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Module 8: Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders in Addiction Medicine provides a comprehensive, evidence-based framework for the identification, assessment, and integrated treatment of individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. This activity equips clinicians with the diagnostic nuance, structured screening strategies, coordinated care models, relapse prevention planning, and legal-ethical competencies necessary to differentiate substance-induced from primary psychiatric conditions and to implement patient-centered, trauma-informed, and interdisciplinary treatment approaches that improve long-term recovery outcomes.
Co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders are highly prevalent across addiction treatment settings, yet clinicians frequently report limited formal training in accurately diagnosing and managing these complex presentations. Overlapping symptoms—such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, mood instability, and psychosis—may reflect substance-induced effects, primary psychiatric disorders, withdrawal syndromes, or combinations thereof. Distinguishing these conditions in accordance with DSM-5 criteria requires structured assessment and clinical nuance, but standardized screening tools and integrated evaluations are inconsistently applied in practice.
Evidence-based instruments such as the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) are underutilized in many clinical environments. Additionally, clinicians often report uncertainty in implementing integrated treatment approaches—including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing (MI), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), intensive outpatient programming (IOP), and integrated dual disorder treatment (IDDT)—within coordinated care models.
Fragmented or parallel treatment approaches are associated with higher relapse rates, increased psychiatric destabilization, and poorer long-term outcomes. Clinicians also face challenges in relapse prevention planning, interdisciplinary coordination, and navigating legal and ethical considerations such as confidentiality, informed consent, and discrimination protections.
This activity addresses identified gaps in knowledge, competence, and performance by equipping healthcare professionals with evidence-based strategies for comprehensive screening, integrated assessment, coordinated treatment planning, relapse prevention, ethical decision-making, and patient-centered engagement in the care of individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
Chief Medical Education Officer
Porch Light Health
Provider
Porch Light Health
Provider
Porch Light Health
Medical Lead, Infectious Disease Lead, Safety Lead
Porch Light Health
Director of Medical Services
Porch Light health
cpack@plhealth.com
Chief Clinical Officer
Porch Light Health
Provider
Porch light Health
Counselor
Porch Light Health
Director of Community Engagement and Development
Porch Light Health
Medical Director, AMSWS Lead, Lead Liaison, MA Lead
Porch Light Health
Bernie Birnbaum, MD
UCHealth
Chief of Addiction Medicine
Summit Stone Health
Provider
Porch light Health
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Porch Light Health and CME Outfitters, LLC. CME Outfitters LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
CME Outfitters, LLC, designates this enduring material for a maximum of 2.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
This activity is designated for 2.25 contact hours.
Nurse practitioners can apply for AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). AANP will accept AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM from Jointly Accredited Organizations. Nurse practitioners can also apply for credit through their state boards.
This knowledge-based activity is approved for 2.5 contact hours (0.25 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy credit (UAN JA0007185-9999-26-073-H01-P).
CME Outfitters, LLC, has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 2.25 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until March 19, 2028. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibly for the content of the programs.
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, CME Outfitters, LLC is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 2.25 general continuing education credits.
CME Outfitters, LLC is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.
CME Outfitters, LLC designates this activity for 2.25 continuing education credits.
Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider, or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 2.25 Interprofessional Continuing Education Credit for learning and change.
It is the policy of CME Outfitters, LLC, to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor and integrity in all of their CME/CE activities. Faculty must disclose to the participants any relationships with commercial companies whose products or devices may be mentioned in faculty presentations, or with the commercial supporter of this CME/CE activity. CME Outfitters, LLC, has evaluated, identified, and attempted to resolve any potential conflicts of interest through a rigorous content validation procedure, use of evidence-based data/research, and a multidisciplinary peer review process. Relevant financial relationships exist between the following individuals and commercial interests:
| First Name | Last Name | Disclosures |
|---|---|---|
| Ken | Davis, PA | Nothing to disclose |
| First Name | Last Name | Disclosures |
|---|---|---|
| Carmen | Pack, MA | Nothing to disclose |
| Colleen | Weissmann, MD | Nothing to disclose |
| Dayna | DeHerrera-Smith, MPH | Nothing to disclose |
| Elizabeth | Dengler | Nothing to disclose |
| Jeremy | Dubin DO | Nothing to disclose |
| John | Hutchinson, PharmD | Nothing to disclose |
| Josh | Hammond, MD | Nothing to disclose |
| Karissa | Gayosso, NP | Nothing to disclose |
| Karlie | Straight, PA | Nothing to disclose |
| Kathleen | Crislip, FNP | Nothing to disclose |
| Ken | Davis, PA | Discloses Stock Shareholder (directly purchased): Own shares of Lilly |
| Mark | Benn, Psy.D | Nothing to disclose |
| Megan | Foutch, MSW | Nothing to disclose |
| Melissa | Lowe, FNP | Nothing to disclose |
| Randy | Fox, RN | Nothing to disclose |
| Steve | Carleton, MSW, CAC | Nothing to disclose |
| Daniela | Jones, MS | Nothing to disclose |
At the end of the course, you will be provided with the activity evaluation link and print your certificate/statement of credit.
Credit request forms, and activity evaluations must be completed online (requires free account activation), and participants can print their certificate or statement of credit immediately. This website supports all browsers except Internet Explorer for Mac. For complete technical requirements and privacy policy, visit https://www.cmeoutfitters.com/privacy-and-confidentiality-policy
Please contact: plhu@plhealth.com
