This page contains links to a number of Fact Sheets. They are short text documents containing information on a variety of topics. The initial links are connected to Fact Sheets published by other organizations. Eventually, others prepared specifically by and for the Dual Diagnosis Forum will be added. The Fact Sheets cover topics of particular concern to the discussion of dual diagnosis and to other, more general issues of interest. Unless a particular Fact Sheet carries instructions specifying otherwise, the documents may be downloaded and printed for future reference and as training tools. Please be sure to acknowledge the authorship and source of any documents which you duplicate for distribution.
The Dual Diagnosis Forum believes that knowledge can be empowering and that making information available to people is an important part of our mission. But we must extend a word of caution -- the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness is a difficult and demanding science. Treatment is often made more difficult when mental illness occurs in a person with mental retardation. Decisions about treatment must be made by competent professionals working with other people who have direct knowledge of the individual under discussion and are committed to successfully supporting that person. Knowledge gained through this web site can be used to enhance our understanding of a problem or disease. It can give us options to pursue as we learn about the successes of others. But that knowledge must never be used as a substitute for "hands on" involvement with caring, credentialed practitioners.
The Dual Diagnosis Forum has reviewed the Fact Sheets linked to this page to insure that they are relevant, accurate and current. The Forum can not be held responsible for the content of the Fact Sheets listed here which have been authored by others. Placement of a link on this page does not constitute an endorsement by either the Dual Diagnosis Forum or by the PA Department of Public Welfare of the linked site's organization or author(s) or of the positions taken by the site author(s).
The Arc's Q & A's And Other Fact Sheets -- This site lists all of the "Fact Sheets" prepared by The Arc, including the two listed below which have specific relevance to dual diagnosis. The site also contains links to a number of reprints from The Habilitative Mental Healthcare Newsletter, a journal which places special emphasis on people with mental retardation and mental illness.
Treatment of Destructive Behavior in Persons With Developmental Disabilities -- The Online Consensus Statement of a conference convened by the National Institute of Health, September 11-13, 1989. This rather lengthy document provides a good overview of "best practices". The reader is reminded, however, that the paper is over seven years old and that "best practices" are continually evolving. [NOTE: This link is no longer in existance. If anyone knows whether the Consensus Statement is still available online, please forward the correct URL. Thanks.]
This page is under continual "construction" as we identify additional resources. If you know about other Links which would enhance the value of this site, please send the URL and page title to Greg Pirmann at jgreg123@ptdprolog.net. Thanks for your help. This Web Site is not an official presentation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the PA Department of Public Welfare. The views represented here are those of the Dual Diagnosis Forum.
This page was last modified on September 26, 1997.
