Screening and Screening for Co-occurring Disorders
Screening is the generally brief process using interviews and/or questionnaires/survey tools to monitor:
- if a client has indicators that might suggest a need, health problem, and/or condition,
- if a safety or injury risk exists, and
- where referral for follow up in-depth assessment by a specialist is appropriate to diagnosis and determine need for treatment.
There are many focuses of screenings and screening tools. Some examples include screenings for:
- potential diabetes,
- substance abuse,
- learning disorders,
- mental illness,
- brain injury, and
- safety risk.
When individuals have co-occurring disorders, it means that they have a mental illness and at least one other major health condition/diagnosis.