edwards, 2002), including rapid developments in pharmacological treatments for problem use of alcohol, opiates and nicotine. In this review we discuss some of these pharmacological agents and then summarise the evidence on the treatment of combined or coexisting disorders, also described as ‘dual diagnosis’ (e.g. Banerjee et al, 2002; Crawford et al, 2003).

Dual diagnosis: a definition (see also chapter 13)

‘Dual diagnosis’ is one of a number of terms and phrases (Box 12.1) used to refer to people who have coexisting problems of mental disorder and substance misuse (including alcohol, nicotine and illicit drugs). It is also applied to people with two coexisting conditions, for example learning disability and mental disorder (Banerjee et al, 2002), although it does not take that meaning in this chapter.

The group of people with dual diagnosis is heterogeneous, with complex, changing needs. They may have had previous traumatic experiences such as childhood sexual abuse, bullying at school or a broken and dysfunctional family life. Furthermore, mental disorder and substance misuse sit on separate dimensions, each with its own continuum of severity. ‘Dual diagnosis’ covers someone with bipolar disorder who is also alcohol dependent, and someone who has schizophrenia and smokes cannabis a few times a week. As a result of this complexity, numerous operational definitions may be applied in different clinical and social settings, thus complicating and confusing communication.