A SELF PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH TO TREATING THE MENTALLY-ILL, CHEMICAL ABUSING AND ADDICTED (MICAA) PATIENT

There is a growing population of mentally ill, chemical abusing and ad dicted (MICAA) patients being admitted to inpatient psychiatric units. This article proposes a self psychological approach for this populati on and discusses how this model addresses the underlying intrapersonal and interpersonal reasons for chemical abuse. A synopsis of self psyc hology is presented and applied to both addiction and MICAA patients. A self psychological treatment approach is reviewed, including specifi c nursing interventions. Copyright (C) 1994 by W.B. Saunders Company