Nurses' experiences of caring for patients with a dual diagnosis of depression and alcohol abuse in a general psychiatric setting.

The aim of this study is to describe mental psychiatric health nurses' experiences of caring for persons with the dual disorders of major depression and alcohol abuse. The study was conducted in 2003 on three psychiatric wards located in two general hospitals in Sweden. The study group comprised 11 registered nurses with experience of caring for patients with dual disorders. The data were analyzed by means of qualitative content analysis. The findings revealed three categories: Enabling a good level of cooperation with patients; Facilitating continued care and treatment; and Understanding barriers to cooperation with patients. Building a trusting relationship in order to enable cooperation with patients was the basis for continued care and treatment. The nurses needed more training and multidisciplinary knowledge in order to meet the particular clinical needs of this patient group. Nurses have an important obligation to utilize the best available evidence, including research findings and other scientific sources.