Therapeutic Strategies for Co-Occurring Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders
A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmacology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2026 | Viewed by 251
Special Issue Editors
Interests: mood disorders; treatment-resistant depression; dual diagnosis; substance use disorder
Interests: psychiatry; neuropsychopharmacology; addiction; SUD; drugs; toxicology; new psychoactive substances
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders represent a major clinical challenge in contemporary mental health care, being associated with increased symptom severity, reduced treatment adherence, higher relapse rates, and greater healthcare burden. Despite their high prevalence, therapeutic approaches for dual diagnosis remain frequently fragmented and insufficiently integrated, often failing to address the shared neurobiological and pharmacological mechanisms underlying both conditions.
This Special Issue aims to provide an updated overview of current and emerging therapeutic strategies for the integrated management of co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders. Particular emphasis will be placed on innovative pharmacological interventions, personalized treatment approaches, and key neurobiological targets involved in reward processing, emotional regulation, and impulsivity. Contributions addressing combined pharmacological and psychosocial treatments, translational research, and real-world clinical evidence are also encouraged.
By bringing together original research articles, reviews, and clinical perspectives, this Special Issue seeks to promote evidence-based, patient-centered models of care and to support the development of effective and sustainable treatment strategies for individuals with dual diagnosis.
Dr. Clara Cavallotto
Dr. Stefania Chiappini
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- dual diagnosis
- substance use disorder
- schizophrenia spectrum disorder
- antipsychotic
- pharmacological treatment
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