How Is Nidotherapy Used in Addiction Treatment?
Nidotherapy has not traditionally been used in the treatment of substance use disorders; however, it can be used to treat co-occurring disorders, which is when a person has both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder. The treatment of co-occurring disorders, or dual diagnosis treatment, focuses on addressing both conditions simultaneously to provide the most success for the person in overcoming both disorders.
Often a person’s environment can influence their mental health, or certain triggers in their environment could cause them to resort to substance use. Nidotherapy encourages a person to change their environment to better encourage recovery from their disorder(s). One study showed that patients with substance use disorders and co-occurring psychosis responded well to nidotherapy and spent less time in the hospital.
Mental Health Conditions Treated with Nidotherapy
Nidothearpy has been effective in treating multiple types of mental health conditions. It has mostly been used for the treatment of personality disorders, including schizophrenia. One pilot study showed that when nidotherapy was added to the standard of care treatment for schizophrenia patients, it slightly improved their social interactions, relationships, and mental state. Additionally, they spent less time in the hospital. Though these results are promising, larger controlled studies need to be done to determine the effectiveness of nidotherapy for schizophrenia.
Nidotherapy Benefits & Treatment Effectiveness
Nidotherapy is especially beneficial for people who have not done well with other types of treatment. Most other treatments focus on changing the individual, which can be hard for anyone and especially hard for someone dealing with a mental health issue. Nidothearpy instead focuses on changing the environment around a person to ease triggers of mental health issues. When combined with other treatments for mental health disorders, it can be very effective.
If you or a loved one are dealing with a substance use disorder or a co-occurring disorder, The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health can help. To learn more about our comprehensive treatment plans, call The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health to speak with a representative today. Find out how professional addiction treatment can help you. Take the first step toward a healthier future and call today.
- Sources
Tyrer, Peter. “Nidotherapy: a cost‐effective systematic environmental intervention.” World Psychiatry, June 2019. Accessed September 12, 2019.
Tyrer, Peter; Bajaj, Priya. “Nidotherapy: making the environment do the therapeutic work.” Advances in Psychiatry Treatment, May 2005. Accessed September 12, 2019.
Tyrer, Peter; Milos˘eska, Katarina; Whittington, Craig; Ranger, Maja; Khaleel, Ibrahim; Crawford, Mike; North, Bernard; Barrett, Barbara. “Nidotherapy in the treatment of substance misuse, psychosis and personality disorder: secondary analysis of a controlled trial.” The Psychiatrist, 2001. Accessed September 12, 2019.
Chamberlain, Ian J.; Sampson, Stephanie. “Nidotherapy for people with schizophrenia.” The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, March 28, 2013. Accessed September 12, 2019.
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