OasisLMS

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This session provides a focused, case-based review of co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders, including key concepts in terminology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Aligned with the ACAAM National Addiction Medicine Didactic Curriculum and ABPM content areas, the session explores the complex relationship between psychiatric conditions and substance use, approaches to differential diagnosis, and evidence-based strategies for managing patients with co-occurring disorders across clinical settings.

What This Covers

• Terminology and epidemiology of co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders
• The relationship between psychiatric conditions and substance use
• Diagnostic challenges, including distinguishing primary psychiatric disorders from substance-induced conditions
• Evaluation of psychiatric symptoms during periods of active substance use, withdrawal, and abstinence
• Evidence-based treatment approaches, including pharmacologic and psychosocial interventions
• Practical strategies for improving outcomes in patients with co-occurring disorders

How This Resource Is Used

This session is designed for on-demand learning, focused content review, and board preparation. It may be used to reinforce foundational addiction medicine concepts, supplement fellowship training, or support preparation for addiction medicine certification examinations. Learners can engage with specific topic areas independently or complete the full session as part of a structured study plan.

Sheila Specker, MD Dr. Specker is an addiction psychiatrist and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Minnesota. She previously served as Program Director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship, where she trained physicians in the care of substance use and co‑occurring psychiatric disorders. She completed her medical degree at the University of Minnesota, along with residencies in family practice and psychiatry, and fellowship training in addiction medicine. Dr. Specker is board certified in both family medicine and psychiatry, with additional certification in addiction psychiatry.

Yasmin Ali, MBBS Dr. Yasmin Ali is a recent graduate of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and is currently an addiction medicine fellow at the Minnesota Addiction Medicine Program.

To support a meaningful learning experience and recognize your participation:

• After viewing a minimum of 50% of the session, the evaluation will become available
• We encourage you to complete the evaluation to reflect on the content and provide valuable feedback
• Upon completion, a Certificate of Participation will be issued for your records