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Substance misuse in patients with acute mental illness

Cherrie Ann Galletly and Darryl P Watson
Med J Aust 2006; 184 (12): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00426.x
Published online: 19 June 2006

To the Editor: There has been much public discussion recently about comorbidity between substance misuse and psychiatric disorders.1,2 Drug and alcohol misuse can precipitate, exacerbate and prolong psychiatric disorders, and is often accompanied by a range of social problems. Here we report on the prevalence of substance misuse in an unselected group of patients admitted to the 20-bed acute psychiatric facility at Lyell McEwin Health Service, situated in an underprivileged region of northern Adelaide. The facility has five closed beds and 15 open beds.


  • Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA.



  • 1. Godfrey K, Yung A, Killackey E, et al. Patterns of current comorbidity in young help-seekers: implications for service planning and delivery. Australas Psychiatry 2005; 13: 379-383.
  • 2. Thirthalli J, Benegal V. Psychosis among substance users. Curr Opin Psychiatry 2006; 19: 239-245.

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